Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) Console Logo
Posted on Oct 16, 2007
Answered by a Fixya Expert

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PS3 controller Problem

Hello

My PS3 pad seems to have gone crazy, at first it worked when it was wireless, but now after i have charged it , it wont work without having the USB cable connected into the Ps3. When i press the PS button to turn the controller on ( without the usb ) the four red lights just flash the eventually stops flashing!

any ideas

  • 24 more comments 
  • MR LEXUS Dec 09, 2007

    Hi,ive got the same problem as jamie also once the controller has connected 2 the port WITH the usb cable because it wont connect without it otherwise it will work for the first 2minutes with any game and then all the lights on the controller will start to flash and it will stop working.Ive got to switch off the ps3 and start it again,going through the same process all over again

  • Anonymous Dec 29, 2007

    when i just bought the ps3 every thing was working good but now my conttroler has to be pluged in every time to assing it

    and when i put assincreed in some times it pause's and for the amont off money the thing cost sony should atleast give us more imformation on the sestyem set up sreen all this probblems and us byers get only one year warrenty sony disapionts me




  • Anonymous Dec 29, 2007

    Controllers wont connect with out usb leed.

  • DC1523 Jan 09, 2008

    Everything was gravy until lately my controllers go nuts until i plug them in...kind of gay considering there are WIRELESS!!!

  • sin2thebad Jan 20, 2008

    my controller wont work unless it is pluged in via usb?

  • gus08 Feb 03, 2008

    i have the exact same problem i thought it was my controller so i bought a new one and it does the same thing

  • Anonymous Feb 24, 2008

    When i connect the controller into playstation the red lights start flashing and then go off. The screen keeps saying that the usb control is not connected but it is. This is a very expensive console and for it to give problems in less than a week is unacceptable.

  • boxingchamp Mar 24, 2008

    my ps3 controller used to work when wireless but now the analogue sticks don't work properly i tried to go back to usb connection but it still don't work i'm going back to my xbox 360!


  • tbadmofo Jun 24, 2008

    controller wont work wireless lights just keep flashing

  • Anonymous Jul 13, 2008

    I have the same problem, this only seemed to occur after installing update 2.40

  • rmcubssuck35 Jul 24, 2008

    my controllers will sometimes do that- in the middle of a game itll stop and say please reconnect the controller but the light will still be on then it starts flashing and stops-it does it with all 3 of my controllers- how do i fix the problem because its very frustrating?




  • tragen Dec 15, 2008

    Tell me this ,my 1 day old ps3 controller charged the first day and now when i try to charge it nothing happens! no lights flashing or nothing.how do i get this thing to charge!!!! i wanna play baddly!

  • aydenndad Dec 21, 2008

    same problem

  • Anonymous Dec 27, 2008

    I just got my PS3 and I can't get passed the screen that tells you to hook up the controllers. I've tried everything I read all the instructions and nothing works.

  • buclae Jan 01, 2009

    Well my problem is basically similar my controller does not work wireless any more when it is unplugged the 4 lights will blink rapidly and then stop and the only way for it to to work is to keep my controller connected to the system (whats the point of paying for a 40 dollar device that doesnt work the way it should)...I've tried many different possibilities yet now results, i tried pressing the reset button,changing the usb cable, and even trying out new controllers but still no results all i want is my controller to be able to be wireless...

  • kirstywert Jan 02, 2009

    we cant play our ps3 either cause the controllers dont work wirless and the 4 lights continue to flash we can only play conected through usb

  • Jacobs_141 Jan 14, 2009

    I have a similar problem, except mine happens not only when i boot up my PS3, but when i am in the middle of a game aswell.
    It doesn't happen all the time, only sometimes, but when it does, i have to shut down my PS3 at the back, turn it on again and it then takes about another minute for the controllers to actually re-connect back to the console.

    any suggestions please post, :) thanks.


  • lawdypapa Jan 29, 2009


    I have had my ps3 since december 2007. it is brilliant but 3 months ago i tried to play fifa08 on 4 player. i have 2 ps3 pads and a friend brought round another 2, when setting up the game all 4 pads' red lights started flashing really fast and wouldnt turn on. i thought it might have been the battery, after plugging my 2 pads in they both became responsive but when unplugged they started flashing and became unresponsive again even though they were fully charged. i didnt experience this again until about a month ago when playing a 2 player game both pads became unresponsive and the lights started flashing and wouldnt stop so i turned it off. since then it has been happening frequently, everytime i play it. last night i was playing a one player game and the pad just became unresponsive and the red light went off. i plugged in the usb cable and it came back on briefly and then went unresponsive again, my second pad wouldnt turn on either, it just flashed repeatedly. i've read about people having these problems on forums so i tried a few of the suggestions but none seem to combat the problem. i pressed the reset buttons on the back of the pads and then tried to turn them back on again but they just kept flashing. so i pressed the reset button on the ps3 and that did nothing to help a when you turn it back on the lights just keep flashing. i then turned it off at the back and then waited for the pads to stop flashing and then turned it back on again. this rectified the problem but within 20 minutes the same thing happened so i gave up and turned it off. there is no wireless network or any bluetooth connectivity in my flat, i dont know what else i can do, any recommendations?

