Check it in your browser first
Connect the controller to a computer by USB cable, open this page in Chrome or Edge and press any button. The tool below recognises the model, then Check authenticity asks the controller for the data a genuine Sony pad answers: its firmware build date, the factory calibration and its own hardware address. Move both sticks for two seconds when asked so it can measure the polling rate. Nothing is written to the controller.
Safari, Firefox and phones cannot read those reports, so there you get only the basic checks. For a pad bought second hand, do the full test on a computer before you pay or before the return window closes.
What each check means
- Vendor and product id. A genuine DualShock 4 reports Sony 054c with product 05c4 (first model) or 09cc (second model); a DualSense reports 0ce6, a DualSense Edge 0df2. Many clones give themselves away with another maker's id, such as ShanWan or DragonRise, or a generic name like PS4 Controller.
- Firmware build info. A genuine controller answers with a real build date. Clones often return nothing, zeros or garbage. This is the strongest single sign.
- Factory calibration. Every genuine pad stores calibration data for its motion sensor. Empty or flat data points to a cheap board.
- Hardware address. The controller's own Bluetooth address. All zeros or a missing answer is a red flag.
- Touchpad and vibration. The browser sees 18 buttons including the touchpad, and a rumble motor. Clones often drop one of them.
- Polling rate. A genuine DualSense or DualShock 4 on USB reports about 250 times a second. Many clones stop at 60 to 125.
No single check is proof. A high-quality clone with a copied chip can pass every software test, which is why the physical checks below still matter.
Physical signs of a fake DualSense
- Adaptive triggers. The surest test on a PS5: start a game that uses trigger resistance, such as Astro's Playroom, and pull L2 and R2. A genuine DualSense pushes back. Clones almost never copy the trigger motors.
- Weight. A genuine DualSense weighs about 280 g. A noticeably lighter pad has fewer parts inside.
- Lights. The light strips on both sides of the touchpad are even, the player lights below the touchpad are crisp, and the mute button glows orange when pressed.
- Fit and finish. Tight, even seams around the white shell, a matte texture on the grips and a touchpad that clicks across its whole surface.
- Label. The back label carries the model number CFI-ZCT1 and a serial number in sharp print.
Physical signs of a fake DualShock 4
- Weight. About 210 g for a genuine DualShock 4. Clones are often lighter.
- Light bar. One even colour across the whole bar. The second model also shows a thin strip of that light at the top of the touchpad.
- Touchpad. It must click and track your finger. On many clones it only clicks.
- Speaker, headset jack and motion sensor. Genuine pads have all three. Test the motion sensor in a game with gyro aiming or in Steam's controller settings.
- Label. Model number CUH-ZCT1 or CUH-ZCT2 on the back, clean print, a serial number that is not smudged.
Price, box and seller
A new controller far below the usual store price is the first warning. Fakes come in boxes with blurry print, missing seals or a shape that does not match the official packaging, and listings often use stock photos instead of the item itself. Ask a private seller for a photo of the back label and, if you can meet, run the browser check before paying.
Keep in mind that a repaired genuine controller can have an aftermarket shell or new sticks. The software checks will still pass, because the board inside is original.
If it turns out to be fake
Return it while you still can: marketplaces and payment services refund counterfeit goods, and a screenshot of the check plus a photo of the label is good evidence. A fake that works can still be used on PC, but expect weaker sticks, no updates and problems on a PS5 after a system update. To see how the sticks of any controller hold up, run the Stick drift test.
Frequently asked questions
Can a website really tell if my controller is fake?
It can read what the controller reports about itself: its ids, firmware build date, calibration and polling rate. That catches most cheap clones, but a high-quality clone with a copied chip can pass, so combine it with the physical checks.
Why does the check say not enough data?
The deeper checks need Chrome or Edge on a computer. In Safari, Firefox or on a phone only the basic signals are available. Connect the controller by cable for the most reliable polling rate.
Does the check change anything on my controller?
No. It only reads information reports. Nothing is written to the controller and no data leaves your browser.
My controller shows as Wireless Controller on PC. Is that a fake?
No, that is the normal name of a genuine DualShock 4 on PC. What matters is the id behind it: Sony 054c with product 05c4 or 09cc.