I’m trying to pair my PS5 controller to my iPhone for gaming but can’t seem to get it to connect. I’ve followed some instructions but it’s not showing up in Bluetooth settings. Can anyone help figure this out and guide me through?
Alright, so here’s the deal – connecting the PS5 controller to an iPhone should work, but it’s finicky as hell sometimes. First off, make sure your iPhone is running at least iOS 14.5 or later because anything earlier simply won’t play nice with DualSense. Now, if you’ve got that sorted, follow these steps:
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On your PS5 controller, hold down the PS Button (middle PlayStation logo button) and the Create Button (the one above the D-Pad, left side) at the SAME time. Hold until the light bar on the controller starts blinking rapidly – this means it’s in pairing mode.
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On your iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is ON. Give it a second, and the controller should pop up under “Other Devices” as something like “DualSense Wireless Controller.”
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Tap it, wait for it to say “Connected,’ and voila! It should pair.
BUT, if it’s still not showing up, here’s where frustration kicks in. Troubleshooting time! Start by:
- Restarting your iPhone (classic IT move).
- Forgetting any previously connected devices in Bluetooth settings that might interfere.
- Checking if the controller’s firmware is up-to-date (yes, annoyingly, even controllers have updates now – but you’ll need a PS5 to do this part).
If none of that works, ugh, you might need to reset the controller. On the back, there’s a tiny hole – use a paperclip or SIM ejector tool to press it for about 5 seconds. This resets the controller completely. Then try the pairing process again.
Should work eventually unless Apple’s just being Apple and decides it hates Sony for some arbitrary reason. Keep trying though – it’s usually stubborn, not completely broken. Hope this helps!
You’ve probably already seen @suenodelbosque’s steps, which are pretty solid, but I’d argue there’s another factor here that might be messing with your pairing attempts—your iPhone could be overloading its Bluetooth queue. Sounds fancy, but really, it just means your phone might be trying to connect to too many things at once. Happens more often than you’d expect.
Here’s a trick I’ve used a couple of times: turn off Bluetooth on all your other nearby devices (like your Mac, iPad, whatever). Sometimes, your phone is just stubborn and refuses to register new devices when old ones are clinging on. After doing that, try putting the controller into pairing mode again (yes, holding the PS and Create buttons like a champ).
Then, if your iPhone still won’t play ball, you might actually have interference. I’m talking Wi-Fi, other Bluetooth devices, even microwaves (yup, they can mess with signals) in the area. Try moving into a different room, closer to the phone, and reattempt the connection. It’s kind of a headache, I won’t lie.
Oh, and one thing I don’t entirely agree with @suenodelbosque on—resetting the controller should be a last-ditch effort, IMO. In my experience, it’s rarely necessary unless the thing’s been acting up in general. Feels like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut half the time.
Last suggestion: If the problem persists, it might be worth closing any apps on your phone that could be hijacking the Bluetooth connection, especially if you’re running other peripherals like AirPods or keyboards. They can be sneaky like that. You’re not alone in this PS5-to-iPhone struggle, trust me.