protonscr

PS4 DS4 controller not recognized by Steam on Ubuntu 16.04

steamclosed Big PictureDistro Family: UbuntuGeneral controller / Steam Input
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#5198 · opened 2017-10-06 by Stivanification · updated 2022-03-23 · 14 comments · github
SStivanification 2017-10-06 github

system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): Built: Oct 4 2017, at 22:37:25
  • Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Ubuntu 16.04
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: [No]
  • Have you checked for system updates?: [Yes]

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

Steam does not recognize my PS4 DS4 controller. The controller is connected via Bluetooth and is recognized by the OS, which I know because it works on http://html5gamepad.com/. When I open Steam and press the PS4 button, the system enters the Big Picture Mode, however it doesn't seem to respond to any action besides that. The controller menu in the Big Picture Mode says "no controller detected". I get the exact same results when connecting the controller via USB.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Connect controller to computer via USB or Bluetooth.
  2. Start Steam.
  3. Enter Big Picture Mode.
Kkisak-valve maintainer 2017-10-06 github

Hello @Stivanification, can you give the workaround at https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/2218#issuecomment-50720454 a try?

SStivanification 2017-10-06 github

I made the dev/input/event15 file readable for everyone and executed env SDL_JOYSTICK_DEVICE=/dev/input/event15 steam, still the controller is not detected.

SSnowman3456 2017-10-30 github

For me, I am able to use the touchpad as a mouse and for clicking somehow but nothing else works.

SSnowman3456 2017-11-03 github

I reinstalled my OS and started pairing by just plugging it in via USB and it was properly detected and worked. After that I unplugged it and paired it via bluetooth. (PS4 configuration support enabled)

Still doesn't work in most games though so huge let down.

NNoctis-Bennington 2018-04-22 github

I have the same fail, but in Ubuntu 18.04. The touchpad is like a mouse for the OS, and Steam doesn't detect the device.
What we know about how to fix this?

Bbencat86 2018-10-06 github

Same here. USB and Bluetooth both work using the HTML tester, but neither are picked up by Steam.

EDIT:
I have it working now after installing ds4drv

Lleifmetcalf 2018-11-07 github

I have the same problem with the Steam beta client on a fresh install of Ubuntu 18.10. Games and http://html5gamepad.com detect the DS4, but Steam doesn't. The workaround at #2218 does not fix the issue.

Hharritaylor 2019-01-26 github

Just dropping by, I suddenly started having this issue too. Freshly installed 18.04 LTS and controller not being detected by steam despite it working previously.

Kkisak-valve maintainer 2019-01-26 github

Hello @harritaylor, do you have the steam-devices package installed?

Hharritaylor 2019-01-26 github

@kisak-valve

Hello @harritaylor, do you have the steam-devices package installed?

Hello, no - I don't think so.
hlt@ubuntu:~$ steam-devices
steam-devices: command not found
and dpkg -l | grep steam-devices returns nothing.

How do I install it? Thanks.

NNoctis-Bennington 2019-01-26 github

I guess kisak-valve was talking about the packages from the repository of Ubuntu:
"sudo apt install steam-devices"
But it didn't work (at least for me), I had to do this steps ---> https://steamcommunity.com/app/221410/discussions/0/1693795812304458372/

Kkisak-valve maintainer 2020-03-27 github

Hello, is anyone seeing this issue on an up to date system? If the distro-provided steam-devices package is out of date, then that should be mentioned to the distro's package maintainer(s) for Steam.

Kkisak-valve maintainer 2020-05-01 github

Closing pending feedback.

Ppttoth 2022-03-23 github

I've had the same problem on Linux Mint 19.3 (Tricia).
Giving read permissions and setting the environment variables didn't work.

Installing the 'steam-devices' package fixed the issue:
1: sudo apt install steam-devices
2: restart steam
3: reconnect the controller via USB