If you have a skilful Bluetooth-powered headset that y'all want to apply for your Xbox One or Xbox Series X/South console, the good news is there are ways you can practice it. The bad news is y'all'll have to become through some hoops in club to get around the fact that both the Xbox One and the Xbox Series S lack Bluetooth adequacy.

Connect Bluetooth Headsets to Xbox One

Why is connecting Bluetooth Headphones and so complicated?

The short respond is that, unlike all the other console manufacturers, Microsoft has decided to become a different road with Xbox I and with the next-gen versions (Xbox Series Ten and Xbox Serial S).

To put it merely, Xbox one doesn't support Bluetooth connections as information technology uses a proprietary protocol of connecting wirelessly – This engineering science is called Xbox Wireless.

Unlike Bluetooth which uses the broad ii.4GHz Radiofrequency, Xbox Wireless uses a college radiofrequency. While this facilitates an improved audio experience (in theory) and a reduced latency, it also ways that consumers are encouraged to get a peripheral launched (or backed) past Microsoft in order to get the best experience.

As of now, in that location are two only types of headsets that are uniform with Xbox One:

  1. Headsets with a wireless dongle – These will crave you to plug in the headset dongle into your Xbox console to connect the headphones.
  2. Headsets that will connect natively without requiring a dongle – These headsets volition automatically connect to the panel. This technology is typically reserved for premium headsets. You lot pay more for the convenience of getting rid of the pesky dongle.

There's as well a third category of headsets that are BT only, and if you own one of these, you'll, unfortunately, need to spring through some hoops in order to utilise it with your Xbox console.

How to Connect Any Headset to Xbox Ane and Xbox Series X / Due south

Regardless if you ain a headset that Microsoft deems compatible or not, we're going to show you how you tin connect it to your Xbox console. Just go on in mind that y'all fall in the latter category, in that location are some limitations (equally yous'll see below).

1. How to Connect an Xbox Wireless-Compatible Headset to Xbox Consoles

If y'all own a headset that is capable of leveraging Microsoft'southward exclusive technology (Microsoft Wireless), connecting your headset shouldn't give you lot much trouble if you know what to do.

We've outlined the steps below, but continue in heed that some things might be different depending on the headset that you lot're using.

1.1 How to Connect an Xbox Wireless-Uniform Headset with Dongle

If your headset comes with a wireless dongle, things couldn't be whatsoever easier for you. Just plug in the dongle into the USB port of your dongle and plough on your headset. That's it.

Later a couple of seconds, you lot should see your headset being recognized and you're ready to play.

1.ii How to Connect an Xbox Wireless-Compatible Headset without Dongle

If you take a premium headset that is capable of connecting to your Xbox console, the process of connecting it to your Xbox One or Xbox Serial X / S console is a footling different.

Hither'due south what you demand to do:

  1. First by turning your headphones on and brand sure they're not in low-ability style (they have plenty of battery life).
  2. Adjacent, you'll need to put them into 'pairing mode'. This is different from manufacturer to manufacturer, but in most cases, all you need to do is hold down on the power button until you lot see the headset's Bluetooth LED is on or flashing intermittently. Once y'all see this behavior occurring, your headset is ready for pairing.
    LED and power button

    Note: Some headsets won't have a LED tailing you lot that they've now entered pairing mode. Instead, they'll play a sound, so be on the lookout for that.

  3. Next, plow on your Xbox 1 or Xbox Series X console and locate the pairing push.
    Locating the pairing push on your console

    Note: The pairing button on Xbox One S and Xbox One Ten is located at the correct lower portion of the front panel of the console. If you lot own the next-gen version of Xbox (Xbox Series X), the pairing button is located in the lesser-correct corner of your device.

  4. Next, press the pairing button on your panel until you see the LED associated with it blinking. This will indicate the console is ready to have new Xbox Wireless connections.
  5. Now that y'all've made sure that your paring will get accepted, render to your wireless headset and printing the Connect Button.Printing and hold information technology until you see that the LED starts flashing rapidly since this is the point that information technology's set up to pair.
    Press the Bluetooth pairing push

    Note: You lot tin can typically identify the connect push via the blue Bluetooth icon.

  6. In one case the pairing is established, you lot should run into both icons (the icon on the headset and the icon on your panel) steadying as they terminate flashing intermittently. This is the signal that the two devices have been paired successfully.  The majority of headphones volition also play a tone one time the connectedness is complete.

Important: The instructions above will exist different from manufacturer to manufacturer. If yous tried following the instructions below with no success, consult the user manual for the specific procedure of your model.

In case yous just realized that your headset is not actually uniform with Xbox Wireless, move down to the side by side guide below.

2. How to Connect an Incompatible (BT Simply) Headset to Xbox Consoles

If you lot thought the instructions above were a picayune complicated, wait until nosotros go through the procedure of connecting not-compatible headphones to your Xbox One or Xbox Series console.

