Table of Contents
- Can You Connect Bluetooth Headphones to a TV?
- How to Put Your Headphones in Pairing Mode
- Connect Bluetooth Headphones on a Samsung TV
- Connect Bluetooth Headphones on an LG TV
- Connect Bluetooth Headphones on a Sony / Android / Google TV
- Connect Bluetooth Headphones on Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV
- What If Your TV Has No Bluetooth?
- How to Fix Audio Delay With Bluetooth Headphones
- Bluetooth Headphones Won't Pair With TV — Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Connect Bluetooth Headphones to a TV?
In most cases, yes. Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL, Hisense and Philips smart TVs from roughly 2018 onward include Bluetooth audio output, so they can send sound straight to wireless headphones. Before you start, confirm your TV actually supports Bluetooth audio out — some older sets only use Bluetooth for the remote control or gamepads, which is a different feature. The quickest check: open Settings, look under Sound or Sound Output, and see if there is a Bluetooth Speaker List, Bluetooth Devices, or similar option. If that menu exists, your TV can pair with headphones directly. If it does not, skip to the transmitter section below — you can still make it work on any TV.
How to Put Your Headphones in Pairing Mode
Every brand does this slightly differently, so check your headphone manual if you are unsure — but the usual method is: turn the headphones off, then press and hold the power button (or the dedicated Bluetooth button) for about 5 to 7 seconds until the LED starts flashing blue, or you hear "pairing mode." On many Sony models you hold the power button for 7 seconds; on Bose you slide the power switch to the Bluetooth symbol and hold it; on AirPods you hold the setup button on the charging case with the lid open. The headphones must stay in this flashing discoverable state while your TV scans — if they connect to your phone first, turn your phone's Bluetooth off temporarily so the TV can grab them.
Connect Bluetooth Headphones on a Samsung TV
On Samsung TVs running Tizen, press the Home button on your remote, open Settings, then go to Sound, then Sound Output. Select Bluetooth Speaker List. Your TV will scan for nearby devices — pick your headphones from the list and choose Pair and Connect. Once connected, the sound output switches from TV Speaker to your headphones automatically. If you want to switch back later, return to the same menu and select TV Speaker. On newer Samsung models you may also see a Multi Connect option that lets two Bluetooth audio devices stay connected at once.
Connect Bluetooth Headphones on an LG TV
On LG TVs with webOS, press the Settings (gear) button on the remote, choose All Settings, then Sound, then Sound Out. Change the output from TV Speaker to Use Wireless Speaker, then Bluetooth Devices. The TV scans and lists available devices — select your headphones and confirm the pairing request. Some LG models label this path as Sound, Sound Out, Bluetooth Device, or mention LG Sound Sync. Once paired, audio routes to the headphones and the TV speakers go silent.
Connect Bluetooth Headphones on a Sony / Android / Google TV
On Sony BRAVIA and other Android TV or Google TV sets, press the Quick Settings button on the remote (or open Settings from the home screen), then go to Remotes & Accessories, then Bluetooth settings, and choose Add device. Put your headphones in pairing mode, wait for their name to appear, select them, and accept the pairing prompt. Your headphones need to support the A2DP Bluetooth profile, which virtually all modern wireless headphones do. Note that on many Sony models the TV speakers mute while Bluetooth headphones are connected.
Connect Bluetooth Headphones on Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV
If your TV's own Bluetooth menu is missing or clumsy, a streaming device often handles it better, since the audio travels through HDMI to the TV picture anyway. On Amazon Fire TV, go to Settings, Controllers & Bluetooth Devices, Other Bluetooth Devices, Add Bluetooth Devices, then pick your headphones. On Apple TV 4K, open Settings, Remotes and Devices, Bluetooth, and add the headset — AirPods and Beats also appear in Control Center, where you can use Share Audio for a second pair. On Roku, most TVs and players do not pair Bluetooth headphones directly; instead use Private Listening in the Roku mobile app — pair your headphones to your phone, connect the app to your Roku on the same Wi-Fi, and tap the headphone icon in the app's remote tab.
What If Your TV Has No Bluetooth?
