How to Connect AirPods to PS5 (Bluetooth Adapter & TV Fix)

If you’ve tried to pair AirPods with a PlayStation 5, you already know there’s no Bluetooth audio menu to find. Sony’s support page for error CE-109531-9 is blunt about why: “Your Bluetooth audio device isn’t compatible with PlayStation®5 consoles.”

You can still use AirPods with a PS5, though, in one of two ways: plug a USB Bluetooth audio adapter into the console, or pair the AirPods with your TV and let the TV handle the sound. This guide covers both, including Apple’s pairing steps for every AirPods model and the PS5 sound settings that make it work.

Why AirPods Won’t Pair With a PS5

When you try to connect a Bluetooth audio device, the PS5 can show error CE-109531-9. Sony’s explanation is that “there’s an issue with the audio device that’s trying to connect”, and its advice is simply to try a different audio device.

Android Police points to latency as the reason: gaming is fast-paced, and the Bluetooth standard doesn’t support low enough latency to keep up, so audio ends up delayed and out of sync with the video.

Don’t confuse Sony’s own PlayStation Link USB adapter with a Bluetooth adapter. Sony sells PlayStation Link for pairing its PULSE Elite wireless headset and PULSE Explore wireless earbuds. To use AirPods, you need a third-party USB Bluetooth audio adapter instead.

Method 1: Use a USB Bluetooth Audio Adapter

Since the PS5’s built-in Bluetooth can’t be used for audio, Android Police calls a USB audio adapter or dongle your best bet. Some adapters are made specifically for this. Avantree, for example, describes its C81-Gaming adapter as “specifically designed for PS5 to connect Bluetooth headphones (e.g., AirPods, Bose, & more) for audio playback.” Sony notes that not all headsets work with the console and that compatibility questions should go to the device’s manufacturer, so check an adapter’s PS5 support before buying.

Step 1: Plug in the adapter

Plug the adapter into a USB port on your PS5. If it needs to be put into pairing mode, follow the instructions that came with it.

Step 2: Put your AirPods into pairing mode

Apple’s steps for pairing with a non-Apple device depend on your model:

• AirPods 1, 2 or 3, or AirPods Pro 1 or 2: with the AirPods in the charging case, open the lid, then press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.
• AirPods 4 or 5, or AirPods Pro 3: open the case with the AirPods inside, hold it next to the device you’re pairing with, then double-tap the front of the case so the status light flashes white.
• AirPods Max: press and hold the listening mode button for about 5 seconds, or until the status light flashes white.

Step 3: Choose the adapter as the PS5’s audio output

1. On your PS5, go to Settings > Sound.
2. Select Audio Output.
3. Under Output Device, select the adapter. As Tom’s Guide notes, if the connection worked, the adapter should appear there as an audio option.

You can also change the output device from the control center by selecting Sound. If you want the PS5 to switch automatically, turn on Switch Output Device Automatically, which Sony says switches output devices when an audio device such as a headset is connected.

What to expect

Some delay is likely, and AirPods are named specifically. Avantree says only aptX Adaptive or aptX Low Latency headphones get low-latency audio through its adapter, and that “headphones without aptX support (e.g., AirPods, Bose QC45, QC35) may experience audio delay.”

Method 2: Pair Your AirPods With Your TV

If you’d rather not buy an adapter, Android Police notes that many smart TVs have built-in Bluetooth that works on all inputs. You connect the AirPods to the TV, and the TV outputs the PS5’s audio to them over its own Bluetooth.

1. Go into your TV’s settings menu and find its Bluetooth feature.
2. Put your AirPods into pairing mode using the steps for your model above.
3. When your AirPods appear in the TV’s list of Bluetooth devices, select them.

Once the AirPods are connected to the TV, you’re ready to play on your PS5.

How to Voice Chat When Using AirPods

Don’t count on the AirPods’ microphones. For its PS5 adapter, Avantree says that “due to Bluetooth bandwidth limitations, microphone input does not work with Bluetooth headphones,” and recommends using the PS5 controller mic for voice communication.

To choose the controller’s mic, press the PS button to open the control center, select Mic, and pick it under Input Device. If the DualSense itself is misbehaving, our guide to resetting a PS5 controller walks through the fix.

Using wireless earbuds on other consoles? See our guides to Nintendo Switch Bluetooth audio and connecting Bluetooth headphones to an Xbox One, or browse more console guides.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you connect AirPods to a PS5 directly with Bluetooth?

No. Sony’s support page states that Bluetooth audio devices aren’t compatible with PS5 consoles. You need a USB Bluetooth audio adapter or a smart TV with built-in Bluetooth.

Does the AirPods microphone work for PS5 voice chat?

Not through a Bluetooth adapter like Avantree’s, which says microphone input doesn’t work with Bluetooth headphones. Use the DualSense controller’s mic instead, selected under Mic > Input Device in the control center.

How do I put AirPods 4 into pairing mode?

For AirPods 4 (and AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3), Apple’s steps don’t use the setup button. Open the case with the AirPods inside, hold it next to the device, and double-tap the front of the case so the status light flashes white.

Sources & Reference Links

• PlayStation Support – PS5 error CE-109531-9
• PlayStation Support – How to change audio settings on PS5 consoles
• PlayStation Direct – PlayStation Link USB adapter
• Apple Support – Pair AirPods with a non-Apple device
• Avantree – C81-Gaming PS5 Bluetooth audio adapter
• Android Police – How to connect your AirPods to a PS5
• Tom’s Guide – You can connect AirPods to your PS5