DS4Windows 5.0.53

DS4Windows 5.0.53 adds more ways to browse and personalise your profiles, and removes the brief pause when expanding or collapsing Settings & profiles.

Profile views and icons

• Tiles remains the default. Switch to List for compact rows or Details for profile names, emulated controllers and last-modified times. Your view choice is remembered, and selection, search, sorting and profile actions work across all three views.
• Profile badges now use the first character of the profile name, updating automatically when renamed.
• Select a profile and choose Profile icon… to change its fill colour or use your own ICO/PNG image. Preview your choice, apply it, cancel without saving, or restore the default.
• Custom images retain transparency and are embedded as small thumbnails in the profile. They stay with normal profile saves, rename, duplicate, import/export, backups and settings migration, without relying on the original image file.
• List and Details use correctly scaled icons and consistent card margins. Details headings have balanced spacing, and the search field matches the height of the neighbouring dropdown and view buttons. The updated interface supports all six themes and includes text in all 24 language packs.

Responsive settings

• Settings & profiles opens and closes immediately while its remembered state saves in the background.
• Rapid toggles are combined into the final choice. Returning to the already-saved state does not write to disk.
• Presentation preferences are saved separately from profile-location and update-retention settings, preserving the existing migration and storage behavior.

Downloads

• Most users: download the Setup_x64.exe installer.
• Portable use: download the _x64.zip package.
• The remaining files contain source code, licensing information and verification records.

These Windows builds are unsigned. Source, dependency, installer lifecycle and package verification remain part of the release checks. This release retains VIIPER 0.1.17 and USB/IP 0.9.8.1.

Full changelog · Implementation

DS4Windows 5.0.52

DS4Windows 5.0.52 makes setup clearer about installed component versions, improves HidHide and FakerInput detection, and explains exactly what is removed or preserved during uninstall.

Installer improvements

• See version numbers for DS4Windows, VIIPER, USB/IP, HidHide and FakerInput. Existing optional drivers show their detected installed version; missing drivers show the bundled version. Unavailable version metadata is explicitly identified.
• HidHide is selected by default only when it is missing. FakerInput remains optional and unselected by default.
• Existing HidHide and FakerInput installations are kept unchanged during application installation or repair, including newer FakerInput versions. Your selections are retained if setup repeats its checks.

Clearer uninstall confirmation

• Review a Will remove / Will keep summary before continuing. DS4Windows and its managed VIIPER copy are removed; USB/IP, HidHide, FakerInput, profiles and settings are preserved.
• Open profiles folder opens an existing profiles folder, offering both AppData and program-folder locations when both exist.
• Manage shared drivers… opens Windows Installed apps so you can separately remove shared components you no longer need.
• Installation-only options and instructions are hidden during uninstall.

Downloads

• Most users: download the Setup_x64.exe installer.
• Portable use: download the _x64.zip package.
• The remaining files contain source code, licensing information and verification records.

These Windows builds are unsigned. Source, dependency, installer lifecycle and package verification remain part of the release checks. This release retains VIIPER 0.1.17 and USB/IP 0.9.8.1.

Full changelog · Implementation

DS4Windows 5.0.51

DS4Windows 5.0.51 adds update storage management to prevent old downloads accumulating, and makes Settings & profiles more compact and consistent.

Thanks @Jobima1st for reporting the update-file buildup in issue #83.

Update storage and cleanup

• Open Settings > Updates & tools > Updates > Update storage to see how much space recognised update files occupy and how much can be cleaned up.
• Keep one previous version per component by default, or choose none, a custom number, or all previous versions. Automatic cleanup runs after a successful start with healthy VIIPER/USB/IP prerequisites and can be disabled.
• Clean up now previews the exact files before confirmation; View stored files opens their folders. Cleanup covers recognised DS4Windows, VIIPER, USB/IP and updater packages while preserving current files, profiles, settings, backups and unknown content. Busy, changed or inaccessible files are skipped.

Interface improvements

• Settings & profiles starts collapsed and remembers your choice across restarts. Read-only storage and pending changes automatically expand to reveal the relevant warning or next steps.
• Use the standard circular arrow, with native hover/click feedback and a fixed position when expanding or collapsing. The rounded header stays highlighted while the pointer is over its arrow.
• Match horizontal dividers to the theme outlines and remove unnecessary blank space, including the Nintendo controller discovery section. Updated controls support all six themes and all 24 languages.

