How to use a PS4 controller on a Chromecast

Previous requirements

To connect a PS4 controller and play Android games or enjoy Google Stadia, you must have a TV with Android TV or a Chromecast with Google TV.

If you are only interested in playing from Stadia, you should remember that the Stadia app is only available on official Google devices, since the rest of the smart TVs on the market that have their own application store (LG webOS, Samsung Tizen…) there is no such compatibility at the moment.

Method 1: Install PS4 Controller on Chromecast from Settings

To do this, you must have a Chromecast device with Google TV. The process you must follow is the following:

1. Using your Chromecast remote, go to Settings . To do this, click on your profile photo in the upper right corner and click again on Settings in the drop-down that appears.
2. Scroll to the “Remote control and accessories” section and then click on the first option, which is called “Pair remote control or accessory” . This process will activate the Chromecast pairing protocol, which will begin searching for a compatible controller.
3. Grab your DualShock 4 and press both the PS button and the Share button. Stop pressing them when the light panel on the back of the remote starts to flash.
4. Now that the PS4 controller is also in pairing mode, we will have to use the Chromecast controller to select the “Pair wireless controller or accessory” option.
5. Among the options that will now appear, use the Chromecast controller to select the PS4 controller, which will be listed as a generic “Wireless Controller”.
6. We confirm the process by making a last click on “Pair” .
7. The DualShock 4 will turn its light to blue, which means that it will already be connected to the Chromecast .

Method 2: Connect a PS4 Controller to Chromecast or Android TV from Stadia

There is another way to do this process in a slightly friendlier way. To do this, we will need to have the Stadia application installed on our device.

Install and configure Stadia

Before starting, you must install the Stadia app on your device if you don’t already have it. You can do it in the following way:

1. Go to the application box on your Android TV or Google TV device.
2. Enter the Google Play Store app.
3. Click on the magnifying glass and search for “Stadia” .
4. Locate the application and download it. Wait a few seconds for it to install on your device.
5. Once installed, it will appear in the main menu .

Or just use Google’s voice assistant and say “I want to install the Stadia app .” The wizard will automatically take you to the Play Store where you can download and install the app.

Now you can enter the Stadia application. You will be asked to log in with the Google account with which you have active your subscription. Once this step is done, you will arrive at the main Stadia menu, where all the titles that you have purchased or that are within your membership are located in case you have purchased Stadia Pro.

To follow this process, you must have a video game in your library . You should know that you cannot compare video games directly from the Stadia app of your Chromecast with Google TV or your television with Android TV. You must do it from a desktop browser or from the Stadia application on your iOS or Android smartphone.

Connecting the PS4 controller

Once the whole process is done, you will simply have to start any game in your Stadia library using the remote of your Chromecast or Android TV. Stadia will now force you to connect a controller in order to play. Follow the next steps:

1. As soon as you open a title , the menu will open. Enter the icon with the shape of a command .
2. There it will show you that you can connect a PlayStation, Xbox, Bluetooth, USB or Stadia’s own controller.
3. Click on the “Connect Controller” button.
4. Now go to the “PlayStation Controller” option.
5. It will take you to the system configuration , where you can access the option “Link remote control or accessory” .
6. Now you will have to press the PS and Share button at the same time, and follow the steps that we discussed in the previous section (from point 5 of the list).

Rename the device

The Chromecast will always name your device as a “Wireless Controller” regardless of whether you connect a DualShock 4 or an Xbox controller. The most correct thing to do at this point is to give it a name , since, if we plan to add new wireless controls to the Chromecast, it can be quite a mess.

The process you must do is the following:

1. Go back into Settings .
2. Go to Accessories, Wireless Controller and click on the Rename option.
3. Click on “Rename connected device” again and add an identifying name to the remote, such as “DualShock4 Blue” or “DS4 black”.
4. Accept the changes and you’re done.

Once you complete the process, you will be able to play Android and Stadia games with your PS4 controller . You can repeat the process to add another remote control if you wish.

DualShock 4 vs. Stadia Controller

Using the PS4 controller to control your Chromecast is interesting even if you don’t get to use Stadia. Operating the Chromecast is more comfortable than even with your own remote. We will be able to navigate through the options and menus with great ease, and we will also have access to the touch panel as if it were a mouse , so typing on the on-screen keyboard will be much more comfortable.

When it comes to using the controller as a gaming device, you won’t find any difference between the original Stadia controller and the PS4 controller if you’re going to play Android games on your TV. However, there is a difference if we play on Stadia, since the Stadia Controller is able to connect directly to the Google server, which means that we can play video games with much lower “input lag” , due to its better rates. latency. In any case, if your intention is to simply try Stadia for a few months, the logical thing is that you use the control of your PS4 and values if it really costs you to invest in the official Google control.