  • Anonymous Mar 20, 2009

    when i turn on my controller its working fine then a bout 20 minutes later it turns off automaticly. When i try to turn it back on the 4 lights justs keep flashing even when i plug it up using the USB. Im really getting tired off this bull.

  • pete174 Apr 02, 2009

    i have the same problem any fix yet? pete

  • Anonymous Apr 03, 2009

    this sucks ****

  • Anonymous Apr 03, 2009

    it still dosen't work and i tried all the solutions below.

  • Anonymous Apr 28, 2009

    i connected my controler to someone elses ps3 so we could play 2 player but when i tried to connect it back to mine with the usb these four continuous red flashing lights came on i dont know what to do HELP !!!!

  • Anonymous May 12, 2009

    my ps3 controllers wont work without the usb connected to the ps3 when ever i push the ps button the 4 red lights just flash

  • sin2thebad May 11, 2010

    can i have a number which actualy rings?

  • nisi26
    nisi26 Aug 16, 2012

    can some1 help me please...my ps3 console is on but my controllers aint working at even hook up with da usb wire..da contoller works perfectly with the dther console...been to two technician to fix t...they just beat round the bush..i dont fink dey know how to fix it...PLEASE HELP ME SOME1....thanks..

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  • Posted on Jul 09, 2008
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I just fixed mine. The controller itself needs to be reset. There is a reset button on the back of the controller, above the top right hand corner of the square with all on the information and barcode. Press it with a sharp tipped object while still connected to the PS3 via USB cable. Then press the PS button and you should be back on wirelessly.

  • DIDDLEY42 Nov 02, 2010

    MINE STILL DOESENT WORK

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  • Posted on Nov 27, 2009
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Try turning off your controller with it plugged in and ur ps3 on. Then turn off your playstation and unplug controller. Then unplug ps3 from power. Plug ps3 back in and without connecting your controller push the ps button. Your ps3 should turn on and your controller should work fine.

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  • Posted on Oct 16, 2007
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Hi JamieD

 

This is something best solved by Sony support.  The PS3 has not been on the market long enough to know exactly every problem.  Your problem is one of those that is rare.  Please contact Sony support at 1800 345 7669.

 

Please Click on Solved for me, since I put effort in to giving you a free tip.

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  • Posted on Feb 17, 2008
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I had the same problem with my PS3. All of my controllers would not connect XAxis, guitars for GH3 and my bluetooth remote. I did a power reset (Unplugged power cord) and started the system again then I connected one Xaxis via the USB cable checked all my settings and disabled my wireless connection. My media server is wireless so I disabled it. I unplugged it (the controller) from the system and it started working. I tested all of my controllers 3 Xaxis, 2 guitars and bluetooth. All worked. Im guessing the wireless conflict had a conflict with the other wireless devices. So try that guys dont buy new hardware GET WARRANTIES. Save ur $$ for other stuff

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  • Posted on Nov 21, 2010
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The most likely way to solve this is to reset your PS3 controller. In order to do this you will need to take a sharp-tipped object such as a pen and depress the reset button on the back of your controller.

You will then have to reassign a controller number to the controller in order for it to work properly again. This needs to be done while the controller is plugged in via USB cable.

This process is explained in full detail at the following guide to fixing a broken PS3 controller.

  • kbk-crew Dec 20, 2010

    mate you were a life saver i was about to throw my controller out the window and fork out more money your a legend

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Okay i got this 1 i have a ps3 and its probably that the USB is damaged or just replace yur Ps3 controller if it doesn't work charging then try connecting the USB port into the other 3 USB ports. If not just leave yur PS3 controller plugged into the USB port so it charge.

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I had this problem after moving my ps3 from one room to another, I suspect the ps3 being unplugged contributed. I plugged the controller in and checked for any upgrades, found one was pending and upgraded. Once done the controller worked wirelessly again.

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I had problems with both the controllers and the bluetooth remote. It was strange bc I could turn the ps3 on with the ps button, but then the four lcds would blink or remote and controllers would stop working randomly. Turning the unit off then on again sometimes solved the problem. I tried to reassign the bluetooth remote only to have the system recognize a bluetooh component before i could even touch the start and enter buttons. Long story short, try removing the USB cord that connects the ps3 to the controllers. My cord was plugged into the ps3 and nothing, once i removed it from the ps3 all problems disappeared... so far so good

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I have a ton of things to say but to make it short. borrow someones charging cable and see if that fix the problem. Charging cable went bad and it is missleading because it will still charge your bluetooth and even detect you controller but will not charge it correctly or even at all. Save yourself some money.

V/R,
Mr_G-lover_2010

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My battery went on my pad when i was playing,and when i put the usb cable in its not working.

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  • Posted on Feb 27, 2014
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I have my ps3 controler but when i turn on my ps3 it says to connect it but when i do that it just stops working

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