Downloads

• Most users: download the Setup_x64.exe installer.
• Portable use: download the _x64.zip package.
• The remaining files contain source code, licensing information and verification records.

These Windows builds are unsigned. Source, dependency, installer lifecycle and package verification remain part of the release checks.

Full changelog · Implementation

DS4Windows 5.0.50

DS4Windows 5.0.50 adds settings and profile management with optional safe migration, and corrects a DualShock 4 Bluetooth headset microphone routing defect.

Thanks @1hezio for reporting both problems and providing the detailed logs that identified the microphone failure in issue #80.

Settings and profiles

• New Settings & profiles controls on the Profiles page show the current folder and whether it is writable. Open the profiles folder, back up all settings, or restore a backup from the same place.
• Choose AppData — recommended or the current Program folder. New installed copies default to AppData; existing users retain their choice.
• Migrate to AppData safely copies settings from an installed program folder. The original files are kept. An existing destination is backed up before a confirmed replacement, and changes apply after fully closing and reopening DS4Windows.
• Add profile output type, modification time, in-use status, sorting, a search hint and confirmation before replacing an imported profile. The page remains usable in smaller windows and supports all six themes and all 24 languages.

Headset microphone fix

VIIPER could reject the microphone-status request for the virtual DualShock 4 audio device. DS4Windows then could not tell that Windows had started recording, leaving the physical Bluetooth microphone disabled even though headphone playback worked. The paired VIIPER 0.1.17 corrects that request for DualShock 4 output and the audio companion used with Xbox emulation.

Downloads

• Most users: download the Setup_x64.exe installer.
• Portable use: download the _x64.zip package.
• The remaining files contain source code, licensing information and verification records.

These Windows builds are unsigned. Source, dependency, installer lifecycle and package verification remain part of the release checks.

Full changelog · Implementation

DS4Windows 5.0.49

DS4Windows 5.0.49 adds Controller info: a convenient way to inspect your connected controller and the virtual controller presented to games.

Controller info

• Open it from Overview or any card in Controllers.
• Separate Physical controller and Emulated controller tabs show available identity, battery/status and firmware details. All six emulated controller types are supported; unsupported fields are left unavailable.
• Select individual values or use Copy info to copy both tabs. Refresh takes a new snapshot without continuously polling the backend.
• Includes the matching VIIPER 0.1.16 backend and its read-only information query. Emulated firmware dates describe the virtual controller, not DS4Windows or your physical pad. Backend changes.

Interface improvements

• Balanced left/right margins around the selected controller card.
• Rounded information tabs with readable colours across all six themes, tighter rows and no unnecessary bottom rule.
• Controller info buttons no longer show an automatic blue focus outline; keyboard navigation remains available.
• New strings included in all 24 supported language packs.

Downloads

• Most users: download the Setup_x64.exe installer.
• Portable use: download the _x64.zip package.
• The remaining files contain source code, licensing information and verification records.

This numeric release is unsigned. Packages include matching source archives, licence notices and verification records.

Full changelog · Controller info guide

DS4Windows 5.0.48

Correct the factory build date/time reported by an emulated DualShock 4. Tools such as DualSense Tester now receive Sep 17 2021 11:34:00, rather than Sep 17 20211 1:34:00.

Controller factory information

• Bundle VIIPER 0.1.15, which corrects the one-byte time offset in the DS4 factory-information report. Thanks again @Jobima1st for following up on the malformed year in issue #75.
• Audit the other stable emulated controller metadata paths. Add independent host-decoding tests for DualShock 4, DualSense and DualSense Edge, covering default/custom dates, padding, adjacent version fields and short reads. No corresponding date/time overlap was found in the other output types.
• Retain the original emulated firmware dates, battery/charging propagation and the connection reliability fixes from 5.0.47. Factory dates describe the emulated controller firmware, not the DS4Windows application build.

DS4Windows PR #78 integrates the paired backend; VIIPER PR #10 contains the report correction and regression tests. The factory-information audit records the scope and findings.

Download and update

• Most users: download the Setup_x64.exe installer.
• Portable use: download the _x64.zip package.
• The remaining files contain source code, licensing information and verification records.

Back up profiles/settings and fully exit DS4Windows and VIIPER before updating to replace the paired backend. USB/IP remains 0.9.8.1; no driver version change is required.

