Connecting your TCL TV to speakers is one thing…
But pairing them with your headphones?
Let’s just say that it can sometimes be confusing.
That’s why you sought out this article.
And now I’m here to help.
Keep reading to discover:
- 5 easy ways to check if your TCL TV has Bluetooth for headsets.
- 5 attested ways you can fix your TCL TV that won’t connect to headphones.
- The only 3 steps that you need to connect your headphones to any TCL TV.
- 5 great audio jack extenders you can use with your wired headset for a TCL device.
- And so much more…
How to connect headphones to TCL TV – 3 steps
Step #1: Find out which smart platform your TCL TV uses
First of all, not every TCL TV has the same directions on connecting headphones.
You see, it depends on which smart platform your TV has.
I’m talking about the interface in which all its features are accessible. And that include your TV’s Bluetooth.
For TCL TVs, there are 2 smart platforms available in the market:
- Roku OS.
- Google OS.
Now, you might be wondering:
“How would I know which smart platform I have?”
For that, you have 3 options:
- Read your TV manual.
- Check the specs of your TV using Google and its model number.
- Restart your TV and wait for which logo (Google or Roku) pops up.
Step #2: Ensure that your TV has Bluetooth
The next step is to check if your TV has Bluetooth.
After all, not all headphones are wired. And a wired headset on your TV might be too restricting because of its limited length.
Fortunately, there are many ways to check if your TCL TV is Bluetooth capable. Some of these are:
- Read your TCL’s manual.
- Check if your remote has the Bluetooth logo.
- Look at your TV’s spec sheet on 3rd-party websites.
- Search for a Bluetooth logo on the box that came with your TV.
- Navigate through the About section of your TV’s Settings menu.
Note: Don’t have Bluetooth? That’s OK. There’s still a way to output your audio to your headphones.
You’ll need a Bluetooth transmitter, which goes into your TV’s audio jack. This can transform sound waves into Bluetooth signals, which your headphone can receive.
You may also be interested in: TCL TV No Sound
Step #3: Connect your headphones to the TCL TV
Now, for the most important part:
Connecting your headphones to the TCL TV.
But, as I said earlier…
The connection process depends on which smart platform your TCL TV uses between the 2. So, let me teach you how to do both:
For TCL Google TVs
- Set your headphones into Pairing Mode.
- Head to the Settings menu of your TCL Google TV.
- Select Remote & Accessories.
- Press Pair Remote or Accessory.
- After the initial scan, choose your headphones from the list of devices.
- Tap Pair to finish the process.
For TCL Roku TVs
- Set your headphones into Pairing Mode.
- Install and launch the Roku app on your smartphone. (Available on Android and iOS.)
- Connect any pair of headphones to your smartphone.
- As you launch the Roku app, choose your TCL TV from the list of devices.
- Tap the Private Listening (headset) icon on your Roku app.
If you want a visual demonstration to go along with these instructions…
I highly recommend this great video:
Reading tip: Are Wired Headphones Louder Than Wireless? 5 Facts Revealed
Can you connect wired headphones to TCL TV?
You can connect wired headphones to your TCL TV. However, it’s not advisable due to its limited length.
After all, most wired headphones only have cables at around 1 to 3 meters (3.2 feet to 10 feet).
Meanwhile, eye specialists recommend a distance between you and your TV of 2.4 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet).
However, there’s a workaround for this issue:
And that’s to buy an audio jack extender for your TV. If you’re in the market for 1, I recommend the following:
- Ruaeoda 3.5 mm Audio Extension Cable: 50 ft.
- UGREEN Headphone Extension Cable: 3, 6, 10, or 15 ft.
- eDragon 3.5 mm Aux Headphone Extension Cable: 25 or 50 ft.
- C&E Stereo Headphone Extension Cable: 3, 6, 10, 15, 25, or 50 ft.
- CableCreation 3.5 mm Audio Extension Cable: 3, 6, 10, 15, 25, or 50 ft.
