How to connect your PULSE Explore wireless earbuds to other devices

Find out how to connect your PULSE Explore™ wireless earbuds to a compatible PC, Mac®, or mobile device.

How to connect your PULSE Explore wireless earbuds to a PC or Mac

Connect your PULSE Explore wireless earbuds to compatible PCs (Windows) or Macs (macOS) that have USB audio output using the included PlayStation Link™ USB adapter. The included USB adapter is paired to your earbuds out of the box.

  1. Make sure that your PC or Mac is on.
  2. Make sure both of your earbuds are docked in the charging case.
  3. Insert the USB adapter into a USB Type-A port on your PC/Mac.
  4. Remove both earbuds from the case to connect them to your PC/Mac.
    When connected, the status indicator on the adapter turns solid white.
  • The earbuds search for a connection for 30 seconds. If they don’t find an available connection, the earbuds turn off. Press the PlayStation Link™ button on either of your earbuds to search for a connection again.
  • You can control the volume of the PS Link audio from your earbuds.
  • You may need to select “PlayStation Link Adapter” as the active audio device on your PC or Mac.
  • For information about device compatibility and use, refer to the instructions included with your device. Not all devices work with your earbuds.

How to pair and connect your PULSE Explore wireless earbuds to a new PlayStation Link USB adapter 

You can use a second PlayStation Link USB adapter (sold separately) to set up another PS Link connection to a USB audio device without having to unplug your first USB adapter. For example, you can insert one adapter to your PlayStation®5 console and a second adapter to your PC or Mac.

A new, standalone USB adapter isn’t paired to your earbuds out of the box, so you first need to pair them.

  1. Make sure your PC/Mac or PS5® console is on.
  2. Insert the USB adapter into a USB Type-A port on your PC/Mac or PS5 console.
  3. Make sure both of your earbuds are in the charging case.
  4. Press and hold the PS Link button on the case and release it when the status indicator on the case quickly blinks blue (approximately 8 seconds).
    Your earbuds are in pairing mode when the indicator quickly blinks blue. 
  1. Press the PS Link button on the USB adapter.
    The status indicator on the adapter blinks white while searching for a PS Link device.

When paired and connected, the indicator on the case turns solid blue and the indicator on the adapter turns solid white.

  • After pairing to the USB adapter, your earbuds also search for any paired Bluetooth devices that are ready to connect. The indicator on the case slowly blinks from light to dark for a few seconds while searching. You can connect your mobile device to your earbuds at this time to listen to audio from both devices simultaneously. The latency of PS Link audio won’t be impacted by simultaneous connection with Bluetooth audio. 
Pair Bluetooth
  • Your earbuds remain in pairing mode for up to 30 seconds. If they don’t find an available connection, the earbuds turn off. Press and hold the PS Link button on your case for approximately 8 seconds to begin pairing mode again.
  • The USB adapter searches for a PS Link connection for up to 30 seconds. If it doesn’t find an available connection, the adapter turns off. Press the PS Link button on the adapter to search for a connection again.
  • Your earbuds can pair with up to eight PS Link USB adapters but can be connected to and play audio from only one adapter at a time. One USB adapter can pair with up to eight PS Link devices.
  • You can control the volume of the PS Link audio from your earbuds.
  • You may need to select “PlayStation Link Adapter” as the active audio device on your PC or Mac.
  • For information about device compatibility and use, refer to the instructions included with your device. Not all devices work with your earbuds.
Troubleshoot PS Link USB adapter

How to switch between PlayStation Link USB adapter connections

When you are using your PULSE Explore wireless earbuds with your PS5 console and you want to switch to audio from your PC/Mac (or vice versa), follow these steps to switch the PlayStation Link connections. Your earbuds must have been paired to the adapters inserted in your PS5 console and your PC/Mac. 

  1. Make sure your PC/Mac is on and a PS Link USB adapter is inserted into its USB Type-A port. 
  2. Remove one or both earbuds from the charging case.
    Your earbuds automatically connect to the last connected device.
  3. Press and hold the PS Link button on one of your earbuds for approximately 2 seconds.
  4. Press the PS Link button on the USB adapter inserted into your PC/Mac.
    The status indicator on the adapter blinks white while searching for a PS Link device. When connected, the indicator turns solid white.

As an example, see the visual below. The USB adapter inserted into your console is “adapter A”. The USB adapter inserted to your PC is “adapter B”. 

