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How to connect Bluetooth headphones to an Xbox Series X

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Audio quality in gaming is important, especially when you are in a Warzone match with enemies ready to take you out around every corner. Being able to hear where your opponents are is essential to success in almost any modern game. Game developers are creating games with Dolby Atmos and other amazing high-end audio formats in mind to ensure that your gaming experience is top-notch.

Chances are you have a pair of Bluetooth earbuds or headphones that you use with your PC or mobile device. Bluetooth is widely accepted in most forms of entertainment. Still, when it comes to the Xbox Series X, Bluetooth is not natively supported, and that is because Bluetooth does not meet the standard for Xbox wireless accessories. As for a wireless connection, Xbox Series X has its own wireless solution called Xbox Wireless that connects gaming accessories to your console.

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But wait — the Xbox Series X not supporting Bluetooth natively does not mean that you are out of luck! Here is everything you need to know about connecting Bluetooth to Xbox Series X.

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Connecting Bluetooth headphones to Xbox Series X

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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.

Disadvantages of using a Bluetooth transmitter with your Xbox Series X

Bluetooth is a widely-accepted audio format, but using a Bluetooth transmitter with your Xbox Series X console can cause some issues when gaming. In competitive games like Call of Duty or Fortnite, this solution may cause audio delay, which could be detrimental to success. For a casual gaming experience, that millisecond difference may go unnoticed.

Most Bluetooth headphones have built-in mics, but they are not supported through a transmitter, so if you are looking to party up with friends, it is best to use a pair of headphones that work with the Xbox Series X natively.

Alternative options to using Bluetooth headphones

If you have a recent smart TV or even a gaming monitor, that display may support Bluetooth connections natively. Connecting your headphones to your display is another option if you do not want to use a transmitter to connect your headphones. Just make sure your Xbox audio settings are set to output to your TV.

Ultimately for the best audio experience with your Xbox Series X, it is best to get a headset compatible with Xbox Series X right out of the box. Most Xbox wireless headphones have an Xbox Wireless dongle to connect to the USB of your console, or Xbox Wireless is built into the headset.

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James Holloway
James Holloway
Home Theater Writer
James is a techie at heart; he covers Home Theater and Gaming for Digital Trends with a focus on how to get the best out of…
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