A USB desk mic plugged into an Xbox does nothing for party chat. What works is a headset made for Xbox, a wired headset in the controller's 3.5 mm jack, or any mic on a Windows PC when you join the party in the Xbox app.
Each pick’s maker lists it for this setup. Its catch is right under it.
Xbox, no dongle
Microsoft's own headset pairs straight to an Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One, with a mute button and a game/chat dial on the earcups.
Not for PlayStation or Switch. On a Windows PC it needs Bluetooth or a USB-C cable, sold separately.
Or: Audeze Maxwell 2, Xbox edition, with its own dongle and sidetone.
Wired, in the controller
HyperX lists Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One; on Xbox its 3.5 mm plug goes in the controller, and the mic comes off.
HyperX doesn't say which plug to use on each console: on Xbox, use the controller's jack, not a USB port.
Or: HyperX Cloud II, the older model; its mute switch is on the USB box, for a PC.
Maker price $99.99 at HyperX ↗ · checked November 2
Xbox party chat on a PC
Join the party in the Xbox app on Windows and any mic Windows can use works there; the MV6 is a USB dynamic mic with a headphone jack.
It won't work plugged into the Xbox itself.
Or: HyperX SoloCast, smaller, with tap-to-mute.
Maker price $169.00 at Shure ↗ · checked October 31
A cheap wired headset that plugs into an Xbox or PS5 controller, a Switch or a PC
Xbox Series / One: Works
Logitech sells it in Xbox (XB) and PlayStation (PS) colors at one price, and lists the same specifications for every color.
Maker price $44.99 at Logitech G ↗ · checked November 3
One base station for an Xbox, a PS5 and a PC at once, with the game and chat balance on the headset
Xbox Series / One: Works
Each console needs an HDMI cable and a USB cable into the base station, and the HDMI cables aren't in the box.
Maker price $399.99 at Logitech G ↗ · checked November 2
A wired closed-back headset with a cardioid mic, for PC and consoles through one adapter
Xbox Series / One: Works
On a console you use the adapter in the box; beyerdynamic sells a 1.2 m console cable separately.
Maker price $379.99 at beyerdynamic ↗ · checked November 2
A wired headset with a detachable mic and mute on the cable, for every console's controller jack
Xbox Series / One: Works
HyperX says an Xbox One controller without a 3.5 mm jack needs the Xbox One Stereo Headset Adapter, sold separately.
Maker price $99.99 at HyperX ↗ · checked November 2
A wired headset that works almost everywhere: 3.5 mm on consoles, the USB box on a PC
Xbox Series / One: Works
On Xbox and Switch it plugs into the controller or console's 3.5 mm jack; the USB box and its mute are for PC.
Maker price $79.99 at HyperX ↗ · checked November 2
A wired headset for nearly every platform, with a detachable mic and mute on the earcup
Xbox Series / One: Works
HyperX lists PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mac and mobile; it doesn't list Switch 2.
Maker price $99.99 at HyperX ↗ · checked November 2
Xbox Series / One: Works
This is the wired PRO X: the PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED and the PRO X Wireless are different headsets.
Maker price $99.99 at Logitech G ↗ · checked November 2
One 3.5 mm plug for every platform: the cheap, light pick for chat on anything
Xbox Series / One: Works
It is analogue only: on a desktop PC with separate mic and headphone jacks you need a splitter.
Maker price $59.99 at Razer ↗ · checked November 2
A light wired headset with a retractable mic for any controller, a PC or a Mac
Xbox Series / One: Works
This is the multi-platform Nova 1. The Nova 1P and 1X console versions leave out the splitter cable, which a PC with separate mic and headphone jacks needs.
A cheap wired headset with a flip-to-mute mic for a PlayStation or Xbox controller
Xbox Series / One: Works
This is the Multiplatform model, with a 1.2 m cable. The PC version has a 2 m cable and a splitter for a PC with separate mic and headphone jacks.
Maker price $29.99 at Turtle Beach ↗ · checked November 2
Wireless for Xbox and PlayStation from one box, with a flip-to-mute mic and an 80-hour battery
Xbox Series / One: Works
This is the Designed for Xbox edition. Turtle Beach's PlayStation edition lists PlayStation, PC and phones but not Xbox.
Maker price $109.99 at Turtle Beach ↗ · checked November 2
Wireless for an Xbox and a PS5 or PC from one box, swapped with one button
Xbox Series / One: Works
This is the Xbox edition, with two transmitters: one for Xbox and one for a PC or PlayStation. Turtle Beach also sells PlayStation and PC editions, and each replacement transmitter pairs only with its own edition.
