our AirPods to an Xbox One

If you like the ease of use of

AirPods

and always have them at hand, you may be wondering if you can use them with your

The Xbox One

also, maybe as a

substitute for a gaming headset

or just as a simple solution when you're short on time. The answer is a bit complicated, but we'll show you how to set up an AirPod connection for your Xbox party! First, some things you need to know.

Remark:

Everything we say here also applies

to Xbox Series X

, which is in the same situation.

AirPods and Xbox

AirPods can work with just about any Bluetooth connection, but without all the Siri enhancements they have with Apple devices. The problem is that Xbox consoles don't support the type of Bluetooth required for audio devices, so your AirPods won't work with the console right out of the box. Instead, you'll need to get a little creative with a workaround that will allow you to use your AirPods to chat with other players.

Unfortunately, at this time there is no way to play the AirPods over the audio of the game itself. You'll still have to rely on your entertainment system's speakers for that. But they can replace a chat headset/mic whenever needed! We'll go over exactly what you need to do.

Step1: Download the Xbox app on your preferred device

The Xbox app is a mobile application that allows you to manage your Xbox Account from a device such as an iPad, iPhone, or Android phone. It also supports communication options with your friends, which is where this little trick comes in.

If you don't already have it, start by downloading the Xbox app and signing in with your Microsoft account information. If your device does not recognize any Microsoft account information, you will first need to choose

Add a new account

. If you haven't used the Xbox app yet, it will guide you through a short setup process. It is very important to add your console when presented with the option. You can choose to add a console at any time by selecting the icon in the upper right corner of the home screen.

You will need to turn on your console and sign in before adding a console to the app. When prompted, select

Enable

on your console to complete the connection. It's not strictly necessary for voice chat, but it's an important step if you plan to use the Xbox app for a while.

Step2: Pair your AirPods with your mobile device

Riley Young/Digital Trends

Take out your AirPods and pair them with the mobile device you use for the Xbox app. Unless your AirPods are brand new, they should automatically pair when you put them in your ears, so this step is easy! Wait for the confirmation chime that the AirPods are connected and check the battery levels so you know you have enough battery life for your gaming session.

our guide to setting up your AirPods

.

Step3: Turn on your Xbox and make sure your party is ready

If you haven't already, turn on your Xbox and check who's online, start your game, and generally get ready to chat with people. If you are already in a chat, you may need to leave the chat and join it through the app.

Step4: Create a party with the Xbox app and invite

In your Xbox app home, look for the icon that looks like two people at the bottom or side of the screen (depending on what type of device you're using). This is the section

Social

— select it.

At the top of the screen in the right corner, you will see two icons, a headset and a notepad. Choose icon

Helmet

to immediately start your own party. You may need to allow the app to use your microphone first. Once your group is created, you can choose

Add people

to search for your friends or search for a specific gamertag. The list prioritizes people currently online.

If you don't want to start your own group first, you can choose the icon

Notepad

and scroll through the contacts to select and invite them as you wish. Note that even outside of these screens you can select any contact and then select the menu to the right of the button

Send a message

to invite them directly at any time.< /p>

If you're invited to a party, it's even easier. Simply select your

Notifications

on the home screen, then select

Notification prompt

.

Step5: Start your chat and game!

As people are added to your chat, your AirPods should now start streaming chat audio and act as a mic for chat communication. You can play, invite people and leave the party as usual.

Remark:

Don't like the Xbox app? This option works for other independent apps if your players are grouped elsewhere. The Discord app is a popular choice for some games, and the trick will also work with it.

Alternate Method: Using a Bluetooth Adapter

You can also buy Bluetooth adapters that can plug into your Xbox controller and give it Bluetooth audio capabilities that can enable the use of AirPods. The problem with this method is that it requires an additional device and isn't the most reliable of connections. But if you prefer that option, here's where to get one!

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