Use Bluetooth to connect PULSE Explore earbuds to a phone. For a compatible Windows PC or Mac, use the included PlayStation Link USB adapter: plug it into a USB Type-A port, remove both earbuds from their case, and select PlayStation Link Adapter if the computer does not switch audio automatically. The adapter is paired with the earbuds out of the box, so ordinary PC setup does not require buying another adapter.
Choose the connection method for your device
The phone and computer procedures are different because the earbuds use Bluetooth for mobile devices and PlayStation Link for the documented PC/Mac setup. Use this table as a quick decision guide before you start.
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| Source device | Connection | What you need | Where volume is controlled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compatible phone | Bluetooth | Both earbuds in the charging case and Bluetooth enabled on the phone | On the phone when listening to Bluetooth audio |
| Compatible Windows PC | PlayStation Link | Included PlayStation Link USB adapter and an available USB Type-A port | Earbud volume button |
| Compatible Mac | PlayStation Link | Included PlayStation Link USB adapter and USB audio output | Earbud volume button |
| PC/Mac plus a previously paired phone | PlayStation Link and Bluetooth at the same time | Both connections established and both sources available | Separate controls: earbud button for PlayStation Link, phone for Bluetooth |
Compatibility is not universal. Sony says the earbuds work with compatible Windows PCs and Macs that provide USB audio output and with compatible Bluetooth mobile devices, while cautioning that not all devices work with the earbuds. There is no complete model-by-model compatibility matrix in Sony’s support guidance, so check your particular computer, phone, USB port and operating system rather than assuming every combination will work.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCheck the requirements before pairing
- For a phone, have the phone’s Bluetooth settings available and keep both earbuds in their charging case during the pairing command.
- For a Windows PC or Mac, confirm that the computer is on, offers USB audio output and has a usable USB Type-A port for the included adapter.
- Keep the included PlayStation Link adapter available for computer use. It is the normal PC/Mac connection method and is already paired to the earbuds.
- If you plan to use two sources, pair the phone first so it becomes a previously paired Bluetooth device that the earbuds can search for later.
These are connection requirements, not a promise that every phone, operating-system version, hub or adapter will work. Sony’s compatibility warning is explicit: “Not all devices work with your earbuds.”
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Connect the earbuds to a Windows PC or Mac
For computer audio, the normal path is the PlayStation Link adapter supplied with the earbuds. Do not start by searching for the earbuds in the computer’s Bluetooth menu; the documented PC/Mac procedure uses the adapter.
Prepare the earbuds and computer
- Turn on the Windows PC or Mac and sign in.
- Make sure both earbuds are docked in the charging case.
- Locate the included PlayStation Link USB adapter and an available USB Type-A port on the computer. If your computer has no suitable port, its compatibility with an adapter or hub is not established by Sony’s instructions; verify the computer’s supported USB-audio options before relying on one.
Establish the PlayStation Link connection
- Insert the included adapter into the computer’s USB Type-A port.
- Remove both earbuds from the charging case.
- Wait for the adapter’s status indicator to turn solid white. The adapter is paired to these earbuds out of the box, so there is normally no separate pairing sequence.
- Play audio. If sound does not come through the earbuds, open the computer’s sound settings and choose PlayStation Link Adapter as the active output device.
The exact wording and location of the sound selector varies by operating system. On Windows, open the taskbar sound control or the system’s Sound settings and select PlayStation Link Adapter for output. On macOS, open the sound output list in System Settings and choose the same adapter entry when it appears. The important part is selecting the adapter rather than the computer’s built-in speakers or another headset.
Confirm that the computer is using the adapter
- The adapter indicator should be solid white after the earbuds are removed from the case and connected.
- The operating system’s active output should read PlayStation Link Adapter.
- Start a short audio clip before joining a call so you can confirm that output is routed correctly.
- If the earbuds connect but the computer remains silent, return to the active-device check before attempting to pair again.
What the computer indicators tell you
The solid white adapter indicator is the useful confirmation that the PlayStation Link connection has been established. It does not by itself guarantee that every application is sending sound to that device; the computer still has to list PlayStation Link Adapter as the active output. Check both signals in order: first the adapter light, then the operating-system output selector.
