The DS4 (PS4) controller must first be properly set up with your computer.


Make Sure Bluetooth is turned on if your computer has it:
Click Start, type "Bluetooth and other devices settings", and click on it:
In the window that opens, click "+ Add Bluetooth or Other Devices" and it will open a new window:
Pick up your DS4 (PS4) Controller and hold SHARE+PS buttons for 5-6 seconds until the controller's light bar flashes a rapid white:
Back on the computer screen, in the window that opened, click "Bluetooth" to begin scanning for your DS4 (PS4) controller:
When you see "Wireless Controller" show up in the list, click on it:
It will tell you it is paired to your computer, and you can click "Done":

1. Be within range of your computer.
   
2. Press the PS Button on the DS4 (PS4) to turn on the controller to connect via Bluetooth.

Next you need to install DS4-Windows.
STAR WARS™: X-Wing Alliance™ is a windows game that uses Microsoft's XInput (what Xbox controllers use). SONY's DualShock 4 Controller doesn't send XInput, so it needs a translator. DS4Windows can translate DS4 (PS4) input to XInput, so your DS4 (PS4) controller will appear as an Xbox controller to Windows. Even though Steam can identify the DS4 (PS4) controller, the 1999 STAR WARS™: X-Wing Alliance™ uses the Windows Game Controller settings, so you will not be able to easily control your craft with Steam's desktop configuration. (It may still be possible/discoverable in the future and this program won't be required, but for now it's required).
Head over to https://ds4-windows.com/ :
Click the Download button:
When it's downloaded go to your download folder:
Open the zip file:
Extract the DS4Windows folder somewhere (Extracted to Downloads here):
Then go to the folder and look for DS4Windows.exe and double-click on it:
At this point you may be required to install VigEmBus[ds4-windows.com] and other dependencies. These are required to make it work.
DS4Windows will be opened:
At this point, turn your DS4 controller on, and you should see it is connected:
Pay close attention to the Ex column, if you see an locked key as above, you should be good to skip the next step. But if you see an X as seen below, this indicates a double-input issue that we need to fix in the next step:

So you have a double-input issue that we need to fix.
Some DualShock 4 Controllers need to be hidden from Windows to avoid double input, which is where Windows sees you have 2 controllers, but you only want to use one. Not correcting this can lead to strange and unexpected input issues.
To see this, click start, type Set up USB game controllers and load the item:
With the DS4 (PS4) controller turned on and connected to Windows & DS4Windows closed you will see:
With the DS4 (PS4) controller turned on and connected to Windows & DS4Windows opened you will see:
This is a problem because we only want to have 1 controller.
Head over to: https://ds4-windows.com/download/hidhide/
Scroll down and click on the download button:
Then go to your downloads and double-click on the installer:
Complete the installation and reboot your computer.
When your computer reboots, click start and type HidHide Configuration Client and click to open the program:
When the program opens, go to the Devices tab:
If you see nothing on this tab, you need to make sure your DS4 controller is turned on.
At this point we want to hide the Sony Interactive Entertainment Wireless Controller by putting a check in the box next to it:
After this we can click X in the top right hand corner to close HidHide. (This program doesn't need to be running all the time. It essentially acts as a toggle for windows. If you want to toggle it back, open up the program, remove the check and close the program again).
When we look at our Windows Game Controllers we should see only one controller:
When we open DS4Windows again, the Ex column should have a key indicating it is an exclusive input:

That's it, your DS4 (PS4) should now be found by STAR WARS™: X-Wing Alliance™, and you should be able to control your craft with the DS4 (PS4) controller as you would expect. So, go and use the force!
- DS4Windows needs to be running if you want to use the controller this way.
- HidHide is not required to be running, and only needs to be run to toggle/disable the settings if required.
- DS4Windows can be moved to your "C:\Program Files\" folder, and you can right click on the DS4Windows.exe and add to the start menu. This way, you can combine it with HidHide in your start menu, to make a group of easy-access icons for your DS4 (PS4) controller:
- It's a good idea to set your controller color in DS4Windows to a different color than what you set it to in Steam. This way, with just a click glance at your controller, you can see what driver it's using (Steam or DS4Windows).