Bluetooth technology is installed where devices can connect to exchange data over a short distance. One of the most common and widely used Bluetooth applications is between a mobile phone and a headset.
One of the first Bluetooth-enabled devices were wireless headphones and a paired mobile phone. The headset has a pairing button that you need to press, and the Bluetooth icon must be turned on to enable pairing between devices.
Over the years, Bluetooth headphones have been used not only for mobile phones, but also for laptops, tablets, and game consoles such as XBOX, PlayStation, and Nintendo. The use of headphones has become the norm in gaming and players use them to interact while playing and enjoy the game.
Here’s how to connect Bluetooth headphones to Xbox one:
- XBOX One and wireless headphones
- How to Use Bluetooth Headsets for XBOX One
- Use an optical connection
- Use the audio jack
- Use Remote Play
- Use a stereo headset adapter
- Use a PC or TV connection
- Use TV
1. XBOX One and wireless headphones
XBOX is a gaming brand owned by Microsoft that is used for video games and is one of the first brands to establish itself in the gaming market. The XBOX One is the third generation gaming console in the XBOX series, greatly improved over the previous versions of the XBOX 360 and XBOX.
When playing video games, the user experience is always enriched when the sound complements the video in the game.
Bluetooth headphones are the catch:
Let’s see if Bluetooth-enabled wireless headphones can be used while playing games on XBOX One. XBOX One is generally not compatible with standard Bluetooth headphones used with other devices.
- But there are ways a user can use their Bluetooth headphones to sync with the XBOX One. This will allow the user to continue to enjoy the game without cable issues.
- One of the reasons Bluetooth doesn’t work is because Microsoft has its own custom wireless technology called XBOX wireless. XBOX Wireless is a Microsoft patented technology that provides a wireless connection between your headphones and your XBOX console.
- This applies not only to XBOX One, but also to other XBOX versions such as XBOX360 and XBOX. XBOX wireless technology is more reliable than regular Bluetooth because it uses a higher frequency and bandwidth than Bluetooth.
- The frequency at which Bluetooth operates does not meet the XBOX latency requirements. A commonly used XBOX wireless headset is the Turtle Beach stealth device.
Two Ways to Connect Your XBOX Wireless Headset
1. Automatic connection.
- The headphones will automatically connect to the console. However, these types of headphones are usually expensive.
- But there is no problem using any key and it will be a hassle free experience.
2. A wireless dongle must be connected to the USB ports.
- This is the same as using a Bluetooth dongle to connect wireless headsets to any device.
- If gamers don’t have an XBOX wireless headset, connecting to XBOX accessories such as controllers will be difficult.
- High quality headphones would be considered overkill as they would not be compatible with the XBOX One.
- Headphones available with XBOX are XBOX Stereo Headsets and may not be available to users at the time of purchase.
- Hence, users will resort to their regular or existing Bluetooth headphones.
2. How to use Bluetooth headsets for XBOX One
For gamers, the lack of XBOX wireless headphones won’t be a problem if they know how to set up using their existing Bluetooth headphones. Regular Bluetooth adapters don’t work because there are no compatible drivers for the console in XBOX One.
A third-party adapter is required to connect headsets to the console. A Bluetooth transmitter and a Bluetooth receiver will be used to connect using this method.
With the transmitter, the gamer can listen to streaming audio. Once the adapter is connected to the console and the transmitter sends signals to the headphones, the gamer can listen to the sound.
3. Use an optical connection
- One way to connect Bluetooth headphones is to use optical connections. To do this, you need a Bluetooth adapter.
- Ideally, Bluetooth adapters are used for soundbars, but the same adapters can be used for Bluetooth headphones with pairing mode.
- In addition to the usual 3.5 mm jack, the Bluetooth transmitter consists of a digital optical cable.
- The transmitter must be connected to the XBOX One’s optical S/PDIF port. Once a transmitter is connected to this port, Bluetooth headphones can be easily connected by changing the mode to S/PDIF from 3.5mm.
- The downside to using an optical cable is the inability to interact with other players on the XBOX One. The Bluetooth transmitter is for output only.
- The audio from the games can be easily heard, but the players cannot interact with each other. If the player wants to communicate with their playmates, they cannot do so, as this is allowed with the Bluetooth transmitter.
- This is a disadvantage of the optical connection. Despite the smooth transmission of audio from the game, the player will never be able to communicate with their gamemates via a Bluetooth headset.
4. Use the audio jack
- Depending on the XBOX controller, you will need to decide how he/she can connect the Bluetooth adapter.
- The XBOX controller and XBOX One must be properly matched in order to stream audio while playing.
- The latest wireless headsets on the market already have a built-in audio jack and can be used for a wired connection.
- The Bluetooth transmitter can be used to connect to the 3.5mm audio jack, and headsets can be connected wirelessly.
