This article explains how to connect a PS3 controller to a Windows PC computer using the SCP toolkit program.
Steps
Step 1. Turn on the controller and connect it to the computer
Plug the smaller connector of the USB cable you use to charge the device into the communication port on the Sony controller, then plug the other end of the cable into a USB port on your computer.
- To turn on the controller, press the "PS" button located in the center of the DualShock 3.
- The location of the USB ports varies depending on your computer model. If you can't locate a USB port, examine the sides or back of the case (in the case of a desktop system), otherwise check along the sides of the case in the case of a laptop.
- If you want to connect the controller to your computer using a wireless adapter, you will first need to install all the drivers and software for this add-on. After connecting the adapter to your computer, be sure to follow any on-screen instructions to complete the installation and setup.
- If the controller is paired with the PS3, you must first unplug the console.
Step 2. Visit the SCP Toolkit program website
SCP Toolkit acts as an interface for the PS3 controller, so that it can communicate easily with the computer allowing you to use it as a gaming device for any video game, for example those provided by the Steam platform.
Step 3. Click on the "ScpToolkit_Setup.exe" link
It is the first link visible in the "Assets" section of the page. In this way, the program installation file will be downloaded in the default folder where all the files coming from the internet are saved (for example the PC desktop).
Make sure you download the latest and most updated version of the software. If the page refers to an older version of the program, you will find the green "Latest Release" link on the left side of the browser
Step 4. Double-click the program installation file
It features a PS3 controller icon. By default, you can open files you download from the web directly from your browser window by accessing the "Downloads" folder.
Step 5. Install the ScpToolKit program
If the installation wizard informs you that the required requirements have not been met, click on the button Next until the installation of all necessary components starts. If not, proceed to install the program by following these instructions:
- Click on the check button "I agree to the License terms and conditions";
- Click on the button Next;
- Click on the button Install;
- Click on the button Yup if requested.
Step 6. Double-click the ScpToolkit Driver Installer program
It is stored in the folder where you installed the SCP Toolkit program and is characterized by an icon depicting a USB cable.
Step 7. Uncheck the "Install DualShock 4 Controller" checkbox
It is located on the left side of the driver installation window. Since you want to use a PS3 controller (for example a DualShock 3), you don't need to install the drivers for the PS4 controllers as well.
- Also uncheck the "Bluetooth" checkbox if you are using a wired controller and not a wireless device.
- As a general rule, you should deselect the check buttons for any components you don't need.
- If you are using Windows Vista, you will need to select the "Force Driver Installation" check button, displayed in the central part of the left side of the window.
Step 8. Click the "Choose DualShock 3 Controllers to Install" checkbox
It is displayed on the right side of the installation window. This way, you will be able to select your controller.
Step 9. Select the "Wireless Controller" option
A list of all devices connected to the computer will be displayed (for example keyboard, mouse, webcam, etc.). The PS3 controller has the name "Wireless Controller (Interface [number])", where the number identifies the USB port you connected it to.
If you are using a wireless controller, you will need to select the USB adapter you are using to allow the controller to connect to the computer listed in the "Bluetooth" section; will be visible above the "DualShock 3 Controllers" drop-down menu
Step 10. Click the Install button
It is located on the right side of the driver installation window. The SCP Toolkit program will install the controller drivers. This step should take less than 5 minutes to complete on any type of Windows computer.
- When the installation is finished, you will be notified by an acoustic signal.
- At this point, the drivers for the controller have been installed on your computer and you can start using the DualShock 3 to play your favorite video games.
Advice
- The procedure described in the article also works for the PS4 controller. However, you'll first need to unpair the controller from the console using the PS4's Settings menu. Next, you'll need to install the DualShock 4 drivers and select the DualShock 4 controller option, rather than the DualShock 3 option, during the setup process.
- In case of difficulty or if error messages appear on the screen, try uninstalling and reinstalling the SCP toolkit program. When reinstalling it, be sure to include all required components (regardless of whether you may need them in the future) and select the "Force Driver Installation" check button when installing the drivers.
- When you open the Windows "Game Controllers" window (which you can access by typing the command "joy.cpl" in the "Open" field of the "Run" window), the PS3 controller will be displayed as if it were a normal Xbox 360 controller. This is because the Xbox 360 controller is natively supported by Windows, unlike the PS3 controller.
