How to Connect Headphones to a Roku TV

I've set headphones up on a pile of Roku TVs — a TCL 5-Series (55S546) in a shared apartment where late-night volume was a problem, a 4-Series (43S435) that has no headphone jack anywhere on the back, and a Roku Ultra whose remote does have a jack. My honest take: for almost everyone, Private Listening in the official Roku app is the answer. It's free, it works with any headphones your phone already uses, and it needs no cable to the TV. The limit worth knowing — most Roku TVs, including most TCL ones, can't pair Bluetooth headphones directly.

Below are five ways to get sound into your headphones, ordered by what works for the most people, for free, with the least fuss — the Roku app, the remote jack, direct Bluetooth, a transmitter, and a wired jack. First, a quick way to tell which one you even need. If the remote itself is the thing letting you down, check whether your TCL Roku remote has a headphone jack before you rule out the wired route.

The 30-second version

In a hurry? This is the whole decision in four lines. The detailed methods below only matter if the quick pick doesn't suit your gear.

1. 1Want the simplest free option tonight? Install the Roku app, tap the headphones icon, and plug headphones into your phone.
2. 2Got a Roku Voice Remote Pro? Plug wired headphones straight into the jack on its side — no app needed.
3. 3Newer Roku TV? Try Settings, then Remotes & devices, for an option to pair Bluetooth audio. Many sets don't have it.
4. 4No jack and no native Bluetooth? Add a Bluetooth transmitter to the TV's optical or 3.5mm output.

Method 1: Private Listening through the Roku app

This is the one to try first. Private Listening streams the TV's audio to your phone over Wi-Fi, and you listen through headphones plugged into the phone. It's free, it works on every Roku TV, and it works with any headphones your phone supports — wired or Bluetooth, AirPods included. Here's the exact path.

1. 1Install the official Roku app. Download the free Roku app (by Roku, Inc.) from the App Store or Google Play. Put your phone on the same Wi-Fi network as your TV — Private Listening only works when both are on one network, so a guest or 5GHz-only split can block it.
2. 2Open Devices and connect to your TV. Open the app and tap Devices along the bottom. Pick your Roku TV from the list. If it doesn't appear, confirm the Wi-Fi match and that the TV is powered on, then pull to refresh.
3. 3Tap Remote, then the headphones icon. Tap Remote to open the on-screen control pad, then tap the headphones icon in the top bar. The TV speakers mute and its audio starts streaming to your phone within a second or two.
4. 4Plug your headphones into the phone. Plug wired headphones into your phone, or pair Bluetooth ones to the phone first. The TV's sound now plays through whatever your phone is using. Set the level with your phone's volume buttons.

Honest note: Private Listening is a feature of the official Roku app specifically — it uses Roku's own audio-streaming, so a general remote app (ours included) can't stream the sound. Our Smart TV Remote app is for driving the TV — power, volume, navigation — not for headphone audio. Roku's own Private Listening guide lives on its support site.

Method 2: Plug into your Roku remote's headphone jack

Some Roku voice remotes have a 3.5mm headphone jack on the left side. Plug wired headphones straight in and the TV speakers mute — the audio comes out of your headphones instead. No app, no Wi-Fi, no lag worth noticing. The catch is that only certain remotes have the jack.

1. 1Look along the left edge of your remote for a small round 3.5mm port. It's on the Roku Voice Remote Pro and the remote bundled with the Roku Ultra.
2. 2Plug in any wired headphones. The TV speakers cut out and sound routes to the remote within a second.
3. 3Adjust volume with the remote's own volume buttons — they now control the headphone level, not the TV speakers.
4. 4Unplug the headphones to send audio back to the TV speakers. Nothing to toggle in a menu.

Catch: most standard TCL Roku remotes — the simple IR clickers and even many basic voice remotes — do not have this jack. If you're not sure which remote you own, our guide on the TCL Roku remote and its buttons shows how to tell them apart.

Method 3: Pair Bluetooth headphones directly

A handful of newer Roku devices can pair Bluetooth headphones straight to the TV, no phone in the middle. When it works, it's the cleanest setup. But be warned: most Roku TVs, including most TCL Roku TVs, can't do this — their Bluetooth is for the remote only. Check before you count on it.

1. 1Put your headphones in pairing mode (usually hold the power button until the light flashes).
2. 2On the TV, open Settings, then Remotes & devices, then look for Bluetooth devices or Pair a Bluetooth device.
3. 3If that option exists, select it, pick your headphones from the list, and confirm. Audio moves to the headphones.
4. 4No Bluetooth-audio option in that menu? Your TV doesn't support it — skip to Method 1 (the Roku app) or Method 4 (a transmitter).

Catch: seeing Bluetooth in the menu doesn't mean audio pairing — many Roku TVs list Bluetooth purely to connect a remote or a game controller. If there's no wording about audio, headphones, or speakers, it won't carry sound. Private Listening (Method 1) is your Bluetooth path on those sets.

Method 4: Add a Bluetooth transmitter to the audio out

If your TV has no native Bluetooth for audio but does have an output port, a small Bluetooth transmitter bridges the gap. It plugs into the TV's optical (Toslink) or 3.5mm output and pairs your Bluetooth headphones to itself. This turns any Roku TV into a Bluetooth-headphone TV for around $20–40.

1. 1Check the back of the TV for an optical (Toslink) port or a 3.5mm/AUX audio output. Most TCL Roku TVs have optical.
2. 2Buy a Bluetooth transmitter that matches that port. Pick one with aptX Low Latency if you want tight lip-sync.
3. 3Plug the transmitter into the TV's output and power it (USB or the included adapter). Put it in pairing mode.
4. 4Pair your Bluetooth headphones to the transmitter. If sound still comes from the TV speakers, set the TV's audio output to the optical/PCM port in Settings.

Catch: a cheap transmitter with plain Bluetooth adds noticeable lip-sync delay. Spend a little more for aptX Low Latency, and confirm your headphones support it too — both ends need it for the low-latency mode to actually kick in.

Method 5: Use a wired jack or an AV receiver

Prefer a plain cable? A few Roku TVs still have a 3.5mm headphone or audio-out jack, and if you run the TV through a soundbar or AV receiver, that box often has its own headphone output. Wired means zero lag — the best choice for gaming or anything where lip-sync matters.

1. 1Scan the TV's back and side panels for a headphone symbol next to a 3.5mm jack. If it's there, plug in and you're done.
2. 2Some TVs mute the speakers on plug-in; others need you to set audio output to headphones in Settings, then Audio.
3. 3No jack on the TV? If a receiver or soundbar sits between your sources and the TV, check that unit for a front headphone jack.
4. 4Only an optical output and no jack anywhere? Use a small optical-to-3.5mm DAC, or go back to Method 4 for a wireless transmitter.

Catch: newer TCL Roku TVs have mostly dropped the headphone jack, so don't assume yours has one — check the panel first. TCL lists each model's exact ports on TCL's support site.

Which method fits your headphones

The right method depends on your headphones, your remote, and what ports your TV has. Match your situation to the row that fits, and start there.

My advice: try the Roku app first — it's free and works with what you already own. Reach for the remote jack if you happen to have a Voice Remote Pro, and only buy a transmitter when nothing built in will do the job. If you're setting up the phone as your main controller anyway, our guide on how to cast to Roku covers the same app from a different angle.

Frequently Asked Questions