Since Xbox doesn't support the utilise of Bluetooth headphones, y'all'll have to rely on ingenuity and a few additional tools to connect Bluetooth devices to your Xbox console.

Depending on your item scenario and the tools and devices at your disposal, in that location are four main ways to connect an incompatible Bluetooth Headset to Xbox:

  • Connect the headset using a Windows PC – This is doable via the Xbox Console Companion app. The merely condition is that both devices (your PC and Xbox panel) need to be on the aforementioned network. For the all-time results, you volition need an ethernet connection)
  • Connect the headset through a Television – If your Goggle box supports Bluetooth connections, you're in luck. Yous tin easily connect your headset to your Telly and utilise it when playing games on your Xbox. However, this method has its limitations equally yous'll see beneath.
  • Connect the headset via the Xbox App – In instance you only care well-nigh using your headset to communicate with your mates on the party chat. This method will not allow you to hear game sound via your wireless headphones.
  • Connect the headset by using a Bluetooth Transmitter – If you have some cash on the side, investing in a Bluetooth transmitter is probably the all-time way of ensuring the all-time audio experience. The drawback is that you won't be able to apply your headphone microphone.

2.one Connect Bluetooth Headset via PC

Since Xbox consoles and Windows PCs share the same infrastructure, you can employ whatever Windows desktop or laptop to facilitate audio playback from a Bluetooth-powered headset.

Withal,  there are two conditions that need to be met in order to connect your Xbox One or Xbox Series console to Windows PC (so you can facilitate audio playback from BT headsets):

  • Both your PC and your Xbox console need to be continued to the aforementioned network.
  • Your PC needs to accept installed the Xbox Console Companion app (should be already installed on your PC by default unless you lot got rid of it).
  • Your PC needs to have Bluetooth capabilities. It needs to either be equipped with Bluetooth natively or you lot need to plug in a Bluetooth dongle.

Follow the instructions below to connect your Xbox console to a Windows PC and use an incompatible Bluetooth headset on your console:

  1. On your PC, admission the Xbox Panel companion app by pressing the Windows key and searching for 'Xbox Panel'.
    Xbox Console companion app

    Note: If the app is non installed, download it for free from Microsoft Store. Navigate to this folio, click Go, then click on Open Microsoft Store, click on Free and wait until information technology'southward installed on your Windows computer.

  2. Once yous're inside the first screen of Xbox Console Companion, click on Sign In and insert the credentials associated with the Microsoft account that you apply on your console.
    Sign in with Xbox Microsoft Account

    Notation: If you too game from your PC, you're most likely already signed in, so you'll meet the master interface of the Xbox Console Companion app directly.

  3. In one case you're inside the main carte of the Xbox Console Companion app, click on the Connexion icon from the vertical menu on the left.
    Accessing the Connection tab
  4. Adjacent, wait until the console is detected. If this doesn't automatically happen, click on the Add a device icon in the top-correct corner.
    Connect PC with Xbox console

    Note: Go on in heed that both your PC and your console need to exist on the same network in order to find each other. Additionally, if the console is not visible despite the fact that it's continued to the same network, insert the IP address directly and run across if you lot get a hit.

  5. One time the console is detected, click on the Connect push button and wait until the pairing is complete.
    Important: If the connection attempt ultimately fails with an error, option up your Xbox controller and go to Settings > Device & Streaming > Device Connections. In one case you lot're inside the correct menu, ensure that Other devices are gear up to Just from profiles sign on this Xboxand that both boxes underThis Xboxare checked.
    Making sure that your Xbox Console is connectable
  6. One time the connection is established, all you need to do is connect the headset to your PC, then you can outset using them on your console directly as your PC and Xbox console are already linked.

If you have a TV with Bluetooth capabilities, motion down to the next guide below.

2.ii Connect Bluetooth Headset via TV

If you have a Tv set with Bluetooth capabilities, it can exist used as a gap-bridger between your incompatible headset and your Xbox panel. In what follows, we'll show you how to connect your Xbox to the TV first, and so connect the Bluetooth headphones to your Idiot box set then you can facilitate audio playback.

Note: The main drawback of this method is that you will not exist able to use your headset's microphone to communicate via party chat. This method will just allow you to play game audio on your Bluetooth headsets. If you only want to connect your headset to employ for the chat party, use the side by side method below.

