Yesterday I ran into a troubling issue with my PS3 Slim where none of my three DualShock 3 controllers sync to my console via the wireless Bluetooth standard. Whenever I press the PlayStation button, all I get is four flashing lights as the controllers make a valiant attempt to sync with the PS3, but fail miserably. After going through the troubleshooting steps provided by Sony, I did what any frustrated gamer would do: I searched Google. Turns out, there are quite a few people experiencing the exact same issue, some of which are having trouble with Bluetooth headsets and Blu-Ray remotes as well.
I found a 31 page thread (at press time) of angry gamers on the Official PlayStation forums, all of which now have to use their PS3 controllers connected with a USB cable to play their games. It seems the issues are largely isolated to the new PS3 Slim, although some early PS3 owners are also having issues. Sony has been tight lipped on the problem, but it’s about time they did some talking. This needs to be fixed.
Loot Ninja spoke with a Sony representative who was unable to comment on the situation. Hopefully they’ll acknowledge the malfunction, but that’s unclear at this point. The bad news is we have no idea when an updated firmware will be released. I can tell you one thing: I won’t be doing much gaming on my PS3 if I have to sit really close to the TV connected to my console with USB cables. There are a number of PS3 games I really want to play right now, but until Sony fixes their firmware blunder, I’ll be leaving the system on standby.
No, no, no. Everyone knows that Microsoft is the only company with hardware/firmware issues. Your 360 must be sitting too close to your PS3.
/sarcasm
Huh. Guess that explains why my controller wasn’t working. As a new PS3 owner, I thought I was doing something wrong…I guess it’s back to wired mode or to the 360 until this is ironed out. Bummer.
I had a brief problem like this with my 80 GB MGS4 PS3.
All I had to do was reconnect via usb cable and restart the console, then the wireless worked fine again.
Side note: if that’s not fixing it for you, you can always get a USB extension cable so you don’t have to sit so close in the mean time.
Also it seems like if bluetooth is really the issue, all of the PS3 slims should be covered under warranty.
Back in version 3.0 of the firmware, Sony made changes that many (including me) think were explicitly done to prevent knock-off PS3 controllers from connecting. I had one. It stopped working with exactly the same symptoms you described (four flashing lights). Assuming your controller is actually genuine, then it looks like their attempts came back to bite them in the butt in v3.1 of the firmware.
Engadget article:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/03/ps3-firmware-3-0-locking-out-knock-off-controllers/
is there a way to fix the problem?
Wow, that happened to me too. I have a PS3 slim 250gb and I had just updated as well and that occured; four blinking lights and I though it was a battery issue (even though I had just charged the day before so I was pissed that something was wrong with the controller i.e. bad battery) Keep in mind I didn’t even know how to tell the charge on my controller, but I do now. So i plugged in the USB cord to charge it four light still blinking and couldn’t still get it to register I can’t say if pushed the PS button or any others but I pulled the USB cable out and was messing with controller and it started to work again via wireless. Now that i am reading this I feel fortunate that mine works as of right now! good luck.
P.S. it’s that controller that came with console not 3rd party.
Well at least it is not a Xbox RRoD. I hated that when I disover my Xbox goes RRoD. Controller Issues I can live with and it is intermittent, since reconnecting with USB and disconnecting it appears to fix it.
THAT happened to me too and all i Did was Press the reset button and connect the controller to PS3 then Shut Down and restart!!
Mine all started flashing after the last update. I have to shut it on and off several times and it still wont work.
I am getting so sick of reaching behind the system to unplug it all the time.
Ive gone through 6 XBOXs to.
Regulation is needed in this market.
restart the console
it’ll fix the problem
has anyone tried reseting their controller? i ask because i had the same problem once with my dualshock and it worked when resetting the controller.
To answer everyone’s questions, as stated in the article, I performed ALL troubleshooting steps as provided by Sony, none of which solved the problem.
