How to Fix PS VR2 Controller Not Pairing? (Easy Steps!)

We understand how frustrating it is when the PS VR2 controller not pairing, leaving you stuck before the game even begins.

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

The reason behind your controller’s pairing issue can vary heavily–from improper charging to permissions-related issues.

The troubleshooting involves trying a lot of different things, and this is exactly what we’ll be doing today.

Without further ado, let’s get started!

PS VR2 Controller Not Pairing – Fixed in Less Than 5 Minutes!

Note: Proceed with the steps from the guide consecutively!

1. Set Up the Controller Correctly

Your PlayStation 5 might have failed to detect your controller due to improper initial pairing.

So, it’s important to stick with the initial pairing instructions issued by Sony.

This will help you to correctly pair and register both PSVR 2 controllers.

Here’s how to initially set up a PSVR 2 controller:

1. Turn on your PS5 console and ensure it’s running.
2. Now, plug the controller’s USB cable into your PS5.
3. Connect the other end of the cable to the controller.
4. Next, single-press the “PS” button on the controller.
5. Wait until the LED illuminates and the device pairs.

If the controller is charged to maximum capacity and your PlayStation 5 is running, the setup should happen in under 5 seconds.

Similar to the DualSense’s pairing procedure, the LED on the PSVR 2 controller will illuminate and the device’s pairing profile will appear shortly after.

2. Switch to Another PS5 User

If the PSVR 2 controllers were used through multiple profiles on your PlayStation 5, there might be a permissions-related problem.

If the controllers were last paired to “User 1” and now you’re logged in as “User 2”, you should switch back to “User 1” and test.

• You can use the “Switch User” button, available after clicking on your PS5’s profile icon.

Although your PS5’s accessories connect locally and typically don’t have anything to do with the users and profiles on your console, there could be account-specific device permissions. 

Quick Tip: If your controllers were connected to a user who’s no longer signed in, try signing in and out of that account.

3. Fully Charge the Controllers

The leading reason why the PSVR 2 controller won’t pair is because of insufficient battery.

Both of your controllers require approximately 1.5 hours to charge from 0% up to maximum capacity using the provided USB cable or the PSVR 2 controller charging station.

How to Know if the PS VR Controller is Charging?

Your controller’s status will start slowly blinking in white, for as long as the battery is charging.

Unplugging the USB cable prematurely or removing the controller from the base station before the 1.5-hour mark is bad for your controller’s battery.

How to Know if the PS VR Controller is Charged?

Once the controller is charged to maximum capacity, the LED light should stop blinking and turn blank.

This is the indication to remove your controller from the base station or unplug it from the USB and pair it with your console.

Tip: We recommend charging the controller for an extra 30–40 minutes!

4. Delete the Controller’s Profile

If your PSVR 2 controller was registered once, re-adding the profile from “Accessories” could help with the pairing problem.

This applies to controllers that used to connect but are no longer recognized by your PlayStation 5 console.

Here’s how to re-add the controller’s profile:

1. Go to “Settings” on your PlayStation 5.
2. Scroll down to “Accessories” in the tab.
3. Access the “General” tab from the page.
4. Navigate to “Bluetooth Accessories”.
5. Highlight your left or right VR controller.
6. Press “OK” and then “Delete” in the tab.
7. Repeat for the remaining controller unit.

Now, follow the instructions in step #1 to pair your PSVR 2 controller and recreate the profile.

5. Allow the Controllers to Update

Sony releases updates for your PSVR 2 controllers on a monthly and even weekly basis, so it’s important to always have the latest OS version. 

Updating the controllers doesn’t require you to do anything specific, apart from connecting them to your console over the supplied USB connector. 

How to Know if Controller Needs to Update?

If you press the PS button on your controller and the LED blinks 6 consecutive times, it means there’s a pending firmware update.

However, controllers do not update wirelessly and in order to start the update, they must be connected over USB.

How Long Do PSVR 2 Controllers Update?

The average time each of your controllers needs to update is approximately ~30 seconds, once they have been connected over USB.

Hence, we also recommend double-checking the internet connection status of the PS5 console, as the update must be downloaded from Sony’s servers. 

6. Hard Reset the PlayStation 5

A hard reset of your PS5 might help with underlying pairing issues with either of your PSVR 2 controllers.

All you have to do is disconnect the PS5’s adapter for an uncertain amount of time and wait until the electrical supply drains.

This won’t erase anything, just restart the console OS.

• Disconnect the PS5’s adapter from both ends for approximately 60 seconds.

In the meantime, check if the adapter is in good condition and remove any third-party equipment from the setup of your PlayStation 5. 

We know how challenging it can be to use a separate outlet for your PS5, but it’s always better to have a direct connection.

In case of power issues, the PS5 USB ports might be undervolted.

7. Check for Any Charging Issues

Whether you use the charging station or USB adapter, your PSVR 2 controllers may often run into problems with the charging.

If not recognized in time, a charging problem can render your controller entirely unusable, and you won’t be able to tell, since the light would be off anyways.

How to Check for Base Station Charging Issues?

Follow these steps if you use a base station to charge the controllers:

• Check if the base station’s cable is secured on both ends.
• Connect the base station to an alternative electrical outlet.
• Remove third-party equipment from the base station setup.
• Inspect the base station for contact obstructions or debris.

How to Check for USB Charging Issues?

Follow these steps if you use a USB to charge the controllers:

• Check if your USB cable is secured with the PlayStation 5.
• Double-check if the USB cable has sustained any damage.
• Try using an alternative cable to charge the controller unit.
• Tip: Use an adapter to charge the controllers via an outlet.

There are individual LED indicators on the base station for each of your controllers, indicating the charging status.

The lamp will be orange while your controllers are charging and then turn solid blue once the maximum charge has been reached.

8. Update & Recover the PS5 OS

If the PS VR2 controller not pairing even after attempting all previous solutions, the issue may be on a software level.

That’s why we recommend first updating your PS5’s OS and if the issue is still there, straightforwardly performing a factory reset.

You can manually check for updates on your PS5 but don’t forget that the console must remain stably connected to the internet during the procedure.

So, let’s start with an update first!

How to Update PS5’s Firmware Version?

1. Navigate to “Settings” on your PlayStation 5.
2. Access the “System” page from the options.
3. Go to “System Software Update and Settings”.
4. Now, select “Update System Software” to start.

Note: If your PS5 starts updating, the console will be temporarily unavailable!

How to Factory Reset a PS5?

1. Navigate to “Settings” from the PS5’s homepage.
2. Then, navigate to “System” → “System Software”.
3. Select “Reset Options” then “Reset Your Console”.
4. Confirm the reset and wait until the device resets.

Warning: The factory reset will erase ALL data on your PS5 and could last for up to 3 minutes!