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If the adapter is connected but a call or media program uses another headset, select the PlayStation Link adapter inside that program as well as in the main computer sound settings. Sony’s documented requirement is that the adapter be the active audio device; individual software can expose its own output and input menus.
Use the PlayStation Link PC Driver on Windows
Windows users can install the PlayStation Link PC Driver when they want controls and update functions beyond basic USB audio. Sony says the driver can update the earbuds and adapter and adjust audio settings without connecting to a console. Its quick menu also provides audio and microphone settings.
What the driver is for
- Updating the earbuds’ and adapter’s software.
- Changing available audio settings from Windows.
- Opening quick controls for audio and microphone behavior.
- Managing the earbuds without connecting them to a PlayStation console.
The driver does not replace the physical adapter. Connect the adapter first, then use the driver to manage the connected equipment. If Windows has no sound, select PlayStation Link Adapter in Windows sound output even when the driver is installed; the driver and the operating system’s output selection serve different purposes.
Adjust microphone settings
Both earbuds contain microphones. When both earbuds are connected through PlayStation Link, the left earbud’s microphone is enabled. Use the driver’s quick menu for the available microphone settings, then check the communication app’s own input selector before a call. An app can choose a different microphone even when Windows is sending playback to the PlayStation Link adapter.
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Driver checklist before a PC call
- Connect the included adapter and remove both earbuds from the case.
- Confirm the adapter indicator is solid white.
- Choose PlayStation Link Adapter for Windows playback.
- Open the PlayStation Link PC Driver’s quick menu and review the microphone setting.
- In the calling application, choose the available PlayStation Link microphone input and make a short test call or recording.
Sony specifies that the left microphone is enabled when both earbuds are connected through PlayStation Link. The documentation does not promise that both microphones function as a stereo pair for PC calls, so do not troubleshoot toward that assumption.
Pair PULSE Explore with a phone over Bluetooth
Phone pairing starts from the charging case, not from the PlayStation Link adapter. Keep both earbuds in the case during the initial pairing sequence.
- Open the phone’s Bluetooth settings and turn Bluetooth on.
- Place both earbuds in the charging case.
- Press and hold the case’s PS Link button.
- Release the button when the case indicator rapidly blinks blue. This takes approximately eight seconds.
- In the phone’s list of available Bluetooth devices, select PULSE Explore.
- Wait for the case indicator to turn solid blue, which signals that pairing and connection are complete.
The earbuds search for a connection for approximately 30 seconds. If no connection is available in that period, they turn off. That timeout is an operational detail from Sony’s setup instructions, not an independently measured performance statistic.
Retry when the phone does not find the earbuds
- Put both earbuds back in the charging case.
- Hold the case’s PS Link button for approximately eight seconds until the indicator rapidly blinks blue again.
- Keep the phone’s Bluetooth settings page open while the earbuds search.
- Select PULSE Explore as soon as it appears.
If the 30-second search expires, repeat the button-hold sequence rather than holding the button continuously. The case must be in pairing mode for the phone to discover the earbuds.
How to tell whether phone pairing succeeded
- Rapidly blinking blue: the case is in the phone-pairing search state.
- Solid blue: the phone pairing and connection are complete.
- No available connection after about 30 seconds: the earbuds stop searching and turn off, so start the eight-second pairing sequence again.
Use the exact device name PULSE Explore in the phone’s Bluetooth list. Do not select the PlayStation Link adapter for a phone connection; that adapter belongs to the documented computer path.
Listen to a phone and a computer at the same time
After the earbuds have been paired to a phone over Bluetooth, they can search for that previously paired Bluetooth device while they are connected to a PlayStation Link source. This allows computer audio over PlayStation Link and phone audio over Bluetooth at the same time, provided the phone is available and both connections are established.
Set up the two-source arrangement
- Connect the earbuds to the computer with the included PlayStation Link adapter.
- Make sure the phone is powered on, Bluetooth is enabled, and the phone has already been paired as PULSE Explore.
- Keep the phone within normal Bluetooth range and allow it to reconnect when the earbuds search for the previously paired device.
