Transform a $9 Raspberry Pi into a DualSense controller PC dongle, because Sony won’t bother to make one
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If you’ve ever tried using the PS5 DualSense controller on a PC wirelessly, you probably already know the experience isn’t perfect. While Bluetooth works fine for basic controls, many of the controller’s best features, like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, are missing. This is because Windows Bluetooth doesn’t support the bandwidth needed for those features.
Even now, Sony still hasn’t released an official wireless PC dongle. The only way to get it to work is through a wired USB-C connection, and Sony started selling “PC Ready” PS5 controllers last month that include a cable. Haptic feedback still isn’t possible wirelessly through any official means, but as usual, the modding community has stepped in with a clever workaround.
Raspberry Pi-powered dongle enables native haptic feedback
A project built around the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W (available from ~$9) lets you turn the tiny board into a wireless dongle for the DualSense. It acts as a bridge between your PC and the controller, allowing you to use it wirelessly while still keeping features that normally only work over a wired connection.
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This solution was recently tested by a user on Reddit. They shared how frustrating it was trying to get the “full PS5 experience” on PC without using a cable. After trying different methods, they came across a project called DS5Dongle, and decided to give it a shot – and it did the trick.
According to the Redditor, games that previously only supported full DualSense features over a wired connection were now working wirelessly, including adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. They even shared a clip showing the controller working in-game, explaining that while you can’t see haptics in a video, the features were clearly active during gameplay.
The way it works is pretty smart. The Pico 2W connects to the controller via Bluetooth, but instead of passing that signal directly to the PC, it tricks the system into thinking the controller is wired. This bypasses the usual Bluetooth limitations and unlocks those missing features.
Setup is also simple. You just flash a file onto the Pico, pair your controller, and you’re good to go. After that, it reconnects automatically whenever you turn the controller on. There are still a few minor issues, like occasional audio glitches and the need to overclock the board, but nothing too major.
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