How to turn off PS5 controller

(Image credit: Future)

Knowing how to turn off your PS5 controller is essential if you want to prolong its battery life.

With its advanced functionality, the PS5’s DualSense controller brings a lot to the table, as anybody who’s played through the bundled Astro’s Playroom game will know. The flipside is that its advanced haptics and adaptive triggers may leave you worried about getting the most from its 1,560mAh battery.

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Turning off the PS5 controller is a little different from previous generations, but if you’re leaving your console to download updates, then you’ll want to preserve battery life as much as possible. Here’s how to turn off the PS5 controller until you need it.

How to turn off PS5 controller

1. Activate Control Center

Press the middle PlayStation button on the PS5 DualSense pad. It’s the one nestled between the two analogue sticks.

how to turn off PS5 controller — find accessories menu — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

Scroll down to the bottom row and look for the "Accessories" option. It’s the one which has a gamepad and a battery meter pictured. Press X on it.

3. Select the DualSense you want to turn off

How to turn off PS5 controller — select DualSense — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

The menu will show every accessory currently connected to the PS5. The DualSense will be labelled “Wireless Controller,” so press it with X.

4. Press "Turn Off"

How to turn off PS5 controller — select turn off — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

Press "Turn Off" and the pad will shut down.

How to make the PS5 controller automatically shut down faster

Of course, the DualSense pad can be set to shut down of its own accord if it’s not used for a while. Here is how you set this up:

1. Go to your PS5’s settings

How to turn off PS5 controller — go to settings — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

From the home screen, navigate to the small cog-shaped icon in the top right-hand corner.

2. Select “System”

How to turn off PS5 controller - select system — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

Scroll down the submenu until you find “System” in the bottom half of the list.

3. Scroll down to “Power Saving”

How to turn off PS5 controller — find power saving — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

Select “Power Saving” in the new submenu — it’s the second-to-last item on the list.

4. Set the time of your choosing

How to turn off PS5 controller — set time — (Image credit: Alan Martin)

Select “Set Time Until Controller Turn Off”, then pick the time of your choosing. You can have the DualSense shut down after 10, 30 or 60 minutes, or choose to have it remain on at all times.

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Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth time.