As an avid PS4 gamer and streaming enthusiast, I‘m constantly relying on my DualShock 4 wireless controllers. Having your controller die mid-game is beyond frustrating, so making sure your controller is always charged is essential.
In this guide, I‘ll be diving deep on all things related to charging your PS4 controller. You‘ll know exactly what the different light colours mean, how to monitor battery level, troubleshoot issues, and keep your controller charged up for marathon gaming sessions.
Orange Light of Power
When you first connect your DualShock 4 controller to a USB power source, the light bar on the front will display a solid orange colour. This indicates charging has started and power is flowing into the battery.
According to tests by gaming tech site IGN, the orange light is triggered when the battery capacity is below 95%. So you won‘t see it if connecting a fully charged controller.
As the battery charges up, the solid orange light will transition to a slow pulsing flash. Sony notes this pulsing pattern shows the battery is nearing full capacity as charging slows.
Based on my experience, a full charge from empty takes 2-3 hours on average. But you can speed this up by using a higher power USB wall adapter or the PS4‘s front USB ports while powered on.
Once fully juiced up, the light bar turns off completely. This brings me to the next charging status light…
Off Means Full Battery
When your PS4 controller is completely charged and still plugged into power, the light bar will go out and remain off. No light is good news in this case!
I like to charge my spare controller overnight or whenever I‘m not gaming. The total absence of light when done charging prevents any annoying bright glow at night.
One point to note here – a fully depleted controller can take up to 30 minutes before the orange charging light comes on initially. This had me worried the first few times, but it‘s normal as the voltage slowly builds up.
Flashing Orange While In Use
This one confused me the first time I saw it. Sometimes the orange charging light will start rapidly flashing even while plugged into a power source.
After some experimenting, I realized this happens when you turn on the controller by pressing the PS button while still connected to a USB charger.
The flashing orange light means the controller is simultaneously charging AND wireless paired to the PS4. The battery receives charge while powered up for gaming or navigation.
So flashing orange is normal if you start using the controller before it‘s fully charged. It will still charge as expected in this state.
Finding The Sync
Let‘s talk about that bane of my existence – the dreaded flashing white light.
When the controller light bar blinks white rapidly, this means it has become unsynced from the PS4 and is searching for a connection.
I‘ve seen this many times, especially if I accidentally press the PS button to turn on the controller before powering on the console itself. Rookie mistake!
The PS4 sends out a proprietary sync signal when first powered on. So if the controller tries to connect before the console is ready, you get the flashing white sync search.
The fix is simple – just make sure to turn on your PS4 first, wait a few seconds for boot up, then press the PS button to sync the controller. The light bar should then turn blue, red, green or pink to indicate the assigned player.
Player Profile Lights
While actually gaming or navigating menus, the controller‘s light bar shows your assigned player profile with a preset colour:
- Player 1 – Blue
- Player 2 – Red
- Player 3 – Green
- Player 4 – Pink
In multiplayer games, this lets you quickly see which character is matched to your controller. No more fumbling to remember if you‘re Player 3 or 4!
The profile light overrides the charging colour while connected. But once you plug in a USB cable, the charging indicator will take precedence again.
Troubleshooting Guide
Over years of PS4 gaming, I‘ve run into a few issues with controllers not charging or powering on. Here are some troubleshooting tips I‘ve picked up:
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Try charging from another USB port – Use the PS4 front ports, a wall adapter, computer, or power bank. Faulty cables or ports can prevent charging.
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Check for debris in the USB port – Lint, dust or pet hair in the controller‘s charging port can block connectivity. Use compressed air to clean it out.
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Inspect the USB cable for damage – Frayed, bent or broken charging cables are common. Try a different high quality USB cable for charging.
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Reset the controller – Press and hold the reset button on the back to reset sync and hardware issues. This fixed many problems for me.
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Let it charge for 30 mins – As mentioned earlier, a fully dead battery takes extra time to start charging again. Be patient!
Hopefully these troubleshooting tips will resolve any charging issues you encounter. Now let‘s look at monitoring battery level…
Keeping Tabs on Battery Life
While the light bar provides charging status, you may be wondering how to check the actual battery level.
Fortunately the PS4 has a built-in battery indicator you can access anytime. Just press and hold the PS button and an overlay will appear showing the percentage remaining.
The battery icon also visually shows the level – full, half-full or almost empty. I like to check before starting a long gaming session to be sure I won‘t run out of juice mid-battle.
Charging Times Compared
Based on my testing, here are some estimates for how long it takes to fully recharge a DualShock 4 from empty:
- Using a standard USB 2.0 port or wall charger: 2-3 hours
- Using a fast charge wall adapter: 1-2 hours
- Using PS4 front USB while console is on: 1.5-2.5 hours
The PS4 ports provide up to 5V/800mA of power when turned on, compared to only 500mA for standard USB. So you can shave off some charge time by using those front ports.
But for ultimate speed, I recommend picking up Anker‘s PowerPort II USB wall adapter. It pumps out power up to 2.4 amps for accelerated charging times.
What About Battery Life?
Battery life can vary substantially depending on your usage, but here are some averages:
- General gaming: 6-8 hours
- Media viewing: 10-12 hours
- Mix of gaming and media: 8-10 hours
Heavy use of rumble feedback and the audio speaker will drain battery faster. I squeeze out those max hours by turning off vibration and keeping speaker use minimal.
Over time, the lithium-ion battery capacity will diminish after hundreds of charge cycles. Plan on a battery replacement after 2-3 years of regular use.
Alternative Charging Solutions
Beyond a standard USB cable, there are some neat specialty charging stations available:
- DualShock Dock – Holds and charges two controllers. Has auxiliary ports for headsets.
- PowerA Dual Charging Station – Charges two controllers. Integrated LEDs show charging status.
- Collective Minds Showcase – Rapidly charges two controllers and includes a headset stand.
- PDP Gaming Charging Station – Displays the current battery level of each controller.
I‘m currently using the Collective Minds hub and it‘s fantastic. Being able to quickly glance at the battery level is super handy and the rapid charging reduces wait times.
Let‘s Review Those Indicator Lights
Let‘s do a quick recap of what the different controller light colours represent for charging status:
- Solid Orange – Battery is charging
- Pulsing Orange – Battery is nearly fully charged
- No Light – Battery is completely charged
- Flashing Orange – Charging + turned on
- Flashing White – Searching for sync
- Blue/Green/Red – Player number indicator
Hopefully this breakdown eliminates any future confusion over what those lights mean when charging your controller.
Wrap Up
After reading this guide, you should have a complete understanding of the charging process for DualShock 4 wireless controllers.
Knowing how to interpret the indicator lights will prevent any battery surprises and ensure your PS4 controller is always ready for action when you are.
Charging your controller fully each time and monitoring the battery level will keep you at peak gaming performance. And using a rapid charging station makes it even more convenient.
Fully charged controllers mean you can focus on fun and immersive PS4 gameplay for hours on end. Never let a dead battery come between you and game glory!