These Windows packages are unsigned. Final-version packages are promoted unchanged from the successful main CI candidate after test, package, installer lifecycle and upgrade validation. Matching source archives, notices, checksums and build records accompany the release.

Full changelog.

DS4Windows 5.0.47

Fix intermittent virtual-controller startup and readiness checks, including cases where a connected controller could remain at Needs attention instead of becoming Ready. The final paired pre-release was tested successfully by the affected reporter and approved for release by the maintainer.

Special thanks to @cns00 for sticking with this long-running investigation, sharing detailed logs and recordings, and patiently testing multiple preview builds. Your persistence helped uncover problems that were difficult to reproduce and led to improvements in connection reliability and startup stability for everyone using DS4Windows.

Controller connection reliability

• Bundle VIIPER 0.1.14, which finishes complete management replies gracefully before closing their TCP connections. Keep cleanup bounded and interruptible by shutdown; controller/audio streams, authentication and existing operation retries are unchanged. Thanks again to @cns00 for the detailed captures and final successful testing in issue #66, also reported in upstream #153.
• Correct a separate fast-completion race in the application's readiness connection check. The app now owns a cancellable connection deadline rather than borrowing a legacy socket completion handle.

Installer readiness

• Correct the same wait-handle race in the installer's final health-check probe. Thanks again @cns00 for the follow-up where setup helpers completed successfully, the final check failed, and Retry succeeded. The supplied diagnostics do not distinguish that race from a transient reset; driver, version, hash and health checks remain enforced.

The earlier controlled comparison on the affected laptop improved from 77/400 failed requests with the original closing method to 3/400 with graceful closing. The reporter subsequently confirmed consistently reaching Ready in the final paired candidate. No hardware fault or exact host-specific underlying trigger has been established; this release does not promise to prevent every possible future connection reset.

All 5.0.46 features and translations are retained. Temporary diagnostic collectors, independent testers and experimental server switches are excluded. Implementation: DS4Windows PR #77 and VIIPER PR #9.

Download and update

• Most users: download the Setup_x64.exe installer.
• Portable use: download the _x64.zip package.
• The remaining files contain source code, licensing information and verification records.

Back up profiles/settings and close games, DS4Windows and VIIPER before updating so the paired backend can be replaced. USB/IP remains 0.9.8.1; no driver version change is required.

These Windows packages are unsigned. The final-version portable and installer packages are promoted unchanged from the successful main CI candidate after the full test, package, installer lifecycle and upgrade checks. Matching sources, notices, checksums and build records accompany the downloads.

Full changelog.

Testing Only — Issue #66 connection reliability candidate (5.0.47)

Testing only — unsigned pre-release. Stable 5.0.46 remains Latest.

This brings the connection-reliability changes from the final diagnostic preview onto current DS4Windows 5.0.46. It retains the latest features, themes, translations, headset routing and virtual battery reporting. It does not include the temporary diagnostic collector or experimental server switches.

Changes

• VIIPER connection reliability: gracefully finish complete management replies before closing their TCP connection. Cleanup has time/byte limits and remains interruptible during shutdown. Controller/audio streaming, authentication and existing retry policy are unchanged. Thanks @cns00 for five captures in issue #66, also reported in upstream #153. Original closing failed 77/400 isolated requests on the affected laptop, versus 3/400 using graceful closing. Residual resets remain; no hardware fault or complete resolution has been established.
• Application readiness: replace a legacy connection wait-handle pattern that could race with a fast connection completion. Use a cancellable deadline instead.
• Installer final health check: correct the same wait-handle pattern in the separate installer probe. Thanks again @cns00 for the 5.0.46 follow-up: setup helpers completed successfully, the final separate check failed, and Retry succeeded. The supplied diagnostics cannot distinguish that race from a transient reset; the candidate addresses the known race without weakening driver/hash/health checks.

Includes the matching VIIPER 0.1.14-connection-preview20261023 backend. USB/IP stays at 0.9.8.1; there is no driver version change.

Downloads and testing

• Installer: use the Setup_x64.exe download to test the corrected final installer check.
• Portable: extract the _x64.zip into a new folder. Use the complete package, including its backend, rather than mixing files with older previews.
• Other downloads provide matching source, licences/notices, checksums and a build record.

