The PlayStation 4 is still a console that many people continue to play today and with no successor and still receiving great games, it’s normal for users to continue using it. However, one of the issues has to do with the game’s battery life and controller charging. Which forces us to leave the console on, consuming electricity and not being able to take advantage of the console’s sleep mode. However, there is an easy way to fix the problem.
How to charge the DualShock 4 with the PS4 in standby? Guide
Let’s face it, one of the worst things about SONY’s PS4 is the fact that its controller battery dies quickly. It’s not uncommon to see users with an extra-long USB cable so they can play games or switch between two controllers. The worst happens when after a long game and we resume it we realize that the DualShock 4 is still with as little battery as it was a few hours ago.
However, it has a workaround and we can do it from the same console, so you won’t need to spend any extra money to have your DualShock 4 battery recharged once you’ve left the controller connected. to the console to perform other tasks. It is important to clarify that it is not a question of turning off the PS4 completely, since we need it to receive power from the electrical network in order to be able to recharge the controller.
First of all, after turning on the console, you need to access the settings from the main menu of the console.
- Select the Power saving settings option.
- This will display several different options, from which you will need to choose Set features available in standby mode
- The next thing to select is: Power USB Ports – Always.
This will turn the power to the USB ports into standby mode and you can use the console not only to charge the DualShock 4, but also for other peripherals. However, please remember that it is not a USB-C type interface, so it is not fast charging and the charging time will be long. We will therefore still have to wait to play. Please note that this fix allows you to return to the console after performing other activities in between.
What if we can’t charge via USB ports?
If this is the problem, we recommend having the console repaired or finding a reputable repair shop. While it’s not normal for this to happen, it’s a problem because you’ll need to charge the DualShock 4 from your PS4 and you won’t be able to. Either way, make sure the USB ports are the ones that aren’t working, as it’s common for cables, especially poor quality ones, to break easily and stop working. Also try to keep the console ports clean. Although it is not common for such a port to fail, it is also possible for one of the ports to malfunction. This is why we always recommend having a USB multimeter to test the health of the various ports.
And what solutions are there if I can’t charge the DualShock 4 from my PS4? Well, we have two. Since the USB protocol is standard in terms of power supply, you will have no problem using the corresponding cable and a USB adapter. Any of them will work for you. Another option if you’re impatient is to use a PowerBank like the one used to charge cell phones and similar devices. In any case, from experience it is not a very comfortable option when playing with our PS4, especially if we have the external battery suspended.
How does the USB charging mechanism work on the PS4?
Simply put, it is no different from any other device, so the explanation would end in that sense. However, one of the problems that high-power devices typically encounter is that USB ports are usually not active when they enter sleep mode. The reason for this is security and to prevent malware injection or in this case it can be used to load an unofficial operating system that gives access to unsigned software. In other words: piracy.
In PS4, what we call the Peripheral Controller or Southbridge is apart from the main SoC, it is governed by an ARM processor and has its own RAM memory. When the PS4 goes to sleep, it shuts down the processor and gives control to that processor, which runs its own operating system and handles things like downloading games, patches, and updates. In addition, it is when we turn on the console that it is the first device that boots up and a more advanced version of this has been merged with the custom Flash controller for SONY in the case of the PS5.
By having access to PS4 input and output devices, you also have access to USB ports. When from the console options we tell it to activate the power supply of the USB ports, what is done is to tell the CPU of the PS4 Southbridge that when it takes control, it authorizes the power supply of the USB ports.
