How to connect AirPods to PS4?

Airpods (and the Airpods Pro) are among the finest True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earphones ever made. The thing that makes them an excellent choice for listening to the music on the move is portability. They can fit in your palm and can be carried around everywhere you go. 

These devices are so comfortable that you can wear them all day. Not to forget, the Airpods look gorgeous, and almost every Apple user owns a pair. 

Can I use Airpods with ps4?

Airpods can connect to almost all the devices that support Bluetooth. However, there is one device that is a pain in the neck for all Airpods users. You guessed it. It’s the PlayStation 4. 

So in this article, we will demonstrate the three different methods to connect your Airpods to the PS4. But first things first, let’s understand why you can not connect your Airpods to the PS4 directly.

The real reason why Bluetooth A2DP headphones aren’t supported on the PS4

Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) is the most widely accepted stereo audio streaming profile for Bluetooth devices. There are dozens of Bluetooth profiles that define the rules for communication between two devices.

Unlike connecting headphones to the Xbox One, Sony’s PS4 does have Bluetooth support. Unfortunately, it does not support the A2DP, which is the profile that enables devices to play audio via Bluetooth headphones.

While the exact reason why it isn’t supported on the PS4 is unknown, we believe Sony hasn’t enabled this technology on its PS4 consoles is because of the lag that it introduces. Connecting Bluetooth headphones to PS4 introduces a lag of at least 5-10 ms, which will definitely have an effect on the overall experience of gameplay.

So, Sony completely scrapped this profile.

Sony sells its own PlayStation headphones that are compatible with the PS4, but not everyone would like to spend hundreds of dollars to get one.

There are workarounds to get your AirPods (or any other Bluetooth headphones) connected to the PS4. Keep reading this article to find out all you need to know about them.

How to connect AirPods to PS4

Fix 1 (Paid solution): Connecting AirPods to PS4 via Bluetooth Adapter

The best way to connect AirPods to PS4 is to connect them via a Bluetooth Adapter. We’ll discuss the reasons why this method should be preferred in a later section of this article, but first, let’s take a look at the process of getting the devices connected:

Step 1: Purchase a good-quality Bluetooth adapter online or from a local electronics store. 

You can get them for $5-15, depending on the brand and features. These adapters come with some other features, but we don’t need to spend extra money on them. Just get a simple Bluetooth adapter that has a decent audio quality and battery life.

Step 2: Plug it into the 3.5 mm audio jack (or the USB port, depending on which Bluetooth adapter you purchased) of the PS4.

Step 3: Take the AirPods out from their case.

Step 4: Pair both the devices and enjoy.

Fix 2 (Free solution): Connecting AirPods to PS4 connected to a Smart TV

If you have a smart TV that supports Bluetooth, then you can connect your AirPods to your TV too. This is what you have to do:

Step 1: Turn on the TV and take out the AirPods from their case.

Step 2: Go to TV Settings and find Bluetooth or connectivity options there. 

Note that the location of the menu is different for smart TVs made by different manufacturers, but one thing is certain that you can find the option in the settings window.

Step 3: Search for new Bluetooth devices and connect to the AirPods.

That’s it. Now you can enjoy gaming on your PS4 while listening to its audio from AirPods.

Fix 3 (Free solution): Connecting AirPods to PS4 via PS Remote Play app

The last way to connect the AirPods to PS4 is via the PS Remote Play app. This application is available on Android, iOS, Windows, and even on the Mac OS. You can find more details about the application from Sony’s official website.

To use this application to connect your AirPods, follow these instructions:

Step 1: Download the PS Remote Play app.

Step 2: Turn on the PS4 and connect it to the same WiFi network as your phone.

Step 3: Open the PS Remote Play app and log in to your PlayStation Network ID.

Once you have done that, the application will now look for the connected PS4s. If it finds your PS4, it will be registered with the application.

Step 4: If the registration is successful, your PS4s screen will be mirrored to your phone.

Step 5: Now, turn on the Dualshock controller and pair it with your phone too.

Step 6: Finally, take the AirPods out of the case and connect them to your phone.

Now you can control your PS4 using the Dualshock controller and listen to its audio via the AirPods.

But the process is not yet complete. There is one last thing that you need to do in order to be able to use the voice chat feature.

Step 7: Press the settings button present in the bottom left corner of the screen and enable the microphone.

Step 8: This will let you communicate to your teammates using the AirPods’ inbuilt mic.

If you have done everything, sit back and play games on your PS4 now.

Which is the best method to connect AirPods to PS4?

Undoubtedly, the first method (using a Bluetooth adapter) is the best. This method introduces the least latency to the audio stream. Though you will have to spend a few bucks to get a good Bluetooth adapter, it’ll save you the trouble of configuring the devices every time you want to connect them.

Setting up the Bluetooth adapter has to be done just once. After that, all you need to do is plug the adapter in the 3.5 mm jack / USB port of the PS4 and take out the AirPods from their case to get them connected.

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