How to usea PS3 controlleron PC, and play any games with it?
Tired of looking for a decent program to use PS3 controller on PC? That's it, full stop, you have found it :) reWASD will help you set up a PS3 controller on Windows 11, 10 or 8, change hardware settings for your gamepad, assign more than 1000 mappings to one controller, connect PS3 controller to PC wirelessly without summoning the evil spirits to help you, and more!
Shall we start?
reWASD is a powerful joystick remapper, and also a controller emulator software. If you want to use PS3 controller on PC as DualShock 4 or Xbox One, it's a matter of three clicks with reWASD. If the games you play do not have controller support, you can assign keyboard and mouse bindings to PS3 controller on PC, and play any game. A lot of other features permit customization of the tiniest details, like deadzones for analog controls, haptic feedback, key combinations… When you finish reading this article, you will know everything about how to use a PS3 controller on PC exactly the way you need ;)
- Download and install reWASD
- Connect the PS3 controller to your PC; if Bluetooth is available, reWASD will prompt you to pair the controller. Prefer a wired connection? Click Skip
- Create a new profile; the configuration will appear automatically
- Begin remapping!
Here are some of the coolest features for your PS3 controller on PC, keep reading to learn more about them!
What to start with, and how to pair PS3 controller to PC?
Back in the days when controllers became popular for PC games, it was hard to use them wirelessly. Later, some third-party drivers started taking over, but since they're mostly open-source, they may be unstable. Nowadays, how to pair PS3 controller to PC is no longer a question: with reWASD you get a driver that permits using the controller via Bluetooth connection, and also remapping the hell out of it!
What about the available adapters, you may say? Well, some of them report the PS3 triggers as digital controls, which means no speeding up gradually in racing games with PS3 controller on PC, or while controlling a spaceship. Usable, but not fun. reWASD will keep your triggers analog, and the controller – connected wirelessly ;)
How to use PS3 controller on PC for the games with no controller support?
The world is not a perfect place, but we try our best to make it better. Even though not every game supports controllers, reWASD helps setting up PS3 controller on PC and use it even for games with no controller support. Set up the binds the perfect way, tune mouse sensitivity, assign new actions to stick zones to make the gameplay more intuitive. What can make this process even more pleasant, is that you can grab a ready-to-go custom config to use for PS3 controller on PC from the community. A lot of users have shared their presets for hundreds of games, so this will be as easy as pie!
Using PS3 controller on Windows 11, 10 as Xbox controller
Remember when I said that reWASD is an emulator too? Let's clear some things up, XInput controllers are more likely to have support in games. However, PS3 controller on PC with Windows 11, 10 also has a huge potential. When you create a config, you will see the Magic Wand below the image of a controller. Click it once, choose the needed controller, and Apply this configuration. Three clicks, as promised, now PS3 controller is hidden from the system and seen as an Xbox One or Xbox 360. Say again that magic doesn't exist ;)
Setting up PS3 controller on PC and changing hardware settings
Wikipedia says that PS3 controllers were no longer produced after 2008, so if you have one at home, it's far from new. Back to reality, you need to do something before you use PS3 controller on PC. Rickety sticks? Increase the deadzone to avoid unwanted actions. Triggers are too sensitive? Adjust the deadzone to be stealth-y, no accidents allowed. Change the Stick response: pick one of the existing profiles, or create your own custom curve. Invert the X and Y axes, swap sticks… In other words, the world is your oyster!
Add more than a 1000 button assignments to PS3 controller on PC
It can be challenging to configure all the desired mappings for your PS3 controller on PC. With 25 keys available, many games demand a broader range of controls. reWASD provides numerous features to expand the number of inputs on a single controller, and here they are:
- Activators: Configure Single, Double, Triple, and Long press actions for a single key. Assign Start and Release actions, executing as the key is pressed and released.
- Shortcuts: Initiate a mapping when 2, 3, or 4 buttons are simultaneously pressed.
- Shift Mode: Develop a Shift layer of mappings, activated by a Shift modifier (press and hold or Toggle). Incorporate up to 4 Shift layers per configuration.
- Slots: Implement up to 4 configurations on one PS3 controller concurrently.
Sidenote on Slots, reWASD helps you use PS3 controller on PC in a full swing: Player LEDs can display the Slot that is currently in use.
How to play with PS3 controller on PC and use the fabulous reWASD features?
With reWASD, you can create the combos of any complexity. Start with something simple to copy-paste the files, end up with a combo with Breaks, Pauses, and use them for quick edits in Desktop applications. Imagine, how easier your life can be with a PS3 controller on PC and reWASD?
What about the Toggle and Turbo mappings? Toggle starts firing the mapping after the first click and stops after the second one. Turbo executes the mapping with a customizable pause as long as you hold the button. Both are very powerful, and once you try them, you can never go back ;)
One more thing, before you remap PS3 controller on PC with reWASD
A good tip while setting up PS3 controller to PC is to make it as intuitive as possible. Autodetect permits adding associated files to game Profiles in reWASD, and activates certain configs when the game is in focus. Set it and forget it! Or what about some useful commands? Lock the PC, turn off your controller, save screenshots to a customizable folder in one click. Anything you need is at the tip of your fingers!
Questions? We have answers
Yes. reWASD supports PS3 controllers on Windows 11 and 10 both wired and via Bluetooth. The app includes a dedicated driver for wireless connection and keeps analog trigger behavior intact - unlike some third-party adapters that report triggers as digital inputs.
Plug in the PS3 controller. If a Bluetooth connection is available, reWASD will automatically prompt you to pair the controller wirelessly. If you prefer a wired connection, click Skip at that prompt. No third-party drivers or additional software are required.
Yes. reWASD lets you remap all PS3 controller buttons to keyboard and mouse inputs, adjust mouse sensitivity, and assign actions to stick zones. You can build a custom config from scratch or import a ready-made preset from the reWASD community, where users have shared configs for hundreds of games.
Open your config in reWASD, click the Magic Wand icon below the controller image, select Xbox One or Xbox 360 as the emulation target, and click Apply. The PS3 controller will be hidden from the system and recognized as an XInput device, improving compatibility with games that support Xbox controllers.
Yes. reWASD lets you increase or decrease stick and trigger deadzones, change stick response curves using presets or a custom curve, invert X and Y axes, and swap sticks - useful for aging controllers with worn analog sticks.
reWASD supports over 1,000 assignments for a single PS3 controller to expand the number of available actions beyond the physical keys. Use up to 10 Shift layers within a configuration to create additional mapping sets, assign multiple actions to the same key using Activators such as Single Press, Double Press, and Long Press, and create Shortcuts that trigger actions or switch mappings using key combinations.
Yes. Turbo repeatedly fires a mapping with a customizable pause for as long as the button is held. Toggle activates a mapping on the first press and stops it on the second. Combo lets you build sequences of any complexity, including pauses, breaks, and iterations - suitable for both gaming and desktop workflows.
Yes. The Autodetect feature lets you link a game profile to a specific application. When that game is in focus, reWASD activates the corresponding config automatically. You can also assign system commands - such as locking the PC, turning off the controller, or saving screenshots - to any button.
