How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to a PS5, Xbox or TV

Which Devices Accept Bluetooth Headphones?

TVs accept Bluetooth headphones on the models their makers list. Sony says the PS5 doesn't, and Microsoft lists no Bluetooth option for Xbox. The table shows what each maker's support page offers instead:

Device	Bluetooth headphones?	How to get sound	Source
TV	Yes, on Samsung TVs, compatible Roku devices and Apple TV 4K	The TV's Bluetooth or sound-output menu (steps below)	Samsung, Roku, Apple
PS5	No, "isn't compatible"	Wired headphones in the DualSense controller's headset jack, most USB and analog headsets, or Sony's PULSE Elite and PULSE Explore	PlayStation Support, PlayStation Blog (2020)
Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One	No Bluetooth option listed; Xbox One has no Bluetooth	The Xbox Wireless Headset, or a headset on the controller's 3.5mm audio jack	Xbox Support

Of the three, only the TV makers publish steps for pairing ordinary Bluetooth headphones.

How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to a TV

The menu name varies by TV maker, so the steps below are the ones Samsung, Roku and Apple publish.

Samsung TV

To connect Bluetooth headphones to a Samsung TV, pair them from the Bluetooth Speaker List:

1. Put the headphones into Bluetooth pairing mode and make sure they're discoverable.
2. On the TV, select Menu, then Settings, then Sound, then Sound Output, then Bluetooth Speaker List. Samsung says this is the path "On most models"; its steps for newer TVs add All Settings after Settings.
3. Select the headphones to pair with. In Samsung's steps for newer TVs, they show Needs Pairing; highlight them and select Pair and Connect.

You can pair more than one Bluetooth audio device, but only one plays sound at a time. Newer Samsung TVs have Multi Connect, which plays through two Bluetooth audio devices at once.

Roku TV or Roku Streaming Device

To connect Bluetooth headphones to a Roku, add them under Wireless headphones:

1. Press Home on your Roku remote.
2. Select Settings, then Remotes & devices, then Wireless headphones, then Add new wireless headphones.
3. Turn on your headphones, put them in pairing mode and wait while the Roku scans, which can take up to 30 seconds. Select your headphones from the list.

Roku's Headphone Mode needs headphones that support Bluetooth 4.2 or greater and a Roku with Bluetooth: Roku Ultra (models 4800, 4802 and 4850), Roku Ultra LT, Roku Streaming Stick (3840) and Streaming Stick Plus (3830), the Streambar models and Smart Soundbar, and Roku-made Select Series (2025 and onward), Plus Series and Pro Series TVs. Roku Express, Roku Premiere and Roku Streaming Stick 4K and 4K+ don't support it, and the Wireless headphones option only appears on a compatible device.

Apple TV and Other TVs

On Apple TV 4K, set the headphones to discoverable, then go to Settings, Remotes and Devices, Bluetooth, and select them in the Other Devices list. For LG, Sony, TCL, Vizio, Fire TV and Google TV sets, check the TV maker's support page for the exact Bluetooth menu; we haven't checked those makers' pages for this guide.

How to Plug Wired Headphones Into a TV

To plug wired headphones into a TV, use the TV's headphone jack if it has one. Roku lists two more routes that work with wired headphones: if your Roku doesn't support Bluetooth Headphone Mode, you "may be able to use wired headphones with a Roku voice remote," and the Roku mobile app plays sound "through headphones connected to a phone or tablet." If neither applies, the Bluetooth steps above are the wireless route.

Can You Connect Bluetooth Headphones to a PS5?

No. Sony's fix page for error CE-109531-9 says: "Your Bluetooth audio device isn't compatible with PlayStation®5 consoles. Please try a different audio device." Sony documents three routes that do work. Wired headphones plug into the DualSense controller, whose headset jack lets you "plug in a headset, earbuds, or another compatible audio device." Sony's November 2020 PS5 FAQ adds that "most USB and analog headsets will be supported." The error page itself links to Sony's PULSE Elite headset and PULSE Explore earbuds.

Can You Connect Bluetooth Headphones to an Xbox?

Microsoft's headset page lists no Bluetooth route to an Xbox console. It says, "The XBOX One console does not feature Bluetooth functionality," and the only section heading that mentions Bluetooth covers connecting a headset "to another device." For Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, Microsoft gives two routes: the Xbox Wireless Headset, which "connects wirelessly to your XBOX Series X|S or XBOX One console," or a wired headset plugged into the controller's 3.5mm audio jack or the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter.

How to Check It Worked

Play something on the TV and listen: the sound should come through the headphones. On a Roku, a headphone icon appears on the TV screen when you adjust the volume, and the headphones show in the list of paired devices. Roku disconnects them if the screensaver starts or no audio has streamed for several minutes.

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If Your Headphones Won't Connect

Samsung's and Roku's steps both start with the headphones in pairing mode, so check that first, then check they haven't reconnected to another device. Phone shortcuts don't carry over: the Google Fast Pair pop-up on Android doesn't appear in Samsung's, Roku's or Apple's TV steps. Pairing-mode steps by brand start from our guide to pair Bluetooth earbuds with a laptop, phone or tablet.

TV Can't Find Your Headphones?

Check three things: the headphones are in pairing mode, they haven't reconnected to your phone, and they're close to the TV. Roku notes that headphones "will automatically try to connect to the most recent device," which may be your phone, so put them back in pairing mode before the TV scans. Move closer too: Samsung says the TV and headphones "may disconnect, depending on the distance between them," and that obstructions such as a wall can make a Bluetooth device hum or malfunction. Headphones that don't show up on any device need Why Your Phone Can't Find Your Bluetooth Earbuds.

Using AirPods?

AirPods have their own TV guide to pair AirPods with a Roku or Samsung TV, so their steps aren't repeated here.

Headphones for TV and Consoles: Quick Answers

Can I connect two Bluetooth headphones to one TV? On newer Samsung TVs, yes: Multi Connect sends sound to two Bluetooth audio devices at the same time. A Roku TV or player connects one pair directly, but the Roku mobile app lets you "listen on up to 4 devices using Bluetooth."

Why is there a delay with Bluetooth headphones on my TV? Samsung's page warns that "Lip-sync errors may occur" with Bluetooth headphones and doesn't give a fix. Roku's Headphone Mode page doesn't mention delay.

Can I connect Bluetooth headphones to a PS5 without an adapter? Not Bluetooth headphones: Sony says they aren't compatible. Wired headphones and earbuds plug into the DualSense controller's headset jack, according to Sony's 2020 PS5 FAQ.