How to Use a Bluetooth Microphone on an Xbox Series X/S

Bluetooth peripherals have made life so much easier over the years. No more cords, no more having to be close to the console — just a simple Bluetooth connection, and you’re all set. So it’s no surprise you’d want to enjoy the same convenience with your Xbox Series X/S, but can you use a Bluetooth microphone on the new console?

You can use a Bluetooth microphone on Xbox Series X/S only if it comes as part of a headset (as opposed to a physical, separate microphone). Even then, you’ll need either an Xbox Wireless-compatible headset or a Bluetooth headset with a transmitter to create a direct connection to the console.

Microsoft has introduced a propriety wireless protocol for the new generation of consoles dubbed ‘Xbox Wireless.’ This means using third-party Bluetooth peripherals is now a little more complicated than it used to be. But don’t worry, we’ll help you get it all sorted. Let’s find out how to use a Bluetooth microphone on Xbox Series X/S.

Can You Use a Bluetooth Microphone on the Xbox Series X/S?

Technically, no! You can’t use a standalone Bluetooth microphone on the Xbox Series X/S, but there are workarounds to get it done. Before we get into that, however, let’s talk about the technicalities of why a Bluetooth microphone wouldn’t work on the Series X/S.

The new Xbox wireless protocol doesn’t support the universal Bluetooth standard, which means you can’t connect any Bluetooth peripheral to the system.

It does, however, have a separate proprietary wireless protocol, which leaves some possibility for using wireless accessories. The catch is that you need compatible hardware specifically manufactured for the Xbox Series X/S.

Even if this issue is set aside for a second, the Xbox Series X/S doesn’t currently support a standalone wireless microphone. If you want to use a wireless microphone, you can only use it as part of a headset.

So what are your options for using a wireless microphone with your Xbox Series X/S? The workaround is to purchase a Bluetooth headset with a Bluetooth transmitter.

You can then connect the transmitter to the 3.5mm jack on your controller and have your wireless microphone.

Or you can also buy a compatible wireless headset that uses the Xbox wireless protocol. Microsoft’s official Xbox wireless headset is your best option, but a few other brands like Turtle Beach and SteelSeries are also manufacturing Xbox-compatible headsets.

How to Use a Bluetooth Headset on an Xbox Series X/S

Now that we’ve got the technicalities out of the way, let’s get into how to use your Bluetooth headset with the Xbox Series X/S.

If you have a compatible wireless headset, you can simply pair it with your Xbox Series X/S like you would pair your controller. Here’s how:

Press the pairing button on your console for three seconds.
The Xbox button will flash, indicating it’s in pairing mode.
Put your headset into pairing mode.
Once the headset is in pairing mode, the lights will turn solid, and it will automatically connect to your Xbox Series X/S.

If you’re using a Bluetooth headset with a dongle, you’ll have to pair your headset with the Bluetooth transmitter instead of the console. To do that, follow these steps:

Plug the transmitter into the controller’s 3.5mm jack.
Press the pairing buttons on the transmitter and your headset to put them into pairing mode.
Once they’re paired, you’ll see the pairing signal depending on your device.

And that’s it. You can now start using your Bluetooth headset with your Xbox Series X/S.

However, using transmitters means you’ll have to deal with latency, and your gameplay may suffer as a result. Some transmitters don’t support dual channels either, which means you may be unable to hear the game and speak simultaneously.

To resolve this issue, you can buy a transmitter with an internal mic, but the quality may not be as good as that of a dedicated gaming headset. If you still decide to go this route, do your research and get the transmitter from a reputable brand.

Xbox Wireless and Other Compatible Headsets

If you want to avoid all the hassle, your best bet is to buy Xbox-compatible headsets. These headsets use the Xbox wireless protocol, which will sync up like your controller. Some also have their own dongle that you may connect to the controller.

Since Xbox Wireless is a propriety network, these Bluetooth headsets don’t experience as much interference or latency as those that use a standard Bluetooth connection.

The result is much better audio quality and a stable connection — and as a result, a better gameplay experience.

Microsoft’s official wireless headset is currently the best option on the market. It offers great sound quality and is very comfortable to wear.

However, there are some other high-quality alternatives available on the market. We’ve compiled a list of the top Xbox Wireless-compatible headsets for you to choose from.

If you’re looking for a Bluetooth headset to use on your Xbox Series X/S, make sure you get one with the Xbox logo on it, or ask the retailer if it’s compatible with the console.