DualShock 4 Lightbar Off

A simple Node.js script to turn off the light bar on a DUALSHOCK 4 Wireless Controller. This helps prevent unwanted reflections on screens and conserves battery life when the light bar is not needed.

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Prerequisites
• Installation
• Usage
• Troubleshooting
• Credits
• License
• Contributing
• Contact
• Keywords
• Additional Notes

Overview

The light bar on the DUALSHOCK 4 controller can cause distracting reflections on screens or drain the controller's battery faster. This script connects to the controller and turns off the light bar to provide a more comfortable gaming or work experience.

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v12 or higher)
• npm or yarn
• Operating Systems Supported:
  • macOS
  • Windows
  • Linux

Installation

1. Clone the Repository

   git clone https://github.com/ryanshahine/dualshock4-lightbar-off.git
   cd dualshock4-lightbar-off

2. Install Dependencies

   Using npm:

   npm install

   Or using yarn:

   yarn install

   This will install the following packages:

   • node-hid
   • crc

Usage

1. Connect Your DUALSHOCK 4 Controller

   Ensure your controller is connected via USB or Bluetooth. Verify that it appears in your system's connected devices.

2. Run the Script Using npm:

   npm run start

   Or using yarn:

   yarn start

   The script will attempt to find the controller and turn off its light bar. If the controller is not found, the script will list connected HID devices and provide instructions.

   Note (especially for macOS Users): You may need to run the script twice. The first run will change the light bar color from white to blue, and the second run will turn it off.

Troubleshooting

• Controller Not Detected:

  • Make sure the controller is properly connected.
  • On some systems, you may need to run the script with elevated permissions (e.g., sudo on Linux and macOS).

• Adjusting the Controller Name:

  • If your controller has a different product name, update the CONTROLLER_NAME constant in index.js to match it.
  • To find your controller's product name, check the list of connected devices that the script outputs if it can't find the controller.

Credits

• StackExchange User Oblitum for the initial idea and reference:
  • Post: How to turn off PS4 controller's light bar on PC?
  • Reference to Linux HID driver: hid-sony.c
• Todbot's Node-HID DS4 Test for examples on interfacing with the controller:
  • Repository: todbot/node-hid-ds4-test

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome. Please open an issue or submit a pull request for any improvements.

Contact

For questions or support, feel free to reach out via Twitter/X.

Keywords

DualShock 4, DUALSHOCK 4 Wireless Controller, PS4 Controller, Light Bar, Turn Off Light, Screen Reflection, Node.js, HID Devices, Cross-Platform

Additional Notes

Cross-Platform Compatibility

• The script uses node-hid, which supports macOS, Windows, and Linux.
• Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access HID devices on your operating system.
• On Windows, you may need to install a driver like libusb or run Node.js as an administrator.

Permissions

• On Linux, you might need to adjust udev rules or run the script with sudo to access HID devices.
• On macOS, access to HID devices generally requires no special permissions, but running with sudo can help if you encounter issues.

Extending the Script

If you wish to change the color of the light bar instead of turning it off, modify the RGB values in the turnOffControllerLight function in index.js:

function turnOffControllerLight() {
  // Set to a custom color, e.g., blue
  setControllerLight(0, 0, 255);
}

Known Issues

• Some systems may not detect the controller if it's connected via Bluetooth. If you encounter this issue, try connecting the controller via USB.

Security

• Always be cautious when running scripts that interact with hardware devices.
• Review the code to ensure it meets your security standards.