In example you have a Tv set that is Bluetooth-compatible and you don't care almost communicating with friends via the Party chat functionality, follow the instructions beneath to connect your incompatible headset via your BT-fix Goggle box:

  1. First things kickoff, ensure that your panel is continued to the BT-Ready TV.
  2. One time the connection is established, utilise your TV remote to select the correct Input source.Confirm the connectedness by starting your Xbox console and checking if the panel signal is displayed on your TV.
    Selecting the correct input source
  3. Adjacent, become ahead and connect your Bluetooth headphones to your TV. To practice this, starting time past accessing your TV settings and ensuring that Bluetooth is Enabled.
  4. Put your headphones in pairing manner, then trigger a search for available BT devices on your TV, select the correct headset and wait until the pairing is complete.
    Pairing your Headset with the Idiot box
  5. One time the connection is established, but alter the Input Brandish to the HDMI port that your Xbox Console uses and beginning playing. Y'all won't be able to communicate via party chat, but at least you'll get the best audio in-game audio experience from your incompatible headsets.

If you don't have a Tv with Bluetooth capabilities or you're looking for a connection method that will let yous to communicate via party chat, move down to the next method below.

2.three Connect Bluetooth Headset via Xbox App (Android / iOS)

If none of the workarounds above seem user-friendly to you as you lot're mostly looking to use your Bluetooth headset for Party Conversation purposes, using the Xbox app from an Android or iOS device is probably the best course of activity for you.

Still, proceed in mind that going this route will also hateful that you won't be able to hear whatever in-game audio on your Bluetooth headphones. The middle footing solution is to output the in-game sound to your TV and the party chat audio to your headphones.

Follow the instructions below to connect your Bluetooth headset to your mobile phone:

  1. Offset things first, connect your Bluetooth headset to your Android or iOS device. Information technology'south a matter of enabling Bluetooth on your mobile device, putting your headset in pairing mode, and triggering a scan on your mobile devices.
    Pairing a new Bluetooth device with your mobile phone
  2. Once the Bluetooth headset is successfully paired with your mobile telephone, the next step is to download the Xbox App on your Android or iOS device. Download the correct version from Google Play or App Shop.
    Downloading the Xbox app
  3. Afterward the app is successfully downloaded, open information technology and access the Social menu from the horizontal menu at the bottom of the screen.
    Accessing the Social carte of the Xbox app
  4. In one case you're inside the Social tab of the Xbox app, tap on the Headset icon (top-right corner of the screen.
    Accessing the headset bill of fare
  5. If this is the commencement time y'all're using the app, you'll exist asked to requite the required audio permissions. When this happens, selectWhile using the appfrom the available options.
  6. In one case the correct permissions are given, you volition be redirected to the Party chat interface. At this point, y'all tin commencement joining or creating new parties and outset playing games on your Xbox while communicating with your teammates via the Xbox app.
    Creating a new Party chat via the Xbox app

    Note: Because you're relying on the companion app from Xbox, you can expect a bigger latency than if you were using the native political party conversation functionality straight on your Xbox console. Expect a bigger delay when speaking or receiving party chat sound.

If this method doesn't serve your purposes, motility down to the last workaround below.

ii.4 Connect Bluetooth Headset via Bluetooth Transmitter

This is the last workaround that volition allow you to slide around Microsoft's pesky Bluetooth restrictions on Xbox consoles. A Bluetooth transmitter will allow yous to connect your Bluetooth headphones to the Xbox console, but in that location's a catch…

You will be able to hear in-game audio and political party-conversation audio through your headphones, merely your teammates won't hear you lot back. This happens because none of these transmitters know how to utilize your headphone microphone.

If y'all are prepared for this compromise and you have a uniform Bluetooth Transmitter laying around (or you're ready to purchase one), follow the instructions below for steps on connecting it to your Xbox One or Xbox Series 10 panel:

  1. Outset things first, outset the transmission by long-pressing the power push.
    Pairing the BT transmitter

    Annotation: Most BT transmitters volition require yous to press the ability button for 3 seconds or more than before the LED starts flashing. This is meant to signal that it's ready to pair with your controller.

  2. Next, plug the BT transmitter into the 3.5 mm port of your Xbox controller.
    Note: Near BT transmitters' LEDs will stop flashing after the connection is established, only this depends from manufacturer to manufacturer.
  3. One time the Bluetooth Transmitter is successfully continued, turn on your headset and put information technology into pairing mode. The exact instructions of doing this will differ from one model to another, but in well-nigh cases, information technology'southward just a matter of long pressing the ability push button.
    LED and power button
  4. Now, as a terminal step, long press the function push on your BT transmitter to pair it with your headphones that are likewise in pairing fashion and waiting for a connection.
    Pairing BT headphones with the BT transmitter

    Note: If y'all don't get it correct the first fourth dimension, try bringing your headphones closer to the BT transmitter. Since you accept no option of selecting betwixt Bluetooth connections, the device will automatically pair with the strongest signal.

  5. Once the connection is established, you should be ready to go.

If you're in the market for a BT transmitter, here are a few reliable picks that y'all could go for:

  • Microsoft Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter
  • Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter
  • HYCARUS Bluetooth 5.0 Audio Transmitter Adapter