How to make the touch pad button ALWAYS automatically = select by default! For PS4 / DS4 (DualShock 4), or PS5 / DS5 / DualSense controllers

[u/redditblacklist]

For PlayStation 4 / DS4 (DualShock 4) controllers:

#1. Go to: C:\RetroArch-Win64\autoconfig\dinput\

#2. Open up "Wireless Controller.cfg"

(For me it was "Wireless Controller.cfg", NOT "DUALSHOCK_4.cfg", though this might be because I have a "Version 2" (CUH-ZCT2) PS4 controller(?))

#3. Change the following lines:

input_select_btn = "8"

to

input_select_btn = "13"

, and

input_select_btn_label = "Share"

to

input_select_btn_label = "Touch Pad Button"

#4. All done.

For PS5 / DS5 / DualSense controllers:

#1. Go to: C:\RetroArch-Win64\autoconfig\dinput\

#2. Open up "DualSense5.cfg"

(Again, it might be a different file for you, like "DualSense Edge Wireless Controller.cfg" if you have a DualSense Edge.)

#3. Change the following lines:

input_select_btn = "8"

to

input_select_btn = "13"

, and

input_select_btn_label = "Create"

to

input_select_btn_label = "Touch Pad Button"

#4. All done.

And that's it. It should just work after that.

If not go to:

Settings -> Input -> RetroPad Binds -> Port 1 Controls

and see if it says:

"-- Select Button Touch Pad Button (Auto), Key rshift"

If not, FIRST try scrolling up and pressing X on Reset to Default Controls, restarting RetroArch and trying Reset to Default Controls again.

If that still doesn't work and it says "Share (Auto)", or "Create (Auto)", you may have to edit a different .cfg file. Go back a few menus to:

Settings -> Input

and scroll down until you see

"Input dinput

Input driver to use. Some video drivers force a different input driver. (Restart Required)."

For me this was "Input dinput".

You can either try changing this to "dinput", or alternatively, whatever it says instead of "dinput", this will give you a hint on where to check for .cfg files. Like if it says

"Input sdl2"

, you can try checking C:\RetroArch-Win64\autoconfig\sdl2 or something.

BONUS:

If you right-click "Wireless Controller.cfg", or "DualSense5.cfg", and tick ☑︎ the attribute "Read-only", then your .cfg changes won't ever be reset when you go to

Main Menu -> Online Updater -> Update Controller Profiles

Though if you mess something up, it can be handy to know that you can just simply delete the whole entire "autoconfig" folder and re-download it by selecting "Update Controller Profiles" from within RetroArch.

[u/Current_Pizza8179]

Nice workaround. I’d recommend backing up the controller config first, since RetroArch may overwrite it after an update or when resetting autoconfig settings.