The DualShock 4 Controller is undoubtedly the best accessory that a PS4 could ever have. Despite having a slim profile, the game controller packs a lot of features that you love. For instance, the tactile buttons and the super-precise joysticks can offer a superior gaming experience. Another impressive thing about the PS4 controller would be the lightbar.
It is the simple bar on the front of the DualShock controller that shows you a variety of colors and gradients when you play a game. But have you wondered how to change PS4 controller color? If you have, you are at the right place. In this article, we have explained how to change the light bar color on your PS4 controller when connected to a PC. Without further ado, shall we start?
Why Does the Lightbar on PS4 Controller Exist?
Let’s look at the major functions of the lightbar on a DualShock PS4 controller.
The lightbar on a DualShock 4 controller is designed for two purposes:
- Indication
- Immersion
On the one hand, the lightbar can be used to indicate different aspects of your gameplay. For instance, if you are playing Grand Theft Auto 5, the lightbar will be used to indicate your wanted level. There are a few other things indicated using the lightbar, though. For instance, the color of the light bar will change according to the player’s account. For instance, if player one is using the PS4, the color will be blue. On the other hand, when the second account is logged in, the color will change to red. There are other situations as well. For example, the light bar color will change to white once you are disconnected from the PS4.
On the other hand, the color of the light bar can be used to create an immersive experience during gameplay. When you think about it, a light bar that changes its color according to your gameplay is better than a static piece of light, right? Overall, this additional feature can change the way people enjoy their favorite games. If you want to use your PS4 controller light bar for better immersion during gaming, you have many options to explore. We will talk about them in this article. For the time being, you can keep in mind that the light bar is an important part of the DualShock PS4 controller.
Now that you know the basics about the light bar on a PS4 controller, shall we talk about how to change the color of the light bar?
How to Change PS4 Controller Color?
Unfortunately, PS4 does not offer you an option to customize the color of the light. Of course, there may be a few options within PS4, but they are very limited. However, if you connect your PS4 controller to your PC, you may have a way out. When connected to a PC, third-party applications can change the light color of the PS4 controller. You can download and install one of these tools to understand the process. In most cases, it works by reassigning the keys and features. We will recommend the method using InputMapper.
InputMapper is a free tool that helps you customize how DualShock 4 and Xbox 360 controllers work with a PC environment. You can use the tool to change the behavior of the control panel, including but not limited to the color of the light bar. So, if you want to change the PS4 controller’s light color, you should have a PC with InputMapper installed on it. Once you have done it, you can proceed with the following steps.
- First, you have to make sure that you connect the DualShock PS4 controller to a USB port on your PC. The port must have power and data options, by the way.
- Now, you can launch the InputMapper app on your PC and choose Profiles from the sidebar menu
- Choose the option to create a New Profile and click on Configuration thereafter.
- Now, you can find a number of customization options on the screen. You can change the settings as we have mentioned below.
Charging Mode will change the color of the light bar when you are charging the PS4 controller.
Fully Charged Mode will alter the color shown when the PS4 controller has been fully charged. Discharging Mode will help you customize the color of the lightbar when it is being used or has a low battery.
Once you have made all the changes you want, you can click on the ‘Save’ button. InputMapper will save all the preferences and remember them when you connect the PS4 again.
As you can see, though, InputMapper does not allow you to make game-based customizations. However, if you like to see different colors on the light bar, you can try this method.
You may also have noticed that the process does not work on PlayStation 4. It means you are stuck with the default lightbar colors when the controller is connected to your PS4. On the bright side, those who use their PS4 controller on their PCs can rejoice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to change the PS4 controller color on a PC?
You can use a third-party input management app like InputMapper, which comes free of cost. This tool will help you to customize the behavior of the light bar on your PS4 controller. For instance, you can set up a few configurations that will change the colors when the controller is charging, fully charged, or discharging. Only these three options are available right now, though.
Why does the PS4 controller change its colors?
The PS4 controller may change its color for different reasons. However, the most common reason is to show a specific feature of the gameplay process. For instance, when you are playing some games, the color of the PS4 light bar will change according to the game content. Similarly, the light is used for immersion purposes as well. That is, when playing in a dark room, the PS4 controller can add value to the gaming experience.
How is the light bar of a PS4 controller helpful?
The light bar of a PS4 controller can provide a variety of information about the game you are playing and the overall PS4 experience. For instance, you can understand the battery level of the controllers without going to Settings. There are also options to alert you when you have been disconnected from the game or the PS4 device. And, as we said, you can change the PS4 controller color change settings to control the colors you see.
Conclusion
What do you think about the way to change the colors of the PS4 controller light bar? Do you think it will be helpful in creating a better gameplay environment? Do let us know through your comments.
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