Why are my headphones not connecting to TCL TV?
Your headphones aren’t connecting to TCL TVs because of glitches and errors. To resolve this, you can try the following solutions:
#1: Power cycle your TCL TV
The Bluetooth glitch on your TV could be due to excess charges. That’s why you need to restart your TV so that no charges will be left.
How’s that possible?
You need to power cycle it. This is a restart that removes all charges on your TV using these steps:
- Turn off your TCL TV.
- Unplug it from the socket.
- Standby for at least 30 seconds.
- Plug it back in.
- Turn your TCL TV on.
It might not seem much, but those 30 seconds are the most important part of this process.
You see, this allows your TV to turn off instead of being in Sleep Mode.
Thus, eliminating all excess charges from your TCL TV.
#2: Remove other Bluetooth devices from your TCL TV
You might also be experiencing connection issues due to other paired devices on your TCL TV.
The good news is you can easily resolve this…
And that’s by removing these devices from your TV. To do so, you can follow these instructions:
For TCL Google TVs
- Head to the Settings menu of your TCL Google TV.
- Select Remote & Accessories.
- Go to the Device List.
- Navigate and pick the Bluetooth device you want to disconnect.
- Tap Unpair.
- Choose OK to finalize the disconnection.
For TCL Roku TVs
- Press the Home button of your TCL Roku TV remote.
- Head to the Settings menu.
- Go to Remotes & Devices.
- Select Bluetooth Devices.
- Navigate and pick the Bluetooth device you want to disconnect.
- Tap Disconnect or Forget This Device.
#3: Use a streaming device
Alternatively, you can bypass this problem by buying a streaming device for your TCL. And then, you can connect your headphones to that streaming device.
Now, the only question is:
Which 1 should you get?
For the best streaming device in the market, I recommend the following:
- Apple TV.
- Nvidia Shield TV.
- Amazon Fire Stick 4K.
- Roku Streaming Stick 4K+.
- Chromecast with Google TV.
#4: Update your TCL TV
You can next try to update the firmware of your TCL TV. After all, most issues on your TV are often related to outdated firmware.
Not only will this resolve most of your issues, but it can also make your TCL TV:
- Perform faster.
- More easily paired to other devices.
- Have access to a wider range of apps and features.
So, to update your TCL TV, you must carefully follow these steps:
For TCL Google TVs
- Head to the Settings menu of your TCL Google TV.
- Go to the System subsection.
- Select About.
- Choose System Update.
For TCL Roku TVs
Using your Settings menu
- Tap the Home button on your TCL TV remote.
- Head to the Settings menu.
- Go to the System subsection
- Select System Update.
- Choose Check Now.
- Once it finds the latest update, press Enter.
With a flash drive
Alternatively, if your TCL TV doesn’t have Wi-Fi, you can also update your TV using a flash drive. This is how that’s possible:
- Get a 2 Gb or more flash drive.
- Go to Roku’s website and enter your TV model.
- Press the Download Software button.
- Copy the file into the root folder of your flash drive.
- Insert the flash drive into your TV’s USB port.
- Go to the Settings menu of your TCL TV.
- Head to the System subsection.
- Select System Update, and then I Can’t Connect.
- Copy the 12-digit code on your TV into the prompt on your PC.
- Copy the 6-digit code on your PC into the prompt on your Sharp TV.
#5: Factory reset your TCL TV
If you still can’t resolve your connection issues…
The best course of action is to factory reset your TCL TV.
Fortunately, the reset process is easy. Here’s everything that you need to do:
For TCL Google TVs
- Head to the Settings menu of your TCL Google TV.
- Go to the System subsection.
- Select About.
- Choose Factory Reset.
- Select Factory Reset again.
- Pick Erase Everything.
For TCL Roku TVs
- Press the Home button on your TCL Roku TV remote.
- Go to the Settings menu.
- Head to the System subsection.
- Select Advanced System Settings.
- Tap Factory Reset.
- Choose Factory Reset Everything.