How to connect ps4 bluetooth headphones/headset

Did you ever think your gaming experience could become much better with your headphones? Playing games on PS4 entails an immersive experience with audio details. But routing the audio to your headphones provides you with a much better listening experience than playing it on speakers. 

Connecting your regular headphones with your PS4 can be challenging due to compatibility issues. However, this issue shouldn’t make you sacrifice the audio of the game you are playing. 

So we have developed this guide to help you connect your PS4 Bluetooth headset as seamlessly as possible. 

Connecting Your PS4 Bluetooth Headphones

After all those time-wasting trials and failures, you might be surprised to know that you can connect your regular headphones with your PS4. PlayStation 4 uses CTIA (Cellular Telecommunication & Internet Association) standard as the new layout that headphones jacks follow. 

Therefore, most of the headsets might work with your PS4. However, some models will need a bit of tweaking, or you might have to use a third-party device to make them work.

How to connect wired headphones

Connecting compatible wired headsets 

Step 1

First, you need to turn on your PlayStation 4 and go to the “Settings” with the help of your controller. 

Step 2 

Now, scroll down the menu and choose “Devices.”

Step 3

From there, you will go to the “Device” page and will see a list of all the devices that you can link with your PS4. As you want to connect your headphones, you will have to select “Audio Devices.” 

Step 4

Now, plug in your wired headphone to your PlayStation 4 controller. 

Step 5

After that, you will have to select “Output Device” and choose the “Headset Connected to Controller.”

Step 6

Now, it’s time to set up and test out the mic of your headphones. You can go back to that “Audio Devices” page and choose “Adjust Microphone Level.” After that, adjust the mic input level with the help of the slider according to your preferences. 

You have to keep in mind that your PlayStation 4 doesn’t automatically route the audio to your headphones. So you might hear voice chat through your headphones and game audio from your television speakers. If you are okay with that, you don’t need to read anything further. But if you want all your audio routed to your headset, then carry on reading further. 

Step 7

Now, go back to that “Audio Devices” page and choose “Output to Headphones.” After that, select “All Audio.” And you will notice that all audio will now be routed to your headphones. 

Connecting non-compatible wired headsets

Remember that most smartphone headsets follow two common standards. One is the CTIA standard, and the other is the OMTP standard. The difference between these two standards is that the CTIA comes with a mic connector point located at the audio jack’s base. 

There is a ground connector as well on the second ring. On the other hand, the ground connector point is located at the jack’s base, while the second ring is the mic connector point. 

Therefore, connecting a CTIA headphone to a port that is designed for OMTP or vice versa will result in non-compatibility, and the result will be a sound that is too low. Hence, you will have to go for an OMTP-CTIA adapter or converter in this scenario. The ideal choice that you can go for is the CableCreation Splitter Cable.

Once you have this converter, you can refer to the above-listed steps. In step 4, you will just have to connect your headphones to this converter before you plug it in your PlayStation 4 converter, and then carry on with the remaining steps to finish routing all audio to your headphones. 

Many headsets have a 3.5mm jack work on PlayStation 4 with a few modifications. You have to make these changes in the settings to set your pair up. Nevertheless, any non-compatible headsets that use the old OMTP (Open Mobile Terminal Platform) standard might still work if you set them up using a converter. Here is a video that explains the process in detail: 

How to connect wireless headphones

You can connect your wireless headphones in a range of different ways to your PlayStation 4. But bear in mind that not all wireless or Bluetooth headphones can seamlessly work. It is partially due to the way Sony designs its Bluetooth links. 

Sony primarily focuses on branded wireless headphones that are PlayStation 4 compatible. But you can make other non-compatible headphones work with a few modifications as well. Watch the video below that elaborates on the steps you need to take to connect your wireless headphones to your console. 

Connecting compatible headsets made for PS4

Step 1

You must make sure that your headphones are fully charged. You can charge them using the USB cable that came with your pair or with your PlayStation 4 system. 

Step 2

Now, plug your pair’s USB adapter into your PS4’s USB port.

Step 3

Now, turn on the headphones and start pairing them. During the pairing mode, they will be flashing blue lights. As soon as the pairing is complete, you’ll see a stable blue light. But the pairing will be done in the following steps, so leave it flashing. 

Step 4 

After that, you need to go to “Settings” with your controller. And then, scroll down and choose “Device.” 

Step 5

On the “Devices” page, there will be a list of possible devices that you can connect to your console. You need to select “Bluetooth Devices.”

Step 6

You must make sure that your headphones are still in pairing mode where you left it. Let your console search for any Bluetooth devices nearby. 

Step 7

As soon as your headset appears on the list, select it and let it connect with the console. 

Step 8 

You may have to register your headset to finalize the connection. Just follow the steps, and you are all set to move forward.  

Via PS4 remote play app

It might not be the perfect option because there is a chance that it may not work for unverified devices and some games. But there is always a chance that it can work out, so it’s worth a shot if you don’t want to spend anything on those Bluetooth dongles, which we will talk about in just a bit. 

