Sony headphones are compatible with various devices, including smartphones and computers. However, connecting your Bluetooth Sony headphones to a Mac is not as straightforward as you may think. You may experience challenges, especially when pairing the headphones to your Mac for the first time.
Key Takeaways
- Before connecting your Sony headphones, ensure your Mac has a Bluetooth module. Check the user manual to confirm if it has a Bluetooth adapter.
- Your Sony headphones must be discoverable to connect to a Mac. Put them into pairing mode to make them discoverable and initiate the pairing process.
- Pairing your Sony headphones with your Mac is almost the same as pairing with a smartphone, despite the slight differences in operating systems.
- Depending on the model, your Sony headphones should enter pairing mode automatically when used for the first time. If not, press and hold the pairing or power button for seven seconds until the LED indicator flashes.
- Your headphones and Mac must be close to each other to connect seamlessly. Ensure the distance between your headset and laptop is not more than 3 feet.
- If your headphones are connected to Mac but not playing audio, check and select the correct sound output settings on your Macintosh computer.
Preparing to Connect Sony Headphones to Mac
Before you start, you must consider a few critical points for a smooth and seamless connection. These initial steps can help prevent connectivity issues in the future.
- Ensure your Sony headphones have sufficient charge. The headset might fail to connect if the battery is below 20%.
- Most Mac computers support Bluetooth connectivity. Ensure your Mac has a Bluetooth module before proceeding. If not, you may have to install an external Bluetooth adapter.
Best Bluetooth Adapters/Transmitters to Buy
  |   |
- Place the headphones and your Mac within range for easy pairing. The distance between the two devices should not exceed 3 feet to avoid connectivity issues.
- Set your Mac speaker to the ON mode. If set to the OFF mode, your headphones won’t produce sound even when connected.
Connecting Wireless Sony Headphones to Mac
Connecting your Sony headphones to your Mac might seem confusing initially, but it becomes easy once you get a grip on things. Here is a simplified step-by-step guide on what you need to do to connect your Bluetooth headset to your Macintosh computer.
Step 1 – Put Your Headphones into Pairing Mode
Your headphones must be discoverable to pair and communicate with your Mac computer.
Depending on the model, your Sony headphones will automatically go into pairing mode when used for the first time. If not, you must manually put them into pairing mode using the following steps:
- Locate the pairing button on your headphones (Depending on the model, the power button may double up as the pairing button).
- Press and hold the pairing button.
- Maintain this position for several seconds (sometimes up to 7 seconds).
- Release the button when the blue LED indicator flashes. You may even hear a voice prompt saying “Pairing Mode”, “Bluetooth Pairing” or something like that.
- Your headphones are now discoverable.
How to Put SONY WH-1000XM5 into Pairing Mode
Step 2 – Enable Bluetooth On Your Mac
Once your headphones are in pairing mode, you have a few minutes to pair them with your Mac. First, enable Bluetooth on your Mac by following these steps:
- Boot your Mac or wake it up from sleep mode.
- Click the Apple icon.
- Go to System Preferences.
- Click Bluetooth to open Bluetooth settings.
- Enable Bluetooth if it is not already ON.
- Alternatively, click the Bluetooth icon on the top menu bar and enable it.
There should be a Bluetooth icon on the top bar menu – click on it to enable Bluetooth
Step 3 – Add Sony Headphones to Your Mac
With Bluetooth enabled on your Mac, it’s time to pair it with your Sony headphones. Here are the steps:
- On your Mac, go to Bluetooth settings.
- Your Sony headphones should appear in the list of Bluetooth devices.
- Select your headset from the list.
- Click the Connect button to pair your headphones with your Mac.
Connect button
- If your Mac asks for a passkey, enter 0000.
- Your headphones and Mac are now connected.
Connecting SONY WH-1000XM5 to a MacBook
Step 4 – Select the Correct Audio Output On Your Mac
Your Sony headphones might not produce sound initially because of the incorrect audio output settings. You can change the audio output to your wireless headphones by following the steps:
- Click the Apple icon on the top menu bar.
- Go to System Preferences.
- Click the sound/speaker icon to open the audio settings.
- Under the output tab, you’ll see a list of audio devices.
- Select your Sony headphones as the default audio output.
- Ensure the mute checkbox is unticked for sound to play through your wireless headphones.
