USB-C to Headphone Adapters

Wired headphones on a phone with no headphone socket

Most phones of recent years have no round headphone socket, only the charging socket at the bottom. Anything with the round 3.5mm plug, the jack on older earphones, studio headphones, a car's AUX lead or a small speaker, will not go in. A USB-C to headphone adapter solves it: a short lead or a small plug with USB-C for the phone at one end and a 3.5mm socket for the headphones at the other. Apple's own support page names a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter for this on its USB-C iPhones, the iPhone 15 and later, and adapters of the same kind are made for USB-C Android phones. Each listing says which phones it suits.

The kinds of headphone adapter

• A plain adapter has one USB-C plug and one 3.5mm socket. It is the smallest kind, and many people leave it on the headphones' cable so it is always there.
• An adapter with a charging socket adds a second USB-C socket, so the phone can charge while you listen. A plain adapter fills the phone's only socket.
• A Lightning to USB-C audio adapter is for headphones with a Lightning plug, from older Apple earphones, on a USB-C phone. These are in USB-C to Lightning adapters.

Choosing one

Check three things. First, the phone's plug: USB-C for iPhone 15 and later and most recent Android phones. An iPhone 14 or earlier has Lightning, and needs an adapter with a Lightning plug instead. Second, the headphones' plug: the round 3.5mm jack, or a Lightning plug on some older Apple earphones. Third, what else you want from it: a charging socket if you listen for long on a phone that needs charging, and support for the microphone if your headphones have one for calls. A listing that names the phones and the features it supports is the one to trust.

Or go without the adapter

Wired earphones with a USB-C plug of their own need no adapter at all. Bluetooth earbuds need no plug, though they need charging themselves. The guide to earphones and earbuds for your phone weighs up wired and wireless.

Questions people ask about headphone adapters

Can I charge and listen at the same time?

Only with an adapter that has a second socket for charging. A plain adapter fills the phone's only socket.

Will it work in the car?

If the car has an AUX socket for a 3.5mm lead, yes: the adapter goes into the phone, and the car's AUX lead into the adapter.

Why does a USB-C phone need an adapter for headphones at all?

Because the round 3.5mm plug and the USB-C socket are different shapes. The adapter is the bridge between the two.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives.

More to look at

• Wired earphones
• USB-C to Lightning adapters
• Bluetooth earbuds
• Earphones and audio
• Adapters and converters
• Guide: Which charging cable does my phone need?
• Guide: Earphones and earbuds for your phone