How to Use a PS3 Controller on a PC
By Jonathan on Monday, August 27th, 2007 at 7:15 PM PST In Computer, Game Related Science, Hardware, Sony
One industrious modder out there has created a simple program so you can use your PS3’s SIXAXIS controller on a PC like a game pad. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
1. Download this archive and install the filter driver (libusb-win32-filter-bin-0.1.10.1.exe).
2. Unpack ps3sixaxis_en.exe
3. Plug the SIXAXIS into your PC.
4. Run ps3sixaxis_en.exe once.
5. Push the PS button on the SIXAXIS once if it doesn’t see it straight away.
Unfortunately, the motion sensing features aren’t possible on the PC (not yet as least). But still, this is pretty easy way to net yourself a free usable game pad.
Via Gamer’s Block
For people who have correctly unpacked, ran the setup wizard THEN the .exe file, make sure you don’t have your Ps3 controller already plugged in.
)
IF you did what I did (I simply plugged it in and XP recognized it. Got me excited for a few minutes.) and left it plugged in, unplug it from your USB, plug it back in, THEN press the PS button in the middle. All the lights should stop blinking at that point. (I turned on my Ps3 when I did that too.
So to break it down.
1. Unpack
2. Run setup
3. Run .exe
4. Plug in (or unplug, then plug in.)
5. Press the PS button.
Very informative article
,
thanks for it, it’s working like a charm
i have one question, now if i were to follow all the steps above and got it working would it infilct with the ps3 while i play halo 2 using it on my pc while ps3 is in use?
it doesnt work, it just keeps flashing
OneManOneArmy: No it won’t conflict. When the wire is plugged into the controller, it’s wireless capability is turned off, and all data is sent via the wire only (which would be plugged into your pc). So it won’t interfere at all with any nearby PS3
hey ,
I seem to be having trouble with this program
i dont know what to run the download on
i mean the program downloads but every time i try to open it.. it says open as…idk what to go to
You need to download winrar to open the file. You can get it for free at download.com
I have vista and it took me a little while to get it to work. The instructions say to wait until you install the program before you plug-in the controller, but it finally worked after I plugged in the controller before I reinstalled the software. Don’t give up hope! It works on Vista.
sorry to moan but its not working for me either
i’ve followed the instructions but i think the problem is that i cant even
get the controller to turn on for some reason.
when plugged into the laptop it does nothing but flash and have a fit
to stop it flashing i have to let it turn on the ps3
can any body help??
thanks
right some how i got it working on a game
however the controls are stuffed up, theres no settings in the
game to change controls…….. why do that??
any way i’ve tried the controlmk thing, bit confusing
try googlin Xpadder and download using the one with the US Flag. After downloadin use the tabs and using the keyboard and controller use the keys to correspond with the controller. Im still having a bit of difficulty but im sure i’ll get it sooner or later welp i hope i helped in some way but the buck stops here sorry.
jim158 reply to first question
go to control pannel and then game controller on your pc(might have to choose classic view to see the game controller folder). open the folder then go to properties. click on the settings tab. click on calibrate. and before you start hit the button in the center of your controller and then proceed with the instructions that they give you ie. push any button on the controller. follow the directions carefully so that you can calibrate your controller and that should get the ball rollin so to speak.
Has anyone got this to work for pes 2008. I’m actually looking to see if the right analog stick 360 trick works.
hhay i treid dis but it killt mein katze ;’(
so does this program work for windows vista as well or is it only xp compateble
i’ve calibrated it with windows and everything works on one game that i have but i’m having some problems with another game.
when it try to assign buttons in the games settings i click the option it says something like press the new button to assign but this just flashes and the left depad button is automatically assigned.
its like the left button is always being pressed, but its not and its fine with other games.
proberly not this program but does anyone have any solutions,
thanks
@tiggaman, i’ll give xpadder a go thanks
@tiggaman
xpadder is great i’m now using my sixaxis as my mouse on my laptop
i recommend this to everyone its really easy to use
If someone get it under Windows Vista 64 to work, send me a mail.
Shadowfox1982@hotmail.com
@ shadowfox
it works on my vista (32) so it must work on vista 64
just calibrate with game pad options in control panel and use xpadder for emulaion
hey, i installed everything, but the 4 lights on the ps3 controller keep flashing and it doesn’t work..im using xp and im trying to play GRID.
when i go to game controllers under control panel it says that its status is OK..however when i click properties, it says
“your game controller is not connected properly, please verify it is plugged in”
any help will be appreciated.
thanks.
@ gurps
i’ve only had that message appear once and i’m not sure what i did.
try pressing the playstation button and running ps3sixaxis.exe again, any combination of things involving these until when you open the controller properties and red lighted numbers flash corresponding to button presses
let me know how you get on, if anything definitive comes to mind i’ll coment here
wat games can it be used for?
it dusnt work with devil may cry 3 for me
will the rumble still work
Hi..
