You can charge a PS5 controller in Rest Mode by enabling USB power in the console’s settings, connecting the DualSense with a suitable USB cable, and then putting the PS5 into Rest Mode. The setting is easy to miss: if USB power is off, the console will not charge a connected controller while resting.
Here’s the current menu path: Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode > Supply Power to USB Ports. Choose Always or 3 Hours; some newer PS5 model groups also show Adaptive. After connecting the controller, press the PS button, select Power > Enter Rest Mode, and check the battery icon when you return.
The options control how long the console keeps its USB ports powered after entering Rest Mode:
| Setting | What it does | When it makes sense |
|---|---|---|
| Always | Keeps USB power available throughout Rest Mode. | Choose this if you often leave a controller connected for a longer top-up. |
| 3 Hours | Supplies USB power for three hours after the console enters Rest Mode, then lowers power use. | A practical default when you want a charging window without continuous USB power. |
| Adaptive | On compatible PS5 models, adjusts charging to the controller’s remaining battery level to use less power. | Use it if the option appears on your console and you want automatic power management. |
Adaptive availability depends on the PS5 model group. Sony’s support pages describe it for newer CFI-2000 and CFI-7000 groups; menus can differ by hardware revision. If you do not see Adaptive, select Always or 3 Hours. With Adaptive, connect the controller before the console enters Rest Mode so the system can assess its charge level.
Use the USB cable included with your PS5 or another standards-compliant cable that supports charging and data. A cable marked charge only may not work with the DualSense. Connect the USB-C end firmly to the controller and the other end to the PS5. If you use Adaptive charging, Sony specifies the console’s USB Type-C port.
Now enter Rest Mode: press the PS button to open the Control Center, select Power, then choose Enter Rest Mode. The console should remain in its low-power state, rather than being fully turned off. A fully powered-off PS5 cannot charge the controller through its USB ports.
Charging does not have one guaranteed duration. The time depends on how much charge the battery has left and the charging setup, so check the console’s battery indicator instead of relying on a fixed two- or three-hour estimate.
Press the PS button to open the Control Center, select Accessories, and look at the DualSense battery icon. Sony says the icon animates while charging; when the controller is full, the animation stops and the icon shows three bars. In Rest Mode, the controller’s light bar may slowly blink orange while charging and turns off when charging is complete.
If the battery indicator is not moving, wake the console and check the USB power setting before leaving it again. On the 3 Hours option, the controller needs to receive power during that window. If it was connected after the console had already been resting, disconnect it, wake the PS5, reconnect the cable, and enter Rest Mode again.
Return to Settings > System > Power Saving > Features Available in Rest Mode and confirm that Supply Power to USB Ports is not set to Off. Select Always or 3 Hours if Adaptive is unavailable. Rest Mode can charge a controller only when the console is supplying USB power.
Disconnect the cable and reconnect it, then try another USB port on the PS5. If that does not help, test a different USB cable that supports charging and data. Look for loose connectors or visible cable damage, and avoid forcing a plug into either port. Sony notes that not every USB charger can charge a DualSense, so test with the console’s cable or a USB-standard charger known to work with the controller.
Check the Accessories battery icon while the console is on. If it animates while the PS5 is on but not in Rest Mode, the Rest Mode power setting or timing is the likely issue. If it does not animate in either state, test another cable and port. If the controller still will not charge after these checks, use Sony’s controller troubleshooting and repair guidance.
Yes. Enable USB power in Rest Mode, connect the controller, and put the PS5 into Rest Mode. The same basic process applies to the DualSense Edge; use its compatible USB cable and check the battery status in the Control Center.
Choose Always when you want USB power available for as long as the console remains in Rest Mode. Choose 3 Hours if you want the console to stop supplying USB power after that window. Neither setting guarantees that a nearly empty controller will be fully charged before power to the port stops.
Open Control Center > Accessories. A full controller shows three battery bars and no longer has an animated charging indicator. The light bar also turns off after charging is complete.
Set Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Quickplay to prefer hazards-off stages. Follow the Preferred Rules menu steps and learn why matchmaking may not always honor them.
Enable Server Latency and Packet Loss in Warzone to monitor connection quality, read the overlay, and use recurring spikes to guide troubleshooting.
Learn how to carry from mid lane in League of Legends by setting up waves, choosing safe roam windows, reading side lanes, and converting pressure into objectives.
Fix Minecraft Evoker spell problems with a safe vanilla test, version checks, log review, and a step-by-step way to isolate mod or datapack conflicts.
Fix PUBG stuck on Initializing on Steam with a focused checklist for PC service notices, launch options, game files, downloads, and connection issues.
Fix Brawl Stars stuck at 92% loading with an ordered checklist for service notices, network tests, safe updates, Android cache, and account-safe reinstalling.
Best Dead by Daylight visual filter settings start with a small Gamma lift, neutral color and contrast, and a quick check for dark corners, fog, and bright lights.
Find the Steam and EA app fields for Apex Legends launch options, use EA’s documented FPS command, and see why +exec autoexec.cfg remains unverified.
Reduce input lag on a Nintendo Switch dock for Smash Ultimate with TV Game Mode, a direct HDMI test, controller checks, and online-latency troubleshooting.
Find the best EA SPORTS FC audio settings for a clearer referee whistle: tune Stadium Ambience and Commentary, then troubleshoot output or timing issues.