Any TV can drive Bluetooth headphones with a small Bluetooth transmitter. These adapters plug into the TV's 3.5mm headphone jack, RCA outputs, or optical (Toslink) port, and broadcast the TV's audio to your headphones. Plug the transmitter in, set the TV's audio output to match (for example, change digital audio output to PCM if you use optical), put the transmitter in pairing mode, then put your headphones in pairing mode and let them find each other. If you are unsure which digital audio format to pick, our best soundbar settings guide explains PCM, Bitstream and Auto. Look for a transmitter that supports aptX Low Latency if you want minimal lip-sync delay. As an alternative, dedicated RF wireless TV headphones (which come with their own base station) offer long range and very low delay, though they cost more than a basic transmitter.
How to Fix Audio Delay With Bluetooth Headphones
A slight lag between lips and sound is the most common complaint with Bluetooth TV audio, and it comes down to the codec — the algorithm encoding the sound. The basic SBC codec has the highest latency; AAC is better; aptX Low Latency (under about 40ms) is the gold standard for TV watching. To reduce delay: first, check if your TV has an Audio Sync, AV Sync, or Lip-Sync adjustment in the Sound settings and nudge it until dialogue matches. Second, enable Game Mode on the TV if available, since it cuts video processing delay. Third, move closer to the TV and keep a clear line of sight, because a weak signal forces re-transmissions that add lag. If delay persists, a transmitter with aptX Low Latency paired with compatible headphones is the most reliable fix. If the delay is on the TV speakers or a soundbar rather than headphones, work through our TV lip-sync problem fix instead.
Bluetooth Headphones Won't Pair With TV — Troubleshooting
If the headphones never appear in the TV's device list, work through these checks in order. First, make sure the headphones are truly in pairing mode (flashing LED) and not already connected to your phone — turn the phone's Bluetooth off. Second, delete old pairings: many headphones remember several devices and refuse new ones until cleared; check the manual for the reset combination. Third, restart the TV fully (unplug it for 30 seconds, not just standby) and try the scan again. Fourth, remember most TVs keep only one active Bluetooth audio device at a time — disconnect any soundbar or speaker first. Fifth, move the headphones within a few feet of the TV during pairing. If pairing succeeds but there is no sound, go back to Sound Output and manually select the headphones instead of TV Speaker, and raise both the TV volume and the headphone volume. If the TV itself has no sound on any output, follow our TV has no sound fix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect two Bluetooth headphones to one TV at the same time?
Most TVs support only one Bluetooth audio device at a time. Some newer Samsung models offer Multi Connect for two devices, Apple TV supports Share Audio for two pairs of AirPods or Beats, and many Bluetooth transmitters have a dual-pairing mode. Otherwise, a headphone splitter setup or RF system is needed for two listeners.
Why do my Bluetooth headphones keep disconnecting from the TV?
The usual causes are distance or obstacles between the headphones and the TV, interference from Wi-Fi routers or microwaves, low headphone battery, or the TV's power-saving features. Move closer, keep line of sight clear, charge the headphones fully, and check the TV for any auto-disconnect or energy-saving Bluetooth setting.
Do Bluetooth headphones work with Netflix and other apps on a smart TV?
Yes. Once the headphones are set as the TV's sound output, every app on the TV — Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, live channels — plays through them. The connection is at the TV level, not per app.
Will the TV speakers still work while Bluetooth headphones are connected?
On most TVs, no — connecting Bluetooth headphones mutes the built-in speakers automatically. A few models let you output to both speakers and headphones at once; look for a simultaneous audio output or dual audio option in the Sound settings if you need one person on speakers and another on headphones.
Is there a delay when watching movies with Bluetooth headphones?
There can be — see the audio-delay section above for the codec fixes (aptX Low Latency, the TV's Audio Sync setting, and a strong close-range signal).
Can I use AirPods with a non-Apple smart TV?
Yes. AirPods are standard Bluetooth earbuds, so any TV with Bluetooth audio output can pair with them — put them in pairing mode as described in the pairing-mode section above, then select them from the TV's Bluetooth device list.
Start with the direct connection if your TV has Bluetooth audio out — it needs no extra hardware. If it does not, a small transmitter on the headphone jack or optical port makes any TV work. The two problems people hit most — lip-sync lag and failed pairing — are covered in the delay and troubleshooting sections above. And if you are setting up sound for the whole room instead of one listener, see our guide to connect a soundbar to TV.
About the Author — IW Official
A hands-on TV repair technician with years of experience fixing LED, LCD and Smart TVs. Runs a YouTube channel sharing practical, step-by-step TV repair videos, and writes in-depth troubleshooting guides so you can fix it yourself.
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