Sony DS4 Controller Bluetooth input not working

[Saeniv]

Hi everyone,

I am sorry to create a new topic every week, sometime I can fix it on my own, sometime I am stuck.
So question of the week. I want to connect my Sony DS4 Controller to my Linux pc via Bluetooth. I have installed Bluez and started bluetoothctl, scanned for devices found my controller. Then i paired it with my pc, no problem. I don’t get any input from the controller. I don’t know for me it seems as if Bluetooth device need to create a new joydev device and this part is missing. Maybe just a package is missing.

[NEW] Device 70:20:84:61:80:86 Wireless Controller
Request authorization
[agent] Accept pairing (yes/no): yes
[CHG] Device 70:20:84:61:80:86 Bonded: yes
[CHG] Device 70:20:84:61:80:86 ServicesResolved: yes
[CHG] Device 70:20:84:61:80:86 Paired: yes
[Wireless Controller]# trust 70:20:84:61:80:86 
[CHG] Device 70:20:84:61:80:86 Trusted: yes
Changing 70:20:84:61:80:86 trust succeeded
[Wireless Controller]# info
Device 70:20:84:61:80:86 (public)
        Name: Wireless Controller
        Alias: Wireless Controller
        Class: 0x00002508 (9480)
        Icon: input-gaming
        Paired: yes
        Bonded: yes
        Trusted: yes
        Blocked: no
        Connected: yes
        LegacyPairing: no

I followed the guide here on Endeavouros:
https://discovery.endeavouros.com/audio/bluetooth/2021/03/
And Arch Gamepad:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Gamepad
And searched the arch forum and web for tipps, downgrade bluez to 5.68-1 as mentioed here:
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=288824
And tried ds4drv.
I don’t know where to look.

extra/bluez-hid2hci 5.69-1 (17.1 KiB 37.5 KiB) (Installed: 5.68-1)
    Put HID proxying bluetooth HCI's into HCI mode
extra/bluez-plugins 5.69-1 (7.8 KiB 18.1 KiB) (Installed: 5.68-1)
    bluez plugins (PS3 Sixaxis controller)
extra/bluez-utils 5.69-1 (1013.7 KiB 4.0 MiB) (Installed: 5.68-1)
    Development and debugging utilities for the bluetooth protocol stack
extra/bluez-tools 0.2.0-5 (159.9 KiB 999.6 KiB) 
    A set of tools to manage Bluetooth devices for Linux
extra/bluez-libs 5.69-1 (92.3 KiB 327.1 KiB) (Installed: 5.68-1)
    Deprecated libraries for the bluetooth protocol stack
extra/bluez-cups 5.69-1 (18.5 KiB 42.0 KiB) 
    CUPS printer backend for Bluetooth printers
extra/bluez-qt 5.110.0-1 (973.3 KiB 2.2 MiB) [kf5] 
    Qt wrapper for Bluez 5 DBus API
extra/bluez 5.69-1 (937.3 KiB 2.7 MiB) (Installed: 5.68-1)
    Daemons for the bluetooth protocol stack

On RetroArch I can use the same controller to play games via built in Blutooth from the Raspberrypi 4.

And the output of lsmod:

