Get your PS3 controller to work on your PC with MotionInJoy drivers for 32 and 64-bit Windows. This guide will show you how to connect your PS3 controller via USB.

Get the MotionInJoy Drivers

Download and install the the MotionInJoy drivers. These drivers support connecting the PS3 controller via USB and Bluetooth. I’ve successfully managed to get the USB method working properly. Feel free to experiment with Bluetooth but it seems to be hit-and-miss.

Load Unsigned Drivers

The 64-bit version of Windows 7 requires that all drivers are signed but the MotionInJoy drivers are not. Therefore, to load the unsigned drivers you will either need to disable driver signature enforcement or enable test mode. Those who use 32-bit Windows should skip this section.

Option A (Disable Driver Signature Enforcement on every boot):

Get to the Advanced Boot Options screen by pressing F8 right after your BIOS screen and before the Windows loading screen. Choose “Disable Driver Signature Enforcement” and now you should be able to load the MotionInJoy drivers.

Remember that every time you boot you will need to do this if you want to use the controller (or another unsigned driver). If you use the controller often then consider enabling test mode (option B).

Option B (Enabling Test Mode):

Download the Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider (DSEO) and use this to turn on Test Mode.  Remember that when test mode is enabled you may install any unsigned driver, including malicious ones.

NOTE: Some antivirus software may be triggered by DSEO. Don’t worry; it’s legit.

You’ll know you’re in test mode the next time you start Windows because there will be a string at the bottom right indicating that test mode is enabled. If you want to keep test mode on you’ll probably want to remove the string. To do that, choose “Remove Watermark” in the DSEO or just go here.

Configuration

Once you have started Windows with driver signature enforcement off, plug in your PS3 controller and wait as Windows tries to install drivers which don’t work. Once that is done, open your start menu and right click “Installer USB Driver” (or something similar) under MotionInJoy. During the driver install process, Windows will complain that it can’t verify the publisher. Click “Install this driver software anyway.”

Once completed, restart your computer (with driver signature enforcement off) and launch DS3 Tool. It should recognize your controller. Pick a mode and click Enable. You can see it working and calibrate it by going to Control Panel > Devices and Printers, right click PLAYSTATION(R) 3 Controller, click Game Controller Settings, choose MotioninJoy USB Game Controller, and click Properties. If Windows recognizes your button presses then you’re done!

Conclusion

If everything went according to plan, your controller should now work just like any other. With many PC games, you can plug in an Xbox 360 controller and have it just work. MotionInJoy 0.4.00 beta  is supposed emulate the 360 controller but it installs both the USB and bluetooth driver at once. The problem for me is that the bluetooth driver doesn’t seem to like my dongle so I get a BSOD. Hopefully others won’t have this problem.