With this application, you can access your PlayStation 4 using your mobile device through wifi. You can play PS4 games on your smartphone with the help of an on-screen controller with your phone’s screen and join the chats with your smartphone mic. 

Step 1

You can download and install the remote play app using Play Store for Android and App Store for iOS. 

Step 2

Now, go to “Settings” and select “Remote Play Connection Settings.” Locate the “Enable Remote Play” option and check the box to activate “Remote Play” on your PlayStation 4. 

Step 3

The next step is to select “Add Device” then “Code,” and the screen will display an 8-digit code. 

Step 4 

Now, open the Remote Play app on your phone and enter the code. It will allow you to register your device with your PS4, and it’s all done. Keep in mind that you might experience a bit of lag in your gameplay and the audio based on the phone specification and the speed of your network connection. 

Via Bluetooth dongle

For the absolute best gaming experience, you should buy a Bluetooth dongle that comes with a mic. We highly recommend using Avantree DG45.

Step 1

Now, plug the dongle in your PS4 and let it enter pairing mode. 

Step 2 

You can turn on the headset and put it in pairing mode too. You will see that flashing blue-colored light turn solid blue when the pair connects with your PlayStation 4. 

Step 3 

Now, insert the mic into your controller in its 3.5mm port. Now you can enjoy the audio through your headphones. But you can’t use the mic in your pair and will have to plug the mic in the controller separately. 

Choosing a PS4 Bluetooth Headset

You need to invest in a quality pair of gaming headphones if you want to enjoy your playing experience on your PlayStation 4. We don’t mean that you have to break the bank just to get a decent pair. High price doesn’t always mean high-quality. 

Here are some features that you must consider before buying a quality pair of Bluetooth headphones. 

Comfort

Either playing solo or running down in a squad, you might prefer to play for long hours. For this, you need to look for a pair that guarantees high comfort and just forget about style. Style might be good for the aesthetics, but it is more practical to go for comfortable air. 

Look for various features such as overall weight, the ear cup materials, form factor, the clamping force of the headband. Your headphones need to be highly breathable and must have an adjustable headband. The overall weight of the pair must be on the lighter side too. 

Compatibility

Playing your favorite games on PS4 doesn’t mean that you can only go for branded PS4 headsets. You only need to choose a pair that works with the console. According to the instructions above, you can make any pair work with your PS4 console. But it is always better to go for a pair that doesn’t require you to buy anything else to make it work. 

Sound

The sound needs to be high-quality. The headphones should differentiate between low and high sounds with maximum clarity. Some headsets have surround sound. This feature is not mandatory, but it can provide you with precise, omnidirectional hearing. You can benefit from it in some games as you need to focus on the direction of certain sounds, like footsteps or gunshots. 

Microphone

Microphones do come in handy when playing those competitive multiplayer games as they require the players to communicate with one another. You need to have a proper mic on your headphones to enjoy your gaming experience at its best. 

Closed vs. open-back 

Closed-back headphones are more popular and are easily available. They have a casing that entirely protects the internal components. They have a more versatile design, and the audio will not leak out for anyone else to hear. 

Open-back headphones have grilles, and you can see the drivers on the inside. The headphones can create spacious sound with free-flowing air through the headset. But they are not suitable if you don’t want anyone else to hear anything. 

For the best PC gaming and listening experience, open-backs are a better choice as long as you are not disturbing anyone else while you are playing your games. So it’s entirely up to you which type you choose. 

How to Enhance Your System with a PS4 Bluetooth Headset?

There are various ways to enhance your system to produce the best possible sound and provide you with a more immersive experience. 

Accessories

First of all, you need to go for the right pair of headphones if you don’t already have a set. But if you already own a pair of headphones, you need to make sure that you have the accessories to connect them with your TV. 

You will need to have a converter if you have wired headphones. In most cases, wireless pairs can almost always work with your PS4 console. You might also need to go for a Bluetooth dongle to pair your headphones with your console. For the best gaming experience, it is best to go for a pair that comes with surround sound. 

Games

Some games need more audio detailing to provide a much better experience. And for these games, you will need good quality headphones with surround sound. However, many games might not need these features, and your regular headphones can work with them. 

Compatible branded headphones

A pair of compatible PS4 Bluetooth headphones will always provide a much better experience. They are built to work with the console. A PS4 Bluetooth headset is all that you need to enjoy your game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

By following the above steps, you won’t waste much time trying to connect your headphones with your console. Instead, we strongly suggest that you go for quality PS4 Bluetooth headphones, such as the Sennheiser 450SE. You will also enjoy an immersive gaming experience with all the connectivity features. 

You can connect your headphones with your PS4 console using different techniques. But if you are looking for the best gaming experience, buy a quality pair of Bluetooth headphones. 

Related Read: PS4 vs PS4 Pro: What’s the difference?