Wired or wireless controller on the Cronus Zen
Which controller goes in which port on each console, what can be wireless, why timing scripts want a cable, and how to pair a pad with the Zen's P2 button.
Lura Editorial · Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 27, 2026 · 2 min read
Two questions, one answer each. Which pad goes where depends on the console. Whether it can be wireless depends on what you are playing.
Which pad goes where
| Console | A1 | Play pad |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series, Xbox One | Official or licensed Xbox pad, wired; it answers the licence check | Same pad, or any pad on A3 |
| PS4 | DualShock 4, wired | Same, or any pad on A3 |
| PS5 | Zen LINK module, or the pad if you use the bypass | DualSense or Edge; on A3 with Zen LINK; PS5 setup |
| Switch | Any supported pad | Nintendo pads by Bluetooth only |
| PC | Any supported pad | Same |
On Xbox and PS4 the A1 pad must stay wired for the whole session; the console re-checks the licence. It does not have to be the pad in your hands.
Going wireless
| Route | How | For |
|---|---|---|
| Zen Bluetooth | Press P2 on the Zen; LEDs flash blue; put the pad in pairing mode | PlayStation and Switch pads |
| Xbox wireless adapter | Adapter in A3; pad cabled to A2 for a few seconds, then unplugged | Xbox pads |
| The pad's own dongle | Dongle in A3 | Third-party pads |
Turn the console off before pairing, or the pad reconnects to its last host, the console, instead of the Zen.
Why timing scripts want a cable
The Zen adds a small, constant delay. A calibration measures it and absorbs it. A wireless pad adds delay that varies from moment to moment, and that is the kind a calibration cannot absorb: the release lands early one shot and late the next.
| Setup | Delay | Varies | Timing script |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wired pad | Zen only | No | Yes |
| Adapter or dongle | Zen plus radio | A little | Calibrate on this exact setup |
| Bluetooth via P2 | Zen plus Bluetooth | More | Not for timing |
| PS5 via Zen LINK | Zen plus Wi-Fi | With the network | Wired pad on A3, quiet 2.4 GHz network |
Anti-recoil scripts care too: a pull that stutters is worse than no pull.
What wireless costs
An adapter draws more power than a wired pad and is often what tips a marginal console port into the OLED's low-power warning. If a wireless setup drops in and out, plug the Zen directly into the console and remove hubs first.
Quick reference
| You want | Do this |
|---|---|
| Lowest delay | Wired pad; play on it |
| Wireless on Xbox | Xbox pad wired on A1; adapter on A3 |
| Wireless PlayStation pad | P2 pairing; console off first |
| PlayStation pad on Xbox | Xbox pad on A1; DualSense on A3 |
| Auto-green or anti-recoil | Wired, always |
Questions
- Can I play wireless through the Cronus Zen?
- Yes, as the pad you play with. Pair it with the Zen's P2 button, or use the Xbox wireless adapter on A3. On Xbox and PS4 the authentication pad on A1 must stay wired.
- Which controller goes on A1?
- On Xbox an official or licensed Xbox pad; on PS4 a DualShock 4; on PS5 the Zen LINK module if you use one, with the pad on A3, otherwise the pad; on PC and Switch any supported pad.
- Why do timing scripts want a wired pad?
- A calibration absorbs constant delay. A wireless link adds delay that changes from moment to moment, which no calibration can absorb.
- How do I pair a PlayStation pad to the Zen?
- Press P2 on the Zen, the left large blue button, so the LEDs flash blue; then hold Share and PS on the pad until its light bar flashes. Turn the console off first or the pad reconnects to it instead.
- How do I pair an Xbox pad?
- Not over the Zen's Bluetooth. Plug the Xbox wireless adapter into A3, connect the pad to A2 by cable for a few seconds, then remove the cable.