DS4Windows fork update: unified UI, faster profile editing, DS3 pressure support and more (5.0.60)
Hi everyone,
Following on from my previous post, I wanted to share what’s changed in my DS4Windows fork since 5.0.46.
5.0.60 is now available, bringing a substantial interface refresh, faster profile editing, more flexible profile management and several community-reported fixes.
🌐 Explore the website
⬇️ Download the latest release
Thank you again to the original DS4Windows contributors for the work this builds on, and to everyone sharing suggestions, screenshots, profiles and logs. Quite a few of these improvements came directly from those conversations.
Here’s an overview:
Interface and usability
- Standardised dropdowns, sliders, circular expanders and popup menus throughout the app, with consistent hover, pressed, selected, disabled and keyboard-focus states.
- Improved consistency across all six themes, including the tray menu and its submenus. Checked menu items now align properly with unchecked items.
- Added more compact headers, tidier spacing and better alignment throughout Overview, Controllers, Settings and Profile Editor.
- Refreshed the footer with service status, controller count, expandable activity details and separate Hotkeys/About buttons, while keeping its compact height.
- Improved tooltip behaviour and added an optional Show tooltips setting, enabled by default.
- Refreshed the button-mapping dialog and Special Actions editor, including readable themed tabs, clearer controls and more consistent layouts.
Profiles and faster editing
- Added remembered Tiles, List and Details views. Tiles remains the default; Details shows the emulated controller and last-modified time.
- Profile badges now use the first letter of the profile name. Choose a custom fill colour or use your own PNG/ICO image instead. Icons travel with the profile through duplication, import/export, backups and migration.
- Rename and Duplicate now use matching inline panels, with clearer validation and protection against replacing an existing profile.
- Added Settings & profiles controls for choosing the save location, opening the profiles folder, and backing up or restoring settings and profiles together.
- Installed copies can optionally migrate settings from the program folder to AppData, with verified copies, backups and the original files retained.
- The storage section stays collapsed by default, remembers your preference and automatically expands when the selected folder is read-only or requires attention.
- Profile Editor is faster and smoother to open and close. Settings pages load when first needed, hidden controls avoid unnecessary discovery work, and status polling no longer stalls the interface behind busy audio configuration.
Special Actions
- Added optional triple-tap macros, configurable hold/tap timing, and individual names and enable switches for gestures.
- Improved action importing with backups and protection against overwriting existing actions.
- Fixed enabled actions becoming unchecked after saving when their names contained slashes.
- Fixed overlapping Multi Actions causing a triple tap to also trigger matching single/double actions.
- Added a shortcut back to Settings that offers to save or discard profile edits first.
DualShock 3 pressure support
- Added pressure-sensitive mappings for DS3 face buttons, D-pad and L1/R1 when assigned to analogue triggers or stick directions.
- Partial presses and releases now retain their analogue values. Ordinary digital button, keyboard and macro assignments keep their existing behaviour.
- This requires DsHidMini’s raw SXS input mode; its DS4-compatible mode does not expose those additional pressure channels.
Controller information and audio
- Added Controller info buttons to Overview and Controllers, separating information about the physical controller from the emulated device.
- View available identity, battery, firmware and factory information, with selectable values, Refresh and Copy info. Fields depend on what each controller exposes.
- Corrected malformed emulated DualShock 4 factory dates and audited the other emulated metadata formats. Emulated firmware dates are clearly distinguished from the DS4Windows version.
- Virtual audio devices now have clear names such as DS4Windows Controller 1 Audio and DS4Windows Controller 1 Microphone, making them easier to distinguish from physical devices.
- Improved supported Sony USB microphone forwarding, including profile volume, noise suppression and mute handling, without requiring a separate virtual audio cable.
- Fixed DualShock 4 Bluetooth microphone activation when Windows opens the virtual microphone, including the audio companion used with Xbox output.
Fixes and reliability improvements
- Controller startup: Resolved the reported intermittent failure to reach Ready through paired DS4Windows/VIIPER communication fixes. Special thanks to cns00 for sticking with the lengthy investigation and providing repeated diagnostic captures.
- Installer readiness: Fixed a separate timing race in the final health check that could incorrectly request repair even though setup had succeeded.
- Profile switching: Restored two-finger swiping after switching profiles with the DualSense mute button, and improved notification requests after successful switches. Profile-change notifications are shown while the app is minimised to the tray.
- Preventing double input: Added Keep controllers hidden between reconnects, enabled by default when using HidHide. This reduces the window in which games can discover the physical controller before its replacement virtual controller is ready. Stop/exit releases DS4Windows-owned retained entries.