  1. Make sure your PS5 console is on and a PS Link USB adapter is inserted into one of its USB-A ports.
  2. Remove one or both earbuds from the charging case.
    Your earbuds automatically connect to the last connected device.
  3. Press and hold the PS Link button on one of your earbuds for approximately 2 seconds.
  1. Follow the on-screen instructions when a PS Link Device Nearby notification appears on the screen connected to your console. 
  • If your PS5 console or PC/Mac is turned off when you try to switch connections, your earbuds won’t connect to it. Your earbuds connect back to your last connected device.
  • You can connect and listen to only one PS Link connection at a time when your earbuds are paired to two or more PS Link USB adapters. 
  • You can control the volume from your earbuds, console, or PC/Mac. 
  • The PS Link Device Nearby notification appears only if your paired USB adapter is inserted to your PS5 console. If the notification doesn’t appear on-screen, press the PS Link button on the adapter. 
Change notification settings
  • You can also switch audio connections between your PS5 console and PlayStation Portal™ remote player. 
Switch audio connections

How to use the PlayStation Link buttons on your PULSE Explore wireless earbuds and charging case

Use the PS Link button on your PULSE Explore wireless earbuds and charging case for different functions that can be activated by short and long presses.

PS Link button functions on PULSE Explore wireless earbuds

Remove one or both of your earbuds from the case to activate the following functions. If you’re using both earbuds, you need to press only one PS Link button on either of your earbuds.

  • Turn on your earbud(s) to search and connect to your last connected device (PS Link or Bluetooth device).
  • Cancel a search for an existing connection or new pairing. Your earbuds connect back to the last connected device.

  • Displays Sound controls from the control centre. 

  • Deactivate current connection and initiate connection to a previously paired PS Link or Bluetooth device.

  • Reset your earbuds (this doesn’t delete any pairings or settings).

PS Link button functions on the charging case

Depending on the press, one or both earbuds must be docked in the case to activate most of the following functions.

At least one earbud must be docked in the case.

  • Turn on your earbud(s) to search and connect to your last connected device (PS Link or Bluetooth device).
  • Cancel a search for an existing connection or new pairing. Your earbuds connect back to the last connected device.

At least one earbud must be docked in the case.

  • Deactivate current connection and initiate connection to a previously paired PS Link or Bluetooth device.

Both earbuds must be docked in the case.

  • Pair to a new PS Link or Bluetooth device. 

Both earbuds must be docked in the case.

  • Wipe all paired connections from your earbuds. Be careful, as this deletes all PS Link and Bluetooth pairings and audio settings.

Both earbuds must be docked in the case.

  • Reset your case (this doesn’t delete any pairings or settings).

The PlayStation Link USB adapter (CFI-ZWA2) also has a PS Link button with different functions.

  • Search for a PS Link connection.
  • Reset your adapter (this clears all PS Link pairings).

How to pair and connect your PULSE Explore wireless earbuds to mobile devices with Bluetooth

Connect your PULSE Explore wireless earbuds to compatible mobile devices that support a Bluetooth connection.

You first need to pair your earbuds to your mobile device to set up a Bluetooth connection.

  1. Make sure Bluetooth is toggled “on” from the Bluetooth settings of your mobile device.
  2. Make sure both of your earbuds are in the charging case.
  3. Press and hold the PS Link button on the case and release it when the status indicator on the case quickly blinks blue (approximately 8 seconds).
    Your earbuds are in pairing mode when the indicator quickly blinks blue.
  1. Go to the Bluetooth settings on your mobile device, and then select “PULSE Explore” from the list of Bluetooth devices.
    When paired and connected, the indicator on the case turns solid blue.
  • After pairing to the mobile device, your earbuds also search for any paired PS Link devices that are ready to connect. The indicator slowly blinks on and off for a few seconds while searching. You can connect your PS5 console or PC to your earbuds at this time to listen to audio from both devices simultaneously. The latency of PS Link audio won’t be impacted by simultaneous connection with Bluetooth audio.
Connect to PS5 consoles
Connect to PC or Mac
  • Your earbuds remain in pairing mode for up to 30 seconds. If they don’t find an available connection, the earbuds turn off. Press and hold the PS Link button on your case for approximately 8 seconds to begin pairing mode again.
  • Your earbuds can pair with up to 10 Bluetooth devices, but can be connected to and play audio from only one Bluetooth device at a time. 
  • The volume button controls only the PS Link audio from your console or PC/Mac. When your earbuds are connected to a Bluetooth device, you need to control the volume from your mobile device. When you listen to two audio sources at the same time from both PS Link and Bluetooth devices, the volume button controls only the PS Link audio. 
  • For information about device compatibility and use, refer to the instructions included with your device. Not all devices work with your earbuds. 

How to connect your PULSE Explore wireless earbuds with your PS Portal

You can pair and connect your earbuds to your PlayStation Portal™ remote player, and switch audio connections between your PS Portal and PS5 console through PlayStation Link connections. 

Connect with PS Portal

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