How To Uninstall DS4 Windows And Related Drivers Completely

Don’t need DS4windows anymore? have you been exhausted while uninstalling the ds4windows and really want to know how to delete ds4? No worries, we will guide you step by step to remove and uninstall ds4windows completely including all the hidden software and drivers. After reading this guide, you will easily be able to disable the ds4windows with all of its supporting stuff and ds4windows drivers. If you didnt like the ds4 , than you can switch to DualsenseX / DS5Windows, this is another great tool to connect your Controller to PC

Steps To uninstall Ds4 Windows

DS4Windows is a portable app (no traditional installer) for using PS4/PS5 controllers on Windows. To fully remove it, you must delete its files and uninstall all associated drivers. Below is a comprehensive step-by-step guide to clean out DS4Windows, its AppData/profile folders, and companion drivers (ViGEmBus, HidHide, FakerInput, and any legacy drivers like HidGuardian or ScpVBus).

Step 1: Back Up Your DS4Windows Profiles (Optional)

If you’re planning to reinstall DS4Windows later or want to keep your controller profiles:

• Open DS4Windows
  
• Go to Settings ▶ Profiles
  
• Export or back up your custom profiles manually.
  

This step is optional but recommended before you uninstall DS4Windows.

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Step 2: Delete the DS4Windows Program Folder

Since DS4Windows is a portable application, it doesn’t show up in Programs and Features. Here’s how to uninstall DS4Windows manually:

1. Locate the DS4Windows folder – this is wherever you initially extracted or saved it. Common locations include:
   
   • C:\Program Files\DS4Windows
     
   • C:\Users\<YourName>\Downloads\DS4Windows
     
   • Any custom folder you created
     
2. Delete the entire DS4Windows folder – right-click the folder and choose Delete.
   
3. Empty your Recycle Bin to completely remove DS4Windows files from your system.

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Step 3: Remove DS4Windows Configuration Files from AppData

Even after deleting the main folder, DS4Windows settings and logs may still exist in your Windows AppData directory. Here’s how to remove DS4Windows completely:

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
   

Type:

shell
CopyEdit
%appdata%

2.  and press Enter.
   
3. In the Roaming folder, look for a folder named DS4Windows.
   
4. Right-click the DS4Windows folder and select Delete.
   

This is crucial for fully removing saved configurations and DS4Windows profiles.

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💡 Step 4: For Windows 8.1/7 Users – Show Hidden Folders

If you’re on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, or prefer manual file navigation:

1. Go to Control Panel ▶ User Accounts ▶ Folder Options
   
2. Under the View tab, enable “Show hidden files, folders, and drives”
   

Navigate to:

makefile
CopyEdit
C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\Roaming\

3. Delete the DS4Windows folder from there.
   

Tip: Don’t forget to empty your Recycle Bin after deletion to free up space.

Uninstall DS4Windows Drivers and Utilities

DS4Windows relies on several background drivers. You must remove these separately:

• ViGEmBus (Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus) – The main virtual controller driver installed by DS4Windows.
• HidHide – An optional utility that hides your controller from Windows (to prevent double-input).
• FakerInput – A small driver supporting certain controller inputs.
• Legacy drivers (HidGuardian, ScpVBus) – Old drivers from earlier DS4Windows or SCPToolkit installs, no longer used but possibly present.

The steps are similar on Windows 10/11 and 8.1/7; Windows 10/11 use Settings, while older systems use Control Panel.

How to Remove ViGEmBus Driver (Step-by-Step Guide)

Removing ViGEmBus Driver is a key part of fully uninstalling DS4Windows and cleaning up your system. Here’s how to do it:

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✅ Step 1: Uninstall ViGEmBus from Settings / Control Panel

To begin removing the ViGEmBus driver:

• Windows 10/11:
  Go to Settings ▶ Apps ▶ Installed apps (or “Apps & Features”).
• Windows 7/8.1:
  Open Control Panel ▶ Programs ▶ Programs and Features.

Then:

• Look for entries like:
  • Nefarius Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus
  • ViGEmBus Driver
• Click Uninstall on each.
• Confirm any prompts and restart your PC.

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🔍 Step 2: Clean Residual Drivers via Device Manager

After rebooting:

1. Press Win + X, choose Device Manager.
2. Click View ▶ Devices by connection.
3. Look for:
   • Nefarius Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus
   • Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus (older versions)
4. Right-click each and select:
   • Uninstall device
   • Check “Delete the driver software for this device”, if prompted.

This deletes hidden DS4Windows driver entries that may remain active.

Why this matters: Keeps your system clean and avoids driver conflicts when reinstalling or switching controller software.

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Step 3 (Optional): Deep Clean with Driver Store Explorer (RAPR)

If you want to completely remove all traces of ViGEmBus:

1. Download Driver Store Explorer (RAPR).
2. Launch it and:
   • Click the INF column to sort.
   • Scroll to the V section and find vigembus.inf.
   • Select it, check “Force Deletion”, and click Delete Driver.
3. Reboot your PC once again.

Uninstall HidHide and FakerInput

DS4Windows often installs HidHide and FakerInput. Remove them as follows:

• HidHide: Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, search for HidHide, select Nefarius Software Solutions e.U. HidHide (x64), and click Uninstall
  
• FakerInput: In the same Apps list, search for FakerInput, select it, and click Uninstall.
  

Both actions may require a reboot. On Windows 7/8.1, you’d do this from Control Panel > Programs and Features instead of Settings. After uninstalling, ensure no “FakerInput” or “HidHide” entries remain in the list.