- Saving permissions: Installed copies default to AppData, read-only locations are clearly identified, and optional migration provides a safer alternative to running everything as administrator.
- Startup warnings: Brief, expected USB haptics setup waits no longer immediately produce an alarming Needs attention status. Persistent waits and genuine failures remain visible.
- Layout and navigation: Fixed unwanted initial focus, Auto Profiles opening partially scrolled down, dropdown hover causing scrolling, clipped controls and several light/dark theme discrepancies.
Installer, update storage and documentation
- The installer now reports HidHide and FakerInput status and versions, alongside DS4Windows, VIIPER and USB/IP. HidHide is selected by default only when missing; FakerInput remains optional.
- Uninstall clearly explains that it removes DS4Windows and its managed VIIPER copy while preserving shared drivers, profiles and settings. Shortcuts help users find profiles or manage shared drivers separately.
- Added configurable update storage management. Keep one previous version per component by default, choose another retention policy, inspect occupied/reclaimable space and preview cleanup.
- Updated the documentation with current screenshots, clearer setup instructions and guidance matching the refreshed interface.
- Expanded automated coverage for profile preservation, multiple-controller isolation, feedback handling and installer behaviour.
- 5.0.60 includes VIIPER 0.1.17. USB/IP remains at 0.9.8.1, so no USB/IP driver version change is required.
In progress
Generic DirectInput output for older games remains in development separately. Community testing has been encouraging, and the branch now uses a 16-button layout with further mapping work planned. It is still awaiting PID approval and is not included in the stable release yet.
I’m also continuing to investigate hardware-specific feedback reports. Additional diagnostics help distinguish missing game feedback from problems further along the controller connection, without assuming every symptom has the same cause.
Thanks especially to cns00, Jobima1st, 1hezio, eVenent, Masterload1975, lpv11, pinn73, jusseppe88 and Darkii-0 for their suggestions, reports and testing.
Links
- Repository and overview
- Full changelog
- Troubleshooting
- Report an issue
- Discussions
Please back up your profiles and close games, DS4Windows and VIIPER before updating. Use the complete package with its matching backend. Windows releases remain unsigned; checksums and build records accompany the downloads.
If you try it, I’d love to hear which controller and connection you’re using, how it works for your setup, and what could be improved next.
14 points · 7 comments
Mentions
DS4Windows fork update: unified UI, faster profile editing, DS3 pressure support and more (5.0.60) Hi everyone, Following on from my previous post, I wanted to share what’s changed in my DS4Windows fork since 5.0.46. 5.0.60 is now available, bringing a substantial interface refresh, faster profile editing, more flexible profile management and several community-reported fixes. 🌐 Explore the website ⬇️ Download the latest release Thank you again to the original DS4Windows contributors for the work this builds on, and to everyone sharing suggestions, screenshots, profiles and logs. Quite a few of these improvements came directly from those conversations. Here’s an overview: Interface and usability - Standardised dropdowns, sliders, circular expanders and popup menus throughout the app, with consistent hover, pressed, selected, disabled and keyboard-focus states. - Improved consistency across all six themes, including the tray menu and its submenus. Checked menu items now align properly with unchecked items. - Added more compact headers, tidier spacing and better alignment throughout Overview, Controllers, Settings and Profile Editor. - Refreshed the footer with service status, controller count, expandable activity details and separate Hotkeys/About buttons, while keeping its compact height. - Improved tooltip behaviour and added an optional Show tooltips setting, enabled by default. - Refreshed the button-mapping dialog and Special Actions editor, including readable themed tabs, clearer controls and more consistent layouts. Profiles and faster editing - Added remembered Tiles, List and Details views. Tiles remains the default; Details shows the emulated controller and last-modified time. - Profile badges now use the first letter of the profile name. Choose a custom fill colour or use your own PNG/ICO image instead. Icons travel with the profile through duplication, import/export, backups and migration. - Rename and Duplicate now use matching inline panels, with clearer validation and protection against replacing an existing profile. - Added Settings & profiles controls for choosing the save location, opening the profiles folder, and backing up or restoring settings and profiles together. - Installed copies can optionally migrate settings from the program folder to AppData, with verified copies, backups and the original files retained. - The storage section stays collapsed by default, remembers your preference and automatically expands when the selected folder is read-only or requires attention. - Profile Editor is faster and smoother to open and close. Settings pages load when first needed, hidden controls avoid unnecessary discovery work, and status polling no longer stalls the interface behind busy audio configuration. Special Actions - Added optional triple-tap macros, configurable