How to disable DualSense haptic feedback and adaptive triggers

The PlayStation 5 is finally here, and apart from next-gen fidelity it also includes a next-gen way to play in the DualSense wireless controller.

By default, some of this next-gen-ness comes from the deep and varied vibrations of the DualSense wireless controller, as well as the varying resistance levels of the adaptive triggers. As cool as these features are, if they’re not for you, the good news is you can tweak them to your preferred feel. Here’s how.

Head to that settings cog in the top right of the PlayStation 5’s main screen, then joystick or D-pad down to ‘Accessories’. Shift down to ‘Controllers’ to tweak the DualSense settings to just how you like them.

Alternatively, hit the PlayStation logo on the DualSense controller to bring up a bottom menu. Joystick or D-pad down to the menu then right to ‘Accessories’. Hit X on ‘Wireless Controller’, then select ‘Controller Settings’ to jump to the correct settings screen.

This slider up the top of the options for ‘Volume (Speaker for Controller)’ lets you control how loud or soft the DualSense speaker is. By default, it’s set to almost full, and despite the size of the speaker, it’s actually pretty loud. Shift the slider right or left to raise or lower the DualSense speaker volume.

The next option down is ‘Vibration Intensity’ which, by default, is set to ‘Strong (Standard)’. Believe us when we say that you’ll feel how true that setting is. Hit X on this option to select three other options: Medium, Weak, or Off.

It’s worth noting that if you’re using the DualSense microphone to communicate with other players, the vibration intensity will automatically default to the Weak setting.

The L2 and R2 triggers have different developer-dictated resistance depending on the kind of game you’re playing and the activity you’re doing in that game. They may shift from free and loose to fully resistant to input. Hit X on the ‘Trigger Effect Intensity’ setting to switch between four options. By default, it’s set to ‘Strong (Standard)’, but you can also lower it to Medium, Weak, or select Off to turn it off completely.

The same disclaimer about the DualSense microphone from above applies here, too.

The ‘Brightness of Controller Indicators’ setting is, by default, set to ‘Bright (Standard)’. You can hit X on this setting to lower the brightness intensity to either Medium or Dim. Note that certain games and apps require the Bright default setting, especially for games and apps that use the optional PlayStation Camera.

The final option on the controller settings screen is ‘Communication Method’, which lets you switch between either Bluetooth or USB cable for connectivity when your DualSense wireless controller is connected to your PS5 via charging cable. By default, it’s on Bluetooth, but you can hit X to toggle it to USB.