Can You Reset a DualShock PS3 Controller?

DualShock 3 Reset

• All DualShock 3 controllers have a reset button on the bottom in the same place Sixaxis controllers have theirs. On the bottom of your controller, this is the tiny hole just to the right of the controller's center near the L2 trigger button. To use it, press and hold the PS button to power off the computer until a list of options appears on the TV screen; then select "Turn off the Controller." Then insert a small object such as a paperclip into the hole to depress the reset button. Sony recommends that you connect it to the PS3 with a USB cord and press the PS button to "re-pair" it to the console, but in most cases you can just press the PS button again without using the USB cord at all.

DualShock 3 Settings

• A number of configuration options are available for your controllers, such as the "auto-off" setting. This was not initially available on the PS3, but with firmware updates, the consoles can turn off the controllers if they're not used for a certain period of time. These settings are available under the XMB's "Settings" section, then "Power Save Settings." You can also turn off the vibration feature if you don't prefer it or if you want to make your controller's battery last longer. That option is available in the XMB's "Settings" section as well, under "Accessory Settings," then "Controller Vibration Function."

DualShock and Sixaxis

• Sony released the DualShock 3 controllers about two years after releasing the PS3 console and the Sixaxis controllers, and the DualShock 3 controllers are better choices. They function identically to their predecessors for gameplay; they have all the same buttons mapped to the same actions and they retain the same motion-control hardware. DualShock 3 controllers have an additional vibration feature, or "rumble pack," that vibrates in response to various actions during gameplay, such as when your character is injured. DualShock 3 controllers also weigh slightly more than Sixaxis ones do, but they're still easy to hold even during extended gaming.

General Information

• The DualShock 3 and Sixaxis controllers have four LEDs on the top to indicate their number and, when necessary, the battery charge level. The LEDs are numbered one through four for local multiplayer games. Since the PS3 supports up to seven controllers at one time, two LEDs light up to indicate controllers five through seven. The lit LED begins flashing when the controller needs to be recharged, and a prompt displays on your TV. While recharging, the LED continues flashing, and it stops flashing once the battery is fully charged.