This article explains that, no, you can’t technically connect your AirPods to your Xbox One — but there is a way you can still use them during a gaming session.

What to Know

  • Pair AirPods to iOS or Android device > install Xbox app on device > Sign In with Microsoft or Xbox account.Next, select Let’s play > Parties > Start a party > Invite to party > choose names > Send invitation.

How to Connect AirPods to Xbox One With the Xbox App

The official Xbox app is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and most Android smartphones and tablets. You can use it to track Xbox Achievements, buy Xbox One games, and send direct messages (DMs) to your Xbox Network friends.

Here’s how to use the Xbox app and Apple AirPods together when gaming on an Xbox One console. 

  • Pair your AirPods to your iOS or Android device.
  • Download the Xbox app for iOS or Android onto your smartphone or tablet.
  • Download For:
  • iOS
  • Android
  • Open the Xbox app, then tap Sign in and log in with the same Xbox or Microsoft account you use on your Xbox One.
  • Xbox and Microsoft accounts are the same thing. They go by different names when on different devices and services.
  • If you’ve added your Microsoft account to your device previously, it may automatically show up as an option. If the displayed email associated with your Xbox One console is correct, tap it. If it’s not, tap Add new account and enter your account’s associated email address and password.
  • Tap Let’s play.
  • Tap the Parties icon. It’s the icon that looks like three people.
  • Tap Start a party.
  • You may want to connect to a Wi-Fi signal so you don’t use up your cellular data.
  • An Xbox party will immediately be created.
  • Tap Invite to party.
  • Tap the names of every friend you want to add to your Xbox party.
  • To deselect someone, simply tap their name again.
  • Tap Send invitation. All of the invited friends should immediately receive a notification of their invite on their Xbox One consoles or on their Xbox app.
  • Put your Apple AirPods on and begin chatting with your friends.
  • One limitation of this communication method is you can’t use AirPods to listen to the audio from your video game. All sound from your console will still come through your TV and its connected speakers.
  • When you finish chatting, tap Leave party.

How to Connect AirPods to Xbox One Using Other Apps

In addition to the Xbox app, you can also use your AirPods to chat with your gaming friends using any other chat app.

Pair your AirPods to your iOS or Android device.

Download the Xbox app for iOS or Android onto your smartphone or tablet.

Download For:

Open the Xbox app, then tap Sign in and log in with the same Xbox or Microsoft account you use on your Xbox One.

Xbox and Microsoft accounts are the same thing. They go by different names when on different devices and services.

If you’ve added your Microsoft account to your device previously, it may automatically show up as an option. If the displayed email associated with your Xbox One console is correct, tap it. If it’s not, tap Add new account and enter your account’s associated email address and password.

Tap Let’s play.

Tap the Parties icon. It’s the icon that looks like three people.

Tap Start a party.

You may want to connect to a Wi-Fi signal so you don’t use up your cellular data.

An Xbox party will immediately be created.

Tap Invite to party.

Tap the names of every friend you want to add to your Xbox party.

To deselect someone, simply tap their name again.

Tap Send invitation. All of the invited friends should immediately receive a notification of their invite on their Xbox One consoles or on their Xbox app.

Put your Apple AirPods on and begin chatting with your friends.

One limitation of this communication method is you can’t use AirPods to listen to the audio from your video game. All sound from your console will still come through your TV and its connected speakers.

When you finish chatting, tap Leave party.

Many like to communicate via the Discord app, but you can also use apps like Skype, Line, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram to talk while playing an Xbox One video game.

To use these apps, begin a voice call or chat as you usually would. The only downside to using these apps is that all of your Xbox friends might not have them installed.

Why Can’t You Use AirPods on Xbox One?

Unfortunately, Microsoft’s Xbox One lacks Bluetooth support, meaning it has no built-in way to pair Apple AirPods to the console. It’s also impossible to connect AirPods to the Xbox One controller headphone jack.

However, while you technically can’t connect AirPods to an Xbox One console or controller, you can still use them during an Xbox One gaming session by using the official Xbox app on iOS or Android.

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