How to Connect a Headset to PC

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: August 25, 2022 Tested

Using Wires

|

Using Bluetooth

|

Changing Windows Sound Settings

This wikiHow teaches you how to connect a wired or Bluetooth headset to your computer and use it for both audio output and input. Headsets are often used for gaming or other online communication.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Using Wires

1
Check your headset's connections. Depending on the type of headset you have, you will see one or more of the following wires:
- 3.5 mm audio out - This is the standard audio-out plug-in that you see on headphones and speaker systems. 3.5 mm connectors plug into headphone ports, and are usually green in color. Typically, 3.5 mm audio-out ports also support audio-in (e.g., microphones).
- 3.5 mm microphone - Some headsets have a separate 3.5 mm jack for audio input as well. These are usually pink.
- USB - USB connectors are flat and rectangular. These plug into USB ports on your computer.
2
Locate your computer's audio inputs. Laptop PCs typically have the 3.5 mm audio-out port on the left, right, or front side of the housing, while desktop PCs may have these ports on the front or back of the CPU box. Microphone ports are usually pink, while headphone ports are usually green.
- On laptops that don't have color-coded ports, the audio-in port will have an image of headphones next to it and the microphone input will have an image of a microphone next to it.
- USB port locations vary from computer to computer, but you'll normally find them near the audio ports.
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3
Plug your headset into your computer. Plug the headset's cables into the appropriate locations on your computer.
4
Plug your headset into a power source if necessary. Some headsets require external power sources, though most will be powered via USB if this is the case. If you need to attach your headset to an external power source (e.g., a wall socket), do so. Once this is done, your headset is ready to be set up in Windows settings.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Using Bluetooth

1
Turn on your headset. Press the headset's power button to turn it on. If the headset isn't fully charged, you might also want to connect it to its charger to ensure that it stays on during the connection process.
2
Open your computer's Start
. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Start window will appear.
3
Open Settings
. Click the gear-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Start window.
4
Click Devices. It's a computer monitor-shaped icon in the middle of the Settings page.
5
Click Bluetooth & other devices. This tab is in the upper-left side of the Devices page.
6
Click the Bluetooth
switch if Bluetooth isn't on. It's below the "Bluetooth" heading near the top of the page. Doing so will switch Bluetooth to
On.
- If the Bluetooth switch is blue (or your computer's default color), Bluetooth is already on.
7
Click Add Bluetooth or other device. It's at the top of the page. Doing so opens the Bluetooth menu.
8
Click Bluetooth. You'll find this at the top of the Bluetooth menu.
9
Press your headset's pairing button. This button's location will vary depending on your headset model. Most pairing buttons have a Bluetooth
icon next to them or on them.
- Consult your headset's manual if you can't find the pairing button.
10
Click your headset's name. It should appear in the Bluetooth menu within a few seconds. The headset's name will likely be a combination of the manufacturer's name and the headset's model number.
- If the headset doesn't appear in the Bluetooth menu, turn the Bluetooth off, press the pairing button on your headset, and then turn Bluetooth back on.
11
Click Pair. It's below the headset's name. Clicking this should prompt your headset to connect to your computer at this point. After this is done, your headset is ready to be set up in Windows settings.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Changing Windows Sound Settings

1
Open
. Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Start menu will open.
2
Type sound into Start. Doing so will search your computer for the Sound settings app.
3
Click Sound. It's a speaker-shaped icon at the top of the Start window.
4
Click your headset's name. You'll find it in the middle of the window.
5
Click Set Default. It's in the lower-right side of the window. Doing so sets your headset as the default sound output item to use when it is connected.
6
Click the Recording tab. This is at the top of the Sound window.
7
Click your headset's name. It's in the middle of the window.
8
Click Set Default. This sets your headset as the default sound input item (e.g., microphone) when it is connected to your PC.
9
Click Apply, then click OK. Doing so saves your settings. You're now ready to begin using your headset with your computer.

Community Q&A

Question

What if I don't have a microphone jack on my laptop/desktop?

Community Answer

Buy a USB headphone adapter. You can get one on Amazon and they're inexpensive.
Question

What do you mean by TRRS?

Community Answer

TRS is the jack with the three connections, "Tip, Ring and Sleeve", typical for stereo headphone connectors. TRRS has four connections, "Tip, Ring, Ring and Sleeve".
Question

How do I set up my headset with a microphone attached to my Windows 10?

Community Answer

There are multiple ways of doing this, depending on the type of headphones you have. If you have USB headphones, simply plug them into an open USB port on your computer. You may need to install driver software from your manufacturer, which can be found on their website or included in the box on a USB drive or a CD. If you have headphones with a 3.5mm jack, plug them into the headphone port on your computer. If your computer's jack doesn't have TRRS (which allows a separate microphone connection, which is what you need for a headset), you may need to buy external hardware.

Warnings

Some headsets may have an extra cable or need an installation CD in order to work. For best results, always consult your headset's manual before attempting to connect it to your computer.

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