How to Connect Bluetooth Headphones to Nintendo Switch

This wikiHow teaches you how to connect a wireless headset to your Nintendo Switch console. Although the Switch does not allow users to connect headphones directly, you can use wireless headphones that come with a USB dongle that supports USB-C. If the headset doesn’t come with a dongle, you can use a Bluetooth transmitter with built-in audio input.

Table of Contents

Use USB dongle in portable mode

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Prepare a USB-to-USB-C adapter. Unless your wireless headphones support a USB-C connection, you’ll need to purchase a USB-to-USB-C adapter to listen in portable mode. You can find this adapter at tech or electronics stores, as well as popular online marketplaces.

Some wireless headphones come with a USB-C adapter. If unsure, check the documentation that came with the product.
Click here for a list of headphones that are likely to work with the Switch, as well as those that definitely won’t.

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Connect the Joy-Con controller to the Nintendo Switch. If you haven’t already, you’ll need to slide each side of the handle to the corresponding edge on the Switch.

The control handle with the “-” button will be installed on the left, and the handle with the “+” button will be on the right.

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Press the Switch’s power button. This button is located on the top edge, right next to the volume buttons. You can also turn on the Switch by pressing the Home button on the right Joy-Con controller.

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Connect the USB-to-USB-C adapter to the Switch. This port is located on the bottom edge of the Switch.

Using USB dongle when playing on TV

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Disconnect the Joy-Con controller from the Switch. If the headset comes with a dongle that connects to the USB port, you can use this method to use the headset wirelessly while playing on the TV. First, you need to remove the controller from the Switch (if connected) by: ^{[1] X Research Source}

Hold down the circular release button on the back of the left handle.
While continuing to hold this button, gently slide the left handle up until it leaves the screen.
Repeat the above steps for the right handle.

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Attach the Joy-Con controller to the grip or strap. Use the grip if you want to mount a single controller, and the strap if you want to play with two hands.

Click here for a list of headphones that are likely to work with the Switch, as well as those that definitely won’t.

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Insert the Nintendo Switch into the charging dock. Place the Switch console in the dock so that the screen is facing the same direction as the Nintendo Switch logo in front.

The charging dock must be pre-connected to the TV.

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Turn on the Switch. You can press the house-shaped button located on the right Joy-Con controller, or press the power button on the top edge (next to the volume buttons).

If the TV is off, you need to turn it on. If necessary, use the TV’s remote control to switch to the input to which the Nintendo Switch is connected.

Using a Bluetooth transmitter with audio input

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Prepare a Bluetooth transmitter with an audio input jack. If your wireless headphones don’t have a built-in USB dongle, you can still use the device to listen with the Switch thanks to a Bluetooth transmitter with an audio jack. You can connect this type of player to the Switch via a 3.5mm to 3.5mm AUX cable, then pair the headset with the transmitter. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Click here for a list of headphones that are likely to work with the Switch, as well as those that definitely won’t.
You can apply this method both when the Switch is in the dock or in portable mode.
Many transmitters come with the 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable you need. If you don’t have an existing transmitter, you can buy more at any electronics or tech store.

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Turn on the Switch. Press the button with the house icon located on the right Joy-Con controller, or press the power button on the top edge of the device (near the volume button) to turn it on.

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Connect the Bluetooth transmitter to the Switch. To proceed, you plug one end of the 3.5mm cable into the port on the transmitter, the other end into the headphone jack located on the edge of the Switch.

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Put the Bluetooth transmitter into pairing mode. This process can vary by model, but is generally quite simple as you just need to press the feature button and wait for the light to flash.

See more in your transmitter’s manual if you don’t know how to enable pairing mode.

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Turn on the headset. Normally, you can press the power button located somewhere on the device.

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Connect the headset to the Bluetooth transmitter. As long as the headset is within range of the Bluetooth transmitter, the two devices will automatically be connected. Maybe some models will ask you to press the pairing button. Check the instructions that came with the headset to be sure. Once the connection is complete, you’ll be able to hear audio from the Switch through your headphones.

Normally, you can tell the headset and transmitter are paired if the lights on both devices stop blinking.

Steps

Use USB dongle in portable mode

Using USB dongle when playing on TV

Using a Bluetooth transmitter with audio input

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