How to Use Xbox 360 Headset on Xbox One without Adapter

The Xbox 360 was the second generation console in the Microsoft Xbox series, selling an impressive 84 million units from its release in 2005 until 2014. As many of the games could be played against online opponents, the Xbox 360 headset became a best-selling accessory.

Fast forward to Microsoft releasing the next-generation Xbox One. A whole host of Xbox 360 owners rushed out and bought the new model. I’m sure more than a few were a little annoyed to find out their Xbox 360 headset doesn’t work with Xbox One. Annoyingly the headset jack had gone from 2.5mm on the 360 to 3.5mm on the Xbox One.

But, have no fear…

We can resurrect your old Xbox 360 headset with one simple trick or a slightly more surgical procedure that will involve a higher degree of technical ability.

I’ll run through them all, answering the question of how to use Xbox 360 headset on Xbox One without adapter. It’s the reason you’re here, after all.

Contents

Aluminum Foil Wrap

Well, simple physics dictates a 2.5mm pin will need a little assistance fitting into a 3.5mm jack. So for a quick fix, what we need to do is expand the diameter of the pin with a suitable conductive material such as Aluminum foil.

I know this sounds crazy, but it does work if done correctly…

First, cut a strip of foil the width of the pin length and then fold it four times. Make sure to keep the foil as crumple-free as possible, as this will help with the current flow. Next, wrap the foil once around the pin as tightly and smoothly as possible, cutting off any excess. Hopefully, you will now be able to slide the pin into the jack and have it fit snugly.

If it doesn’t, then you haven’t used quite enough foil. Remove the foil from the jack with tweezers and repeat the process using slightly more foil this time. You really want the foil to stay stuck in when you remove the pin and simultaneously have enough grip to hold the pin when you put it back in.

Keep on experimenting with it until you get it right. Once you do, you’ll have no issues using old Xbox 360 headphones with Xbox One. Quality may be slightly compromised, but you’ll be surprised how well this works.

Surgical Intervention

Rather than stuffing our jack full of foil, we can do things the correct way. This is done by splicing the wires from the Xbox 360 headset to the wires of the Xbox One’s 3.5mm pin. For this, you’ll need a wire cutter and a wire stripper, and both your Xbox headsets.

Firstly, cut your Xbox 360 cable just above the jack. Then strip the wires back until you expose the copper wires and their colored plastic covers that identify which wire is which.

Next, cut the Xbox One cable a few inches above the pin and strip back the wires in the same way. Now you are ready to splice the cables together. Annoyingly the color schemes of the two cables are different. So you’ll have to know which wires need to be matched together.

Take your time; you’re not defusing a bomb…

Older Xbox 360 headsets have white, red, and gold wires, while Xbox One has white, blue, and gold counterparts. In this case, we splice white with white, red with blue, and finally, the two gold wires together.

To further add to the confusion, if you have a newer Xbox 360 headset, you’ll find the wires are red, green, and black/gold. In this case, you match red with white, green with blue, and black/gold with gold.

Once your splicing is complete, and you’ve checked that the headphones are working correctly, use electrical tape to cover the exposed wiring.

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