- Start audio on each source and verify which source is playing before adjusting volume.
Understand the separate volume controls
The volume button on the earbuds controls PlayStation Link audio. For Bluetooth audio, adjust volume on the mobile device. When PlayStation Link and Bluetooth audio play simultaneously, pressing the earbud volume button still changes only the PlayStation Link level; it does not change the phone’s Bluetooth volume. This separate control is useful for keeping computer audio at one level while changing phone audio independently.
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Which method is better for each use?
| Use case | Recommended connection | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Listening from a phone | Bluetooth pairing from the case | Phone volume is controlled on the phone. |
| Listening from a Windows PC or Mac | Included PlayStation Link adapter | The computer needs USB audio output and a suitable Type-A port. |
| Keeping computer audio active while monitoring a phone | PlayStation Link plus previously paired Bluetooth | Each source has its own volume control. |
These are source-specific paths rather than interchangeable choices that work identically on every device. Use Bluetooth for the phone and the included adapter for the documented PC/Mac setup.
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Fix common connection and audio problems
The computer sees the adapter but no sound comes from the earbuds
- Confirm that both earbuds were removed from the charging case after the adapter was inserted.
- Check that the adapter’s indicator is solid white.
- Open the computer’s sound settings and set PlayStation Link Adapter as the active output device.
- Check the audio application’s own output menu if it still uses another device.
The adapter does not appear as an audio device
- Remove and reinsert the included adapter into the USB Type-A port, then remove both earbuds from the case again.
- Try another supported USB Type-A port on the same computer if one is available.
- Check whether the computer recognizes any USB audio device. If it does not, the issue may be with the computer’s USB configuration rather than the earbuds.
- On Windows, open the PlayStation Link PC Driver after the adapter is detected to check for available updates and settings.
Sony’s support guidance does not establish that every USB hub, adapter, operating-system release or computer model is compatible. Avoid treating a hub or a particular operating-system version as universally required or universally supported.
The phone cannot find “PULSE Explore”
- Return both earbuds to the case.
- Hold the case’s PS Link button for approximately eight seconds until the indicator rapidly blinks blue.
- Start a fresh search in the phone’s Bluetooth settings before the approximately 30-second window ends.
- Select the exact device name PULSE Explore when it appears.
If the indicator is not rapidly blinking blue, the case is not in the phone-pairing state. Repeat the button-hold step rather than selecting a different device entry.
The phone connects, but audio still comes from its speaker
Open the phone’s media-output selector and choose the connected PULSE Explore device. Also check the phone’s Bluetooth device details to confirm that media audio is enabled. The earbuds’ volume button is not the control for Bluetooth volume; raise the level on the phone itself.
Only one earbud’s microphone is available on PC
When both earbuds are connected through PlayStation Link, the left earbud’s microphone is enabled. Check the Windows input device and the microphone options in the PlayStation Link PC Driver’s quick menu, then verify the communication application’s selected input. The documentation does not promise that both microphones operate as a stereo pair for PC calls.
The earbuds stop searching for the phone
Bluetooth discovery ends after approximately 30 seconds when no connection is available, and the earbuds turn off. Put them in the case and hold the PS Link button for approximately eight seconds to start pairing mode again.
The adapter is connected but the wrong output is selected
A solid white indicator confirms the adapter connection, but the computer may still be sending audio to built-in speakers or another headset. Open the operating system’s output list and select PlayStation Link Adapter. If an individual game, meeting app or media player has its own audio selector, choose the same adapter there too.
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You are unsure whether a device is compatible
Sony does not provide a complete model-by-model matrix in the cited support pages. Verify that a phone supports the required Bluetooth connection, or that a computer provides USB audio output and a suitable Type-A port. Do not assume that a particular hub, adapter, operating-system release or Bluetooth implementation will work simply because another device does.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do you need another PlayStation Link USB adapter?
No, not for the standard computer setup. The adapter included with PULSE Explore is the normal Windows PC/Mac connection path and is already paired to the earbuds.