This isn’t a warranty issue as it’s not defective hardware. There is an overflow problem in the Bluetooth stack code that causes a dropped connection to become persistent at system startup in certain situations, meaning there is no way to get around the issue without leaving your controller plugged in all the time. It will take a firmware update to fix the problem, but Sony is not acknowledging the issue.
so happy 4 this article been going nuts with my slim.
Yeah I need to restart my console… its the dodgy firmware
Well, I found something. This happened to my cousin so he took a paper clip and on the back of the controller theres a tiny hole *NOT THE SCREW HOLE* and if u use something small u can push it and it will reset the controller HOPE IT HELPS GUYS!
Its a small isolated incident.
your claiming a 31 page thread as your evidence of it being a large user.
I want you to consider how much of that thread has repeat users posting. Then I want you to look up how many users actually use the official PS forums vs how many owners of PS3 are there.
You guys think you understand how it works, but in all honesty you don’t.
1) FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS. My cousin thought he had the same issues with you guys. I took one shot at it and it worked immediately.
2) If it was a bluetooth code gone wrong, it would affect everyone.
3) Please try the reset button on the controller.
Has anyone tried to boot into recovery mode to attempt to fix the problem?
Here’s a tutorial of how to do it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZWye1CLTVo
Best of luck!
No problem here. I works fine for me.
hey a-holes, u probably never used your brains huh? the first time your console meets your controller, youre supposed to connect that controller via USB then after the 4 dots dissapear into 1, then you can disconnect the wire. GEE. i didnt know my fellow PS3 compatriots were this dumb.
XboX 360? HAHAHA
Amateur troubleshooters is all I see.
This happens with all of my controllers about once every other month and it is really an easy fix. It happens (usually) when I power the console on via the touch-button on the front panel then hit the PS Button on my controller.
If you do it the reasonable way and power on the console by pressing the PS Button first it will 99.9% connect and work as normal.
If you insist on pressing the power button on the console then this may be a reoccurring problem but the solution is easy.
you need to reset your controllers using a pin to press the button located in a tiny hole at the back. it will clear the memory and you’ll be able to pair it again with the PS3.
once it happens it screws with all the bt devices.. what i do is plug the usb in, turn off the console and reboot… sometimes it takes 2 tries but it normally works on the 1st… after its actin properly all bt devices will work fine without havin to resync them… now this normally happens after the station locks up on me.. like when im on the browser for example… the browser has a habit of locking up the system easily… an issue that used to happen with my fat 60gb as well (lockups)… now just cause there is way around it doesnt mean it shouldnt be fixed… this is a very annoying issue that needs to be addressed immedietly… cause im tired of doing this stupid trick everytime it happens… and the lockups with the browser should be addressed as well…im honestly gettin nervous of all these lockups & rebooting crap messing up my shit…
Of course Sony isn’t acknowledging the issue! Just look at YLoD!
Oh and trust me, it isn’t less than 1%. Pacemakers have a higher failure rate than that!
I had this problem after updating to 3.10, but I discovered that it only happens for me if I turn on the PS3 using the controller. If I turn on the PS3 with the button on the PS3 first, then press the PS button on the controller after the OS boots up, my controller works fine. While I would like to see this fixed in the next update, it’s not a huge issue for me as I have to go to the unit anyway to put in what ever disc I want to play.
hmm. I just bought a ps3 slim bundle on black friday. first day i turned it on, there was no problem. couple of days later including the day before yesterday, i was having issues when using my dual shock to turn on the ps3. it would not sync and i would have to use the usb cable. what i yesterday was turn off the ps3 with the button that’s on the console, turn it back on the same way and then turn on the dual shock. worked for me, but it’ll probably keep happening until sony fixes this issue.
Well nice to read it is a firmware issue and not hardware. Only just bought my PS3 Slim 250GB yesterday as locally (Australia) they are selling a bundle where you effectively get a BD Remote and PlayTV receiver for free.
