The PlayStation 4 controller’s built-in audio jack makes it easy to plug in a pair of wired earbuds and continue playing well into the undisturbed night. But this is the modern world, nobody has time for cables anymore, so naturally you’ll want to pair a PS4 with the wireless bluetooth headphones you just invested in.
Unfortunately, Sony only supports a few compatible Bluetooth devices – namely its own licensed products. But before you shell out on an official PS4 headset, this workaround may let you use the third-party headphones you already own.
How to connect compatible headphones
First, check to see if your wireless headphones are supported by the PlayStation 4:
- Fire up your console and navigate to the “Settings” menu
- Scroll down to “Devices”
- Select “Bluetooth Devices”
- Find the name of your headphones and hit confirm to register a new Bluetooth device
- Your compatible wireless headphones are now ready to use
Now, if you’ve had the gall to try and connect an unsupported Bluetooth device then it’s likely this error message will hit you straight in your unofficial face:
A lot of wireless headphones, Beats for example, also come equipped with an audio jack, in which case you can simply tether to your Dualshock controller using a standard 3.5 mm cable. But if, like me, your earbuds are strictly wireless then you’ll need another solution.
How to connect unofficial Bluetooth headphones to a PlayStation 4
To get around Sony’s tight restrictions you’re going to need a USB Bluetooth audio transmitter. If you’re wondering which one to go for, the Avantree Leaf has garnered a lot of positive reviews and is currently on sale from Amazon for £25 – much cheaper than buying a new headset. Plus, it works with the PS4 Pro and even the Nintendo Switch; a console that’s been lacking Bluetooth headphone connectivity since launch.
Once you’ve got your USB dongle do not use the method above to connect. You’ll just be hit by the same error message. Instead, follow the steps below:
- Plug the USB dongle into the supplied usb cord, which itself plugs into one of the PS4’s USB ports
- Open the PS4’s “Settings”
- Select “Devices”
- Select “Audio Devices”
- Ensure your dongle is selected as both “Input” and “Output”
- Switch the dongle and headphones into pairing mode and hold them close together
- Once paired you should be able to hear all game and chat audio through your “unsupported” headset
Fair warning: this method might not work with all headphones, but after scouring a wide array of message boards it seems to fix the issue for the vast majority, including Apple’s AirPods.
NOW READ THIS: How do I change my PlayStation ID?
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