If you’re looking for DS4Windows alternatives, you’ve come to the right place. For anyone wanting to exploit the full potential of their PS4 controller or any other gamepad for that matter, these programs should definitely do the trick.
They act as a wrapper for Sony Dualshock and other gamepads and let you control your keyboard and mouse input with them.
This way, you can play any PC game using these devices regardless of whether it supports controller input or not.
Although most of them are meant for Windows machines, do keep an eye out for one that can also be used on your Linux computers.
A few of these software are open source and free so you need not be worried if you’re strapped for cash. That said, let’s get going with this list of alternatives to DS4Windows.
1 – JoyToKey
The first one among these alternatives gives you the ability to use DS4 gamepads with Windows PC games that don’t have native controller support.
It does that by allowing any connected game controller to emulate the inputs of your keyboard commands and mouse controls.
Hence, you can even use your controllers in Windows applications. JoyToKey is a shareware that you can download for free right now.
It’s easy to use and features a straightforward user interface for letting you map your DS4 gamepad keys.
2 – Steam Big Picture Mode
If you play your game titles via Steam, this is one more among the DS4Windows alternatives you should consider before downloading anything else.
Agreed, the Big Picture Mode has faced more hate than love, but its presence means you don’t have to download any additional software whatsoever for using everything from a DualShock 4 controller to a Nintendo Switch Pro gamepad.
With this program, you don’t even need to go through that extra step of mapping keyboard keys and mouse movements to the software as both are supported natively.
The Steam Big Picture Mode also allows you to extensively customize your game controller layout.
But as you may imagine, it doesn’t let you use your gamepad on non-Steam games, which is a bummer.
3 – Pinnacle Game Profiler
This one’s another DS4 alternative that has been tailored to help those who play Windows PC games that don’t have native gamepad support.
And the best part about Pinnacle Game Profiler is its flexibility, which enables you to create separate game profiles for different games and controllers.
This is a great addition, especially if you’re playing video games from different genres that need a distinct mapping of controls.
However, the huge flexibility of Pinnacle Game Profiler also means that you need to spend some time setting up all the keyboard and mouse commands for your games, so be prepared for that.
4 – Xpadder
Xpadder is a decent keyboard and mouse emulation tool for Windows that will satisfy your game controller needs. It can also handle multiple controllers.
No wonder it boasts of over 4 million downloads to date. This tool has a highly intuitive interface, which makes it really easy to get going with mapping your keyboard and mouse controls.
5 – DS4Tool
DS4Tool is the perfect alternative for the sole reason that it offers detailed customization options.
So while DS4Windows can be considered a beginner’s software, DS4Tool is something that power users can make the most of.
This tool provides you with fine-grained control over a range of joystick input settings. These include rumble intensity and touchpad sensitivity for touch, tapping, and scrolling.
Its easy interface features the ability to remap keyboard buttons and mouse controls and seeing the changes in real-time.
However, one major drawback of DS4Tool is its inability to support auto-connect and disconnect.
6 – Antimicro
Antimicro is another brilliant program that makes it easy to map different controls to a gamepad with your Windows PC.
This program gives you a wide variety of options so you can also use controllers that may not be compatible right off the bat.
It boasts of a simple interface that won’t take you much time to get used to.
The program also comes with the ability to add buttons and specific paths to make things more convenient.
Moreover, it boasts of the ability to save several configurations to load them when needed from the toolbar at the top of the screen. It’s available to download free of cost.
7 – ScpToolkit
ScpToolkit is a Windows driver and XInput wrapper for Sony DualShock 3/4 controller. In order to make this program work, you need the Xbox 360 controller driver and you’re good to go. USB cable as well as Bluetooth connections are supported by ScpToolkit.
Moreover, it even supports different controllers at the same time, allowing you to play together with your friends if they have brought a PS3 or an Xbox 360 controller along.
One major drawback of this Windows driver and XInput wrapper is that it’s no longer maintained by its makers.
8 – Keysticks
Keysticks is marketed not just as an XInput tool for playing games but as something that can be useful for doing a lot more with your DualShock 4 controller, or your Xbox controller, or any compatible gamepad, for that matter.
Keysticks has been tailored to make it easy for you to perform other functions like controlling your music, giving PowerPoint presentations, and more.
Keysticks is packed with rich features and is designed by an expert team. You should definitely check it out if you’re searching for DS4Windows alternatives.
9 – QJoyPad
Unlike Keysticks, this tool is meant for you if you’re a Linux user. The Linux-based tool will work on XWindows systems and grant you the same benefits that any other alternatives offer.
It gives you the advantage of multiple saved layouts for PlayStation or Xbox controllers so you can have separate settings for every video game you play.
The tool is easy to use as it auto-detects how many joysticks you have and how many buttons and axes each supports.
Moreover, this Linux utility can even detect game controllers on the fly without restarting. QJoyPad holds the ability to adjust the sensitivity of every axis independently.
10 – InputMapper
This particular gamepad mapper comes with the ability to work with PS4 and Xbox 360 controllers.
It’s known for being adept at LED light tuning and creating hardware macros. InputMapper also gives you access to touchpad settings through its really neat user interface.
This keyboard and mouse mapper is free, which does mean that there are ads embedded here and there.
InputMapper allows you to test several gaming devices and find the one that works best for the games you play on your Windows machines.
This enables you to easily input the software to play any PC game with your favorite device.
Website
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is DS4Windows open source?
Yes, DS4Windows indeed is an open source program that allows you to get the best experience while using a DualShock 4 controller on your Windows PC.
Q. Does DS4Windows add input lag?
If you connect your video game controller to your PC through a USB cable, lag is negligible, but Bluetooth connections are known to offer a laggy experience.
Q. Is DS4Windows a virus?
No, DS4Windows is not a virus or malware and won’t affect your Windows PC negatively.
Q. How do I use DS4Windows?
The process of setting up your PS4 controller with DS4Windows is pretty straightforward as you’ll notice after reading the tutorial on its download page.
