Connecting a PS4 Rock Band 4 Guitar to PC: Options & Reality

No native support exists. The PS4 Rock Band 4 guitar uses a proprietary Bluetooth protocol + USB dongle that Windows does not recognize as a standard HID/gamepad. You cannot "just plug it in."

Workarounds (Unreliable, Unsupported)

1. Third-Party Adapters

• PDP Wired Adapter for Rock Band 4 (Discontinued): Officially licensed, USB-C → PC. Rare, expensive ($80+ used).
• Generic "Guitar Hero / Rock Band to PC" Dongles (Amazon/eBay): $15–$30. Hit-or-miss: latency, dropped inputs, no whammy/tilt, driver unsigned. Most are PS3/360 era; RB4 guitars often incompatible.

2. Software Wrappers

• DS4Windows / HidHide / ViGEm: Can sometimes map the dongle as an XInput device if Windows sees it as a generic HID. Requires:
  • Bluetooth 4.0+ radio (dongle or built-in).
  • Pair guitar via Bluetooth (hold PS+Share) — no dongle needed.
  • Custom profile in DS4Windows (community shared).
• Clone Hero (Free, PC): Best target — community builds custom instrument profiles. Search "Clone Hero RB4 guitar setup."

3. The Reliable Solution: Buy a PC-Compatible Guitar

• PDP Riffmaster (2023, wired USB-C): Works natively on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox. $60–$80.
• HORI Real Arcade Pro V Kai (fighting stick, but works for some rhythm games).
• Used Xbox 360 / PS3 Guitars + Legacy Adapter: If you already own Rock Band 4 on PC (Steam), the legacy Mad Catz / PDP adapters work with last-gen guitars.