How do you connect Bluetooth headphones to a PS5? You can’t, at least not directly. When you try to pair regular wireless headphones, the console responds with error CE-109531-9 and a message saying the audio device isn’t compatible with PlayStation 5 consoles. There are three working ways to get sound into your ears, and all of them go through a cable or USB.
Why the PS5 won’t pair wireless headphones
The console does have Bluetooth; the official specifications in the manual list “Bluetooth 5.1”. But it uses it for controllers and accessories, not for audio output. Sony has never written the sentence “PS5 doesn’t support Bluetooth headphones”, but there are two pieces of evidence. The first is the error message CE-109531-9 mentioned above, for which Sony advises trying a different audio device. The second works by exclusion: in its own guide on connecting the PULSE Elite to other devices, Sony names Bluetooth for PC, Mac and mobile, but for the PS5 it lists only the PlayStation Link adapter.
The second common hope falls flat too. The PS5 has no optical digital output: the I/O specifications list only USB ports, the M.2 slot, the disc drive port and, as the sole AV output, HDMI. So there’s nowhere to plug in wireless transmitters that use an optical output.
Three ways to get PS5 audio into your headphones
| Route | What you need | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack in the controller | headphones with a jack | 3D audio; microphone only with the included 4-pin cable |
| USB | a free USB port on the console | wireless adapter or wired headset, including official Sony ones |
| HDMI and TV | nothing extra | audio goes to the TV, headphones are handled by the TV or soundbar |
| Bluetooth directly | – | doesn’t work, the console shows CE-109531-9 |
Valid as of 11 September 2026. The PS5 has four USB ports: two Type-A on the back, and a USB Type-C plus another USB port on the front.
Jack in the controller
The list of DualSense controller parts includes a “Headset jack”, and Sony has counted on it since the console launched. When the PS5 launched, it said so in so many words: players can enjoy 3D audio with the headphones they already own, either via USB or by plugging into the 3.5mm connector on the controller. It’s the cheapest way to get audio without buying anything else, whatever PS5 controller you have.
There is one limitation. The official PULSE 3D headset works as passive headphones when plugged into the jack, and chat/game volume balance, mic mute, mic monitoring and volume control are all disabled. For a working microphone you need the included 4-pin cable.
USB adapter and official Sony headsets
Sony’s wireless headsets (PULSE 3D, Platinum, Gold) pair through their own USB adapter, and the process has three steps: charge the headset with the included USB cable, plug the USB adapter into the console and turn on the headset. Once the status light stops blinking and stays on, it’s paired.
The newer PULSE Elite and PULSE Explore models use the PlayStation Link adapter, which according to Sony is compatible with the PS5, PC and Mac. The headphones can be paired with up to eight PS Link adapters, but they only play audio from one at a time. PS Link and Bluetooth can run simultaneously, and according to Sony a parallel Bluetooth connection doesn’t increase PS Link latency. Sony doesn’t publish the actual latency in milliseconds.
The older PULSE 3D adapter (CFI-ZWD1) runs on 2.4 GHz, has a range of about 10 meters and a battery life of up to 12 hours at medium volume; charging from empty takes roughly 3.5 hours. It also works in the USB Type-A port of a PC or Mac. On top of that, you can use up to two wireless headsets on one console at the same time.
Of all the PS5 accessories, a wireless headset is the one thing worth permanently occupying a USB port for. The PlayStation Portal is even stricter: only devices using PlayStation Link can connect to it wirelessly.
Third-party USB Bluetooth transmitters
There are USB transmitters that plug into the console’s USB port and can be selected as the output device in Settings → Sound → Audio Output. Two independent sources confirm this. Sony neither describes nor supports this method. We couldn’t verify whether the microphone works with such an adapter or what its latency is, so you won’t find any numbers here.
