How do I connect my phone to my PS3 via Bluetooth?
Connecting your phone to your PS3 via Bluetooth allows you to take advantage of wireless connectivity between the two devices. Once paired, you can use your phone as a controller for PS3 games or stream audio from your phone to your PS3. Bluetooth provides a convenient way to eliminate wires and gain more freedom and flexibility when using your devices together.
This guide will provide an overview of the prerequisites and steps involved in pairing your phone with your PS3 over Bluetooth. Topics covered include enabling Bluetooth on both devices, initiating pairing, connecting your phone, using it as a controller, troubleshooting issues, and tips for getting the best performance. By the end, you will have the knowledge to quickly set up a Bluetooth connection between your phone and PS3.
Prerequisites
In order to connect your phone to your PS3 via Bluetooth, there are a few prerequisites that need to be met on both devices:
On the PS3 side, the system must have Bluetooth capability and have Bluetooth enabled in the settings. Most PS3 models have built-in Bluetooth support, but early models required an adapter accessory. Ensure your PS3 has Bluetooth turned on by going to Settings > Accessory Settings > Manage Bluetooth Devices (1).
On the phone side, the device must have Bluetooth connectivity built in. Most modern smartphones support Bluetooth, but double check by going into your phone’s settings. The phone’s Bluetooth also needs to be turned on for pairing. Make sure any passcodes or restrictions are disabled.
Both devices will also need to have a user account registered. On the PS3, create a free Playstation Network account if you don’t already have one. For the phone, it should already have a user account or profile set up from initial configuration.
Lastly, make sure both devices are updated and have the latest firmware. Connecting a Bluetooth headset requires PS3 system software version 3.50 or later (1). Perform any available system updates on both devices before attempting to connect.
Enable Bluetooth on PS3
To enable Bluetooth on your PS3, you first need to navigate to the Bluetooth settings menu. To do this, go to the Settings icon on the PS3’s main menu screen. Then go to Accessory Settings > Manage Bluetooth Devices.[https://www.resetera.com/threads/did-my-ps3s-wireless-capabilities-just-get-fried.742908/]
Once in the Bluetooth settings, make sure the checkbox next to “Enable Bluetooth” is checked. This turns on your PS3’s Bluetooth capabilities. Additionally, set “Discoverable” to “Always” so your PS3 can be found by your phone when pairing.
With these settings enabled, your PS3 will now be discoverable over Bluetooth and ready to pair with your phone.
Enable Bluetooth on Phone
To connect your phone to your PS3 via Bluetooth, you first need to make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone. Here are the steps to turn on Bluetooth and make your phone discoverable:
Turning on Bluetooth:
– On an iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and toggle Bluetooth to On.
– On an Android phone, go to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth and toggle Bluetooth to On.
Making phone discoverable:
– On an iPhone, under Settings > Bluetooth, make sure “Discoverable” is enabled.
– On an Android, under Settings > Bluetooth, select your device name to make it visible to other Bluetooth devices.
Enabling these Bluetooth settings allows your PS3 to detect your phone for pairing. Be sure to keep Bluetooth turned on while connecting your devices. See Intel’s guide for more tips on using Bluetooth.
Pairing Devices
To connect your phone to the PS3 via Bluetooth, you first need to pair the devices so they can communicate with each other. Here are the steps to start the pairing process:
On the PS3, go to Settings > Accessory Settings > Manage Bluetooth Devices. Select Register New Device. The PS3 will begin scanning for nearby Bluetooth devices to pair with.1
On your phone, enable Bluetooth in your settings if it’s not already on. Make sure the phone is set to be discoverable to other Bluetooth devices.
The PS3 should detect your phone in the list of available devices. Select your phone’s name to initiate pairing. The PS3 will provide a 6-digit pairing code.
On your phone, confirm the code matches the one displayed on the PS3. Accept the pairing request on your phone to complete the process.
Once successfully paired, the PS3 will be able to connect to your phone via Bluetooth for features like using your phone as a controller.
