Will the Xbox Series X support Bluetooth?

No Bluetooth for Xbox Series X

The Xbox Series X won’t have Bluetooth, similarly to the Xbox One, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X. The reason is simple; the Bluetooth signal isn’t strong enough to meet Microsoft’s specifications for latency. Microsoft uses its proprietary signal, dubbed Xbox Wireless, for connecting controllers and other accessories.

Microsoft’s signal is far stronger than Bluetooth, and since many people typically game while sitting far away from their consoles in the living room or so on, Bluetooth’s susceptibility to interference increases exponentially at longer ranges.

If you were hoping you could use a USB Bluetooth adapter, it likely wouldn’t work either, as the Xbox Series X and other Xbox One consoles don’t have the drivers necessary to power them.

Bluetooth for the controllers, though

That said, Microsoft does include a Bluetooth wireless signal in its controllers, though, including the refreshed ones coming with the Xbox Series X.

The new controllers have a share button baked in and include textured grips and a new directional pad. They’re also a slightly different size and retain all of the features the most recent-gen Xbox controllers have. They have 3.5mm for audio, the proprietary port for certain accessories like the QWERTY keyboards, and a AA battery door for power.

The Bluetooth signal on the controllers is an option for times when Xbox Wireless isn’t present, i.e., on compatible PCs and mobile devices. You can use the Bluetooth on an Xbox controller with your phone for Project xCloud, for example, or on your PC for various games. If your PC doesn’t have Bluetooth, you can grab an Xbox Wireless USB adapter adds Xbox Wireless fairly cheaply.