How to connect Bluetooth headphones to Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S

Compatible Xbox One, Series X, and Series S headphones are your best way to get flawless audio and performance but there is the odd work around for some

Shaun Conroy

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With audio quality on the rise, gamers are more confident than ever when doing away with cables. There is now a wide selection of Bluetooth-compatible audio equipment and gaming headsets that can easily connect to our gaming devices and give us a true cable-free experience. 

Games are progressing to the point where sound effects, voice acting, and general quality is the best it has ever been. So if you have the opportunity to connect premium headphones to your Xbox and bask in the clear, crisp sound, then you should right? Unfortunately, Xbox One does not have native Bluetooth support, however, it is possible to use Bluetooth headphones with the Xbox Series X and Series S, as long as they are compatible.

How to connect Bluetooth headphones to Xbox One, Xbox Series X, & Series S 

When you buy a compatible pair of Xbox headphones, wireless or wired, they are simply plug and play. A wireless pair will come with an accompanying transmitter/dongle. Plug this dongle into an available port, turn on your headphones, and hold the pairing button if required to find the device. They should instantly be recognized but pay attention to the lights on your headphones and enjoy.

For Bluetooth headphones that are not compatible, you can still technically connect them if you use devices such as the Uberwith Bluetooth 3.5mm transmitter audio adapter but this can vary. The major downside with this solution is the lack of support for microphones and even when using the built-in mic, the quality isn’t great. However, it could still work for single-player games. Another problem gamers need to look out for is latency issues, with Bluetooth transmitters causing a noticeable delay.

Just looking to join Xbox voice chat?

For those looking to just chat with friends, things are much simpler. You can download the Xbox app onto your Android or IOS phone, log into your Xbox Live account, and start or join a party. Next, you just need to tap the headphones icon, connect your Bluetooth headphones to the device, and you can now chat with friends.

Remember, you will not hear in-game audio with this solution.

Compatible Xbox headsets

To avoid any issues whatsoever, consider a compatible Xbox One, Series X, and Series S gaming headset. These work flawlessly for in-game sound and chat, giving you more time to focus on your favorite games.

Here are some notable Wireless Bluetooth headphones for gaming on Xbox:

• Astro A50 Wireless Headset + Base Station
• LucidSound LS35X
• Razer Kaira Pro
• HyperX CloudX Stinger Core
• HyperX Cloud Flight Wireless
• Turtle Beach Stealth 700
• Astro Gaming A20 (Xbox One)
• SteelSeries Arctis 1X
• SteelSeries Arctis 9X

Is there an alternative way to connect Bluetooth headphones to Xbox?

Technically, no, however, some modern smart TVs and gaming monitors now support Bluetooth connectivity. With your TV being the audio source, you can simply pair your headphones to the TV as normal and start enjoying your games. Please note, this will not allow you to chat in-game or with friends, so this is only really suitable when enjoying applications, media, and single-player gaming.

It is still frustrating that our devices can’t just work flawlessly no matter the device but we are slowly getting to that place. We shouldn’t need compatible headphones to connect via Bluetooth to Xbox, PlayStation, or PC, but here we are.