Connecting Phone
Once your phone and PS3 are paired via Bluetooth, you can connect your phone to share various media types. The PS3 supports sharing audio, photos, and videos from your paired Bluetooth phone.
To select media to share, access the photos, videos, and music folders on your phone and make those folders visible to external devices. On Android, go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Media audio switch to turn on sharing. On iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn on media sharing toggles for Photos, Music, and more.
With media sharing enabled, you can now access phone media through the PS3. Go to the Music and Photo sections on your PS3 to browse media from your phone. Your phone’s audio and image files will appear as options you can select to view or play on the PS3.[1]
This allows you to easily enjoy your phone’s media library right on the TV using the PS3. You can also use PS3 controls to navigate the phone’s media content.
Using Phone as Controller
One of the main benefits of connecting your phone to your PS3 via Bluetooth is to use your phone as a controller. This allows you to use the touch screen and motion sensors on your phone to control games on your PS3.
To use your phone as a controller, you need to enable DualShock controller emulation. This makes your phone act like a DualShock controller to the PS3. On Android phones, you can use an app like Sixaxis Controller to handle the emulation. On iPhones, you can use Sixaxis Controller.
These apps allow you to map your phone’s buttons, touch screen, and motion sensors to PS3 controller inputs. This gives you full control just like using a real DualShock controller. The apps have various settings to customize the button mapping to your preference.
One consideration with using your phone as a controller is potential latency issues. Bluetooth connections can add a small amount of lag. Make sure to use a strong Bluetooth signal between your phone and PS3 to minimize latency. Some users also recommend turning off WiFi on your phone when using it as a controller to reduce interference.
Troubleshooting
Here are some solutions for common issues when pairing your phone to a PS3 via Bluetooth:
If your devices won’t pair or have trouble connecting, first make sure Bluetooth is enabled on both devices and they are within 30 feet of each other. Go to Settings > Accessory Settings > Manage Bluetooth Devices on the PS3 and delete any existing pairing with your phone. Then try pairing again by putting both devices in discovery mode (source).
If the PS3 can’t detect your phone, the Bluetooth module inside the PS3 may be damaged. Try rebooting the PS3 and resetting the controller (source). If Bluetooth still doesn’t work, you may need to replace the Bluetooth/WiFi module in the PS3.
For lag or latency issues, make sure your phone and PS3 have the latest firmware installed. Turn off any power saving modes on the phone which disconnect Bluetooth when the screen is off. Try moving the devices closer together or minimizing obstructions between them. If lag persists, consider switching to a USB connection instead of Bluetooth for less latency (source).
Tips for Usage
To maximize battery life on your PS3 controller when using Bluetooth, try the following tips:
- Turn off rumble features in games when not needed, as this drains the battery faster.
- Dim the lightbar or controller LEDs to extend battery life.
- Recharge the controller after each use instead of waiting for it to die.
- Replace the battery if its capacity seems diminished.
For range considerations, Class 2 Bluetooth devices like the PS3 controller have an approximate range of 30 feet or 10 meters [1] [2]. The range can vary based on interference, obstacles, and battery level. If the controller loses connection, try moving closer to the PS3 or clearing the path between devices.
If the Bluetooth connection is spotty, you can use the controller wired by connecting a USB cable between the controller and PS3. This eliminates wireless interference and provides a reliable connection at the cost of tethering yourself to the console.
Conclusion
In summary, connecting your phone to your PS3 via Bluetooth requires enabling Bluetooth on both devices, pairing the devices, and then connecting the phone. The main steps involve going into the Bluetooth settings on the PS3 to make it discoverable, putting the phone into pairing mode, selecting the PS3 device on the phone to connect them, and then using the phone’s controls once connected.
Beyond connecting phones as a controller, the PS3’s Bluetooth functionality can also be used for wireless headsets for voice chat while gaming, connecting Bluetooth keyboards for messaging or web browsing on the system, or streaming music from your phone to the PS3. Bluetooth opens up many useful connectivity options for the console.