So you recently bought the premium Astro A50 wireless headset, but you can’t get it working with your Xbox Series X. I was struggling with the same issue and found a solution that might work for you.
When you’re done reading this post you’ll know exactly how to get your Astro A50 working with your Xbox Series X.
Quick Fix for Astro A50 Not Working with Xbox Series X
- Connect your Astro A50 base station to a Windows computer via USB
- Switch the Astro Base to PC mode
- On your computer, download Astro Command Center for Windows 10
- Use the software to update the firmware on the Astro A50 headset and base
- Disconnect Astro A50 from your computer and plug the USB dongle into your Xbox Series X
- Switch the A50 Base to Xbox Mode
- Your Astro A50 headset should now be working with your Xbox Series X
For most people, updating the firmware on the Astro A50 fixes the issue. The key here is to use the Astro Command Center from the Microsoft Store, not the app from their website.
But you can run into some other issues that prevent the Astro A50 from connecting to your Xbox. I’ll walk you through some alternative solutions that should do the trick.
Don’t have a Windows laptop? There is an Astro Command Center app for macOS too.
Other Fixes for Astro Headset Not Working on Consoles
Manually Update Astro Firmware
In some cases, the Astro Command Center app will refuse to detect your headset and update the firmware. Or the download progress will stop around the 50% mark. There are a couple of workarounds for this problem.
For starters, you can try downloading and using the app on a different computer. If it still refuses to work, you can manually update the firmware using files from Astro’s website.
To force an update, open the Astro Command Center for Windows 10, click on the gear icon in the top right corner, and select Update Firmware Manually. You will need to choose the update file from your computer.
Here are the links to the firmware files:
- Astro A50 Wireless and Base Station Gen 4
- Astro A50 Wireless and Base Station Gen 3
- A20 Gen 2
- A20 Gen 1
You will need to download these to your computer and then use the Astro Command Center app to open and force an update.
Fully Restart Your Xbox Series X
Hold down the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide. Open Settings, General, and Power Mode. Select Restart Now.
The Xbox will fully restart and it should detect your Astro A50 headset. You should fully restart your Xbox after you update the headset’s firmware on your computer and reconnect it to the Xbox.
Power Cycle Xbox
Unplug your Xbox from the power and wait a few minutes before reconnecting it. This will reset the power supply and clear the system cache, which could fix connection issues.
Connect the Base Station to PC and then Back to Xbox
For some people, connecting the Astro Base station to PC first and then to the Xbox gets it working on the Xbox. It’s strange but it has helped a lot of people and it’s worth a shot.
Use a Different USB Port on Your Xbox Series X
Sometimes the simplest solutions are the answer. Try connecting your Astro A50 to a different USB port on your Xbox Series X.
Switch the Base Station to Xbox
On the back of the Astro Base station, there will be a switch for PC and Xbox. When you update it on a PC, it should be switched to a PC.
But when you want to connect it to your Xbox Series X, make sure to switch the mode back to Xbox. It’s an easy step to overlook.
Try an Alternative
If the Astro A50 continues to be a pain and you are within the refund window, I recommend getting a refund and going with a more stable headset.
I personally like the official Xbox Wireless Headset.
The Bottom Line
The Astro A50 is a great headset, but it does have connection issues from time to time. 90% of the connection issues can be solved by updating the firmware on a separate PC before you use it with your Xbox Series X.
Did these solutions help you? Drop a comment below!