Connected it all up… did the firmware upgrade, installed PlayTV etc. Turned off the unit via the remote… powered back on again… and whammo, BD remote and controller not syncing/responding with the PS3. What a great start after only just unpacking the thing!
Interestingly when this happens, I power the unit down using the button on the PS3…. (as the BD remote doesn’t respond), but stupidly enough two seconds later I can power it up again using BD Remote’s PS button. Go figure. Usually one or two power downs/up again and it works…
PS. On a side note, can you configure the PS3 to startup on the PlayTV icon (or where I was last left the menu) rather than always starting up at the Playstation Store? Grrrr…
consider yourself lucky.
ever since i downloaded the 3.10 FW update for my ps3.
1 my 4 DS3 controllers AND my 2 six axis controllers refuse to sync with my ps3.
2 every game i play freezes after a few hours of play.
3 cant sync my trophies, ive unlocked 2 plats since the update and i have not synced if my ps3 kicks the bucket and i loose those sony is going to disappear off the face of the earth!
4 i keep getting signed out of the PSN network every hour or so with a error code 8002AD23.
5 the 20+ ps1 classics i downloaded on my ps3, i cant transfer over to my psp.
ive rang sony about these issues 4 times, and every time i call them they play dumb acting like the issues are not happening, and offer absolutely no advice in fixing them.
new i should of kept my 360, 3 years of loyal service with not 1 issue.
NOT ONE!
last sony product i ever buy thats for sure!
Nothing happened with me, I have 3.10 and all bluetooth devices work fine! Although I have the fat ps3.. my friends have the slim and its fine with them to, so you should call in sony, must be a problem with the bluetooth on the ps3, probably melted or manafactured wrong, or just like it happened too some with other updates and other things. Just use the ca ble for now and call sony..
Curse you microsoft! Why can’t they give my refund.. or a new 360… Alll my games sucked anyway, lol.
OMG, its a simple fix, just plug in your controller with the USB cord, then sync, you probably had it connected to another console, therefore when you reconnect to your own PS3, you have to plug it in with the USB cord again, otherwise it will be trying to connect to the wrong PS3.
Same goes for some Bluetooth headsets!
I had the same issua with my ps3 slim and so did my friend. I tried couple things and these things helped for me and my friend.
FIX TO THE PROBLEM (worked for me and my friend):
1.Connect your ps3 controller to the ps3
2.Press the ps button that it will recognize the controller
3.Press the ps button again to go on to the option where you can turn off the console and the controller. choose shutdown console.
4. then press the ps button to start the ps3 again
5.When the ps3 is fully open take tha wire out and it will blink all the lights for a couple 5-8 secs after it recognizes the controller.
(my friend did this one) he took the usb wire out after he had closed the ps3 and then started the ps3 from the controller and it worked too.
So try these two and they should work. ive been playing everyday after 3.10 and this has happened me only twice.
This issue is easily fixed by resetting your Dualshock. On the back of the remote there is a little entry (reset button) that needs to be pushed for 4-5 sec in order to reset the peripheral. Then the problem is fixed, your Dualshock controller will be recognized once again by the PS3.
Hope this helps.
I’m so glad I saw this story. It’s been happening to me lately and I thought my slim was just acting up. It’s so frustrating, they better fix it soon.
I’ve never experienced this problem, i have an older 40GB model and all my Bluetooth connections work fine. As for the guy having Trophy Sync problems – just keep retrying. I get the error message sometimes too but after 3 or 4 tries it usually works.
I’ve been reporting about this to Sony since the 3.10 update and heard nothing. You guys need to really jump on this and rattle Sony. Some of us old disabled guys love to game, but need an easy chair to do it in…I’d never get back up off the floor if I had to sit cable length to play. How am I supposed to enjoy Netflix, Madden and all the rest….Old guys need a break too…LOL!!