Maker price $199.99 at Turtle Beach ↗ · checked November 2
For an Xbox player who also plays on a PS5, PC or Mac: one transmitter with an Xbox/PC mode switch, a removable boom plus a built-in mic, and swappable batteries
Xbox Series / One: Works
This is the Xbox edition. The PlayStation edition (TBS-3365-01) has PS and PC modes only and no Xbox mode.
Maker price $329.99 at Turtle Beach ↗ · checked November 4
A wireless headset for PC and Mac with a PlayStation and an Xbox edition: buy the one for your console
Xbox Series / One: Works
The Xbox and PlayStation editions aren't interchangeable: buy the one for your console to use it wirelessly there.
Maker price $329.00 at Audeze ↗ · checked November 2
A wireless headset that Razer lists for PC, Mac and PS5 in every edition; for Xbox, buy the Xbox edition
Xbox Series / One: Works
Razer lists no USB wired audio for the PlayStation edition, and Razer Synapse and THX features need Windows.
Maker price from $209.99 at Razer ↗ · checked November 2
Microsoft's own Xbox headset: it pairs straight to the console, with no dongle, and the earcup dials set volume and the game/chat balance
Xbox Series / One: Works
Microsoft lists Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows 10/11; not PlayStation or Switch.
Try a different platform or headset edition, remove a control filter, or shorten the model name.
USB alone does not confirm console chat support.
16 models in this guide.
Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One take a mic in three ways. A wireless headset made for Xbox pairs with the console or uses its own Xbox dongle: Microsoft's Xbox Wireless Headset pairs directly, the Audeze Maxwell 2 and Razer BlackShark V3 Pro are sold in Xbox editions, and so are Turtle Beach's Stealth 600 Gen 3, Stealth 700 Gen 3 and Stealth Pro. Logitech's ASTRO A50 X takes the Xbox's HDMI and USB into its base station. A wired headset with a mic plugs into the controller's 3.5 mm jack: HyperX lists Xbox for the Cloud III, Cloud II and Cloud Alpha, Razer for the BlackShark V2 X, Turtle Beach for the Recon 70, SteelSeries for the Arctis Nova 1, and Logitech for the ASTRO A10 Gen 2. And on a Windows PC, the Xbox app takes any mic Windows can use.
A USB mic is a different story. Even if it lights up in the console's USB port, the Xbox won't use it for chat. FIFINE, for one, says its AmpliGame AM8 doesn't work on Xbox.
Already own good headphones? Antlion lists Xbox for its ModMic Uni 2+ add-on mic through a Y adapter, sold separately, that joins the mic's plug and your headphones' plug for the controller's jack. Antlion says its USB 2 and Wireless ModMics don't work on Xbox.
Buy the Xbox edition of a wireless headset. The PlayStation edition's dongle doesn't carry Xbox chat, even when the two look the same.
Plug the headset into the controller, or pair or connect the wireless one the way its maker says. Then press the Xbox button and open Profile & system, Settings, General, Volume & audio output to check chat output and mic monitoring.
Start a party, watch your profile's speaking indicator while you talk, and ask a friend how you sound. Mic monitoring and the game/chat dial change what you hear, not what your friends hear.
Want one headset and no dongle on Xbox: the Xbox Wireless Headset. Want a wired headset that also works on a PC and a PS5: the Cloud III, plugged into the controller on Xbox. Want a premium wireless headset: the Xbox edition of the Maxwell 2. Want one wireless headset for an Xbox and a PS5: the Stealth 600 Gen 3 in its Designed for Xbox edition, which Turtle Beach lists for both (its PlayStation edition doesn't list Xbox), or the Stealth 700 Gen 3 for Xbox, which comes with a second transmitter for the PS5 or a PC. Want the Xbox, a PS5 and a PC on one headset at once: the ASTRO A50 X, whose base station takes all three.
Already own a good USB mic, or play on a PC as well? Join the Xbox party from the Xbox app on Windows and use the mic there.
The Xbox Wireless Controller has no mic of its own, but a controller with a headset jack takes a wired headset with a four-pole 3.5 mm plug. That's the cheapest way into party chat.
PS5 accepts many USB mics, but only some makers say so; we mark a model as supported only when its maker does. Xbox does not take USB mics for party chat: use a headset made for Xbox, or a headset in the controller's jack.
Wireless headsets for consoles come in PlayStation and Xbox editions with different dongles. The Xbox edition is needed for wireless Xbox chat; the PlayStation edition usually also works on PC.
A headset is one purchase that works the same at every desk and on console. A separate mic gives you a wider choice of mics and lets you keep headphones you like, but needs desk space and, on console, a model the maker supports.
Check the exact platform, connection and required controls. Then measure the stand or arm position before adding mounting parts.