Where to switch the output
The console’s audio output is in Settings → Sound → Audio Output, where besides the “Output Device” option you’ll find automatic output switching, HDMI device type, number of channels and speaker position adjustment. Headphones have their own item, “Output to Headphones”. Volume is handled in Settings → Sound → Volume, or faster through the control center under Sound.
The console has an equalizer, but it’s only available for official Sony headphones (PULSE Explore, PULSE 3D and PULSE Elite) via PS button → Sound → EQ Presets. It’s worth going through the audio settings right away during the initial PS5 setup, not only once something stops working.
3D audio: five presets or your own profile
The menu has two separate items, 3D Audio (TV) and 3D Audio (Headphones), and they do different things. For headphones, go to Settings → Sound → 3D Audio (Headphones) and choose either one of the five preset profiles or the “Create Personalized 3D Audio Profile” option, then follow the instructions.
The personalized profile is created through a series of listening tests, not by measuring your ears. It’s saved separately for each user and works on all PS5 models. However, it doesn’t work with cloud streaming or when playing via Remote Play, so you can’t use your profile on a phone or laptop.
For the TV the process is different: sit where you normally play, go to Settings → Sound → 3D Audio (TV) and let the console measure the room acoustics with the controller’s microphone. Then turn on “Enable 3D Audio for TV Speakers”; turning it off takes you back to stereo. According to Sony, you should repeat the measurement after moving the TV or the couch. For both variants, 3D audio only works in games that support it.
Microphone and mute
The DualSense has a built-in microphone and a mute button; the console itself has no microphone at all. The settings are in the control center under Mic: input device, microphone volume and microphone status after login. Pressing the MUTE button mutes the microphone, holding it mutes the microphone and all speakers, and the button lights up orange. You adjust how much of your own voice you hear in the headphones with “Sidetone Volume”, and the PULSE 3D also has a hardware MONITOR switch for this.
Which route is right for you
- Do you have good wired headphones? Plug them into the controller jack and don’t buy anything. 3D audio works this way, and Sony itself offers it as a fully fledged option.
- Want wireless without experimenting? Get a headset with a USB adapter; it’s the only option Sony describes and supports.
- Have expensive Bluetooth headphones and want to use them? Expect to need a third-party adapter, and don’t expect any help from Sony.
- Buying headphones mainly for chat? Check in advance whether your chosen route keeps the microphone working. With the PULSE 3D on the jack, it only works with the included 4-pin cable.
- Want the same headset for your computer? Both the PULSE 3D adapter and PlayStation Link work in the USB Type-A port of a PC or Mac, much like you can connect a DualSense to a PC.
FAQ
Not directly; the console responds with error CE-109531-9. Bluetooth on the PS5 is for controllers and accessories, not audio. The working routes are the jack in the DualSense controller, a USB adapter or USB headset, and audio over HDMI to the TV.
That the audio device you’re connecting isn’t compatible with PlayStation 5 consoles. For this code, Sony advises trying a different audio device. It’s the clearest evidence that the console won’t pair regular Bluetooth headphones, since Sony has no standalone statement about the lack of support.
No. The manual’s specifications list only HDMI as the AV output, plus USB ports, the M.2 slot and the disc drive port. So you can’t connect wireless transmitters designed for an optical output to a PS5, and your options remain USB or going through the TV.
Five. You’ll find them in Settings → Sound → 3D Audio (Headphones), next to the option to create a personalized profile. That profile is created through a series of listening tests, saved separately for each user, and doesn’t work with Remote Play or cloud streaming.
With wireless headsets, yes: Sony lists up to two at the same time on one PS5 or PS4 console. The PULSE Elite and PULSE Explore headphones can also be paired with up to eight PlayStation Link adapters, but they always play audio from only one of them.
Information verified as of 20 August 2026. If a future system update ever adds Bluetooth audio, the first sign will be a change to the CE-109531-9 error message, so it’s worth keeping an eye on. More console guides are in the PlayStation hub on Gamers Together.