Skip to main content

How to connect Bluetooth headphones to an Xbox Series X

Xbox Series X sitting against a wall.
Microsoft

You can always count on your console making the best Xbox Series X games look their best, but sound quality is another story. If you don't have an expensive speaker system, your next best bet is to invest in a high-quality headset for that full soundscape while gaming. This is especially important in multiplayer games where hearing your enemy's footsteps can save your life. Most of us already own earbuds and headphones, but if they use Bluetooth then you won't be able to connect automatically. Here's how you can get around this limitation so you can hear all the upcoming Series X games crystal clear.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

10 minutes

What You Need

  • Bluetooth transmitter

Gamer playing Xbox One with headset on.
Shutterstock / AlessandroBiascioli / Xbox

How to connect Bluetooth headphones to Series X

To connect your Bluetooth headphones to the Xbox Series X, you will need to get a Bluetooth transmitter compatible with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Once you insert the Bluetooth transmitter into your Xbox Series X controller, follow these steps to pair your headphones to your console.

Step 1: Turn your transmitter on after connecting it to the controller and place it in the pairing mode. Check the instruction manual, as each transmitter can vary with this process.

Step 2: Power on your Bluetooth headphones and place them in pairing mode. A flashing light typically indicates pairing mode on your headphones or a sound queue.

Step 3: Since there is no visual queue of the headphones connecting, watch the lights on both devices or wear the headphones to see if you are getting any audio. You may have to follow this procedure after each session since this is not done on the Xbox Series X natively.

The same steps can be used to pair your headset to your TV if it has Bluetooth support, but you won't need the extra adapter.

Jesse Lennox
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jesse Lennox has been a writer at Digital Trends for over four years and has no plans of stopping. He covers all things…
The best games on Xbox Game Pass right now (October 2024)
Key art for Hi-Fi Rush.

 

As the Xbox Game Pass program has grown, so has our list of the best games on Xbox Game Pass. After the launch of the Xbox Series X, Microsoft has doubled down on Game Pass, and now offers well over 350 games on that console alone. To help you through option paralysis, we rounded up the top games on Microsoft's subscription platform.

Read more
3 new Xbox Game Pass games to try this weekend (September 27-29)
Sombra's new look in Overwatch 2.

First-party games are finally getting the big, consistent presence on Xbox Game Pass that we've been hoping for. In September alone, Age of Mythology: Retold and Ara: History Untold have made their way into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, while Overwatch 2 started to give a ton of benefits to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. This is bound to only continue ramping up in the coming months as games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 release and more back catalog Activision games come to the service. Simply put, there's going to be a lot to enjoy on Xbox Game Pass. That's why I recommend you check out two of these first-party games, as well as an underrated indie strategy game sequel. this weekend
Overwatch 2

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers should connect their account to Battle.net because a lot of perks for subscribers came to the free-to-play hero shooter Overwatch 2 earlier this month. Cardboard Reinhardt, Turtleship D.Va, Cyberdragon Hanzo, Street Runner Genji, Bee Mercy, and Cleric Lifeweaver skins, as well as 30 Mythic Prisms, can be permanently redeemed before November 11. A rotating collection of other cosmetics and a 10% XP boost are available indefinitely to Xbox Game Pass subscribers. You can access these perks across any platforms that Overwatch 2 is on, including PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.
Ara: History Untold

Read more
How to join the FragPunk closed beta
Key art shows Fragpunk characters.

One of the most anticipated upcoming Xbox games is the stylish and wacky FragPunk. Coming sometime in 2025, this hero shooter lets you change the game, literally, by activating various Shard Cards that can alter the game in hundreds of ways. Each game is meant to be fast, lasting a maximum of two and a half minutes, with one false move knocking you out. We're all eager to test out this cast of heroes and bend the game in our favor with cards, but the full release is still far off. That doesn't mean you can't get a taste of FragPunk early. A closed beta test is starting soon, so make sure you sign up to get a spot.

Read more