Want to use your AirPods (any generation), or any pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones, as a gaming headset with an Xbox One. Good news: you can! It's pretty simple, but not quite perfect. If you want to give it a try and see if it suits your needs, here's how.
How to connect AirPods to an Xbox One for Party Chat
- Turn on your Xbox One.
- Put on your AirPods and pair them with your iPhone.
- Open the Xbox app on your iPhone.
- Make sure you're logged into your Xbox Live account.
- Select the social tab (second from left) at the bottom of your screen.
- If your friends are already online, select one of them and hit the headset icon.
- (If you wish to start your own party, select the headset icon in the top-right corner.)
From here, you should be able to talk to your friends just like you would with a normal gaming headset. Just remember that you'll want to have your iPhone nearby while you're gaming, as that's what your AirPods are connected to (not the Xbox or your controller). When finished, the easiest way to leave the party is to close the Xbox app on your iPhone.
Why AirPods don't make great gaming headsets
There's one glaring downside to using AirPods (or any Bluetooth headphones) as a gaming headset — you'll need to decide if you want to talk to friends or if you want to hear the in-game audio. Unfortunately, you can't do both at the same time.
The reason why AirPods won't play in-game audio is that the Xbox One (and Xbox Series consoles) don't support Bluetooth. Microsoft has its own proprietary technology called Xbox Wireless that allows wireless headsets to work properly as gaming headsets, but most wireless headphones don't support that. That includes Apple's AirPods.
Which wireless headphones support Xbox Wireless?
Xbox Wireless is Microsoft's proprietary wireless technology that allows headsets to wirelessly connect directly to the console. There is a growing number of headsets that support Xbox Wireless, and they range from affordable to pretty high-end. One of the most popular options is the Xbox Wireless Headset, which was released in 2022 and costs just $99. More premium options include the SteelSeries Arctis 9x ($200) and Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal.
Any headset that supports Xbox Wireless will work exactly a gaming headset should — it'll let you hear game sound and allow you to talk to your friends. If you're streaming a show or movie via an app on your Xbox, it'll allow you to hear the right audio there, too.
Will a Bluetooth adapter work with AirPods?
Yes, but there are drawbacks with this method as well. If you use a Bluetooth adapter — which plugs into the controller's headphone jack and connects wirelessly to your AirPods — it will let you hear the in-game audio. The downside is that Bluetooth adapters don't have microphone support so you won't be able to talk to your friends. Effectivity, it's the exact opposite problem of connecting your AirPods to the Xbox app on your smartphone.
That said, going the Bluetooth adapter route is a fine solution for those who use their Xbox to stream movies and shows. If you play offline games and don't need to talk to friends. It's a good option as well. There's not shortage of Bluetooth adapters out there; one of the most popular is the Twelve South's AirFly Pro ($55).
Can you use AirPods as a gaming headset with PlayStation?
Unfortunately no. There's not even a workaround using the PlayStation mobile app like there is with Xbox. Your only option is to get a Bluetooth adapter and connect to your controller; you'll be able to hear the in-game audio, but won't be able to chat with friends online.
