The easiest way to make the best PS5 games even better is to pair them with the best headset you can get your hands on. Most people can’t afford a full surround-sound setup, but a good headset can still deliver a fuller audio experience without filling the room with speakers.
All the best PS5 accessories are wireless, so no doubt you want your headset to be as well. There is one catch: The PS5 does not support standard Bluetooth headphones natively. If your headphones don’t use an official PlayStation USB dongle or another supported wireless adapter, you’ll need a USB-A or USB-C Bluetooth audio transmitter to connect them directly to the console.
Odds are your headset uses Bluetooth, but if you’re struggling to pair it with your PS5 for multiplayer games, we’ll show you the easiest ways to get it set up.
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What You Need
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A USB-A or USB-C Bluetooth Audio Transmitter
How to connect your Bluetooth headphones to your PS5
Once your Bluetooth transmitter is inserted into your PS5, there are usually no additional setup processes required on the PlayStation. In most cases, the PS5 should recognize the Bluetooth transmitter as a USB audio device. If you don’t hear audio after pairing, check Settings > Sound > Audio Output and make sure the transmitter is selected.
When you are ready to pair your Bluetooth headphones with the PS5, follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Turn on your Bluetooth headphones, then place them into pairing mode following your manufacturer’s instructions. You may need to check the user manual for details.
Step 2: On the Bluetooth transmitter, hold down the transmitter button until the LED light begins flashing, then wait for a moment.
Step 3: Your transmitter should automatically detect your Bluetooth headphones and establish a connection. Once the connection is made, you’re ready to start gaming on PS5 with your headphones.
If the connection fails, turn off your headphones and try the steps again. If you wait too long between placing both devices into pairing mode, the pairing process may stop. Also make sure your Bluetooth headphones are charged.
How to connect Bluetooth headphones to your PS5 without a transmitter
Want to connect Bluetooth headphones to your PS5 without buying a Bluetooth transmitter? There is a possible workaround, depending on your TV model. Many modern TVs include Bluetooth support, so you can pair your wireless Bluetooth headphones to the TV instead and listen to your PS5 audio that way.
Step 1: Navigate to the settings menu on your TV and find the Bluetooth screen. Make sure Bluetooth pairing is enabled.
Step 2: Enable pairing mode on your Bluetooth headphones.
Step 3: Look for your headphones in the list of available Bluetooth devices on your TV, then start the pairing process.
That should route your PS5 audio through your Bluetooth headphones. Just keep in mind that TV Bluetooth can introduce audio delay, and mic support may not work the same way it would with a headset connected directly to the console.
FAQs
Can you connect a Bluetooth headset to PS5?
The PS5 does not offer native Bluetooth headphone support. To connect a standard Bluetooth headset to the PS5, you’ll need a USB-A or USB-C Bluetooth adapter plugged into one of the available ports on your console.
Once the adapter is connected, put your Bluetooth headphones into pairing mode. Then hold the pairing button on the Bluetooth transmitter until its LED light begins flashing. The transmitter should detect your headphones and establish the connection automatically.
Why does the PS5 not support Bluetooth audio?
Sony has said the PS5 does not support Bluetooth audio because of issues related to latency performance and bandwidth. In plain terms, Bluetooth audio can introduce delay or connection limits that are especially noticeable while gaming.
The easiest workaround is to use a Bluetooth adapter for your PS5. If you want the cleanest wireless setup, use a PlayStation-compatible wireless headset that connects through its own USB adapter, such as Sony’s Pulse headsets.
Can AirPods connect to PS5?
AirPods won’t connect to a PS5 on their own because Sony’s console does not support standard Bluetooth audio. However, a compatible Bluetooth adapter can let you connect AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones to the PS5.
Just note that Bluetooth adapters vary. Some support audio only, while others may offer limited microphone support.
