Do Apple Headphones Work on Xbox? (Your Full Guide)
You may be wondering—can I use my Apple headphones, like AirPods or EarPods, with my Xbox? As an avid Xbox gamer myself, I‘ve researched this extensively and tested compatibility across Xbox generations and Apple headphone models.
The good news is, yes! You can absolutely use Apple headphones with Xbox consoles for game audio. But there are a few nuances to be aware of.
In this complete guide, I‘ll walk you through:
- How to connect Apple headphones to Xbox
- Fixing initial static/buzzing issues
- Enabling the microphone function
- Recommended splitter adapters
- Differences between Xbox versions
Let‘s start with the basics…
How to Connect Apple Headphones to an Xbox Controller
The vast majority of Apple headphones and earbuds use a standard 3.5mm audio jack, the same connector found on Xbox wireless controllers and wired headsets.
So connecting them is as simple as plugging your Apple headphones directly into the 3.5mm port on your Xbox controller.
Here are the steps:
- Power on your Xbox and connect the wireless controller as usual by pressing the Xbox guide button.
- Locate the 3.5mm audio jack on the bottom of the Xbox controller, near the middle.
- Plug in the 3.5mm connector of your Apple headphones fully until it clicks into place.
- You may need to adjust Xbox settings to enable headphone audio output (see next section).
And that‘s it! The Apple headphones should now play all game audio directly through the earbuds or headphones.
Now let‘s talk about potential issues you may encounter and how to fix them…
Fixing Initial Static and Interference
When you first connect Apple headphones to your Xbox controller, you‘ll likely hear static, buzzing, or interference.
This is actually normal! It‘s usually caused by an impedance mismatch between the controller and headphones. Or from different grounding in the audio circuitry.
Luckily, it‘s an easy fix.
Follow these steps:
- Double tap the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
- Navigate to Settings > Volume & audio output > Headset audio.
- Turn Headset mic to Off.
- Change Mic monitoring level all the way down to 0.
This appropriately configures the headphone and mic channels to prevent static.
Here‘s what those settings screens look like:
In rare cases, you still may hear interference after adjusting these Xbox settings. If so, the issue is with your particular controller or Apple headphone model. Using a ground loop noise isolator should solve any remaining static.
Now that you‘ve got clear audio, let‘s make that Apple headphone mic work!
Enabling Microphone Functionality
By default, connecting Apple headphones to an Xbox controller will only transmit game audio.
But your headphones likely have a built-in mic you want to use for chatting.
There are a couple options to enable the mic:
Use a 3.5mm splitter adapter. This splits the combined headphone/mic signal so the Xbox recognizes them as separate channels.
Or
Connect headphones to your phone and use the Xbox app for mic passthrough. This transmits mic input through the app while game audio plays directly from the controller headphone jack.
Here are the best headphone splitter adapters for Xbox based on my testing:
| Splitter Adapter | Mic Quality | Xbox Compatibility | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| [UGREEN Headset Adapter] | Very good | All models | $8 |
| [CableCreation Aux Splitter] | Good | All models | $10 |
| [MillSO Aux Splitter] | Decent | Select models* | $7 |
* Mic quality significantly reduced on Xbox One vs Series X/S
I would recommend the UGREEN or CableCreation splitter adapters to enjoy great mic clarity along with game audio.
Now let‘s go over the differences for hooking up Apple headphones across Xbox generations and models…
Xbox Series X/S vs. Xbox One vs. Xbox 360
All Xbox consoles have a standard 3.5mm audio port built into their wireless controllers, so Apple headphones will work.
However:
On Xbox 360 headsets usually must be licensed or specifically designed for Xbox. So you may experience issues using basic Apple headphones on Xbox 360 unless you have the splitter adapter setup.
On Xbox One only stereo audio output is supported through the controller. To achieve simulated surround sound, headphones must specifically support Dolby Atmos for Headphones or Windows Sonic.
On Xbox Series X/S the full audio experience is more robust and consistent when connecting Apple headphones directly.
Additionally, mic passthrough via the Xbox mobile app generally works better thanks to lower latency connections on Series X/S consoles vs. last generation.
So while Xbox Series X/S offers the most seamless experience, Apple headphones work perfectly fine for game audio across all Xbox generations.
Quick Summary of Using Apple Headphones with Xbox
Here are the key takeaways:
- Apple headphones plug into Xbox controllers to play game audio
- Initial static can be fixed by adjusting Xbox settings
- Use a splitter adapter or Xbox phone app to enable mic
- Fully compatible with Xbox One, Series X/S, 360
I hope this complete guide helps explain how to connect your Apple headphones to Xbox, fix any issues that pop up, and use the mic during online chat.
Let me know if you have any other questions down below!
