Required DS4Windows Drivers

It’s the Windows driver that lets your controller talk to your PC. With these drivers, you can tweak everything from button mappings to vibrations, customizing your controller your way. Some are a must to install, like the ViGEmBus driver to create a virtual controller, while others are optional, like HidHide and FakerInput.

However, sometimes these optional drivers become necessary for a hassle-free gaming experience. Let’s find out which drivers are required and which are optional to go with DS4Windows.

DS4 Drivers

Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus (ViGEmBus)

The ViGEmBus driver is the most important and must-have driver for DS4Windows. It lets the app create virtual controllers like Xbox controllers, so Windows and games think you are using a supported controller, even if your real controller is not directly supported.

HidHide

HidHide is an optional driver for DS4Windows that hides your real controller or other gamepads from the system, and only lets selected programs access them. It is very helpful for fixing double input issues caused by your real controller while using DS4Win.

FakerInput

This is an optional driver that helps DS4Windows send keyboard and mouse commands in situations where the normal method doesn’t work. Some games, especially those with anti-cheat software, block certain types of input to prevent cheating. FakerInput solves this problem. It’s useful if you play competitive games or need to control a game in situations where regular input methods don’t work.

Windows Libraries & Frameworks (Required)

Before DS4Windows can work, it needs a few essential tools from Microsoft:

.NET 6.0.6 Runtime Desktop – The foundation that DS4Windows needs to run perfectly.
Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable (x64 or x86) – It’s like a toolbox that helps the system understand the program better.
Operating System – Make sure you are on Windows 10 or newer for everything to run properly.

DS4Windows Application (Required)

Once you have all those drivers in place, it’s time to fire up DS4Windows to tweak settings, remap buttons, adjust sensitivity, and make your gamepad feel exactly how you want it in your gaming world.

Whether you want your controller to act like an Xbox gamepad or need custom vibration settings, DS4Windows can make it happen, as long as the right drivers are installed.

Legacy Drivers (Old, but Still Documented)

These older drivers are no longer needed, but let’s talk about them anyway.

HidGuardian

Before HidHide was released, HidGuardian was used for the same purpose, to hide controllers from the system and prevent double inputs. But it is now outdated and replaced by HidHide, which works better and is easier to use. DS4Windows removed this driver in version 3.0.8, so if you still have it, it’s best to remove it.

Scarlett.Crush Productions Virtual Bus Driver (ScpVBus)

ScpVBus served the same purpose of creating fake or virtual Xbox 360 controllers, but it has been replaced by ViGEmBus. It isn’t used in the current version of DS4Windows and might even cause problems, so it’s a good idea to uninstall it if it’s still floating around on your system.

How to Access the DS4Windows Driver Setup Again

If you need to reinstall or install secondary drivers in DS4Windows, you have to access the DS4Windows driver setup again, just like you did the first time you launched the tool. Follow these easy steps to bring back the setup window.

Go to the Settings Panel: Open DS4Windows and go to the Settings panel at the top.

Click the Controller/Driver Setup Button: On the right-hand side, you will notice many blue links. Look for the Controller/Driver Setup button near the bottom and click on it.

Confirm Admin Permissions: A pop-up will appear asking you for administrator permissions. Click Yes to continue.

Driver Setup Window Appears: This will open a new window showing the necessary drivers.

ViGEm Bus Driver (Required for DS4Windows to work properly).
Xbox 360 Drivers (Needed for older versions of Windows, like Windows 7; newer versions of Windows have them pre-installed).
ViGEmBus, HidHide, and FakerInput will be shown in the setup list, and you can install them directly from there.
Windows libraries like .NET and Visual C++ Redistributable won’t appear in this list. You will need to download them separately from official sources such as Microsoft’s website. Get them by clicking the link provided above.

Install Drivers and Fire Up DS4Windows: Once you have installed all the necessary drivers, go ahead and close the setup window. Now, hit that Start button in DS4Windows, and your controller, whether it’s a DS3, DS4, PS5, or any other third-party controller, should magically appear in the list (as long as it’s plugged in, of course). Time to power up and start playing.