Because many gamers prefer PCs, you may have trouble finding out how to connect a gaming headset to a Mac. Luckily, this process is relatively easy, from plugging the best gaming headset into your computer to using the device. With your headset connected, you can expect the extra drivers to boost your audio quality and reduce background noise interference.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Gaming headsets connect to Macs in various ways, including a USB dongle, an audio cable, and BlueTooth.
- You need to have your gaming headset, your MacBook or iMac, the connection device, and a mouse or trackpad.
- Once you have connected to your computer, you might want to adjust your input and output settings to suit your preferences.
You will need about ten minutes, your headset, a connection method, and your Mac product. If you want to connect to another device, check out how to connect a gaming headset to an audio interface.
How to Set Up Gaming Headset with a Mac
When you set up your gaming headset, you first look at what type of headset you have. Some headsets feature a USB dongle transmitter to connect to your preferred device, and you can’t use them with mobile devices. Others provide a 3.5 mm audio cable that plugs directly into your audio port. Lastly, some wireless gaming headsets connect using BlueTooth, so there is no connection device.
Insider Tip
If you have a USB dongle, you can plug it directly into the matching port.
When you buy your new wired headset or wireless headset, make sure it is compatible with a Mac because some headsets cannot connect to specific devices. Read on to find out the easiest connection method for each device style. For connecting to other audio products, read about how to configure a 7.1 headset for gaming.
Method 1: USB to Mac Connection
- Time to Complete: 5 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Tools Needed:
- Mouse or trackpad
- Mac (iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air)
- Gaming headset
- USB dongle
- Steps: 2
- Plug the USB dongle into your Mac’s USB port. If you have a wired gaming headset, skip to step 2. Otherwise, go to “Step 3” for BlueTooth headsets. Most MacBooks and iMacs allow the use of a standard USB-A dongle. If you have a new generation MacBook Air, you may need a USB-A to USB-C adapter for your USB port. However, some new gaming headsets feature a USB-C connector instead, which enhances the wireless connection experience for current generation MacBook and MacBook Air users.
- Skip to step 1 under “Adjusting Your Audio Settings.”
Method 2: Wired Headset to Mac
- Time to Complete: 5 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Tools Needed:
- Mouse or trackpad
- Mac (iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air)
- Wired gaming headset
- Steps: 2
- Plug your audio cable into the small headphone port on the side of your Apple product. It should plug right in without any struggle, and you should get a response from your computer right away.
- Skip to step 1 under “Adjusting Your Audio Settings.”
Method 3: Bluetooth Wireless Headset to Mac
- Time to Complete: 5 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Tools Needed:
- Mouse or trackpad
- Mac (iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air)
- Bluetooth gaming headset
- Steps: 3
- Enter Bluetooth pairing mode on your headset and your Mac. Then, enter “System Preferences” from the Apple menu (which is simply the Apple logo) to search for new devices in the “BlueTooth” category to control your wireless connection.
- Turn your wireless gaming headset switch to the “On” position. You probably want your pair of headphones to be active while you try to set them up with your computer, so make sure they have a full battery. Otherwise, the computer may not recognize them, or the battery may die during pairing.
- Skip to step 1 under “Adjusting Your Audio Settings.”
Adjusting Your Audio Settings
- Time to Complete: 5 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Tools Needed:
- Mouse or trackpad
- Mac (iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air)
- Connected gaming headset
- Steps: 5
- Select the Apple logo. You can find this button in the upper right corner of the screen on any Mac. This option allows you to access information about your Mac device and the version of software you have. Additionally, you control your system settings here.
- Select “System Preferences” followed by “Sound.” You can also search “Sound” inside the “System Preferences” if you can’t immediately see the speaker icon that represents the category.
- Go to the “Input” tab. You should see your microphone and voice settings here. You can select the input device and input level to suit your voice. Consider turning your microphone volume up if your headphones don’t pick up your voice or you speak quietly due to comfort or hearing issues.
- Go to the “Output” tab. Select your output device from the list of output products unless it is already selected. You can adjust your audio mix here as well for the highest comfort experience during your gaming sessions.
- Enjoy your new headset for your gaming sessions! Unfortunately, if you can’t get your headset to connect to your Mac, you may not have a compatible headset. You can find your volume control in the control center in the upper left corner of your screen for your ease and comfort as long as you have the current iOS version. Additionally, this update allows you to adjust your volume and lighting during your gaming sessions.
Warning
Some headphones cannot connect with a Mac, so check for compatibility before purchasing.
F.A.Q.S
How do I make the USB-C dongle work on Switch and Android?
You just plug it into the USB-C port (usually the power or charging port) and play your game. The sound should come through the headset automatically if you have that functionality.
How do I get a headset with two jacks to work on a computer?
If your computer doesn’t have two headphone jacks, you will need an audio splitter. In addition, you likely need one with a spot for the microphone and a spot for the headset itself. These versions are also referred to as input and output, respectively.
How do I connect my wired headphones to my Mac?
You can plug your wired headphones into your Mac’s audio jack as long as they have a standard 3.5 mm size.
STAT: Once the adapter is in place, and the headset is connected to the computer, it is just a matter of selecting the headset in the computer audio settings. (source)
