Here’s how to connect your wireless headphones to your TV so you can watch anytime without disturbing others.
Do you want to watch late-night TV but your roommate needs to study or your spouse wants to sleep? You can compromise by wearing a pair of headphones.
But you can’t just wear any kind of headphone. Anyone who’s watched TV using wired headphones knows the struggle of being stuck in one spot just a few feet from the screen.
You need wireless headphones so you can sit where you like and listen at full volume without disturbing others.
Use Bluetooth Headphones
The easiest way to watch TV with wireless headphones is to use Bluetooth TV headphones. If you have a newer LED TV or a smart TV, your TV likely has Bluetooth. In that case, you simply have to pair your headphones with the TV and you’re good to go.
Your TV manual should have a section that shows you how to pair Bluetooth headphones with it. If you don’t have the manual anymore, you can likely find the instructions on the manufacturer’s website.
The only issue with Bluetooth headphones is the sound delay. You may experience a lag in the transmission of sound from the TV to your headphones. If you’re only listening to music, this shouldn’t be an issue. However, it can be annoying if you’re watching a movie or a TV show.
Get Yourself A Pair Of Dedicated Wireless TV Headphones
If your TV doesn’t support Bluetooth, you can use a pair of dedicated wireless headphones.
These have a charging base connected to the TV through the 3.5-mm jack or an optical audio output. The base serves as a transmitter that sends audio from the TV to the headphones.
Dedicated wireless headphones typically use Radio Frequency (RF) to send and receive sound signals. RF can transmit up to 300 feet, which is way more than the standard 30-feet range of Bluetooth headphones. It also transmits sound faster, thus eliminating the audio delay you may experience with Bluetooth.
However, microwave and mobile phone signals can interfere with RF signals. Also, since more devices use Bluetooth instead of RF, you can only use your RF headphones with your TV but not with your phone or computer.
Some dedicated wireless headphones use Bluetooth. As with regular Bluetooth headphones, you may notice a lag in audio transmission.
Connect Using A Bluetooth Transmitter
Another solution for those who don’t have Bluetooth-supported TVs is to use a Bluetooth transmitter.
This device plugs into your TV, usually through the 3.5-mm jack or the left and right RCA outputs, to send audio via Bluetooth to your headphones.
Some high-end Bluetooth transmitters plug into optical audio jacks like TOSLink or S/PDIF. These deliver higher-quality sound because they use a digital connection.
Bluetooth transmitters may need a power source. You may have to insert yours to the TV’s USB port or plug it into a wall outlet.
Pair Your Headphones With A Streaming Device
Streaming devices such as Google’s Android TV or Apple TV will let you connect wireless headphones to the device. Simply put your headphones in pairing mode and follow the instructions on your TV for how to pair them with your set-top box.
This works if you’re watching channels that are supported by your device. Otherwise, you’ll have to find another method if you want to watch other TV channels.
Here are the steps for connecting your wireless headphones with specific streaming devices.
Apple TV
- Put your headphones in pairing mode.
- On Apple TV, open Settings.
- Go to Remotes and Devices.
- Go to Bluetooth.
- Choose your headphones.
Android TV
- Get your headphones in pairing mode.
- Open your Android TV’s Settings.
- Go to Bluetooth.
- Wait for your headphones to appear.
- Pair your headphones with Android TV.
Note:
This method works for set-top boxes that run on Android TV, such as Sony TV and Nvidia Shield TV. However, other Android TV devices may not have the same support for Bluetooth headphones. You need to check with your specific streaming device to make sure it can pair with Bluetooth headphones.
Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
- Make sure your headphones are in pairing mode.
- Open Settings on your Fire TV.
- Go to Controllers and Bluetooth Devices.
- Go to Other Bluetooth Devices.
- Under Discovered Devices, choose your headphones and pair.
Roku
- Connect your phone or tablet to the same wireless network that your Roku runs on.
- Open the Roku app on your mobile device.
- Put your headphones in pairing mode.
- Connect your headphones with your phone.
- This will enable Private Listening so you can watch TV with your wireless headphones.
Plug Your Headphones Into A Gaming Console
If all else fails, use a gaming console. Consoles aren’t the best solution. In fact, Bluetooth support on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are, at best, erratic. But if the above methods don’t work, you can use this as a last resort.
PlayStation 4
PS4 only works with a few specific Bluetooth headphones. If you don’t have any of these, you can plug a pair of wired headphones into the Bluetooth-enabled controller’s 3.5-mm jack.
Then do the following to send audio from the TV to your headphones.
- Go to Settings.
- Open Devices.
- Open Audio Devices.
- Click Output to headphones.
Xbox One
Xbox One doesn’t support Bluetooth headphones at all. However, you can plug wired headphones into the controller and use them to watch TV.
If you have an older controller, you need to buy the Stereo Headset Adapter designed specifically for Xbox One controllers. The adapter connects with the controller to give it a 3.5-mm jack where you can plug in wired headphones.
The Takeaway
There are many ways to watch TV with your wireless headphones.
You can go the direct route by connecting your Bluetooth headphones with a Bluetooth-enabled TV.
If your TV doesn’t support Bluetooth, there are workarounds to choose from. You can use a Bluetooth adapter, buy a pair of dedicated wireless headphones, connect your headphones with a streaming device, or even use your PS4 or Xbox One controller.
Hopefully, you’ve found one method that works perfectly for you.
