The 3.5mm headphones jack is hard to find on most modern phones these days, making people who have wired headphones a little wary of updating their daily carry. The good news is with a little help from a Bluetooth transmitter and receiver, you can make any paired of wired headphones work with a Bluetooth compatible device.
Products used in this guide
- Bluetooth Transmitter and Reciever: TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver ($30 at Amazon)
What type of Bluetooth transmitter you need
It really comes down to your headphones. Some transmitters have a 3.5mm jack attached to them, meaning you have to be able to plug the transmitter into your headphones. This is possible with quite a few over-ear headphones that let you swap out the cord.
If you have a pair of headphones that don't allow you to remove the cable, you'll need a transmitter that allows you to plug your headphone into the transmitter.
The TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver allows you to do both, making it work with any set of wired headphones you have!
How to pair your wired headphones using a Bluetooth transmitter
Depending on which transmitter you are using, and what devices you're trying to pair, this process will be slightly different. Make sure to check your user manual for the transmitter you have to ensure you know what to do.
- Plug your headphones into the transmitter.
- Make sure the Bluetooth transmitter is turned on.
- Open the Bluetooth menu on the device you want to pair your headphones with.
- Select the Bluetooth transmitter from the Bluetooth options. The name will vary based on your transmitter.
This is the basic process for making any pair of wired headphones work with any Bluetooth capable device you have. Enjoy your sound!
Our top equipment picks
Turned wired into wireless
TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver
Our favorite for portability, the TaoTronics transmitter has aptX low latency that can pair with two separate devices. It's always on — even while charging — and the built-in battery if good for up to 10 hours of use on a charge.
Since this does both, you can use the TaoTronics Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver to send audio from non-Bluetooth capable devices to a pair of Bluetooth headphones as well (like a Nintendo Switch) making it extra useful!
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