A vibrating PS4 controller can interrupt your gaming session, which can be pretty frustrating. When you notice that your controller is vibrating when it shouldn’t, you need to resolve the problem as soon as possible. But before you do so, you need to know the reason for the vibration. Hence the question; why is my PS4 controller vibrating?
Several things could be causing your controller to keep vibrating in the middle of your gaming session:
1) Pairing Issue/Damaged Rumble Motor.
2) Insufficient Space.
3) Software Glitch or Corrupted Data.
4) Interference from Another Device.
5) Bad Battery.
We discuss all these in detail below and provide useful tips to troubleshoot the problems. Continue reading to learn and resolve the annoying vibrating issue once and for all.
5 Reasons Why Your PS4 Controller Is Vibrating
Reason #1: Pairing Issue/Damaged Rumble Motor
A damaged rumble motor can make your PS4 controller vibrate continuously. Check for this by opening up the unit and looking at the motor. You’ll have to go for a replacement if it’s damaged. The good thing is that you can purchase a replacement rumble motor online or from your local electronics store.
It’s also possible that some pairing problem has caused your unit to vibrate. Disconnect and then reconnect the controller to your console to rule out this possibility. Here’s how to disconnect your PS4 controller:
- Go to “Settings” and then “Devices”.
- Choose the “Bluetooth devices”.
- Click on the green circle next to the controller and then hit the “Forget Device” button.
- Press and hold the power button of your PS4 for 5 to 10 seconds to turn it off.
You now need to reconnect your PS4 controller – hopefully, the problem will disappear. Follow these steps:
- Connect the controller to your PS4 via a USB cable.
- Power on your console and allow it to boot up.
- Press and hold the pairing button for about 8 seconds.
The light should flash and then go solid to indicate that your controller is paired. That should do the magic and resolve the vibrating issue.
Reason #2: Insufficient Space
Insufficient space can also cause your unit to vibrate. Delete any apps or files that you’re not using to free up space on your PS4’s hard drive:
- Start by checking your console’s library; are there files or apps you don’t use often?
- Uninstall them one by one.
- Restart the console once you’ve uninstalled all of the files and apps you don’t need currently.
Reason #3: Software Glitch or Corrupted Data
A software issue such as corrupted data or glitch can cause make your PS4 console vibrate. You can start by performing a scan to identify any corrupted files and resolve the issue. Another essential step you need to take is to check for any available controller updates.
Checking for updates is especially useful if using an outdated PS4 controller model. That’s because it could be causing compatibility issues with the latest edition of the PS4 software. In that case, you might require updating the controller firmware. Follow these steps:
- Go to “Settings”.
- Choose the “Devices” option.
- Click on the “Controllers” button and check for updates.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to install any updates available.
You can also try checking if one of your games needs an update. Go to the “Library” and select the game you were playing when the vibration started.
The vibrating issue could also be with your PS4 console. In that case, a reset will do the trick. Here are the steps to follow:
- Go to “Settings”.
- Navigate to “Initialization” and then “Initialize PS4”.
- Choose “Full” and then click “Yes”.
That should reset the controller settings to their factory defaults.
A factory restore will delete your settings and data. Make sure you back up important data before initiating the process.
Reason #4: Interference from Another Device
Interference from another device like a wireless headset or Bluetooth speaker can also cause the vibration issue (although rare). If you suspect that this might be causing the problem, remove the other device away from the PS4 console. The controller should stop vibrating if indeed that was the cause.
Reason #5: Bad Battery
If the issue is with the hardware, it could also be a bad battery or loose connection. Remove the battery and then reinstall it. Does the problem persist?
A battery that has started wearing out can cause many issues, including the vibrating issue. So, here’s what to do:
- Remove the battery from the unit
- Try charging it with a battery charger for a while
- If the battery doesn’t charge, you’ll know it’s damaged and need replacement.
You can purchase a PS4 controller replacement battery from reputable online retailers or local electronics stores.
Conclusion
In our article above, we answered your question: why is my PS4 controller vibrating? We’ve learned that many things could be causing the vibration issue in your unit. These include pairing issues, damaged rumble motor, damaged battery, insufficient space, etc.
Moreover, we’ve provided easy troubleshooting tips for each possible reason, and we hope you’ve been able to resolve the problem. If not, we recommend you seek the help of a professional as it might be a serious hardware problem. Alternatively, you can buy a new PS4 controller – hopefully, it won’t get to that.
