How to Connect Bluetooth Speakers to Your PS5
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The PlayStation 5 is a great piece of hardware, but Sony isn’t exactly forthcoming when it comes to Bluetooth audio. Sony sells wireless headsets like the $150 PULSE Elite, and instead of Bluetooth, they use a proprietary short-range protocol called PlayStation Link to pair with your console. This prevents you from connecting a Bluetooth speaker, headset, or earbuds directly to your PS5. Fortunately, there are a few workarounds that allow you to pair Bluetooth, but the most reliable method will cost a few dollars.
You will need to invest in a USB Bluetooth adapter to plug into your PS5. Several brands make these USB gadgets, and we’re always happy to recommend something from UGREEN. This $27 USB-C Bluetooth adapter has 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, a score based on more than 2,600 user reviews. It’s about as plug-and-play as it gets: connect the adapter and go to your PS5’s audio settings. Set “UGREEN-BT501” as the output device and turn off automatic switching of the output device.
All that’s left to do is put the adapter and your Bluetooth device into pairing mode; That’s all there is to it! This is a great workaround if you don’t like using the 3.5mm auxiliary port built into the DualSense controller, and the adapter even supports aptX Adaptive for reduced latency. UGREEN and Avantree are the two main brands you’ll find when looking for a PS5 adapter on Amazon, and both companies offer plenty of top-tier adapters.
A USB Bluetooth adapter is your most reliable option, but other workarounds include TV settings and the PS Remote Play app.
If you don’t want to buy a USB gadget to get around your PS5’s garden walls, there’s a TV-based workaround that might do the trick. There is only one condition: your television must be able to receive Bluetooth transmissions. Fortunately, more and more devices now offer native Bluetooth support. If you know for a fact that your TV is Bluetooth compatible, all you have to do is go to the audio settings of your PS5.
Select your TV as the output device and your PS5 will now route audio to your TV via HDMI. In this setup, your TV acts as a Bluetooth “bridge” between your Bluetooth speaker or headphones and your PS5 audio. All you have to do is pair your audio device to your TV. A final solution is to use the PS Remote Play app as a Bluetooth backdoor. For this method to work, you will need to enable Remote Play in your PS5 settings (Settings > System > Remote Play).
Next, install the PS Remote Play app on a phone, tablet, or computer. After signing in to your PlayStation account, pair your Bluetooth audio device to the same hardware that the Remote Play app resides on. Now, when you turn on your PS5 and start playing, the game audio will be routed to the Remote Play app, which is linked to your Bluetooth speaker or headphones.
