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How to pair DualShock 4, DualSense and Xbox wireless controllers to iPhone 13

The iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max support the official controllers of the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox One S and Xbox One X.

You can check out this step-by-step guide at Seeking Tech to see how you can pair the DualShock 4, DualSense, Xbox One controller and Xbox Series S/X controller to Apple’s latest line of smartphones.

How to pair DualShock 4 and DualSense to iPhone 13

In order to pair the DualShock 4 and DualSense to your iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro or iPhone 13 Pro Max, you need to take the following steps:

1. Before we begin, we recommend unplugging the power button on your PS4 and/or PS5 console so that you won’t accidentally turn it on when trying to pair.

2. If an USB cable is connected to your PlayStation controller, make sure you unplug it as well.

3. If you controller is currently turned on, press and hold the PS button until it turns off.

4. On your iPhone 13, open Settings.

5. In the Settings menu, select Bluetooth.

6. Inside the Bluetooth menu, make sure that the Bluetooth connection is turned on.

7. Press and hold the Share button if you are trying to pair a DualShock 4. If you are trying to pair a DualSense, then you need to press and hold the Create button.

8. With the Share or Create button held down, you then need to press and hold the PS button.

The light bar on your game pad should start double blinking, which means that it is ready to be paired.

9. On the Bluetooth menu of your iPhone 13, the DualShock 4 or DualSense should show up as “Wireless Controller.” Select it.

10. Finally, select Pair to complete the pairing.

How to pair Xbox One and Xbox Series S/X controllers to iPhone 13

To connect the Xbox One controller or Xbox Series S/X controllers to the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max, you need to do the following:

1. We recommend unplugging the power cable from your Xbox One and/or Xbox Series consoles so that you won’t turn it on during the pairing process.

2. You should also remove the USB cable if you have it connected to your controller.

3. If the Xbox controller is powered on, press and hold the Xbox button until it shuts down.

4. On your iPhone 13, you need to head to Settings.

5. After getting to Settings, tap Bluetooth from the list of options.

6. In the Bluetooth menu, you need to make sure that Bluetooth connection is enabled on your Apple phone.

7. Afterwards, press the Xbox button on your controller to turn it back on.

8. With your controller turned on, press and hold the pair button until the light indicator on the gamepad starts rapidly blinking (this should take around three seconds). This indicates that your Xbox control is set to pairing mode.

9. On the Bluetooth menu of your iPhone 13, you should see your Xbox One controller or Xbox Series controller show up as “Xbox Wireless Controller.” Tap it.

10. In the pop-up notification, select Pair to complete the pairing process.