Module                  Size  Used by
rfcomm                102400  16
snd_seq_dummy          12288  0
snd_hrtimer            12288  1
snd_seq               131072  7 snd_seq_dummy
nft_fib_inet           12288  1
nft_fib_ipv4           12288  1 nft_fib_inet
nft_fib_ipv6           12288  1 nft_fib_inet
nft_fib                12288  3 nft_fib_ipv6,nft_fib_ipv4,nft_fib_inet
nft_reject_inet        12288  10
nf_reject_ipv4         16384  1 nft_reject_inet
nf_reject_ipv6         24576  1 nft_reject_inet
nft_reject             12288  1 nft_reject_inet
nft_ct                 28672  7
nft_chain_nat          12288  3
nf_nat                 65536  1 nft_chain_nat
nf_conntrack          208896  2 nf_nat,nft_ct
nf_defrag_ipv6         24576  1 nf_conntrack
nf_defrag_ipv4         12288  1 nf_conntrack
nf_tables             368640  253 nft_ct,nft_reject_inet,nft_fib_ipv6,nft_fib_ipv4,nft_chain_nat,nft_reject,nft_fib,nft_fib_inet
libcrc32c              12288  3 nf_conntrack,nf_nat,nf_tables
nfnetlink              20480  2 nf_tables
cmac                   12288  3
algif_hash             12288  1
algif_skcipher         12288  1
af_alg                 36864  6 algif_hash,algif_skcipher
bnep                   36864  2
snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl    12288  0
snd_hda_codec_realtek   192512  1
snd_sof_intel_hda_common   237568  1 snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl
snd_hda_codec_generic   114688  1 snd_hda_codec_realtek
soundwire_intel        73728  1 snd_sof_intel_hda_common
ledtrig_audio          12288  1 snd_hda_codec_generic
snd_sof_intel_hda_mlink    36864  2 soundwire_intel,snd_sof_intel_hda_common
soundwire_cadence      45056  1 soundwire_intel
snd_sof_intel_hda      24576  1 snd_sof_intel_hda_common
snd_sof_pci            24576  2 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl
snd_sof_xtensa_dsp     16384  1 snd_sof_intel_hda_common
snd_sof               421888  3 snd_sof_pci,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_sof_intel_hda
snd_sof_utils          16384  1 snd_sof
snd_soc_hdac_hda       28672  1 snd_sof_intel_hda_common
snd_hda_ext_core       36864  4 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_soc_hdac_hda,snd_sof_intel_hda_mlink,snd_sof_intel_hda
snd_soc_acpi_intel_match    86016  2 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl
snd_soc_acpi           12288  2 snd_soc_acpi_intel_match,snd_sof_intel_hda_common
intel_rapl_msr         20480  0
soundwire_generic_allocation    12288  1 soundwire_intel
intel_rapl_common      40960  1 intel_rapl_msr
soundwire_bus         135168  3 soundwire_intel,soundwire_generic_allocation,soundwire_cadence
intel_uncore_frequency    12288  0
intel_uncore_frequency_common    16384  1 intel_uncore_frequency
snd_soc_core          458752  4 soundwire_intel,snd_sof,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_soc_hdac_hda
x86_pkg_temp_thermal    16384  0
intel_powerclamp       20480  0
snd_compress           28672  1 snd_soc_core
coretemp               16384  0
ac97_bus               12288  1 snd_soc_core
snd_usb_audio         462848  1
snd_pcm_dmaengine      16384  1 snd_soc_core
snd_hda_codec_hdmi     94208  2
snd_usbmidi_lib        49152  1 snd_usb_audio
snd_hda_intel          65536  2
kvm_intel             425984  0
snd_ump                32768  1 snd_usb_audio
snd_intel_dspcfg       32768  3 snd_hda_intel,snd_sof,snd_sof_intel_hda_common
i915                 4108288  3
snd_rawmidi            57344  2 snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_ump
snd_intel_sdw_acpi     16384  2 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_intel_dspcfg
kvm                  1372160  1 kvm_intel
btusb                  81920  0
snd_hda_codec         225280  6 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_soc_hdac_hda,snd_sof_intel_hda
drm_buddy              20480  1 i915
snd_seq_device         16384  3 snd_seq,snd_ump,snd_rawmidi
vfat                   20480  1
i2c_algo_bit           20480  1 i915
btrtl                  28672  1 btusb
fat                   106496  1 vfat
snd_hda_core          151552  9 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_ext_core,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_soc_hdac_hda,snd_sof_intel_hda
irqbypass              12288  1 kvm
mc                     90112  1 snd_usb_audio
btbcm                  24576  1 btusb
spi_nor               143360  0
ttm                   110592  1 i915
snd_hwdep              20480  2 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec
iTCO_wdt               16384  0
btintel                57344  1 btusb
mei_hdcp               28672  0
rapl                   20480  0
mei_pxp                16384  0
mtd                   110592  3 spi_nor
intel_pmc_bxt          16384  1 iTCO_wdt
ee1004                 16384  0
drm_display_helper    229376  1 i915
btmtk                  12288  1 btusb
snd_pcm               204800  12 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec,soundwire_intel,snd_sof,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_compress,snd_soc_core,snd_sof_utils,snd_hda_core,snd_pcm_dmaengine
iTCO_vendor_support    12288  1 iTCO_wdt
intel_cstate           20480  0
bluetooth            1110016  44 btrtl,btmtk,btintel,btbcm,bnep,btusb,rfcomm
snd_timer              53248  3 snd_seq,snd_hrtimer,snd_pcm
spi_intel_pci          12288  0
snd                   155648  25 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hwdep,snd_hda_intel,snd_usb_audio,snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_sof,snd_timer,snd_compress,snd_soc_core,snd_ump,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi
cec                    86016  2 drm_display_helper,i915
intel_lpss_pci         24576  0
intel_uncore          258048  0
wmi_bmof               12288  0
ecdh_generic           16384  2 bluetooth
spi_intel              36864  1 spi_intel_pci
i2c_i801               40960  0
mei_me                 57344  2
e1000e                368640  0
pcspkr                 12288  0
intel_gtt              28672  1 i915
rfkill                 40960  4 bluetooth
soundcore              16384  1 snd
intel_lpss             16384  1 intel_lpss_pci
i2c_smbus              20480  1 i2c_i801
mei                   200704  5 mei_hdcp,mei_pxp,mei_me
idma64                 20480  0
acpi_tad               20480  0
acpi_pad               24576  0
mousedev               24576  0
joydev                 24576  0
mac_hid                12288  0
fuse                  204800  3
loop                   40960  0
dm_mod                225280  0
ip_tables              36864  0
x_tables               69632  1 ip_tables
uinput                 20480  0
pkcs8_key_parser       12288  0
usbhid                 77824  0
nvidia_uvm           3477504  0
nvidia_drm             94208  15
nvidia_modeset       1556480  32 nvidia_drm
nvidia              62713856  1501 nvidia_uvm,nvidia_modeset
ext4                 1175552  1
crc32c_generic         12288  0
crc16                  12288  2 bluetooth,ext4
mbcache                16384  1 ext4
jbd2                  221184  1 ext4
crct10dif_pclmul       12288  1
crc32_pclmul           12288  0
crc32c_intel           16384  3
polyval_clmulni        12288  0
polyval_generic        12288  1 polyval_clmulni
gf128mul               16384  1 polyval_generic
ghash_clmulni_intel    16384  0
nvme                   65536  4
sha512_ssse3           53248  0
aesni_intel           360448  4
crypto_simd            16384  1 aesni_intel
cryptd                 28672  3 crypto_simd,ghash_clmulni_intel
sr_mod                 28672  0
nvme_core             245760  5 nvme
xhci_pci               28672  0
cdrom                  81920  1 sr_mod
xhci_pci_renesas       24576  1 xhci_pci
nvme_common            24576  1 nvme_core
video                  77824  2 i915,nvidia_modeset
wmi                    45056  2 video,wmi_bmof
crypto_user            20480  0

