Pairing with a PS5: headset, controller, mouse and keyboard

Pairing something with your PS5 seems simple, but there are rules not everyone knows. An ordinary Bluetooth headphone, for example, does not just work, and some headsets need their own adapter. At Blue Apple in Amsterdam we sometimes get a PS5 in because a headset, mouse or keyboard will not pair. Often it is a setting, sometimes a broken USB port. This article explains how to pair each device properly.

Blue Apple repairs PlayStation consoles in Amsterdam. If no USB device works at all, read the section at the end.

Pairing a controller

1. Connect the DualSense with a USB cable that carries data (not a charge-only cable).
2. Press the PS button. The controller is now paired and you can unplug the cable.
3. Wireless pairing also works through Settings, Accessories, General, Bluetooth Accessories: hold the Create button and the PS button together on the controller until the light flashes.

If it fails, reset the controller with the small hole on the back: press it with a paperclip for five seconds. For a drifting stick or sticky buttons, read PS5 controller repair.

Pairing a headset

• Wired headset: plug it into the headphone jack on the controller. That always works.
• Sony headsets with their own adapter: some Sony headsets work with a small USB adapter, such as the PlayStation Link adapter. Plug it into a USB port on the PS5 and switch the headset on; it connects through the adapter, not Bluetooth.
• Other wireless gaming headsets: usually also with their own USB adapter or USB-C dongle.
• Ordinary Bluetooth headphones and earbuds: the PS5 does not support Bluetooth audio for most headphones. Use a wired connection or an adapter that passes sound through USB.

Then choose the right output under Settings, Sound, Audio Output.

A mouse and keyboard

• A USB mouse and USB keyboard work as soon as you plug them in.
• A Bluetooth keyboard or mouse is paired under Settings, Accessories.
• Note: they work in the menus, but far from every game supports mouse and keyboard. If it works in one game and not another, the game is the reason.

It still does not work

1. Update the system software and the headset's software. For Sony headsets this can be done through the PS5 itself.
2. Try another USB port: the PS5 has ports at the front and the back.
3. Try the device on another console or computer. If it fails there too, the device is the problem.
4. Switch the PS5 off fully and on again, and rebuild the database in safe mode if needed. Read PS5 safe mode.
5. Are many wireless devices close together? Use a front port for the adapter or a short USB extension.

A USB port seems broken

If no device works in a certain port, the controller does not charge there or you have to hold the plug, the port may be damaged. That happens, for example, when the console fell with a cable plugged in or a plug was forced in at an angle. Do not keep forcing it.

What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam

We test all ports, the Bluetooth connection and the controller. If a USB port is broken or loose, we check whether it can be replaced. If it is the controller, we look at that too. You hear beforehand what is needed. See PS5 controller repair, PS5 diagnosis or PlayStation repair in Amsterdam.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use AirPods on a PS5?

Not directly over Bluetooth. With a separate adapter that passes sound through USB you can.

How many controllers can I pair?

Several at once; for most games four is plenty.

Why does my controller not charge in rest mode?

Check under Settings, System, Power Saving whether the USB ports get power in rest mode.