A white DualSense controller for the PlayStation 5.

How Long Does it Take For a PS5 Controller to Charge?

Keep your DualSense ready for game time, all the time.

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Carley is a professional JP-EN translator and writer currently based in Des Moines, Iowa. She has written hundreds of articles for popular sites such as Siliconera, Gameranx, and Otaquest, and has been playing games nonstop since 1996.

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Marshall is a seasoned writer and gaming enthusiast based in Tokyo. He's a prolific wordsmith with hundreds of articles featured on top-tier sites like Business Insider, How-To Geek, PCWorld, and Zapier. His writing has reached a massive audience with over 70 million readers!

Key Takeaway

When using either a charging dock or a USB-C to USB-A cable, it takes around three hours to fully charge a DualSense controller. This may vary slightly depending on the power output of your charger. Once charged, your controller’s battery will last between six and 10 hours, on average.

The PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller is an incredible piece of technology, making current games more immersive and engaging through the use of haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and motion sensors. Charging your device doesn’t take long and can be done by using a charging dock or a USB-C to USB-A cable.

Table Of Contents

    How to Charge a DualSense Controller

    There are a few ways that you can charge your DualSense Controller. First, you can use the cable that came with your PlayStation 5. Connect the USB Type-A side of the cable to either the front or rear USB port. Then, plug the USB-C end into the port on the top of your controller. The controller will continue to charge even if the PlayStation 5 is in Rest Mode.

    You can also plug the cable into a PC or laptop’s USB port to charge your device, though your machine will need to be on. Additionally, it’s possible to charge your DualSense controller by using a USB-C phone or laptop charger with at least five volts of power.

    Note
    The DualSense’s light bar will pulse orange while it is charging. You’ll know it’s fully charged when the light bar cuts off.

    Sony also sells an official DualSense Charging Station that will charge a pair of controllers at once, ensuring that you’ve always got a powered-up device ready to use. Using the accompanying AC power cord and adapter, plug the Charging Station in. Set your controllers into the dock until you feel a click and see the orange light on the DualSense start pulsing.

    How Long It Takes for a DualSense Controller to Charge

    An official charging stand for the PlayStation 5's DualSense controllers.

    Regardless of the charging method, a DualSense takes around three hours to charge fully. If your controller is being charged via the PlayStation 5 directly, it’s possible to play games while it’s charging. Doing so will make the process take longer, however.

    Unfortunately, the DualSense isn’t capable of fast charging.

    If it’s taking longer than three hours to fully charge your controller, something may be faulty with the device. It could also mark a problem with the charging cable or the console itself. Try using a different USB port or a different cable. It can also help to restart or update the PlayStation 5 if you’re using it to charge your controller.

    How Long a Charge Lasts

    At full charge, a DualSense controller will last from 6 to 10 hours on average, depending on its usage. Some games will drain the battery life more quickly than others.

    If your controller seems to be dying too quickly, this could be the result of overcharging or playing battery-intensive games. Many new PlayStation 5 games make use of the controller’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, but these neat effects also drain its battery life more quickly.

    Be sure to turn your controller off once you’re finished gaming for the day. To be on the safe side, find the System tab on your PlayStation 5. Here, you’ll find a Power Saving menu where you can program your controller to switch off automatically after a certain amount of idle time.

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