Topic: PS4 Controllers will not charge / only turn on when connected to a USB

title ^ but yeah it doesn't turn on at all until I plug it in and then it only lasts about 1.5 seconds. I bought a new charger today, still doesn't work, and I have also tried it on 3 different ps4 controllers that were all working and suddenly stopped. I don't know how to fix this, If you have any help you could give me please share <3 thanks.

The same thing happened to one of my PS3 controllers. Not sure how to fix it though...

Sounds like the USB port might be bad and for that you would have to contact Sony and send it in for repair. Either that or buy a new system.

This happened to my original PS4 controller. I must've bought about 4 different charge cables because I kept getting a '?' symbol in the charge icon. In the end I had to buy a new controller because it wouldn't charge.

I have had that happen a number of times over the years with the DS3 - not so much the DS4 as they don't seem to last as long before some other issue crops up. I am not entirely sure what is the cause. It can't be the USB cable or the ports on either end as the controller will work perfectly fine wired but will not 'charge' or hold a charge. I always put it down to the fact that rechargeable batteries have a shelf life and can only be charged a certain number of times etc. Its one of my biggest gripes with the 'built in' rechargeable battery idea. Yes it may be 'convenient' and aesthetically more 'slimline' - but when the battery fails, you have to go wired or replace the whole controller.

As much as I know some will disagree and yet again, I am praising 'Xbox' but the battery compartment is one thing I really think makes much more sense. Yes it can cost a lot more in 'batteries' and add weight, but that also increases the time you can play. Standard AA Duracells (for example) I found to last the longest. However there are rechargeable AA's you can buy/use which are a LOT cheaper than a new controller so you get the benefit of both rechargeability and flexibility as you can use AA's in multiple devices - these didn't last as long as Duracells in my experience but still a LOT longer than a DS4 charge. Then of course there are plug and charge batteries - built specifically for the Xbox controller which lasted me around the same, maybe more hours than AA rechargeables but still 4-5x longer than a DS4 charge. Also when any of these rechargeable batteries lose their ability to charge or hold a charge, they can cheaply (compared to the cost of a new controller) be replaced. Essentially an Xbox controller can have all the benefits of a rechargeable (i.e. no faffing around trying to find AA's at short notice and the cost of buying batteries regularly) etc. Also if you have a 'custom' controller, like the 20yr anniversary or equivalent, at some point, that controller will be 'useless' unless you take it apart and replace the battery - if you can where as with an Xbox, you can simply replace the batteries with a variety of different and readily available options anytime. Of course assuming its just a 'battery' issue and not a 'broken' thumbstick for example.

Anyway, I digress, it may well be a battery issue inside you DS4 rather than a cable/port. The fact it works perfectly when wired would indicate to me that either the battery has 'died' and therefore not registering as connected or some 'wire' or circuit inside the controller that links the port to the battery has broken/come loose.

It can't be the ports themselves or the cable as the controller is using the USB perfectly fine to draw power to work.

@BAMozzy you know how you can buy a plug and play kit for the XB1, i think that all consoles and controllers should come with a similar thing (instead of having to buy it separately) a rechargeable battery that can be removed and replaced when damaged but also leaves you able to use normal batteries if you need too

@Tasuki it can't be the USB port as his controller wouldn't receive power when plugged in.

@FullbringIchigo I agree!!!

Ya can swap out the batteries. It's a little fiddly, especially with the touch pad, but if the controller is past warranty, it may be a cheaper option, and bring it back to life once more... Did this myself and once reconnected, all was fine

@dellyrascal That's assuming you have or can readily buy a replacement battery and willing to take a controller apart, without damaging any or losing any of the springs, wires etc as you separate the two halves. Then of course you have to put it all back together and hope everything works or even if that was the issue. It really cannot compare to the ease that MS has with their controllers. You have 3 options just for batteries as well as the option to play 'wired'. You have standard AA's, rechargeable AA's and the rechargeable pack and to change any of these, if you needed to, is so simple. How much is a pack of 4 rechargeable AA's? You can have 2 charged and ready as well as 2 in the controller. They last longer than a DS4 battery too. I use the Play and Charge Battery packs with my XB1 and, even with a headset plug in, these last 'days' yet if I play on my PS4, its 'hours'. I often end up having to plug my controller in to keep playing as most of my 'sessions' are long. I cannot play a 'normal' for me session without needing to plug my controller in yet I can play days and days wirelessly. I spent 10-12hrs yesterday in Destiny - started with a full charge and my battery icon after this was down by about 20%. If I tried to do that on PS4, I would need to swap controllers or plug it in after 4-5hrs - less if I use my headset too - and yes that's with the light on low but with full rumble and speaker on.

Anyway, that's irrelevant to the topic. It may be a faulty battery or some loose connection thats stopping the battery charging but it cannot be the ports or the cable because there is power getting to the controller and works too. Swapping the battery isn't an easy process - even if you could readily purchase a spare.

@BAMozzy Fair point regards the controller, although even with my rather cumbersome hands, I did manage it, but it is very fiddly.

Regards the Xbox pads, you are preaching to the converted on that one, i loved the 360 controller, just for having the extra option(s) for powering them and the life was alot longer than anything i have had since too.. would be nice to have the option on the DS4 and have in general a sturdier controller all around

@dellyrascal I know it maybe 'familiar' and 'popular' with a few people but if you say something like 'adding a 'battery' compartment to the DS would greatly improve the options - a lot of Sony Fanboys get very defensive over the 'rechargeability' of their controller and bring up the cost of 'batteries' over a year (or more) and how many 'games' extra they can buy because they are not buying 'batteries'

I haven't bought 'batteries' as such for 'years' for my controllers although I admit I do have packs of rechargeables and bought a couple of rechargeable packs - but those have cost less than replacing a 'whole' controller that the battery doesn't work/hold charge for long etc. I find myself having to scramble to grab a 'charged' controller or find the USB cable to keep playing much more frequent with a DS than I do with any Xbox controller.