Not being able to use your wireless headphones with your Nintendo Switch has been incredibly frustrating. (Nothing makes a device feel dated quite like being forced to plug in corded earbuds.)
But with the release of the Nintendo Switch System Update 13.0.0, your Nintendo Switch finally supports a wide range of Bluetooth audio devices, including over-the-ear headphones, earbuds, and wireless speakers.
Finally.
Here’s how to connect your Bluetooth headphones to your Nintendo Switch.
Update Your Switch
Before you can use your Bluetooth headphones or earbuds with your Switch, you’ll need to update your firmware. From the home screen, go to System Settings and scroll all the way down to System. In System, you’ll see a System Update option.
Right below it, you’ll see your current version. If your current version is below 13.0.0, select System Update.
Depending on the speed of your internet, it could take a few minutes to update.
Go To Bluetooth Audio
Once you’ve updated the system and your Switch has rebooted, go back to System Settings and almost all the way down to the bottom. You should see Bluetooth Audio right above System.
In this area, you should see the option to Pair Device. From there, it’s just a matter of making your headphones discoverable and pairing them to your Switch, just as you would pair them with your laptop or your cell phone.
Limitations of Bluetooth Audio On Switch
Unfortunately, there are a few drawbacks to using Bluetooth headphones or earbuds on your Switch. The most obvious one for people who play a lot of online multiplayer is that the Switch’s Bluetooth only works for headphones — not microphones. Bluetooth microphones aren’t supported with this update (for some reason), so you won’t be able to use a Bluetooth headset to talk with friends online over the Switch.
Nintendo warns that you might experience audio latency depending on your Bluetooth device.
It’s not possible to use Bluetooth when local wireless communication is active on the Switch.
And you can only connect up to two wireless controllers while using Bluetooth audio.