I’ve installed the LibUSB, and i klicked at the ps3sixaxis_en.exe, but my computer dosent response on the controllor
what have i done wrong…i have vista if that’s a problem?
Please write or add my msn: mdo227@hotmail.com
i can’t get the link to download the stuff i need. everything comes up as a “crc error” . . . anyone know what to do?
Does the PS3 controller still have pressure sensitivity on the action buttons when connected to a PC?
is it supposed to a notepad file? cuz thats how mine comes up and I dont know how to “unpack” it. cuz i cant find where to do that! Help? please!
Whenever i try to open ps3sixaxis_en.exe, it immedeatly crashes.
I don’t know what to do now.
What if i said to open it with notepad on accident can i fix it???
And for all u people who want to use the controller on cod4 n crap just change the controls like for Cod4 when u say change control to ____ and u have to click it to change it press r1 or something that ez…. write me back at cheneycm@msn.com for my question thats ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ at the top 
Pressure sensitivity on the buttons don’t work, for driving games you either 100% accelerate or don’t you can’t do it smoothly.
I’d like a updated driver is poss
can someone pls help me
scroll up if u want the question
ya i am having the same thing happen i installed everything but still not working on my pc i would like some help i have never had something like this happen to me before let me know if you can help also i uninstalled everything and try to install once more but then it tells me an older ver is still installed and i can,t find it anywere
Wow people dont really visit this website alot huh?
does anyone know of another way to download this… for use for ps3 or is this the only way how??!?!!?!?
I love how you say “free game pad” lol. It isn’t free. Sure, you have one, but it wasn’t free.
Hay i was wondering if i could use this so I could use a PS3 controller instead of an Xbox controller to play Alone in the Dark (which should have never been put on pc ever. EVER!)
Worked great with Resident evil 4. Needed only to change buttons from setup. Thanks for this guide!
y doesnt it work for vista…. y not???? any help?
i want it to work for COD4
o yea and it seemed to work wen my ps3 was ON. maby it doesnt work.
i got it to work with oblivion but for some reason i cant look around, movement and buttons are fine, just cant look. any suggestions?
Have been using this for sometime and it worked and still works great,
a couple of days ago I decided to try this with my Wireless Madcatz controller and surprisingly it worked!! I was so psyched y’know having a wireless gamepad and all but it does have one little flaw, the square , circle and cross buttons don’t show up .(all the rest work anyway, but it just doesn’t cut it) Does anyone know more about this and probably how to fix it ? It still shows up as PLAYSTATION (R) 3 controller but those 3 buttons just don’t work
Okay, first and foremost; the lights will continue to blink endlessly.
second, It might help if you hit the ps3 button on the controller.
Once you install the drivers, place the .dll file in the Drivers dir. of your emulator. (if applicable.)
double click on the other .exe(ps3sixaxis_en.exe) file which has no Icon. It will load the sixaxis initiator for the ps3 controller.
install :libusb-win32-filter-bin-0.1.10.1.exe
—————————————————-
for button config. It depends on your emulator. or game using with controller.
i.e.; N64 emu has a built in config program.
if you navigate your program a little bit and do some troubleshooting it is not difficult at all.
further help? Email me @ J_balestrino@yahoo.com
Joseph A. Balestrino
Computer Intelligence Agency
Hi! I done everything and My ps3 controller doesnt work on my pc. My Pc read sixaxis but my controller just load the battery what should i do ?
My emial kryha66@hotmail.com
Uhm, This isn’t working… At all. I did EXACTLY what was said to do, and nothing worked. I tried restarting, un-installing + re-installing, all of the simple troubleshooting, what is my problem?
Someone seriously thought that guy mixed up Blu-Ray technology with Bluetooth technology? I think since the two technologies are included with the PS3 and that they both involve the vocal “Blue”, that it is far more likely the guy just mistyped after jumbling the two words (something we all do from time to time) – and not the technologies themselves.
Correct the words, sure, but don’t jump to calling him an idiot with the rabid excitement of a 12 year old that just learned how to masturbate.
Anyway, this is a great step towards getting full functionality out of the controller, I can’t wait until someone finds out how to get it to work without the cord! Keep up the good work!
Hey guys. I’ve got the drivers & the controller working properly but it seems the drivers have been configured to use buttons 12-20 whereas Devil May Cry 4 (PC) only recognizes the first 10 or so buttons from a gamepad. I was wondering if anyone knows a way to alter this setting so the buttons are assigned 1-10 rather then the higher button numbers? Thanks in advance.
this progeam dosint work at all I treid instaing it like 20 times and I still cant play in combatarms
okay i can only find 1 download button and i downloaded but i dont know how to un pack help plz