PS4 Controller Won’t Stop Vibrating Issue: 9 Fixes

A vibrating PS4 controller is great for some people when playing first-person shooter games, but when the device refuses to stop rumbling, it can be a problem.

We have the top 9 fixes for what you can do when a regularly rumbling PS4 controller affects your gameplay.

Why is My PS4 Controller Vibrating?

A constantly vibrating PS4 controller is distracting. It can also cause damage to your hands and the device’s internal components- and it drains the battery quicker.

There are a few different things that could cause your PS4 to start vibrating non-stop, including:

• Vibration level settings
• Bluetooth pairing issues
• Software glitches
• Dust or other debris in the internal components

If you found this article helpful and have related issues, such as a Ps4 controller blinking blue, check out this article.

9 Ways to Stop PS4 Controller from Vibrating

1. Restart the Controller

Whenever anything doesn’t work the way it should, the first step is to restart it.

For some PS4 users, this step is as simple as turning off the controller and then turning it back on. Sometimes this solves the issue, and further troubleshooting is not necessary.

If a simple turning off and on does not help you, you should attempt resetting the controller. Follow these steps to reset your PS4 controller:

1. Turn off your console and unplug it.
2. Locate the reset button on the back of your controller. It will look like a tiny pinhole. If you’re using a DualShock 4, it’ll be near the L2 button.
3. Using a sim-ejector tool, push the button down and hold it for 3 to 5 seconds. You can also use a pin or a straightened-out paperclip.
4. Release the button.
5. Plug your PS4 back in.
6. Connect your controller to the console using a USB cable and press the PS button. If the pairing is successful, a blue light will flash. 

Below is a helpful visual video to describe the steps taken here.

2. Adjust Controller Settings

The vibrations are usually a part of the controller’s settings. You should be able to turn it off or on. However, PS4 controls are not the most user-friendly, so it can be easy to get lost.

To turn off the constant vibration, follow these steps:

1. Locate Big Picture and open Controller Settings.
2. From the Controller Settings menu, click on Detected Controllers and select yours- which should have the label “PS4 Controller”.
3. Press the Identify button.

If all goes according to plan, the vibrating should stop immediately.

3. Adjust DualSense Haptic Settings

If your controller is a DualSense one, you may need to adjust the haptic settings. The haptic settings are what control the vibrations.

Follow these steps to change your DualSense Haptic controls:

1. Go to the PlayStation home screen and open the drop-down menu at the top right corner of the screen.
2. Locate the Accessories tab and select Controllers.
3. Inside the Controllers submenu, you can edit vibration settings. Choose either to change the Vibrating Intensity or the Trigger Effect Intensity.

4. Clean Your PS4 Controller

If dust or dirt seeps into your PS4 controller, it will start to malfunction, which could result in incessant vibrating. A good cleaning will help improve any power issues and solve glitches.

Before you start cleaning your controller, you’ll want to have the following items available:

• A can of compressed air
• Baby wipes or a microfiber cloth with water and isopropyl alcohol
• A Phillips head screwdriver
• A plastic pry tool – a guitar pick or something similar may also work
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Cotton swab

It’s important to note that opening up the back of your controller to clean internal components will void any warranty you have on the device. Attempt it at your own risk- but the process is fairly easy.

Also, regardless of whether your controller is worn out (such as the buttons), please handle it carefully and take pictures while dismantling it, so you remember how to put it back together.

Follow these steps to clean your PS4 controller:

1. Use the can of compressed air to quickly blow out loose dust, dirt, and other debris from the outside of your controller. Angle the air stream away from the device to help knock the gunk out. You could lodge crumbs further inside if you don’t angle it properly.
2. Sanitize the outside of your controller with the baby wipe or gently wet a microfiber cloth with a mixture of half water and half isopropyl alcohol.
3. Once the outside of your controller is dry, grab a Phillips head screwdriver and take off the back of the controller. The four screws are very small, so keep them in a safe place where they won’t get lost. Pry the back of the controller carefully.
4. Disconnect the power cable and remove the adhesive strip from the battery.
5. Use a plastic prying tool to wiggle the battery out of the remote gently.
6. After the battery is free, you’ll use the screwdriver again to remove the battery holder. Place the screw with the others to keep it safe.
7. Once the battery holder is gone, you can carefully pull out the essence of the controller, which contains the rumble motors, analog sticks, board, triggers, and touchpad. Set it aside.
8. Carefully clean the inside of the plastic back and front of the controller, including the back of the buttons, with a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol.
9. Let the components completely dry before putting everything back together.

Aside from helping get a deeper clean, temporarily removing your battery may help readjust any glitches inside the device. 

5. Bluetooth Pairing Malfunctions

Your controller will rumble if it cannot connect properly or has trouble gaining a consistent signal. You will want to disconnect and reconnect the device to fix this issue.

To disconnect your PS4 controller, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings and select Devices.
2. Locate and open Bluetooth devices.
3. Find your controller on the list of devices that appear. Click on the green circle next to the controller and hit Forget Device.
4. Hold the PS4’s power button for 5 to 10 seconds to turn the device off.

Now, you will want to reconnect the device back to your PS4. Follow these steps:

1. Use a USB cable to connect the controller to the PS4 while the console is off.
2. Turn the PlayStation back on.
3. After the PS4 fully boots up, hold down the pairing button for eight seconds.

A light will flash briefly before going solid to indicate successful pairing. If the issue was a bad signal, the vibration should stop now.

6. Update the Controller Firmware

If your controller is experiencing a software glitch or has corrupted data, you should try to look for any available updates from Sony.

To find and download updates for your PS4 controller, follow these steps:

1. Download the Firmware Updater for DualSense app to your Windows PC.
2. After the app finishes downloading, launch it.
3. Connect a USB cable from your computer to the controller, and follow the onscreen instructions to update.
4. Do not disconnect the USB cord or turn off your computer during the update.
5. Once the update finishes, hit OK to finish.

7. Leave It Alone

This idea may not sound like a fix but try playing a game for around five minutes to see if the vibration stops. If it does, the problem is gone. If it doesn’t stop, try playing a different game to see any difference.

Many PS4 users have had success waiting for the vibrations to stop. Once it goes away, usually, the issue does not return.

8. Contact Support

Reach out to Sony’s support team if none of the above troubleshooting methods worked for you. Support can direct you to a local repair center that could fix any damage inside your rumble motors. 

If your device is still under warranty, they can replace the controller with a new one if irreparable.

9. Buy a Replacement Controller

If the vibrating refuses to stop, you can always purchase another controller.

These controllers are not cheap, so this is a last resort- especially if your warranty is outdated. You can purchase a new one directly from PlayStation or retailers like BestBuy or Amazon. 

Conclusion

Constant rumbling from your PS4 controller can inhibit your ability to enjoy gaming. If the issue doesn’t disappear, try resetting your controller again or contacting support for further help.