[d-air1]

What do you mean by you don’t get any input? I have mine connected via bluetooth and it works just fine. Is it a specific application that it isn’t working on?

[Saeniv]

Thank for the reply. Good question. I connect the controller and then i want to test it in Input Devices → Gamepad (KDE), and there i can’t select it. While when i connect the controller via usb, i get an input device to choose (joydev1) and can test or calibrate the controller. So if no input device gets generated, i can’t use the controller anywhere.

[d-air1]

Not sure what is going on there. Mine looks like this

It shows up and I didn’t have to select it. Seems to be recognized.
One thing I remember doing for dolphin emulator I believe, was creating a udev rules called 99-ds4-controllers.rules
It contained the following contents

# DualShock 4 over USB
KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="054c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="05c4", MODE="0666"

# DualShock 4 Wireless Adapter over USB
KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="054c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="0ba0", MODE="0666"

# DualShock 4 Slim over USB
KERNEL=="hidraw*", ATTRS{idVendor}=="054c", ATTRS{idProduct}=="09cc", MODE="0666"

# DualShock 4 over Bluetooth
KERNEL=="hidraw*", KERNELS=="*054C:05C4*", MODE="0666"

# DualShock 4 Slim over Bluetooth
KERNEL=="hidraw*", KERNELS=="*054C:09CC*", MODE="0666"

I haven’t bothered to remove it, so I’m not sure if it is helping or hurting anything. I’m pretty sure it was still recognized even before adding this rule though.

[Saeniv]

Ok, I tried that, added the file per terminal, but it was already existing. I think I found a package which adds udev for many controllers, but it was also not working.

My window looks the same, but I can’t select my DS4, it is just not there.

What do get from blueman, if you click on info?

Second question which Bluez version are you using?

[d-air1]

I’m on kde so I don’t have blueman. That is usually use on gtk desktops. As for my bluez pacakges:

bluedevil 1:5.27.8-1
bluez 5.69-1
bluez-libs 5.69-1
bluez-qt 5.110.0-1
bluez-utils 5.69-1

bluedevil is kde’s bluetooth manager. Including it for the sake of completeness.
kde bluetooth settings for the wireless controller

P.S.: sorry for the delay.

Edit 1: Output of bluetoothctl straight from the terminal in case it helps

Name: Wireless Controller
Alias: Wireless Controller
Class: 0x00002508 (9480)
Icon: input-gaming
Paired: yes
Bonded: yes
Trusted: yes
Blocked: no
Connected: yes
WakeAllowed: yes
LegacyPairing: no
UUID: Human Interface Device... (00001124-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
UUID: PnP Information           (00001200-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb)
Modalias: usb:v054Cp09CCd0100

[Saeniv]

@d-air1

P.S.: sorry for the delay.

Don’t worry, I am just grateful to get help.

I think i found the problem. It seems to be the dongle itself that is making problem. I bought this URGREEN (ATS2851) Dongle, for its antenna and new 5.3 standard. I tried it under windows and get 30ms of latency. Many forums are saying not working or problems. I will get the normal TP-Link or Aus BT500, which do you use?

[d-air1]

I have a TP-Link TP-Link UB500 Adapter. At least that is what lscpu reports.

[Saeniv]

Perfect, so I will order this one and report back in a few days. Thanks.

[Saeniv]

@d-air1 So i bought the tp-link 5.0, put it into my computer, worked. I still can’t pair with bluedevil, the connection fails at the first try, but when I reboot afterward it connects just fine. And the rest of the story will be back in the other thread.

! Do not buy a Bluetooth dongle with a ATS2851 chip, like the Urgreen 5.3!

[d-air1]

Cool, glad you solved the issue. Although I didn’t know bluedevil worked outside of kde at all.