Last updated
Last updated
Here's a breakdown of what you'll need:
Cronus Zen™ functions as a soundcard to support headset audio and microphone input during Zen Link™ Remote Play connections. For this to work, your controller MUST be connected to the Zen via a WIRED connection.
3.5mm audio and microphone is unavailable over a wireless Bluetooth® controller connection. In this case, we recommend a USB wired headset or wireless headset that is compatible with PS5®.
DualSense® controller built-in microphone and speaker is also unavailable with Zen Link™.
Our video will guide you through the Zen Link™ setup process for use on a PS5® console in just over three minutes:
BEFORE WATCHING:
If you are experiencing lag or disconnecting, try the "Use 40Mhz bandwidth" checkmark in the ZenLinkConfigurator.
PlayStation®5 Specific:
1a. If you want the setup process to successfully copy over your Wi-Fi credentials, please ensure your Windows® 10/11 PC is physically unplugged from wired internet (ethernet) and connected to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi capable network instead.
1b. By default, most Wi-Fi networks share credentials between 5 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz, and in this case, it won't matter which your PC is connected to. However, if the credentials are different for 2.4 Ghz, connect your PC accordingly.
1c. Alternatively, such as if your PC lacks Wi-Fi, you enter your SSID and password during setup.
This mostly "one-time" setup will only require a refresh if you change your Wi-Fi credentials or PSN® login details in the future.
4a. If you are on Windows® 11, take a detour to ensure "Location services" is turned "On". You can find this setting under "Privacy & security > Location":
Optionally, you can checkmark "Use 40Mhz bandwidth" here. This is worth trying if you experience lag or disconnecting on your Zen Link™ due to network interference.
With Zen Link™ now configured with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi credentials and your PSN® login details (if applicable), it no longer requires your PC to connect. You can return your PC to its usual means of internet connection.
If things didn't go to plan, see the troubleshooting LEDs below:
Documented LED behaviors that can show up on Zen Link™ when setting it up in the ZenLink Configurator:
PURPLE indicates "Config Mode". Initially shows when entering Config Mode.
BLINKING RED indicates "No Wi-Fi Settings Are Setup".
ORANGE indicates "Successfully Connected to Wi-Fi".
BLINKING BLUE indicates "Firmware is Updating". DO NOT unplug during this!
PURPLE & GREEN indicates "No Update Available".
9a. Connect the Cronus Zen™ CONSOLE/PC rear port to your PC. Ideally, use Zen's included 12" short cable and a reliable USB port on your PC for this:
13a. Preferably, ensure your controller is fully charged, as it won't charge through Cronus Zen™.
13b. Ensure your USB cable is capable of data transfer, or use one from your Cronus Zen™ (the 6ft USB-C is appropriate for a DualSense® controller):
If things didn't go to plan, see the troubleshooting LEDs below:
ORANGE indicates "Connecting to Wi-Fi".
BLINKING RED indicates "No Wi-Fi Found".
BLINKING PURPLE indicates "Failure to Connect to PS5® through Remote Play". Test Remote Play on your PC.
LIGHT GREEN FLASH then LED off indicates "Retrying Connection".
RED/BLUE FLASHING indicates "Remote Play Disconnected". Check Wi-Fi strength/range. Ensure controller is paired/connected to Cronus Zen™ A3 or A2 front port.
STEADY GREEN indicates "Successfully Connected to PS5® through Remote Play & Ready to Play or Access the App.
You can re-enter ZenLinkConfigurator Mode to change Zen Link™ settings, or you can Factory Reset Zen Link™ to completely start again. This is especially helpful during troubleshooting if something went wrong during or after setup, or if you've changed your Wi-Fi credentials or PSN® login.
If your Zen Link™ is being disconnected from Remote Play or there is lag, and this has not been resolved by bringing your router/modem closer to the location of your devices, or checkmarking the 40Mhz bandwidth setting in the ZenLinkConfigurator, you can try the following:
For this, UPNP must be enabled in your router/modem settings. And your PS5® must be on a static IP address with port forwarding enabled (see the instructions for your router/modem).
TCP port 9295 → 9295 TCP port 9304 → 9304 TCP port 8572 → 8572 UDP ports 9000-65535 → 9000-65535
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that your network setup will be compatible with Zen Link™ to provide a smooth experience. If you wish to return the product for a refund, we do not cover return shipping costs:
If you purchased from the Collective Minds™ store, please follow our Product Return instructions and return within at least 30 days of purchase:
If you purchased from the CronusMax™ shop, please contact them for return instructions:
Up until this point, the sole purpose of Zen Link™ has been to provide PS5® support through Remote Play. This is no longer the case...
