How to turn off your PS5 controller

⚡ Fast fix

• Turn it off quickly: Press and hold the PS button for 10–15 seconds until the light bar shuts off.
• Use console settings: Go to Settings > Accessories > Wireless Controller > Turn Off.
• Enable auto shutoff: Adjust power-saving settings so the controller turns off after inactivity.

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You love the convenience of wirelessly connecting your PS5® controller to and gaming from the couch. There's just one problem—the device's battery life is under 12 hours, which you can easily blow through in a week. To get the most out of the battery, you need to learn how to turn off the PS5 controller when you're not using it.

Asurion Experts keep your favorite gaming devices running smoothly. From resolving PS5 controller drift to fixing other common PS5 problems, count on us for a straightforward solution. Here's how to turn a PS5 controller off, whether you're using the console, a PC, or a mobile device.

Use your console settings to manage controller power

If you're pairing your DualSense™ controller with the PS5 console, you'll want to know two things: how to power it down and how to implement energy-saving rules.

Turning off the controller from the console

Your controller should turn off automatically when it's connected to the PS5 and you shut down the console. However, if you need to turn off the controller while the PS5 is still on, you can take these steps:

1. Press the PS button.
2. Select Accessories > Wireless Controller.
3. Select your controller from the available options.
4. Select Turn Off.

You'll know the controller is off when the light bar dims, and you can no longer navigate the settings.

Manage power save settings

What if you're interrupted in the middle of a game and forget to turn off the controller? That's where the power saving options come in handy. Properly configured, your controller will automatically shut down if it doesn't detect any activity over a period of time. Here's how to set this up:

1. Select Settings from the PS5 home screen.
2. Select System > Power Saving > Set Time Until Controllers Turn Off.
3. Select a time period.

PlayStation® provides three power save time options: 10, 30, and 60 minutes. Choosing 10 minutes offers the best battery conservation. However, you can select a longer time period if you find that too short.

Turn off your controller without using a PS5 console

You can connect your PS5 controller with a PC, Mac, or mobile device. This allows you to play games saved to your computer or on the go. However, these devices don't offer auto-shutdown, so it's important to power down the controller when you're done.

To turn off your PS5 when not using the console, press and hold the PS button until the light bar shuts off. This usually takes 10–15 seconds. You can use the same process for multiple PS5 controllers connected to the same computer or other device.

What to do if your PS5 controller won't turn off

You've followed the steps to turn off your controller, but it refuses to power down. If you're stuck in this situation, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try.

Reset your controller

Any electrical device can glitch, including a DualSense controller. To get it back to its regular operational state, try resetting it with these steps:

1. Power down the PS5 console.
2. Unplug any cables connected to the controller.
3. Locate the reset button on the controller. It's a small hole placed next to the Sony® logo on the back.
4. Use a paperclip, pin, or similar tool to press the reset button for at least five seconds.
5. Turn the console back on and wait for your controller to light up. Then try powering it down through the Accessories menu.

Restore the PS5 default settings

If your controller and PS5 won't turn off, try resetting your console settings to their defaults. This process eliminates settings that interfere with your device's performance, but it won't delete any account information or game data. Take these steps to restore PS5 settings:

1. Go to the home screen and select Settings > System.
2. Select System Software > Reset Options > Restore Default Settings.
3. Select Restore.

You'll see a list of the settings affected by the restore before the process begins. Note any customized settings you may want to adjust later.

Update your PS5 system software

PlayStation releases occasional updates to its console software. These updates correct bugs and introduce new features. If you haven't installed a recent update, you may experience problems with the controller and PS5 console. To download available updates, take these steps:

1. Navigate to Settings > System.
2. Select System Software > System Software Update and Settings.
3. Select Update System Software if it's available.

Your PS5 console will shut down and restart after installing the update. Once it's done, check if you can turn off the controller through the Accessories menu.