Remove Legacy Drivers (HidGuardian and ScpVBus)

If you used older versions of DS4Windows or ScpToolkit, you might have HidGuardian or ScpVBus installed. These are no longer needed and can interfere with controllers. Remove them as follows:

• HidGuardian: Download the official HidGuardianInstaller tool. Run HidGuardianInstaller.exe and check the status log. If it reports “HidGuardian is already installed,” click Uninstall. Wait for it to finish, then reboot your PC. 
• (This safely removes the HidGuardian driver.)
  
  Example: The HidGuardian installer can detect and remove an existing HidGuardian driver.
  

ScpVBus: In Device Manager, look under “Universal Serial Bus Controllers” or “System devices” for “Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus” (not the Nefarius one). Right-click it, choose Uninstall device, and check “Delete the driver software for this device”.  If you have Driver Store Explorer handy, use it to delete vigembus.inf as in the ViGEmBus cleanup step – ScpVBus shares the same INF file name.

Common Issues After Uninstall

After removing DS4Windows, you might run into issues like your PS4/PS5 controller not being recognized by Windows. Common causes and fixes:

• Controllers are hidden or disabled: Older DS4Windows version setups used HidGuardian to “hide” controllers, and newer versions use HidHide. If you didn’t uninstall HidGuardian properly, Windows might still think your controller should be hidden. To fix: ensure HidGuardian is fully removed. (see above steps), then re-pair or re-enable your controller. Also check Control Panel > Devices and Printers: right-click your controller, select Properties > Hardware, find the HID-compliant game controller entry, and click Enable if it was disabled.
• ViGEmBus leftovers: If any ViGEmBus driver entries remain (e.g. from an old version), Windows might still try to use them. Follow the “Device Manager” and “Driver Store Explorer” cleanup steps above to remove every instance.
• Need to re-detect controllers: Sometimes unplugging the controller and plugging it back in, or removing/re-adding via Bluetooth > Add a device, helps Windows re-install the correct drivers (like the generic Xbox 360 driver) now that DS4Windows is gone.

In short, if your controller isn’t working after uninstall, make sure all DS4Windows drivers (especially any HidGuardian driver) are removed, then reboot and reconnect the controller.

Additional Tips and Resources

• Windows Versions: The above steps work on Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and 11. On Windows 10/11 you’ll use the Settings > Apps & features menu; on Windows 7/8.1 you’ll use Control Panel > Programs and Features.
• Screenshot Help: The images in this guide show useful locations (e.g. the %appdata% folder, Apps & features search, Device Manager). When in doubt, these screenshots can guide you where to click.
• Official DS4Windows Links: For related information, check the [DS4Windows Download] page for the latest release, the official [Troubleshooting Guide] for issues, or the [Drivers] section on the DS4Windows site. (These pages have official instructions and downloads.)

By following all the steps above, you will remove DS4Windows completely, including all its versions and drivers, from your PC. This means you can start fresh (reinstalling if desired) or switch to a different controller tool without leftovers from DS4Windows causing conflicts.

FAQ

Q: How do I completely uninstall DS4Windows and all its components?
A: Since DS4Windows is portable, simply delete its program folder. Then uninstall each driver it added: open Settings (or Control Panel) and remove ViGEmBus, HidHide, and FakerInput. Also remove legacy drivers (HidGuardian, ScpVBus) via their tools or Device Manager Finally, delete the DS4Windows folder in %appdata%

Q: How do I uninstall the ViGEmBus driver?
A: In Windows 10/11 use Settings > Apps & features, or on 7/8.1 go to Control Panel > Programs and Features. Find “ViGEm Bus Driver” or “Nefarius Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus” and click Uninstall Then reboot. After reboot, check Device Manager and remove any remaining entries named “Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus”

Q: I removed DS4Windows but my controller still doesn’t work. Why?
A: Often a leftover driver (especially HidGuardian) is hiding the controller from Windows. Make sure you have uninstalled HidGuardian (using its installer utility) and disabled any “Hide DS4” options Then reconnect the controller or re-pair it. Also check Devices and Printers to see if the controller is disabled and enable it

Q: What is FakerInput and do I need to remove it?
A: FakerInput is a small driver used by DS4Windows for certain controller features. If present, uninstall it via Settings > Apps (search “FakerInput” and remove). Removing FakerInput is only needed if DS4Windows installed it; after uninstalling, reboot.

Q: How do I uninstall the old ScpVBus driver?
A: In Device Manager, find any device called “Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus” (the old ScpVBus) under System Devices. Right-click it and choose Uninstall (check Delete driver). Alternatively, use Driver Store Explorer to delete its driver inf (same as ViGEmBus: vigembus.inf) After that, reboot.

Q: Are there tools to help with cleaning up DS4Windows leftovers?
A: Yes. Uninstaller tools like Revo Uninstaller or CCleaner can scan for leftover files/registry entries. The Driver Store Explorer (RAPR) is great for removing stubborn drivers (vigembus.inf). For example, RAPR can find and force delete ViGEmBus driver entries, ensuring none remain.

Q: How do I delete DS4Windows residual files from AppData?
A: Run Win+R, enter %appdata%, and delete the “DS4Windows” folder if it exists. Also check %localappdata% in case DS4Windows saved settings there. Removing these folders deletes saved profiles and settings.

Q: Should I clean the registry after uninstalling DS4Windows?
A: It’s not strictly necessary. DS4Windows leaves few registry entries. If you want to be thorough, use a tool like Revo Uninstaller or search regedit for DS4Windows keywords, but be cautious. Only experienced users should edit the registry. Normally, deleting program files and drivers is sufficient.

Q: Where can I find the official DS4Windows drivers and support?
A: Visit the DS4Windows official site’s [Drivers page] or [Download page] for the latest driver installers. The [Troubleshooting Guide] on the site also has tips on uninstalling components. These resources are linked from getds4windows.com.