Question

How to Set Up and Optimize DS4Windows on a DigitalOcean VPS?

I’m trying to set up DS4Windows on a DigitalOcean VPS to use my DualShock 4 controller remotely. I need help with:

  1. Installing DS4Windows on a cloud server (Windows-based droplet).
  2. Configuring it for minimal input delay.
  3. Setting up proper drivers for controller emulation.
  4. Enabling remote access to control the VPS from another device.

Has anyone successfully done this? Any tips for optimizing performance and avoiding connectivity issues?


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Bobby Iliev
Site Moderator
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March 12, 2025

Hey there 👋

Just a heads-up, DigitalOcean doesn’t currently support native Windows-based Droplets, so you won’t be able to run DS4Windows directly on a DO VPS.

DS4Windows requires a full Windows environment (along with ViGEmBus, HidHide, etc.), and those aren’t supported on Linux-based VPS setups. If you’re looking to run DS4Windows remotely, you’d be better off using a Windows VPS provider like AWS, Azure, or another host that offers Windows Server images.

That said — if you’re just trying to stream gameplay or remote control something via a gamepad, there might be Linux-based workarounds (like ds4drv, Steam Remote Play, or Moonlight/Sunshine), but it really depends on your use case.

You can also upvote this idea here:

https://ideas.digitalocean.com/core-compute-platform/p/support-windows-server

- Bobby

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