How To Connect Airpods To Xbox One Controller

Apple tree AirPods (Image credit: Matt Chocolate-brown | Windows Fundamental)

Apple's AirPods remain a best-seller in audio, among the leading wireless earbuds on the marketplace, peculiarly when coupled with an iPhone. Cutting the cord improves convenience and portability, making AirPods ideal for everyday listening. But when it comes to gaming, consoles like Xbox One and Xbox Series Ten|South don't play nice with wireless devices. The limitation boils down to Bluetooth, the standard for cable-free devices like AirPods, simply all the same absent on every Xbox console. But at that place'southward 1 popular workaround for Xbox consoles if you're in a tight squeeze.

Why AirPods don't really 'piece of work' with Xbox

A sizeable accessories ecosystem now supports Microsoft's modernistic Xbox consoles, with some of the all-time Xbox headsets rivaling general-purpose headphones. These more often than not leverage the "Xbox Wireless" protocol, a proprietary connectedness designed for Xbox controllers and headsets. But the newest Xbox consoles nonetheless lack Bluetooth support, excluding many existing earbuds and headphones, including AirPods.

AirPods don't work with Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S consoles with compatibility eradicated past their dissimilar wireless technologies. You're mostly best sticking to the official accessories, with viable wireless Xbox headsets in budget and premium price brackets.

However, there are several workarounds to use Bluetooth headphones with Xbox consoles, if required. The implementation isn't seamless, just it's the closest solution to official back up if you need a quick headset culling. All yous need is a smartphone paired with your AirPods, plus the official Xbox app.

How to use AirPods with Xbox Ane & Series X|S

Xbox App for iOS — Source: Matt Brown | Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Matt Brown | Windows Key)

The easiest (and costless!) steps to utilize AirPods with an Xbox console leverage remote play functions nestled in the Xbox mobile app. While designed to stream gameplay to your telephone screen, it also doubles as a method to wirelessly hand over Xbox audio to an external output. You tin connect your AirPods to your telephone, open the remote play stream, and enjoy stereo sound from your favorite titles.

These steps work best with AirPods paired to an iOS device, although Android phones and other wireless earbud brands evangelize similar results. Microsoft also recommends using a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection for the best results. You'll offset need to ensure your Xbox console is ready for remote play via the console's Settings application.

Printing the Xbox button to open the Guide menu on your Xbox console.
Navigate to the Profile & system tab.
Select Settings.

Xbox Series X|S Networking Guide — Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Cardinal)

Navigate to the Devices & connections tab.
Select Remote features.
Ensure the Enable remote features checkbox is filled.With your Xbox console readied for remote play, you can at present start wirelessly streaming your gameplay to your telephone. The Xbox app allows players to streaming low-latency feed from your Xbox One or Xbox Serial X|South, audio included.
Connect your AirPods to your iOS or Android device.
Open the Xbox app via your phone or tablet. If yous don't accept the Xbox app, it's bachelor via the iOS App Store and Google Play Store for Android.

Xbox App iOS — Source: Windows Primal (Epitome credit: Source: Windows Cardinal)

Select the Xbox console icon in the acme right-mitt corner.
Select Remote play from this device. Your Xbox console video and audio will at present stream to your iPhone or Android phone.

Xbox Remote Play Home — Source: Windows Key (Epitome credit: Source: Windows Cardinal)

The stream volition provide a video feed output from your Xbox console, which also doubles equally an sound passthrough for your connected AirPods. You can look low-latency, stutter-free audio for gaming, admitting less seamless than the official Bluetooth support desired. With your AirPods continued via these steps, set your phone aside for the elapsing of your play session.

How to apply AirPods for Xbox Political party Chat

While a remote play session automatically streams game audio to your AirPods, it takes a few extra steps to apply Political party Chat. Expanding the stream settings unveils an option to enable your AirPods microphone for use in Microsoft'south official phonation conversation system. The microphone also works via game chat for multiplayer titles.

Press the ··· icon in the tiptop right-mitt corner while using Xbox remote play.
Select Unmute to activate your AirPods microphone.
Select Mute to disable your AirPods microphone again.

Xbox Remote Play Mute — Source: Windows Primal (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

The AirPods microphone isn't the all-time, and y'all'll find sharper results from other gaming headsets designed for Xbox consoles. Notwithstanding, the method remains a viable way to communicate with friends and teammates without owning an Xbox-uniform headset.

The above steps work with whatever Bluetooth device, including the about popular wireless earbuds on the market, AirPods and AirPods Pro. It's non a seamless solution, requiring your phone to continually stream a video feed, coupled with a chance of latency on some networks. But information technology's the closest thing to AirPods back up with your Xbox panel, if in demand of wireless in-ear audio.

Other means to connect AirPods to Xbox

While remote play is the simplest manner to use Bluetooth headphones like AirPods with Xbox consoles, alternate methods involve extra hardware. These options featherbed the existing offerings of Xbox consoles, excluding features similar voice conversation in the procedure. But at that place are valid alternatives to the remote play workaround if you want a direct line to your Xbox gameplay audio.

Bluetooth support has rapidly evolved into a standard feature on TVs, and in many cases, allows headphones to piece of work with Xbox consoles. Your Xbox console routes to your Television over HDMI before wirelessly transmitting that audio to connected headphones. The steps to connect wireless earbuds like AirPods widely varies between Idiot box models, although official documentation is frequently available via the manufacturer's website.

Third-party Bluetooth adapters are also available for Xbox consoles, hooking up to an Xbox Wireless Controller via the integrated three.5mm headphone jack. Compared to other workarounds, these standalone pucks provide a low-latency connection for stereo sound, although nearly crave additional steps to pair and operate. Bluetooth adapters retail $37 on Amazon, compatible with modern Xbox One controllers.

One-Stop Bluetooth

Wireless Bluetooth Xbox Stereo Headset Audio Adapter for Xbox 1

This meaty Bluetooth puck connects to your Xbox controller, expanding your console to AirPods and other wireless earbuds.

Cut the string

Apple AirPods

AirPods remain ane of the best wireless sound options for iPhone users, delivering cable-free listening, affect gestures, and up to 24-hour bombardment with the included charging case. While they're not uniform with Xbox, this workaround is the closest yet.

Matt Chocolate-brown is Windows Central's Senior Games Editor, Xbox & PC, at Future. Following over seven years of professional person consumer technology and gaming coverage, he's focused on the world of Microsoft's gaming efforts. Y'all tin follow him on Twitter @mattjbrown.