What is DS4Windows.exe?

DS4Windows.exe is the main executable file for the DS4Windows application. This is a popular, open-source utility designed to allow users to connect and use Sony PlayStation controllers (such as the DualShock 3, DualShock 4, and DualSense) on a Windows computer.

This software is typically used by gamers who prefer using a PlayStation controller for PC games. Windows has native support for Xbox controllers, but not always for PlayStation controllers, especially in games outside of platforms like Steam. DS4Windows bridges this gap by acting as an input mapper or "wrapper," translating the PlayStation controller's inputs into a format that Windows can easily understand, often by emulating an Xbox 360 controller. This allows for greater compatibility and customization, such as remapping buttons, adjusting stick sensitivity, and controlling the lightbar.

This file is needed if you wish to use a PlayStation controller on your PC for games that do not natively support it. Without DS4Windows, the controller may not be recognized at all or may have limited functionality. The application runs in the background to process the controller's inputs in real-time.

A user might consider removing it if they no longer use a PlayStation controller with their PC. Since DS4Windows is often a portable application, removal typically involves deleting the folder where DS4Windows.exe is located. While the legitimate software is considered safe by the community, a user should consider removal if they downloaded it from an unofficial source and suspect it could be malware disguised with the same filename. It is also possible that a user might want to remove it to resolve conflicts with other input software or when a game adds native support for the controller, making DS4Windows redundant.

To get more detailed information about the process and to help verify its authenticity, you can use the Security Task Manager, which can provide a deeper analysis of the file running on your system.

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DS4Windows.exe file information

Windows Task Manager with DS4Windows — DS4Windows.exe process in Windows Task Manager

The process known as DS4Windows belongs to software DS4Windows by Ryochan7 or DS4Windows.

Description: DS4Windows.exe is not essential for the Windows OS and causes relatively few problems. DS4Windows.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's profile folder or sometimes in a subfolder of Windows folder for temporary files or in the user's "Documents" folder—typically C:\Users\USERNAME\Desktop\ or C:\Users\USERNAME\Desktop\DS4Windows\. Known file sizes on Windows 10/11/7 are 3,168,256 bytes (50% of all occurrences), 559,104 bytes and 9 more variants.
The DS4Windows.exe file is not a Windows system file. The program is not visible. The program starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: User Shell Folders). The process has no file description. DS4Windows.exe is able to monitor applications and record keyboard and mouse inputs. Therefore the technical security rating is 66% dangerous, but you should also take into account the user reviews.

Recommended: Identify DS4Windows.exe related errors

If DS4Windows.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 68% dangerous. The file size is 3,168,256 bytes (35% of all occurrences), 566,272 bytes and 5 more variants. It is not a Windows system file. The program is not visible. The software starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: User Shell Folders). DS4Windows.exe is able to monitor applications and record keyboard and mouse inputs.
Uninstalling this variant: If you have any problems with DS4Windows.exe, you may want to do the following:
1) completely remove DS4Windows (Control Panel ⇒ Uninstall a Program)
2) use the software publisher's support.
If DS4Windows.exe is located in a subfolder of the user's "Documents" folder, the security rating is 68% dangerous. The file size is 559,104 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 3,168,256 bytes or 3,157,504 bytes. The file is not a Windows system file. The application is loaded during the Windows boot process (see Registry key: User Shell Folders). There is no information about the author of the file. The program is not visible. DS4Windows.exe is able to monitor applications and record keyboard and mouse inputs.
If DS4Windows.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\, the security rating is 22% dangerous. The file size is 559,104 bytes (33% of all occurrences), 471,552 bytes or 3,214,848 bytes.

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as DS4Windows.exe, particularly when located in the C:\Windows or C:\Windows\System32 folder. Therefore, you should check the DS4Windows.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

Score

User Comments

Gamepad emulator
Bene (further information)

It's for ps4 and ps5 controllers. Not malicious.
Jim Trim (further information)

Software für Anbindung eines Playstation Controllers an den Computer

It's a program for using a ps4 remote

It's a tool (Gamepad emulator) to use your PS4 and PS5 controller. Perfectly safe to use if download from official website @ https://ds4-windows.com
DS4Windows (further information)

Summary: Average user rating of DS4Windows.exe: based on 6 votes with 5 user comments. 6 users think DS4Windows.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 2 users don't grade DS4Windows.exe ("not sure about it").

Best practices for resolving DS4Windows issues

A clean and tidy computer is the key requirement for avoiding problems with DS4Windows. This means running a scan for malware, cleaning your hard drive using 1cleanmgr and 2sfc /scannow, 3uninstalling programs that you no longer need, checking for Autostart programs (using 4msconfig) and enabling Windows' 5Automatic Update. Always remember to perform periodic backups, or at least to set restore points.

Should you experience an actual problem, try to recall the last thing you did, or the last thing you installed before the problem appeared for the first time. Use the 6resmon command to identify the processes that are causing your problem. Even for serious problems, rather than reinstalling Windows, you are better off repairing of your installation or executing the 7DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth command. This allows you to repair the operating system without losing data.

To get your computer running as fast as it did on day one, you can 8reset your PC. Your personal files will remain intact, but any programs you installed will need to be reinstalled.

To help you analyze the DS4Windows.exe process on your computer, the following programs have proven to be helpful: ASecurity Task Manager displays all running Windows tasks, including embedded hidden processes, such as keyboard and browser monitoring or Autostart entries. A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware or a Trojan. A good Bantivirus software detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, Trojans, keyloggers, malware and trackers from your hard drive.

Other processes

epicwebhelper.exe ssfk.exe modulecoreservice.exe DS4Windows.exe exiftoolbar.dll vesmgr.exe taskhostex.exe cpuz148_x64.sys nerocheck.exe speechruntime.exe tuneupui.exe [all]

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