diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.cpp
index fc5ce667e6..1aceb59b38 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/Io/PadHandler.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "stdafx.h"
 #include "PadHandler.h"
 #include "Emu/system_utils.hpp"
+#include "Emu/system_config.h"
 #include "Input/pad_thread.h"
 #include "Input/product_info.h"
 
@@ -766,6 +767,19 @@ void PadHandlerBase::process()
 		}
 		case connection::disconnected:
 		{
+			if (g_cfg.io.keep_pads_connected)
+			{
+				if (!last_connection_status[i])
+				{
+					input_log.success("%s device %d connected by force", m_type, i);
+					pad->m_port_status |= CELL_PAD_STATUS_CONNECTED;
+					pad->m_port_status |= CELL_PAD_STATUS_ASSIGN_CHANGES;
+					last_connection_status[i] = true;
+					connected_devices++;
+				}
+				continue;
+			}
+
 			if (last_connection_status[i])
 			{
 				input_log.error("%s device %d disconnected", m_type, i);
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Overlays/HomeMenu/overlay_home_menu_settings.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Overlays/HomeMenu/overlay_home_menu_settings.cpp
index 257e4e983a..71ac55ff4c 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Overlays/HomeMenu/overlay_home_menu_settings.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/RSX/Overlays/HomeMenu/overlay_home_menu_settings.cpp
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ namespace rsx
 			: home_menu_settings_page(x, y, width, height, use_separators, parent, get_localized_string(localized_string_id::HOME_MENU_SETTINGS_INPUT))
 		{
 			add_checkbox(&g_cfg.io.background_input_enabled, "Background Input Enabled");
+			add_checkbox(&g_cfg.io.keep_pads_connected, "Keep Pads Connected");
 			add_checkbox(&g_cfg.io.show_move_cursor, "Show PS Move Cursor");
 
 			if (g_cfg.io.camera == camera_handler::qt)
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/system_config.h b/rpcs3/Emu/system_config.h
index 425d25a281..0bda85b625 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/system_config.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/system_config.h
@@ -273,6 +273,7 @@ struct cfg_root : cfg::node
 		cfg::_enum<turntable_handler> turntable{this, "Turntable emulated controller", turntable_handler::null};
 		cfg::_enum<ghltar_handler> ghltar{this, "GHLtar emulated controller", ghltar_handler::null};
 		cfg::_enum<pad_handler_mode> pad_mode{this, "Pad handler mode", pad_handler_mode::single_threaded, true};
+		cfg::_bool keep_pads_connected{this, "Keep pads connected", false, true};
 		cfg::uint<0, 100'000> pad_sleep{this, "Pad handler sleep (microseconds)", 1'000, true};
 		cfg::_bool background_input_enabled{this, "Background input enabled", true, true};
 		cfg::_bool show_move_cursor{this, "Show move cursor", false, true};
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/emu_settings_type.h b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/emu_settings_type.h
index a1bdad2754..140e7fcad4 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/emu_settings_type.h
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/emu_settings_type.h
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ enum class emu_settings_type
 	BackgroundInput,
 	ShowMoveCursor,
 	PadHandlerMode,
+	PadConnection,
 	KeyboardHandler,
 	MouseHandler,
 	Camera,
@@ -326,6 +327,7 @@ inline static const QMap<emu_settings_type, cfg_location> settings_location =
 	{ emu_settings_type::BackgroundInput, { "Input/Output", "Background input enabled"}},
 	{ emu_settings_type::ShowMoveCursor,  { "Input/Output", "Show move cursor"}},
 	{ emu_settings_type::PadHandlerMode,  { "Input/Output", "Pad handler mode"}},
+	{ emu_settings_type::PadConnection,   { "Input/Output", "Keep pads connected" }},
 	{ emu_settings_type::KeyboardHandler, { "Input/Output", "Keyboard"}},
 	{ emu_settings_type::MouseHandler,    { "Input/Output", "Mouse"}},
 	{ emu_settings_type::Camera,          { "Input/Output", "Camera"}},
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/settings_dialog.cpp b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/settings_dialog.cpp
index a6904b79ef..5b2e4517b5 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/settings_dialog.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/settings_dialog.cpp
@@ -1254,6 +1254,9 @@ settings_dialog::settings_dialog(std::shared_ptr<gui_settings> gui_settings, std
 	m_emu_settings->EnhanceCheckBox(ui->backgroundInputBox, emu_settings_type::BackgroundInput);
 	SubscribeTooltip(ui->backgroundInputBox, tooltips.settings.background_input);
 
+	m_emu_settings->EnhanceCheckBox(ui->padConnectionBox, emu_settings_type::PadConnection);
+	SubscribeTooltip(ui->padConnectionBox, tooltips.settings.pad_connection);
+
 	m_emu_settings->EnhanceCheckBox(ui->showMoveCursorBox, emu_settings_type::ShowMoveCursor);
 	SubscribeTooltip(ui->showMoveCursorBox, tooltips.settings.show_move_cursor);
 
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/settings_dialog.ui b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/settings_dialog.ui
index 59582bd5b1..cbb7d40b76 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/settings_dialog.ui
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/settings_dialog.ui
@@ -1810,6 +1810,13 @@
                </property>
               </widget>
              </item>
+             <item>
+              <widget class="QCheckBox" name="padConnectionBox">
+               <property name="text">
+                <string>Keep Pads Connected</string>
+               </property>
+              </widget>
+             </item>
              <item>
               <widget class="QCheckBox" name="showMoveCursorBox">
                <property name="text">
diff --git a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/tooltips.h b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/tooltips.h
index 4a1065e930..7f2e2576b6 100644
--- a/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/tooltips.h
+++ b/rpcs3/rpcs3qt/tooltips.h
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ public:
 		// input
 
 		const QString pad_mode          = tr("Single-threaded: All pad handlers run on the same thread sequentially.\nMulti-threaded: Each pad handler has its own thread.\nOnly use multi-threaded if you can spare the extra threads.");
+		const QString pad_connection    = tr("Shows all configured pads as always connected ingame even if they are physically disconnected.");
 		const QString keyboard_handler  = tr("Some games support native keyboard input.\nBasic will work in these cases.");
 		const QString mouse_handler     = tr("Some games support native mouse input.\nBasic will work in these cases.");
 		const QString music_handler     = tr("Currently only used for cellMusic emulation.\nSelect Qt to use the default output device of your operating system.\nThis may not be able to play all audio formats.");