eadphones to an Xbox One

A good gaming headset is almost as important as a good gaming chair. Pay attention to all your favorite streamers; they all use headphones in one way or another. The ability to hear audio cues and footprints in high-stakes games like

Call of Duty: Warzone

and

Apex Legends

will be the difference between coming out on top and being sent back to the lobby.

Bluetooth headphones

are a must have for anyone looking for high quality audio gear without the frustration of tangled wires. Everything runs on Bluetooth these days. Xbox gamers, unfortunately, will run into some snags when trying to connect non-Microsoft Bluetooth headphones to an Xbox One. But don't worry, we've covered some workarounds below. This guide will walk you through how to connect a Bluetooth headset to an Xbox One.

See more:

The best Xbox One headsets for 2021

The best Xbox One controllers for 2021

The Best Gaming Chairs

How does Xbox Bluetooth work?

The Xbox One doesn't have the Bluetooth capabilities we're used to. Xbox One runs on Microsoft Xbox Wireless, which enables connectivity between Microsoft systems and devices. There are many wireless headphones made by Microsoft available for purchase. These will work great with your Xbox One and

Xbox Series X|S

because they are compatible with Microsoft Xbox Wireless. However, not everyone has or can afford a new pair of wireless gaming headphones made by Microsoft.

Bluetooth on your phone or tablet via the Xbox app

Say, for example, you have a pair of Bluetooth headphones

sony

that you want to use with your Xbox One. Of course, this won't work with Microsoft Xbox Wireless, but there is a way for gamers to work around this issue. The following step-by-step guide may seem a bit complicated, but it is proven.

On your Xbox One, go to

Peripherals & Connections

and click on

Remote Features

.

Be sure that

Enable Remote Features

the box is checked.

Download the Xbox app to your tablet or mobile device.

Sign in with the same information as the Xbox you want to sign in to.

Click the icon in the top right, next to the notification bell.

Click

Remote play on this unit

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Your Xbox will now connect to your device. It may take one or two attempts.

Once connected, your console will stream, in real time, to your tablet or mobile device.

Connect your Bluetooth headphones to your tablet or mobile device to hear the in-game volume.

Disadvantages of this method

This method is more of a “backdoor” way to connect Bluetooth headphones to your Xbox One. You'll want to make sure your tablet or device is plugged into a charger, as this will kill the battery. Also, if you're using your primary phone, you won't be able to use it to scroll through social media between loading screens.

You will not be able to chat using this method. Think of it as pure audio output. If you're looking to relax and play on your own, this method will work. If you're looking to chat with friends, you'll need a wired headset or a Microsoft-compatible headset.

Connect Bluetooth to your Xbox controller

As an alternative to the method above, you can connect your non-Microsoft wireless headset directly to your Xbox controller. To do this, you will need to purchase a Bluetooth transmitter equipped with a 3.5mm audio jack, which is the size of the standard AUX cord.

Not all Xbox controllers have a 3.5mm input. Newer models should do this, but some older models don't. Check under the joysticks to determine if you need another adapter. If it's time to buy a new controller because your old controller is experiencing stick drift, make sure you get one with a 3.5mm input.

Once all the necessary adapters are connected and working, all you need to do is press the necessary pairing buttons to connect your Bluetooth headphones. This setup can be a bit silly, especially if you're forced to connect multiple adapters.

Disadvantages of this method

Like the Xbox App method, you'll be limited to only hearing audio from the game you're playing. There are Bluetooth adapters that work for both audio input and output, allowing you to use the answer back feature. These models, however, can be expensive. At this point, it's best to buy a Microsoft-branded Xbox Wireless Headset.

Then, if you're forced to connect multiple adapters, you'll end up with a bulky, heavy controller. The battery will die quickly from whatever happens.

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