hold/tap timing, and individual names and enable switches for gestures. - Improved action importing with backups and protection against overwriting existing actions. - Fixed enabled actions becoming unchecked after saving when their names contained slashes. - Fixed overlapping Multi Actions causing a triple tap to also trigger matching single/double actions. - Added a shortcut back to Settings that offers to save or discard profile edits first. DualShock 3 pressure support - Added pressure-sensitive mappings for DS3 face buttons, D-pad and L1/R1 when assigned to analogue triggers or stick directions. - Partial presses and releases now retain their analogue values. Ordinary digital button, keyboard and macro assignments keep their existing behaviour. - This requires DsHidMini’s raw SXS input mode; its DS4-compatible mode does not expose those additional pressure channels. Controller information and audio - Added Controller info buttons to Overview and Controllers, separating information about the physical controller from the emulated device. - View available identity, battery, firmware and factory information, with selectable values, Refresh and Copy info. Fields depend on what each controller exposes. - Corrected malformed emulated DualShock 4 factory dates and audited the other emulated metadata formats. Emulated firmware dates are clearly distinguished from the DS4Windows version. - Virtual audio devices now have clear names such as DS4Windows Controller 1 Audio and DS4Windows Controller 1 Microphone, making them easier to distinguish from physical devices. - Improved supported Sony USB microphone forwarding, including profile volume, noise suppression and mute handling, without requiring a separate virtual audio cable. - Fixed DualShock 4 Bluetooth microphone activation when Windows opens the virtual microphone, including the audio companion used with Xbox output. Fixes and reliability improvements - Controller startup: Resolved the reported intermittent failure to reach Ready through paired DS4Windows/VIIPER communication fixes. Special thanks to cns00 for sticking with the lengthy investigation and providing repeated diagnostic captures. - Installer readiness: Fixed a separate timing race in the final health check that could incorrectly request repair even though setup had succeeded. - Profile switching: Restored two-finger swiping after switching profiles with the DualSense mute button, and improved notification requests after successful switches. Profile-change notifications are shown while the app is minimised to the tray. - Preventing double input: Added Keep controllers hidden between reconnects, enabled by default when using HidHide. This reduces the window in which games can discover the physical controller before its replacement virtual controller is ready. Stop/exit releases DS4Windows-owned retained entries. - Saving permissions: Installed copies default to AppData, read-only locations are clearly identified, and optional migration provides a safer alternative to running everything as administrator. - Startup warnings: Brief, expected USB haptics setup waits no longer immediately produce an alarming Needs attention status. Persistent waits and genuine failures remain visible. - Layout and navigation: Fixed unwanted initial focus, Auto Profiles opening partially scrolled down, dropdown hover causing scrolling, clipped controls and several light/dark theme discrepancies. Installer, update storage and documentation - The installer now reports HidHide and FakerInput status and versions, alongside DS4Windows, VIIPER and USB/IP. HidHide is selected by default only when missing; FakerInput remains optional. - Uninstall clearly explains that it removes DS4Windows and its managed VIIPER copy while preserving shared drivers, profiles and settings. Shortcuts help users find profiles or manage shared drivers separately. - Added configurable update storage management. Keep one previous version per component by default, choose another retention policy, inspect occupied/reclaimable space and preview cleanup. - Updated the documentation with current screenshots, clearer setup instructions and guidance matching the refreshed interface. - Expanded automated coverage for profile preservation, multiple-controller isolation, feedback handling and installer behaviour. - 5.0.60 includes VIIPER 0.1.17. USB/IP remains at 0.9.8.1, so no USB/IP driver version change is required. In progress Generic DirectInput output for older games remains in development separately. Community testing has been encouraging, and the branch now uses a 16-button layout with further mapping work planned. It is still awaiting PID approval and is not included in the stable release yet. I’m also continuing to investigate hardware-specific feedback reports. Additional diagnostics help distinguish missing game feedback from problems further along the controller connection, without assuming every symptom has the same cause. Thanks especially to cns00, Jobima1st, 1hezio, eVenent, Masterload1975, lpv11, pinn73, jusseppe88 and Darkii-0 for their suggestions, reports and testing. Links - Repository and overview - Full changelog - Troubleshooting - Report an issue - Discussions Please back up your profiles and close games, DS4Windows and VIIPER before updating. Use the complete package with its matching backend. Windows releases remain unsigned; checksums and build records accompany the downloads. If you try it, I’d love to hear which controller and connection you’re using, how it works for your setup, and what could be improved next.