How to Connect a PS2 Controller to a PSP

The controls on the PlayStation Portable (PSP) are small and poorly spaced out. This makes using them in fast-paced shooting games more difficult than when using a game controller on a game console. You can adapt a PS2 game controller to use with your PSP, provided you are willing to add a program into the PSP and run it first every time the PSP is turned on. You will also need to modify the PS2 game controller so it can attach to the PSP USB port. The modification does not require opening up the PSP and can be accomplished within a few hours at the most.

Download an external USB controller program to the desktop of the PC; for example, the PS2 Controller Thing program. Double-click on the external USB controller program to decompress it on the desktop.

Insert the SD memory card into the memory card slot of the PSP. Turn the PSP on. Navigate to the “Settings” menu and select “USB mode.” Attach the PSP USB cord to the PSP’s USB slot and the other end to a USB port on the PC. Wait for the icon of the PSP’s memory card to appear on the desktop.

Double-click on the icon of the PSP’s SD memory card to open its window. Drag the external USB controller program into the “Games” folder inside of the window.

Wait for the external USB comptroller program to copy to the “Games” folder. Right-click on the PSP’s SD card and select “Eject” from the pop-up menu. Disconnect the PSP USB cord from the USB port of the computer.

Turn off the PSP. Attach the end of the USB female extension cable to the PS2 controller’s cable. Attach the other end of the USB female extension cable to the male end of the PSP USB cord.

Turn on the PSP. Navigate using the PSP’s controls to “Games.” Select the external USB controller program and press “X” to activate it. Wait for the USB controller program to run and then quit itself. Pick up the PS2 controller and use it to exit the “Games” folder and control the PSP.