As with all battery-operated wireless devices, the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller will eventually need some juice. Fortunately, Sony has made it very easy to charge the DualSense controller. The standard method of plugging in a USB cable still works, but those who want a bit more convenience can opt instead for the DualSense charging station. Regardless of which method you choose, here’s how to charge a PS5 controller.
How to charge PlayStation 5 DualSense controller
Charging the PS5 DualSense controller is simple. All you need to do is connect a cable between the controller and the console itself. The DualSense will begin charging automatically, and the light bar will change from orange to blue when the charge is complete.
In a nutshell, it works the exact same as on the PS4 DualShock controller. The only notable difference is that the DualSense makes use of a USB-C connection. Since the PlayStation 5 has both USB-A and USB-C connections up front, that means you can charge the PS5 controller with either a USB-A to USB-C or a USB-C to USB-C cable.
How to use the PlayStation 5 controller charging dock
Things are even more simple when it comes to the officially licensed PlayStation 5 DualSense charging dock. The charging station can provide juice to two separate DualSense controllers through their bottom-mounted contact points. Either one or two controllers can be connected at once, and they’ll click into place for a solid, worry-free connection.
The main difference with this method is that the charging dock does not use any USB connection whatsoever. Instead, it charges controllers by way of an AC adapter. That means you won’t have to clutter up your entertainment space with a cable running from the PS5 to the dock.
Of course, this does mean there’s one caveat: There’s no convenient way to use the controller and charge it through the dock simultaneously. If you need to charge the DualSense while using it, the best bet would be to connect up using a USB cable.