- From now on, gamers can freely listen to the sound through the XBOX one.
5. Use Remote Play
XBOX Remote Play is a Microsoft service that allows you to stream games remotely. With XBOX Remote Play, you can play any XBOX game installed on your console.
If the user doesn’t mind playing games on a small screen, they can use the XBOX Remote Play and Bluetooth headphones. Later XBOX versions such as the XBOX One S are dual compatible with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth. However, for a successful Bluetooth connection, the user must be near the console.
The connection can be established by downloading and installing the XBOX app on an Android or ios device, a Bluetooth-enabled XBOX controller, and Bluetooth-enabled headphones.
Alternatively, the user can select a Bluetooth controller that is compatible with mobile devices. The following are the steps you need to follow to establish a connection:
- Pair your phone with headsets via Bluetooth connection.
- Connect your XBOX controller to your phone.
- Click the Guide button and then navigate to Profiles and Systems to establish the connection.
- Under Settings, go to Devices and Connections and then select Remote Features.
- Check the “Enable remote features”box.
- Change the power mode to change it to “Instant On”.
- Click on the Remote Play icon in the XBOX app.
- The user can click the “Configure Console”button to create a link. The next step is to select the “Remote Play”option.
After the setup is completed, the user can play the console on a small screen, and the sound will be heard through the Bluetooth headphones.
6. Use a stereo headset adapter
The original Xbox One controller does not have an audio jack. This controller requires a stereo headset and a Bluetooth transmitter. This version of the controller does not have a 3.5mm audio jack. Therefore, Microsoft has developed a third-party device adapter.
This adapter can be used with the original Xbox controller to enable wireless headsets to work.
7. Use a PC or TV connection
Using a Windows computer is one of the easiest ways to connect Bluetooth headsets to your XBOX One. Since Microsoft is the manufacturer of both Windows PCs and XBOXs, it’s becoming easier for users to match devices. Both devices must be on the same network in order to establish a connection. It could be an Ethernet connection.
The user must also download the Xbox Console Companion app on a Windows system. In most cases, systems running Microsoft have already pre-installed a companion application on a Windows PC. If the app is not available, you can easily download it from the Windows App Store on the Microsoft website.
Below are the steps you need to follow to establish a connection between your wireless headsets and your computer:
- Open the companion app. If the user does not have an account, create one.
- Click the Connect icon and you will see a pop-up window.
- Click the Add Device icon to allow the user to connect to the XBOX One.
These three steps will ensure that the XBOX One connects easily because Windows will search for it automatically.
Sometimes, if there is a delay in the search, the user can manually add the find console to the search option.
- If the connection is still not established, the user can go to the XBOX settings and click on the “Devices and streaming”option.
- Then click “Device Connections”and turn on the “Allow streaming”option. The user needs to enable “Stream games to other devices”and “Only from profiles subscribed to this console”options.
- When the Connections tab appears, click it on XBOX. Once the connection is established, the XBOX can be used from a Windows computer.
8. Use TV
Another option for connecting Bluetooth headsets is to a TV. The TV must be equipped with Bluetooth and an HDMI cable. Below are the simple instructions to follow:
- Connect your TV to the set-top box and connect it to the HDMI cable.
- Connect your headphones to your TV via Bluetooth.
- Select HDMI as the input source on your TV.
The wireless headphones connect via Bluetooth and the user can start playing the game on the XBOX One.
Conclusion
It’s always nice for gamers to be able to use wireless headphones while playing on Xbox One. Even better, if the wireless headphones support Bluetooth and can be paired with an XBOX device. This guarantees trouble-free use of cables during the game.
The first step is to choose a good pair of Bluetooth headphones and use the aforementioned viable options in this part to establish a connection with your Xbox One. If there are any obstructions, the wireless earbuds can be reset using the power button like any other device to fix the issue.
The options mentioned are enough and gamers can use these Xbox settings to pair their Bluetooth headphones to suit their needs. Remote Play can be used while traveling, while PC and TV can be used at home. At the request of the player, you can also take advantage of the possibility of using a Bluetooth adapter.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Are Bluetooth headphones compatible with XBOX One?
Bluetooth headphones are not compatible with XBOX One as only XBOX Wireless technology works.
What are the ways to use Bluetooth enabled headphones with XBOX One?
Bluetooth headphones can be used via audio jack or optical connection. Other options include connecting to Remote Play while traveling. While at home, the best option would be to connect to a PC or TV.
Which headphones are compatible with XBOX Wireless?
Turtle Beach Stealth 600, Razer Kaira Pro, SteelSeries Arctis 9X
Can Apple or Android Air Pods be used with XBOX One?
Install the Xbox app, sign in to your Microsoft account, and connect your mobile device to your Air pods.