1. Back up your profiles/settings. Fully exit DS4Windows and VIIPER before installing or launching this preview. Keep other controller mappers closed.
2. Use your normal profile and check that Overview reaches Ready and the virtual controller works in your game/tester.
3. Try a few normal starts and Stop/Start cycles. For maintainer acceptance, check USB/Bluetooth and controller audio as applicable.
4. Report whether startup and the installer finish successfully. There is no new diagnostic collection exercise in this candidate; if a failure occurs, keep its error and existing app/backend logs.

Validation and limits

• Full Windows application suite: 7,785 passed, 16 explicitly gated/hardware tests skipped; standalone suite: 75 passed.
• Both real app/installer readiness probes pass 256 rapid loopback connections each.
• Backend default/Release suites and Windows/Linux CI tests, including authenticated replies, bounded peers, server shutdown and existing stream/device lifecycle coverage.
• All 24 language packs, packaged resource loading, binary/source hashes, installer composition, offline layout and installer state-machine checks passed. Full stable lifecycle/upgrade gates still apply before any stable release.

These are locally built testing packages from the recorded source commits, not promoted stable-release CI assets. Do not treat successful tests as a guarantee that every intermittent reset is fixed. Main has not been merged and stable publication requires maintainer sign-off.

Source review: DS4Windows PR #77 · VIIPER PR #9.

DS4Windows 5.0.46

DS4Windows 5.0.46 adds automatic headset routing and corrects virtual controller battery reporting.

• Follow headphone jack: Choose this under Audio output in Overview or Profile Editor > Advanced > Audio to switch between the controller speaker and plugged-in headphones. Existing manual choices are preserved. Supports DualSense/Edge USB and Bluetooth and genuine DS4 Bluetooth; Windows manages DS4 USB audio. Thanks @Jobima1st for #74 and upstream #79.
• Virtual battery status: Reliable physical battery/power state now reaches virtual DS4, DualSense/Edge and Switch 2 Pro through paired VIIPER 0.1.13. Native status paths are preserved; percentages follow each protocol's battery bands. Xbox outputs remain wired USB devices. Factory build dates describe emulated firmware rather than the app. Thanks @Jobima1st for #75 and upstream #111.
• The routing choice is translated in all 24 language packs. The paired preview passed the maintainer's USB/Bluetooth testing.
• VIIPER also includes reviewed management-reply and split UTF-8 fixes. Thanks @cns00 for the diagnostics in #66 and upstream #153. This does not claim the intermittent connection-reset report is resolved.

Close games, DS4Windows and VIIPER before updating. USB/IP remains 0.9.8.1; no driver version change is required. Windows packages are unsigned.

Downloads

• Most users: download the Setup_x64.exe installer.
• Portable use: download the _x64.zip package.
• The remaining files contain source code, licensing information and verification records.

Full changelog

DS4Windows 5.0.45

Four new app themes and complete language-resource coverage are now available in DS4Windows 5.0.45.

Appearance

• Added Graphite, Paper, Midnight and High contrast, alongside Light and Dark.
• Renamed Default to Follow Windows and added palette previews, accent presets, a Windows accent option and a custom colour picker.
• Theme and accent changes apply immediately and persist across restarts. Windows contrast settings take priority; text and accent colours are checked for readable contrast.

Languages and guidance

• Completed both resource sets for all 24 supported languages, including newer interface screens, and corrected broken resource references and numbered placeholders.
• Corrected Swedish and Indonesian language identifiers, migrated saved choices and made native language-name capitalization consistent.
• Updated obsolete driver/setup troubleshooting instructions. Missing translations were completed with offline machine assistance and terminology corrections; native-speaker wording improvements remain welcome.
• Corrected the EXE company, description and project links for the Pav-Osmolski fork while retaining historical copyright credits.

Build and maintenance

• Reduced duplicate development builds and introduced promotion of the exact tested main release candidate, with full tests, package checks and installer upgrade/lifecycle validation retained.
• Clarified legacy installer test names and added validation against the pinned numeric stable upgrade baseline.

Implemented in PR #73, with build/release improvements from PR #72. The maintainer tested and approved the local preview. Full details and validation are in the changelog and language maintenance notes.

Downloads

• Most users: download the Setup_x64.exe installer.
• Portable use: download the _x64.zip package.
• The remaining files contain source code, licensing information and verification records.

Signing: this numeric release is unsigned. Source, dependency, package hashes and installer validation are verified by the release workflow.