Over time, this app has the potential to expand with new features, but as it stands, it will significantly reduce how often you will need to return to a Windows® PC, as you will now only have to do that to access the full suite of Zen Studio™ settings.
Using the included short cable, plug Zen Link™ into A1, the Cronus Zen™ left side port:
Plug Cronus Zen™ into your console or supported gaming platform of choice via the Cronus Zen™ rear port:
Your PC, Mac®, Chromebook™, or Phone/Smart Device needs to be on the same network as the Zen Link™ for the app to work:
Your browser is probably going to complain about security but you have nothing to worry about and can forge ahead.
Once successfully connected, you can access the list of GAMEPACKs, and program & configure them to the Cronus Zen™ device slots, the same way you would in Zen Studio™, but wirelessly:
Zen Link™ is a "Wi-Fi Expansion Module" for your Cronus Zen™ Gaming Adapter (). This upgrade unlocks the following features:
Access the to wirelessly program and configure GAMEPACKs through a compatible browser like Google® Chrome on a wide variety of platforms, including Windows®, macOS®, Chromebook™, Android™, and iOS™.
Zen Link™ cannot operate on its own. It is a Wi-Fi Expansion Module for Cronus Zen™ which is .
After setup, Zen Link™ will significantly reduce reliance on a Windows® 10/11 PC by allowing you to wirelessly program and configure GAMEPACKs through a browser on a variety of devices. However, it does not currently eliminate the need for a Windows® 10/11 PC, as full configuration is only available through Zen Studio™ at this time.
It is highly important to update your Cronus Zen™ firmware before proceeding. Zen Studio™ will typically prompt you to update if new firmware is available. However, if you experience any issues, you can update via the Web Updater at using a compatible browser, such as Google® Chrome.
Review the section as some details are not covered in the video.
Refer to our below for a step-by-step from start-to-finish, including LED behaviors that can help with troubleshooting, & .
To set up Remote Play, visit the following link for detailed instructions. The Windows® PC version of Remote Play MUST be used! Once you have completed setup and connected to your PS5® console, close the Remote Play application.
Zen Link™ is a 2.4 GHz device. During the setup process your Wi-Fi credentials and PSN® login details (if applicable) will be securely copied to the Zen Link™ device.
PlayStation®5 Specific: If you want to set up your Zen Link™ for PS5® support through Remote Play, you MUST have already setup on your setup PC.
You will be connecting your Zen Link™ to your Windows® 10/11 PC using the included short cable.
To enter ZenLinkConfigurator Mode, HOLD the CONFIG BUTTON for at least 5 seconds while plugging into your PC until the LEDs turn PURPLE. They will then either turn ORANGE for Wi-Fi connected or BLINKING RED for Wi-Fi not setup.
Install/update to the latest version of to ensure the "ZenLink Configurator" is up-to-date.
4b. Right click the "ZenLink Configurator" shortcut on your desktop, then click "Run as administrator", then if asked click "Yes" to open the configurator.
Proceed with setup. The configurator will report its current status in its output console. Please be patient between Clicks as the configurator is working:
5a. For the "WI-FI SETTINGS" section, Click "READ SETTINGS FROM WINDOWS" to copy over your Wi-Fi credentials. Ensure it is 2.4 Ghz credentials. Alternatively, such as if your PC lacks Wi-Fi, you can manually type in your SSID/Password.
5b. PlayStation®5 Specific: For the "PS5 REMOTE PLAY MODE" section, if you want to use Zen Link™ for PS5® support through Remote Play, Click "LOAD CONSOLE DATA" to copy over your PSN® login details.
If "PS5 REMOTE PLAY MODE" is irrelevant to your setup, such as if you are using the PS5® "Bypass Method" instead, or a different console such as PS4® or Xbox®, and you ONLY want to make use of the feature, you may skip to the "FLASH ONLY MODE" section and checkmark "Gamepacks/Scripts flash only". Obviously, leave this unchecked if you want to use "PS5 REMOTE PLAY MODE".
5c. Under "DEVICE CONTROL", Click "** SAVE ALL TO DEVICE **".
5d. Under "DEVICE CONTROL", Click "RESTART DEVICE".
After Zen Link™ has restarted, its LEDs should turn ORANGE to confirm Wi-Fi is connected.
The Zen Link™ firmware update will start with BLINKING BLUE LEDs on the device, and the configurator's status bar will display "Flashing" with the current progress. DO NOT unplug the device, and wait for "Done. Rebooting Device".
