Can I use regular headphones with Xbox One?

The Internet is flooded with this question. Gamers keep asking Microsoft, ‘Can I use any headset with Xbox One?’. The answer is obviously not straightforward, and that’s what all the confusion is about. Here’s the thing with most gaming consoles sold these days: they don’t let you connect wireless headsets directly via Bluetooth. 

Even though these consoles do have all the required hardware to connect to the wireless headphones, it is still not possible for you to get them hooked up together. The reason being that the protocols for connecting to wireless audio devices (Bluetooth A2DP) are missing from the consoles. 

Can I use regular headphones with Xbox One?

If you, too, are trying to connect your regular wired/wireless headphones to the Xbox One and having a hard time, then you have nothing to worry about. Because in the next few sections of this article, we are going to discuss the exact same thing. We will explain how you can connect your wired or wireless headphones to the Xbox using the best and the simplest ways. Keep reading to find out more.

How to use headphones with Xbox One using Xbox Controller? [Wired]

Though the original Xbox controller was one of the best controllers ever made, it lacked one crucial feature. That is, the audio port was absent on it. Microsoft has fixed this issue with their recent Xbox controller, which now comes with a 3.5 mm audio jack. 

So, if you plan to connect wired headphones or earphones to your Xbox One, then things are going to be really simple. Just read all the steps to get your wired headphones connected. 

Step 1: Press the “Guide button” on the Xbox controller to power it on. 

Step 2: Plug in your regular wired headphones to the “audio jack” present on the controller. 

Source: Tinker Man Mink

Step 3: Press the Home button again to open up the settings window of the Xbox. 

Step 4: Open the System tab. Here, you will find the Audio settings option. 

Step 5: Open the Audio settings and turn on the Headset mic switch. 

Your headphones are ready to play the game audio and let you use the voice chat features of the Xbox One.

Can you use earbuds as a mic on Xbox One?

But what if you have wired earphones? Can you use earbuds as a mic on Xbox One? 

The answer to this simple question is again a Yes! You can connect your wired earbuds to the Xbox controller in the exact same way as the regular wired headphones.

How to use headphones with Xbox One using Xbox Controller? [Wireless]

To get your wireless headphones connected to the Xbox One, you have to purchase a wireless Bluetooth audio adapter for the Xbox controller. 

Source: Amazon

You can purchase it for around $20-40 from Amazon or the local store. Check out the ‘Uberwith Bluetooth Xbox one Transmitter Dongle‘ for more information. 

After you purchase the device, it’s time to make the connections.

Step 1: Plug in the Bluetooth audio adapter you just purchased into the 3.5 mm jack of the Xbox controller. 

Step 2: Real easy stuff now. All you got to do now is turn on the Xbox One console and the Bluetooth audio adapter. 

Step 3: Pair your wireless headphones with Bluetooth audio adapter. 

Step 4: Press the home button to open the console settings and navigate to the Audio settings tab under the system menu. 

Step 5: Turn on the microphone access from this screen, and you’re all set.

Source: Amazon

This is what happens now: the Bluetooth audio adaptor receives the audio signals from the Xbox controller and transmits them to your wireless Bluetooth headphones. When the mic is turned on, the voice signals are transferred from the Bluetooth headphones to the Xbox controller, thus making all the features of the Bluetooth headphones usable.

What headsets work with Xbox One? List of Xbox compatible headphones

Though it is possible to connect almost any headphone/earphone with the Xbox One, this isn’t always the best option. There are a number of reasons why you may want to avoid going with the workarounds. For example, here are some of the reasons due to which you may reconsider using these tricks to connect your regular headphones to the Xbox One:

  1. Increases the wires and hence the clutter.
  2. The weight of the Bluetooth audio adapter is added to the weight of the controller when you plug it in.
  3. There is a slight delay (latency issue) when you use cheap Bluetooth audio adapters. Unacceptable when playing competitive games online.

To make sure you get the best gaming experience, Microsoft certifies some third-party headphones to be compatible with Xbox. These headphones offer crystal clear audio at a minimal lag. Instead of purchasing regular headphones and later finding ways to connect them to the Xbox, why not buy the ones that are already supported by the console.

Here is a list of some of the options that you can consider if you are looking for gaming headphones. All the headphones mentioned in this list are compatible with the Xbox consoles.

  1. Microsoft Xbox Wireless Headset
  2. Corsair Xbox HS75 XB
  3. SteelSeries Arctics series
  4. HyperX Cloud Flight
  5. Astro A series

Now that you have read the complete article, you understand the process of connecting regular headphones to your Xbox One console. The next time someone asks you, ‘Do regular headphones work with Xbox One?’, you know what to suggest.

Scroll to Top
Scroll to Top