How To Turn Off Your PS5 Controller Using Phone, PC, or TV

Turning off your PS5 DualSense controller can feel kinda weird, especially when you’re trying to conserve battery or just stuff it into your bag. Sometimes, it stays on even after you’re done gaming, which is annoying because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. So, here’s a rundown of what kinda worked for me—note that on some setups, this fails the first time, then works after a reboot or a second try.

Step 1: Disconnect the Controller from Your Phone

This is the first move—if your controller is still paired with your phone, it’ll keep waking up and staying connected. So you gotta disconnect it properly. The exact steps depend on whether you’re on Android or iOS, but basically, it’s about telling your device to forget that controller for now.

For Android Users:

Open Settings and go to Bluetooth.
Find “DualSense Wireless Controller” or “Wireless Controller” in the list.
Tap the gear icon or the three dots next to it, then hit Disconnect or Unpair.

If that doesn’t stick or it reconnects automatically, try toggling Bluetooth off and on again or rebooting your phone. Sometimes, Android just wants to be stubborn.

For iOS Users:

Head to Settings > Bluetooth.
Spot “DualSense Wireless Controller” under My Devices.
Tap the “i” icon, then choose Disconnect or even Forget This Device.

Not sure why, but on certain iOS versions, the controller keeps reconnecting unless you explicitly remove it from the device list. Sometimes, a reboot of the iPhone helps clear out any ghost pairing.

Step 2: Power Off the Controller

Once you’re disconnected, it’s time to actually turn it off. The way to do this is holding down the PS button (that big central one) for about 10–15 seconds. If you’re lucky, the light bar around the touchpad will go completely dark—that means it shut down. Honestly, not sure why it’s so inconsistent, but sometimes you gotta hold longer or wiggle the timing a bit.

Step 3: Perform a Hard Reset if Necessary

If holding the PS button doesn’t kill it, then you might need to do a hard reset—kind of like rebooting it manually. There’s a tiny reset button on the back of the controller, near the L2 trigger.

Use a paperclip or similar tool to press and hold that tiny button inside the pinhole for 3–5 seconds. Then, wait for a second or two—sometimes, the controller just powers down and resets everything, especially if it’s being particularly stubborn.

Extra Tips & Common Issues

If your controller keeps reconnecting after power off, make sure you actually disconnect from the device, not just turn it off in the usual way. Also, double-check that your controller has enough charge—sometimes, a dead battery causes weird issues. Resetting by pressing that tiny button on the back can also fix unresponsive controllers. Honestly, on a few setups, I’ve had to do this repeatedly before it finally behaves.

Conclusion

Basically, disconnect first, hold the PS button long enough, and reset if needed. That combo usually works to turn off a PS5 DualSense controller, whether it’s linked to a phone, PC, or TV. Hope this helps someone dodge the same frustration I had. Less battery drain, more gaming—sounds good to me.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my controller doesn’t turn off?

If it refuses to turn off after holding the PS button, try pressing that tiny reset button on the back with a paperclip. Usually, that clears up the connection and powers it down.

Can I turn off the controller without disconnecting it?

Yeah, just hold PS for about 10–15 seconds, whether it’s connected or not, and it should turn off. Not guaranteed to work all the time, but it’s worth a shot.

How do I know if my controller is off?

The light bar will go completely dark when it’s powered down. If it’s still lit, it’s probably still on or in standby mode.

Summary

Disconnect from Bluetooth before powering down.
Hold the PS button for 10–15 seconds to turn it off.
If that doesn’t work, press the tiny reset pinhole on the back.
Make sure your controller isn’t almost dead – charge it up if needed.

Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Fingers crossed this helps.