Connect A PS3 Controller To A Computer Via Bluetooth - How To

Using a Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) controller on your computer to play video games is an excellent idea, but how can you do it? While connecting the PS3 controller via USB is easy, a Bluetooth connection is a bit more complicated. That being said, especially if you have a media PC or other entertainment-centric setup, you can't beat wireless controllers. The following guide with get you setup in no time.

Materials Needed:

HARDWARE

Sony Playstation 3 Controller

Bluetooth 2.0 Enabled Computer or Bluetooth 2.0 Dongle

Mini-USB Cable (The are the cables used to charge the Sony Playstation 3 Controllers)

SOFTWARE (items are hyperlinked, click on each to download the necessary software)

libusb-win32-filter-bin-0.1.12.1 BtSIX PPJoy 0.83 FreeBT

Preparation

To begin with, download each piece of software necessary to begin connecting your PS3 controller to your computer via Bluetooth. Once each piece of software has been downloaded, install libusb-win32 and extract the other programs to easy to find directories.

Installing the Proper Bluetooth Drivers

We will be using FreeBT to install drivers for either your onboard Bluetooth hardware, or a Bluetooth dongle. You will need to extract the FreeBT file to a convenient and easy to remember location. Once the files have been extracted, plug in your Bluetooth dongle or update your onboard Bluetooth device drivers with the FreeBT files.

Establish an Address for the PS3 Controller

Plug in the mini-USB cable to both the PS3 controller and your computer. Launch BtSix and press the address button. This will allow the computer to identify the PS3 controller so that it can be connected via Bluetooth.

Connect the PS3 Controller via Bluetooth

Disconnect the PS3 controller from the mini-USB cable and press the PS button on the PS3 controller.

Configure the PS3 Controller for Use on Your Computer

Install and launch PPJoy. Once the program has started, add Virtual Joystick 1. From here, you will be able to map all of the buttons on the PS3 controller the way you will prefer. Multiple profiles can be made to accommodate different PS3 controller button mapping for use in different games.

Things to Consider

PS3 controllers can only be paired via Bluetooth with one device at a time, meaning that if you plan on using the PS3 controller with your computer on a regular basis, it might be worthwhile to purchase a controller or two that will be dedicated to use on your computer. If you do plan on using the controller back and forth between your PS3 and your computer, the last 3 steps will need to be repeated every time you wish to use the PS3 controller with your computer.

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