If you’re moving to a native setup, troubleshooting a persistent double-input issue, or just done using DSX, removing it cleanly means more than deleting a shortcut. Since DSX relies on system-level drivers (ViGEmBus, HidHide) running alongside it, a proper uninstall clears those too, not just the app itself.
The Removal Order Matters
Uninstalling the virtual bus driver before disabling HidHide’s device hiding can leave your controller in an inconsistent state temporarily. Following the order below avoids that.
Step 1: Disable HidHide’s Device Hiding
- Open the HidHide Configuration Client
- Go to the Devices tab
- Uncheck “Enable device hiding,” this restores normal visibility between your controller and Windows before you start removing anything else
Step 2: Uninstall Companion Drivers
- Open Windows Settings, Apps, Installed Apps
- Find HidHide in the list, and uninstall it
- If you see an entry for FakerInput, that’s specifically a DS4Windows-related component (used for virtual keyboard/mouse input in some anti-cheat-protected games), if you’ve only ever used DSX, you likely won’t have this installed, but uninstall it too if present
Step 3: Remove ViGEmBus
- In the same Installed Apps list, find “ViGEmBus” or “Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus”
- Uninstall it and follow any prompts
Worth knowing: ViGEmBus was officially retired in late 2023 due to a trademark naming conflict, not a technical issue, it still works fine and remains what DSX depends on, there’s just no active development on it going forward. A planned successor called VirtualPad is in development but isn’t something you need to worry about during a standard uninstall.
Step 4: Clear Your Saved Settings
DSX’s configuration file lives at C:\Temp\DualSenseX\, not the AppData folder some older DS4Windows-focused guides reference (different tools, different storage locations).
- Press Win + R, type
C:\Temp\DualSenseX\, and hit Enter - Delete the folder’s contents (or the whole folder) to remove saved profiles and settings
If you’re planning to reinstall DSX later and might want your old settings back, consider renaming the folder instead of deleting it outright, that way you can restore it if needed.
Step 5: Uninstall DSX Itself and Restart
Since DSX is distributed through Steam, uninstall it the same way you would any Steam game or app, right-click it in your Library and select Uninstall. Then restart your PC to let Windows fully clear any cached driver states.
Verifying a Clean Removal
- Press Win + X and open Device Manager
- Click View, then “Devices by connection”
- Look through the list for any remaining entries related to “Virtual Gamepad Emulation Bus” or similar, there shouldn’t be any left after a complete uninstall
If Some Driver Files Won’t Fully Remove
Occasionally a driver leaves residual files behind even after a standard uninstall. Driver Store Explorer, an open-source tool, lets you view and manually remove leftover driver packages directly from Windows’ driver store if you’re dealing with stubborn remnants. This is a more advanced step, most people won’t need it, but it’s there if a standard uninstall doesn’t fully clear things.
After Uninstalling
Your DualSense will go back to however Windows and your games handle it natively, working fine with Steam Input and any native DualSense-supported PC games, but not translated for non-Steam titles that need the virtual controller layer DSX provided. If you decide you need DSX again later, reinstalling from its official Steam page and our Get Started guide walks you back through setup from scratch.