How to connect Bluetooth headphones to your Nintendo Switch

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Nintendo has now enabled Bluetooth support on the Nintendo Switch, means you can connect the gaming portable to wireless headphones.

With the industry gradually switching its focus from wired headphones to their Bluetooth counterparts, it makes a lot of sense for Nintendo to finally embrace the technology. This will likely please a lot of gamers who like to game on the go.

But how do you actually connect your Bluetooth headphones to the Nintendo Switch? We’ve created this article to guide you through the process. Keep reading on for our step-by-step guide.

Firstly, you need to enter the System Settings menu. You can do this by moving across to the cog icon on the bottom row. It's sandwiched between the Controllers and Sleep Mode options.

You’ll now need to scroll down to Bluetooth Audio. It's the third from bottom option, sitting above the TV Output menu. You should see the option to Add Device on the right. Click it.

Once the Nintendo Switch starts searching for a Bluetooth audio device, it's time to activate pairing mode on your headphones.How to do this is dependent on which headphones you own. For my Sony WF-1000XM3, I simply had to hold down on the both touch panels for seven seconds. Check your headphones instructions or website for pairing instructions for your model.

Once detected, the name of your headphones will pop up on the Switch's screen. Make sure they are your headphones, as it's possible the Switch could be attempting to connect to somebody else's.Click the name of your headphones. The pairing process should now be complete.

Fortunately, it's substantially easier to reconnect your Bluetooth headphones to the Nintendo Switch after the first time you pair them. Follow steps 1 and 2, and then you should see the name of your headphones listed on the right side.If your headphones are turned on and within range, clicking this should connect them to your Nintendo Switch immediately. And if you no longer own those headphones, it's also easy to delete it from the Switch.

Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch does not allow you to use Bluetooth microphones with the Switch. In order to chat with friends, you’ll have to use the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app instead.

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Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.