As a temporary fix, power on from the console, I’ve found the controllers sync properly then, nice to know i’m not the only one with this issue, now i hope sony listens
You only need to start your PS3 on the console button and not with the PS button on the controller, then the bluetooth function is available. Its because of 3.10 firmware.
Theres an easy remedy to this, just pick up a longer 10′ to 12′ (or longer) USB cable, if you know where to buy them they can be had for less than $5.
THIS MIGHT WORK : I got a slim a week ago and had the same problem with the controller. I found out that if I turned off my Bluetooth on my mobile in my pocket the controller was fine . Works every time for me
OK.This has been a problem to the ppl having trouble trophy syncing keep doing it it will sync after 20+ times and even if your ps3 broke you will not lose your trophies they save to your PSN name you just got to add name to new PS3 and sync trophies and all your trophies will be there.
resetting the controllers and console is a temporary fix but the only way to keep it from continually glitching out is by powering on via the console button. everyone i know with a slim has been somewhat affected by this issue.
LOL, at all the xbot trolls on here acting like they have a PS3. I just bought a new DS3 on monday (not a knock off) and it works fine. The only issue I have is that my TE fightstick wont work on PS/PS2 games on disc…but still work with downloadable games….thats a firmware issue, not plugging in a controller for 2 secs to sync up to your system. I guess I’m the only one who doesn’t have a problem all of a sudden with syncing wirelessly and using bt devices huh?
Mine stopped reading discs after the 3.01 update with MW2 and I found out quite a number of people had the same issue, but it wasn’t the game that caused it. It was the update as it seems and yet, Sony say it has nothing to do with the update and they NEVER even explained what it really was. They still keep charging us $150 for something THEY broke as we were FORCED to update in order to keep playing games. Sony made the firmware, so why can’t they take any responsibility to this?
A HELPFUL GUIDE FOR THOSE NEW TO DUALSHOCK 3 AND THE PS3
- the controller is charged with the usb cable plugged in to the ps3, while charging it is usebale, at all other times it can be used wirelessy via the ps3s inbuilt bluetooth
you must pair you controller if the battery has run down etc…
ensure all lights on controller are off, if on leave allone (no imput) for a few minutes – it will auto switch off
plug your dualshock or sixaxis into the usb cable and the other end into the ps3
press the ps3 logo button in the middle of the controller
light corresponding to the controller number will appear after a few seconds
remove cable and hit controller button – you should now see its connected via bluetooth
nb you shouldnt need to do this again after this…..
Resetting the controller DOES NOT WORK.
When pressing the ps button, the ps3 should start (and it does) and then sync with the controllers. It just doesn’t happen. You can connect the controllers via USB cable and resync, but it DOES NOT HELP.
Another thing i noticed was, that after i turned on my ps3 with my DS3 and the 4 lights were blinking i turned my ps3 off again. The 4 lights kept blinking. The controller now booted up my ps3 again, which proves that my controller already is in sync!
Did anyone who suffers this problem update manually, cause i downloaded the us firmware and installed it on my pal ps3 slim, i was wondering if that might have caused the issue?
yep !! I also had the same problem.. but after connecting with the wire.. its going good !! only thing annoy me .. sometime PSN get faulty and can’t signIn to play online… it happened 3 days in row to me 1.5 weeks back.. now back on track… who wants to fight with me in FIFA10.. anyone !
I had this issue as well, but it seems to have gvone away after having my controller plugged in while shutting down the system to reset the controller, than booting up the ps3 with the PS Butten while not attached, worked fine since
It’s true even my slim does that , also I’m in an Arabic forums and most of the slim owners are having the same problem , I wanted to contact sony but the only way is to write in their official forums .
happened to me too. DS3 and Bluetooth remote won’t sync unless you reset the console.
[...] PS3 “very soon”. It’s not currently known if this new firmware update fixes the dreaded Bluetooth issues, but we do know that it will bring support for Minis on the console as well as a data transfer [...]
3.15 is out. Updated this morning. Haven’t tested enough yet ot see if it fixes the BT issues.