A controller for an internal combustion engine includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry performs a dither control process and a multi-injection process. Multiple injections in the multi-injection process includes a first injection and a second injection performed at a timing retarded from the first injection. The dither control process includes at least one of a process performed on a cylinder changed to a lean combustion cylinder so that a reduction amount of fuel injected through the first injection is greater than a reduction amount of fuel injected through the second injection and a process performed on a cylinder changed to a rich combustion cylinder so that an increase amount of fuel injected through the first injection is greater than an increase amount of fuel injected through the second injection.