3.5mm to USB: If you have a 3.5mm plug on your headset but no compatible jack on your PC, this adapter can connect you through a USB port.ģ.USB to 3.5mm: If your headset has a USB connector, but your PC only has a 3.5mm port, this adapter can get you connected.Splitter (TRRS to TRS): If you have a single-plug headset, but your PC requires separate mic and audio plugs, then the splitter will convert one plug into two.Y-adapter (TRS to TRRS): If you have a double-plug headset but only one 3.5mm port on your PC, the Y-adapter will convert the two plugs into one without losing any functionality.Here are the types of adapters you might need and what they do: You can get a USB-C to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter as a solution. Or perhaps your headset comes with the newer USB Type C, and your computer doesn’t have the right port. What to do if you have incompatible jacks and plugsĭon’t worry if you have an incompatible headset for your PC! You can purchase many devices designed for adapting audio ports and plugs.įor example, if your headset has only one 3.5mm jack, you can get a 3.5mm Jack Headphone Splitter that lets you “split” the jack into the separate headphone and mic jacks. If you aren’t sure, you can tell if the USB port is compatible with your headset by looking at the port and comparing it to the headset plug. There are many different USB ports, but they are easy to tell apart by looking at their shape and structure. A USB port is rectangular, often accompanied by the USB symbol.If your PC has more than one 3.5mm jack for separate mic and audio functions, they will either have a small image to indicate their function or be color-coded to differentiate them. Take a look at the audio ports available for your PC to know if it matches your headphones’ plug: Sometimes they can be on the front or back too, but always on the lower section of the device. On desktop PCs, audio ports are most commonly found on the back of the computer.įor laptops, they are usually on the sides of the device, next to the keyboard.

Now that you know what kind of connector your headset uses, you need to figure out what your PC has available. This means you can control things like volume and call management without taking a break from your game to fiddle with settings. Because of this, even if the sound card on your PC isn’t up to par, a USB headset can still produce clear and high-quality sound.Īdditionally, USB headsets usually come with control buttons on the headsets themselves. Unlike the 3.5mm connector, USB-type headsets have their own systems for processing sound. There are many different types of USB connectors, but the most commonly used for headsets are USB A, USB C, and Lightning. They are usually finished in nickel or gold. USB plugĪ USB connector can be identified by the flatter, rectangular head of the connector you plug into your PC. If you want more information on 3.5mm plugs and how to identify what kind of plug your headset uses, check out our article on everything you need to know about headphone jacks and plugs. You can tell the difference between these types of 3.5mm jack headsets by checking how many plugs the headset has. This is called a TRRS plug (tip-ring-ring-sleeve). However, newer headsets combine these two plugs into one. These plugs are known as TRS (tip-ring-sleeve) plugs. Older headsets often have two different audio plugs: one to transmit the game audio and the other for your mic. So, the sound quality highly depends on the quality of the PC’s sound card, which is often not of a high standard. Gaming headsets with a 3.5mm plug cannot process audio on their own and have to use the sound card in your device. These are the connectors most commonly found on less expensive headsets. It will be finished in either gold, nickel, or brass. So, what difference does this make? 3.5mm plugĪ 3.5mm plug can be identified by the cylindrical metal pin that you plug into your PC.

There are two main types of headset plugs. You will need to note which connector your headset uses so you can follow the right steps in the sections below.

Here’s what you need to do to connect a wired headset to your PC successfully:ĭifferent headsets use different connectors to plug into your PC. So, aside from matching the headset plug with your PC’s audio port, you may even need to tweak some settings to ensure everything works as it should. Unlike standard headphones, gaming headsets include mic functionality.

Troubleshooting Tips: What to Do When Your Headset Won’t Work on PC.

How to Test Your Headset and Mic When Connected to PC.

How to Set Up Your Headphones on Your PC Settings.

How to Connect Your Wireless Headset to PC.

How to Connect Your Wired Headset to PC.

Headphone splitter for computer