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Sony also documents a separately purchased PlayStation Link USB Adapter, model CFI-ZWA3. Its purpose is to create an additional PlayStation Link connection to a USB audio device without unplugging the first adapter. That is an expansion option for a second connection, not a prerequisite for connecting the earbuds to one computer. Availability and listing details can vary, so confirm the model and intended second-device use before purchasing.
| Situation | Adapter decision |
|---|---|
| First Windows PC or Mac connection | Use the included adapter; no additional adapter is needed. |
| Phone connection | Use Bluetooth; the adapter is not part of the phone pairing procedure. |
| Keeping one PlayStation Link adapter connected while adding another USB audio connection | Consider the separately sold CFI-ZWA3 only if that additional connection is your goal. |
Buying the optional adapter solely to connect PULSE Explore to one computer adds no required setup step. Start with the adapter in the box. Consider CFI-ZWA3 only when you specifically need an additional PlayStation Link connection and have confirmed that the intended USB audio device is compatible.
Practical setup checklist
- For a phone, enable Bluetooth, place both earbuds in the case, hold the case PS Link button for approximately eight seconds until the indicator rapidly blinks blue, then select PULSE Explore.
- For a Windows PC or Mac, insert the included PlayStation Link adapter into a USB Type-A port and remove both earbuds from the case.
- Wait for a solid white adapter indicator and select PlayStation Link Adapter as the computer’s active output if audio does not switch automatically.
- On Windows, use the PlayStation Link PC Driver for firmware updates, audio settings and microphone controls.
- For simultaneous playback, remember that the earbud button changes PlayStation Link volume while Bluetooth volume remains on the phone.
- Treat compatibility as device-specific; Sony explicitly warns that not all devices work with the earbuds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I connect PULSE Explore to a phone without the PlayStation Link adapter?
Yes. Pair the earbuds from the phone’s Bluetooth settings. Put both earbuds in the case, hold the case’s PS Link button for about eight seconds until the indicator rapidly blinks blue, then select PULSE Explore.
How do I connect PULSE Explore to a Windows PC or Mac?
Insert the included PlayStation Link USB adapter into a USB Type-A port, remove both earbuds from the case and wait for the adapter indicator to turn solid white. If audio does not switch automatically, select PlayStation Link Adapter as the active output device.
Do I need to buy a separate PlayStation Link USB Adapter for PC?
No. The included adapter is paired to the earbuds out of the box and is the normal PC/Mac setup path. The separately sold CFI-ZWA3 is for an additional PlayStation Link connection, not the first computer connection.
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Why is PULSE Explore missing from my phone’s Bluetooth list?
Return both earbuds to the case and hold the case’s PS Link button for approximately eight seconds until the indicator rapidly blinks blue. Search again immediately; the earbuds search for about 30 seconds before turning off if no connection is found.
Can PULSE Explore play phone and PC audio at the same time?
Yes, after the phone has been paired over Bluetooth. The earbuds can connect to the computer through PlayStation Link while also searching for the previously paired phone over Bluetooth.
Which volume control changes Bluetooth audio?
Use the phone’s volume control for Bluetooth audio. The earbud volume button controls PlayStation Link audio only, including when both sources play simultaneously.
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Both earbuds contain microphones, but when both are connected through PlayStation Link, Sony specifies that the left earbud’s microphone is enabled. Check the PlayStation Link PC Driver and the calling app’s input selector.
Will PULSE Explore work with every phone, computer or USB hub?
No. Sony says the earbuds work with compatible Bluetooth mobile devices and compatible Windows PCs and Macs with USB audio output, and cautions that not all devices work. Compatibility with every model, hub or operating-system version is not guaranteed.
The Bottom Line
Use Bluetooth for a phone: hold the case’s PS Link button for about eight seconds until it rapidly blinks blue, then choose PULSE Explore. Use the included PlayStation Link USB adapter for a compatible Windows PC or Mac, remove both earbuds from the case and select PlayStation Link Adapter if needed. The optional CFI-ZWA3 adapter is only for an additional PlayStation Link connection. For simultaneous phone and computer audio, adjust PlayStation Link volume on the earbuds and Bluetooth volume on the phone.
Quick Recap
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