How to Use Headphones with PS4? (That Just Works!)

When it comes to modern-day gaming, headphones are crucial equipment. Games these days highly rely on audio cues, regardless of the game genre or type. Now, things get tricky when you are playing games on PS4.

Because you can't just about use any headphones for playing games on a PS4, you will have headphones compatible with the console. Also, connecting the headphone isn't as simple as clicking a headphone to your PC.

This is why I am here to tell you how to use headphones with PS4. Below, you will know all about connecting and using your headphones with any PS4. So, let's get started with it right away.

Contents

Setting up headphones with PS4.

Now, many of you might wonder what's the issue with PS4 and headphones. Well, the issue is with compatibility. The supported headphone jack layout for PS4 is CTIA. This is a modern layout for headphone jacks which is becoming the norm for every headphone.

So, if you have a headphone with that jack layout, you shouldn't worry too much. However, if you have a headphone with the traditional OMTP standard jack then, it won't work in general with your PS4.

You can still use a third-party device, like a converter, for connecting your headphone to PS4.

Then there is another kind of headphone, which is wireless. Most people are leaning towards wireless headphones for better convenience anyways. So, how do you use that with your PS4?

Let's go through all of them one by one. I will discuss how you can use compatible, incompatible, and wireless headphones with your PS4.

Using a compatible headphone with PS4

It's comparatively easier to connect a compatible headphone with your PS4. Let's go through the simple steps you can follow to connect a headphone compatible with PS4.

First, you have to turn your PS4 on and go to the settings.
In the settings menu, you have to go to the devices option.

Then you will see a lot of devices listed. Choose the audio devices option from there.
Now, you have to plug in your headphone on the PS4 controller. It would help if you had a 3.5mm port on the controller for that.
After that, go back to the audio devices options and the output device. There you have to select the headphone you plugged in your controller.

At this point, your headphone should work. You can do some necessary settings to set it up properly from here on. There are two things you have to do. One is to adjust your microphone volume, so it doesn't overpower the game volume.
Here, another set you can do is select what audio you want from your headphone. You can choose to get all audio or only voice chat and let the game audio play on your tv speakers.

To do this, go to the output to headphone option on the audio devices section. You can select all audio, or if you prefer only chat audio, you can choose that too.

As you can see, it's pretty easy to connect your headphone when it's compatible with PS4. Now, what to do when the headphone isn't compatible with PS4. Let's go through that very quickly.

Connecting incompatible headphones with PS4

Here's the thing, the basic process and settings will be pretty much the same as before. What you have to do here is make the incompatible headphone compatible with your PS4.

To make it compatible with your headphone with PS4, you must understand some basics here. PS4 supports only a CTIA headphone jack, so if you have an OMTP jack, you will need a converter or adapter.

So, here's what you do, you have to look for a converter that can convert the OMTP headphone jack to a CTIA headphone jack. You will want to get an OMTP to CTIA converter. You can find them pretty easily online or at any audio gadget store. Once you get that, all you have to do is follow the same steps as before.

Because when you have that converter, you are essentially left with a compatible headphone anyways. As a result, connecting that headphone shouldn't be a problem.

Using wireless headphones with PS4

There are several ways you can connect your Bluetooth headphone with PS4. While some of them are pretty easy, you have to do a little extra with some.

The easier one is where you use an official headphone specifically made for PS4. There are plenty of compatible wireless headphones for PS4. You can find them online pretty easily.

The connecting process is as follows when you have any of those headphones.

First, you have to plug in the USB adapter on your USB port. An adapter should come with your headphone in a package.
Then, you have to turn your headphone on and go to the pairing mode. Usually, headphones use flashing lights to indicate pairing mode. Once the light stops flashing and stays on, the headphones are connected.

You have to go to Settings on your PS4 and look for Bluetooth devices in the devices section.
If your headphone is in pairing mode, it should be on the Bluetooth devices list once you click on that. Select your headphone from that list, and it should connect right away.
Sometimes, the system may ask you to register your headphone. In that case, fill out the necessary information, and you are good to go.

Well, that's great for compatible headphones. But what about wireless headphones that don't have that official compatibility for PS4? I have got you covered there as well; no need to worry.

There are two ways you can use almost any wireless headphones with your PS4. One is through an app, and the other uses a Bluetooth dongle. Let's see what you have to do for each of them.

Using the app

You should know about this option that it may or may not work. Sometimes, this method can fail. In that case, you have to move towards getting a Bluetooth dongle. Still, you can try this since it doesn't cost any money.

First of all, you have to get the PS4 remote play app on your phone. This app gives you access to your PS4 using your smartphone. It works like a remote for your PS4 at that point, and you can even use it as a controller.

After you download that and install it on your phone, you can move on with the following steps.

Here, you have to enable the remote play function on your PS4. To do that, you can go to settings and then remote play connection. There, you should see enable remote play. Click on that.
Next, you have to go on Add device right below. This will pop up a window with an 8-digit number.
You have to open the app on your phone and register the device using that 8-digit code. Once the device is registered, it should work fine.

Then, you can connect your Bluetooth headphone to your smartphone to use them with your PS4.

Once again, this can fail at times, and some games don't even support this system. So, you can move on to the dongle thing for those cases.

Using a dongle

In this method, you will need two things. One is a USB Bluetooth dongle for connecting the headphones and a Bluetooth mic for microphone functions.

After you have everything necessary, you can start on with the steps.

First of all, you have to plug in the dongle on your PS4. Then, wait for that dongle to go into pairing mode. You should see the light flashing on the dongle.

Next, get your headphone into pairing mode. Make sure your headphone isn't connected to anything else at that moment. Then, could you wait for it to connect to the dongle? You have successfully paired the devices as soon as you see both lights stop flashing and stay on.
Finally, you have to insert your Bluetooth microphone in the 3.5mm port on your controller. This will allow the microphone to catch audio from your end.

And that's pretty much it. Once you get the tools, it's not that difficult to connect your Bluetooth headphone with your PS4.

Wrap up

All in all, knowing how to use headphones with PS4 is very important. Especially if you want the best gaming experience out of your PS4, then using headphones is necessary. But finding a compatible headphone can be tricky at times. That's why I gave you all the information you need to make every kind of headphone work out for you.

I suggest getting headphones that are compatible with PS4. And the good news is most of the wired headphones use the same CTIA headphone jack. So, it's not that difficult to find one.

Fred Castillo

Graduated with a Bachelor of Audio Engineering and Sound Production. He has worked with a number of studios as a Recording Engineer, with over 10 years of servicing experience in both re-recording mixing and sound editing.