The Zen Link™ LEDs will turn back to ORANGE. It has now rebooted, disconnected from the configurator, and is ready for use! (If unplugged and plugged back in, a LED will briefly show to confirm Zen Console Mode is ready). Click "Yes" to close the configurator, then unplug Zen Link™:
indicates "Zen Console Mode Ready". Briefly shows when plugged in after setup.
indicates "App Only Mode Ready". Shows when plugged in after setup if "Gamepacks/Scripts flash only" is checkmarked.
Having completed the "one-time" , you are ready to play on your PS5® console. Zen Link™ provides a responsive experience with a controller polling rate of up to 500hz (2ms) in a best case scenario, although GAMEPACK actual polling/"VMSpeed" varies from pack-to-pack due to CPU load needs, with some packs allowing you to set it. There are even BEAM® GAMEPACKs specifically designed for Zen Link™. However, this is not the only factor. To ensure responsive controls, set yourself up for a strong connection:
If you didn't do it earlier, you MUST ensure your Cronus Zen™ firmware is up-to-date, or you could experience undocumented issues & LED behaviors that our Support Team won't recognize:
9b. HOLD the Cronus Zen™ RESET BUTTON until "Zen Bootloader" appears on its screen.
9c. Navigate to in the Google® Chrome browser, and follow the on-screen instructions to update. DO NOT unplug until it has finished updating!!! If you see 0.0.0 firmware or an E3 error code, ensure nothing else is plugged into the Zen device, and repeat the update with a different USB port and/or cable. If it still doesn't work, try updating on another computer.
If you didn't do it earlier, ensure your PS5® console is set accordingly: "Settings > Accessories > Controller (General) > Communication Method > Use USB Cable":
Using the included short cable, plug Zen Link™ into A1, the Cronus Zen™ left side port:
Plug Cronus Zen™ into your PS5® console, and wait for the Zen Link™ LED to turn ORANGE to indicate it has successfully connected to Wi-Fi.
If you are using a wired connection for your controller, plug your controller into either A3 or A2, one of the Cronus Zen™ front ports:
Once the Zen Link™ LED turns GREEN, you can use Cronus Zen™ on your PS5® as normal.
If the LED fails to turn GREEN, PRESS & RELEASE the bottom RESET BUTTON to reboot your Zen:
If the LED is , "Gamepacks/Scripts flash only" is checkmarked which disables the Remote Play feature. You need to redo the Zen Link™ setup to uncheck it.
Documented LED behaviors that can show up on Zen Link™ when connecting your Zen Link™ & Cronus Zen™ setup to a PS5® console, or the :
indicates briefly "Zen Console Mode Ready". May also show if Zen Link™ disconnects from Remote Play & can't reconnect.
indicates "App Only Mode Ready". Shows if "Gamepacks/Scripts flash only" is checkmarked.
If you are new to Cronus Zen™, you can learn to use it at its online guide .
To enter ZenLinkConfigurator Mode, HOLD the CONFIG BUTTON for at least 5 seconds while plugging into your PC until the LEDs turn PURPLE. They will then either turn ORANGE for Wi-Fi connected or BLINKING RED for Wi-Fi not setup.
To perform a Factory Reset, HOLD the FACTORY RESET BUTTON via the paperclip hole underneath while plugging into your PC until the LEDs turn PURPLE then BLINK RED.
Remember to refer to the LEDs when troubleshooting, & .
Zen Link™ is now useful to all other supported gaming platforms, such as Xbox®, providing access to the for wirelessly programming & configuring GAMEPACKs through a compatible browser such as Google® Chrome on Windows®, Mac®, Chromebook™, Android™, or iOS™.
You'll need to update the firmware on your Cronus Zen™. You'll also need to run Zen Studio™ at least once to update the ZenLinkConfigurator. After that, you'll need to run through the as of the latest update. During setup, you'll notice a new option where you can checkmark "Gamepacks/Scripts flash only" which is meant for other gaming platforms. Obviously, leave this unchecked if you want to use "PS5 REMOTE PLAY MODE".
Wait for the Zen Link™ LED to turn ORANGE to indicate it has successfully connected to Wi-Fi. If "Gamepacks/Scripts flash only" is checkmarked, it'll start , or if it is connected to PS5® through Remote Play, it'll turn GREEN. It doesn't matter if your controller is plugged in. What matters is the next step.
Navigate to in a compatible browser such as Google® Chrome:
