Summary
- Home video game consoles like the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 support Bluetooth, but lock users out of Bluetooth audio connectivity.
- Thankfully, there are reliable workarounds that unlock the ability to connect, say, a pair of AirPods to a PS5.
- Here are two methods in particular that’ll have you gaming on your couch with your Bluetooth earbuds or headphones in no time at all.
Bluetooth is a highly convenient wireless technology that has changed the tech game when it comes to effortlessly connecting to various peripherals and accessories. While mice, keyboards, printers, and speakers have long reaped the benefits of cord-free connectivity, it took until Apple’s removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack on the iPhone 7 in 2016 (as well as its introduction of the now-ubiquitous AirPods line) to kick Bluetooth-based earbuds and headphones into the mainstream.
Fast-forward a few years, and wireless audio is everywhere. Many of us have a pair of true wireless earbuds in our pockets at all times while out and about, and Bluetooth over-ear headphones are more common than ever before. Wired earbuds have all but vanished from the public’s imagination, with more and more tablet and laptop PCs dropping the traditional aux port to more closely align with the modern smartphone status quo.
In the video game scene, things are a bit mixed. Most gaming handhelds offer legacy 3.5mm headphone jacks in addition to having built-in Bluetooth chips, and if they run Windows 11 or SteamOS, it’s easy to connect a pair of AirPods or Galaxy Buds to them for a wireless gaming audio setup. Infamously, despite Nintendo’s original Switch also including support for Bluetooth, it took several years for wireless audio support to finally be patched into the hybrid device at the software level — better late than never, I suppose.
The lack of an end-user option to connect your existing Bluetooth earphones to your home console is a pain point in 2025.
For better or worse, home consoles like the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 are another story entirely. Since the hardware is designed to sit within your home theater setup, 3.5mm headphone jacks can be found directly embedded into each console’s respective controller rather than on the console itself. These consoles from Microsoft and Sony support Bluetooth for wireless gamepad connectivity, but they follow in 2017-era Nintendo’s footsteps when it comes to locking down access to Bluetooth audio.
The lack of an end-user option to connect your existing Bluetooth earphones to your home console is a pain point in 2025. Now, for the good news: there are reliable ways to get around these Bluetooth connectivity limitations on the PS5 and the Xbox Series consoles. Here are two effective methods for brute-forcing support for wireless earbuds and headphones while gaming in your living room.
Method 1: Bypass the console entirely
The ideal method if your TV supports Bluetooth natively
If you own a relatively modern smart TV, then there’s a good chance that it includes built-in Bluetooth support right out of the box. Android TV / Google TV, webOS, Tizen OS, Roku OS, and other smart TV operating systems all support Bluetooth connectivity at the software level, which has incentivized many TV makers to bake in the necessary Bluetooth chip and radio technologies needed for the wireless technology to function.
If your TV does support Bluetooth, then you can simply pair your wireless earbuds, headphones, or even speakers directly to the big screen and sidestep the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X entirely. Once paired, gameplay audio should simply route through to your wireless cans when the TV is set to the correct input signal.
The exact method for accessing Bluetooth pairing varies based on operating system, but here are the basic steps for how to navigate to the connection screen across several popular smart TV platforms:
- Android TV / Google TV: Settings > Remotes & accessories / Bluetooth settings > Add accessories / Pair new device
- webOS: Settings > All Settings > Sound > Sound Out > Bluetooth Device
- TizenOS: Settings > Connections or Settings > General > External Device Manager > Bluetooth / Bluetooth Device list
- Roku OS: Settings > Remotes & devices > Pair Bluetooth device
Method 2: Attach a Bluetooth audio adapter
The next-best solution if your TV doesn’t have in-built Bluetooth
If you find yourself using a television set that doesn’t include Bluetooth, then the next-best option is to spring for an adapter. Luckily, these Bluetooth dongles are both affordable (many hover somewhere in the price range of around $25) and readily in stock across storefronts like Amazon and Best Buy. Most Bluetooth adapters assume the shape of a small nub, and they typically connect to host devices via USB Type-A.
While some people have found success with connecting Bluetooth audio adapters directly to their home consoles, the process can be a bit hit-or-miss. Rather, I’d suggest plugging the dongle directly into one of your TV’s surprisingly useful built-in USB ports, and then connecting your wireless earbuds or headphones directly to the Bluetooth adapter. Once complete, you should be able to game on your Xbox or PS5 with audio routing directly to whichever wireless audio device you have on hand.
As an alternative, some Bluetooth audio peripherals like the excellent Twelve South AirFly Pro 2 graft wireless audio capabilities onto any device with a regular old 3.5mm headphone jack. Solutions like the AirFly tend to be more expensive, but they offer a foolproof solution even in the event of not having a spare USB-A port at your disposal.