Step 5 – Adjust the Volume Level On Your Mac and Enjoy!
While still on the audio settings, you can adjust the volume level and balance sound between the left and right earcups. Drag the white notch to make the necessary changes and enjoy your Sony headphones.
Recommended Reading :
Troubleshooting Sony Headphones Not Connecting to Mac?
Sometimes, connecting Sony headphones to a Mac is not all rosy. You may experience connectivity and pairing issues, leaving you frustrated.
Here are a few troubleshooting tips you can use to correct connection errors:
Turn Bluetooth OFF and ON
One of the quickest ways to fix Bluetooth connectivity issues is to turn it OFF and ON again. It refreshes the connection, allowing your paired devices to search for their registered pairing information afresh.
Here are the steps to turn off Bluetooth on your Mac:
- Click the Apple icon.
- Go to System Preferences.
- Click Bluetooth to open Bluetooth settings.
- Click Turn Bluetooth OFF.
- Wait for a few seconds before enabling Bluetooth again.
Turn Bluetooth OFF and back ON
Unpair and Re-Pair Your Headphones
If turning Bluetooth OFF and ON again doesn’t work, unpair your headphones from your Mac. This step will erase all pairing information, allowing you to pair your headphones with your Mac afresh.
Follow these steps:
- Click the Apple icon.
- Go to System Preferences.
- Click Bluetooth to open Bluetooth settings.
- Search for your headphones in the list of paired devices.
- Click the X icon next to your headphones.
- Click Remove.
- Repeat the pairing process as described in the previous section.
Forget the Headphones and Pair Them Again
Update Bluetooth Drivers
Sometimes your Sony headphones might have issues connecting to your Mac because your computer has outdated Bluetooth drivers. Running a system update on your Mac can help solve the problem.
- Click the Apple icon on the top menu bar.
- Go to Settings.
- Click System Preferences.
- Go to Software Update.
- Check for available updates.
- Click Update Now.
- Your Mac will install available Bluetooth driver updates.
Check your MacBook for Updates
Reboot Your Headphones
Fixing Bluetooth pairing issues can be as easy as restarting your headphones. Press the power button for a few seconds until the headphones go out. Wait for at least 30 seconds to reboot your headset. Ensure the battery level is at least 30% before pairing your headphones with your Mac. Connectivity issues might arise if the battery is too low.
Reboot Your Mac
Your Mac might have pairing problems because of temporary cache or memory issues. Restarting your Mac can help restore your connection for a smooth pairing process. A reboot refreshes the system and can help correct minor bugs.
Disconnect Other Paired Devices
If you have other paired devices connected to your Mac, consider disconnecting them. They might be blocking your Sony headphones from pairing with your Macintosh. Also, unpair your headphones from other audio devices to prevent connectivity issues.
Troubleshooting MacBook Bluetooth Issues
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: Why won’t my Sony headphones show up on my Mac’s Bluetooth List?
- Answer: Your Sony headphones might not show up on your Mac because they are not in pairing mode. Your device must be on and put into pairing mode for your Macintosh to discover it. Press the power button for seven seconds until the LED indicator flashes to put the headset into pairing mode. Disabling Bluetooth on your Mac can also cause connectivity issues making your headphones undiscoverable. Enable Bluetooth on your Mac before proceeding.
- Question: How do I connect my Sony headphones to my Macbook?
- Answer: First, turn on your Sony headphones and put them into pairing mode if they don’t do so automatically. Press the pairing button for several seconds until the LED light flashes. Next, enable Bluetooth on your Mac and search for your headset in the list of Bluetooth devices. Select your Sony headphones from the list and click the pair button next to the headset to complete the connection.
- Question: How do I make my Sony headphones discoverable for Mac?
- Answer: Your Sony headphones will automatically enter pairing mode and become discoverable when used for the first time. If not, press and hold the pairing or power button for several seconds until the LED indicator flashes. Ensure the headphones are not attempting to connect to a previously connected Bluetooth device to avoid pairing and connectivity issues.
- Question: How do I enable Bluetooth on my Mac?
- Answer: Enabling Bluetooth on your Mac is easy. Click the Apple menu and go to System Preferences. Next, click Bluetooth to open the Bluetooth settings. Click Turn Bluetooth On to enable it. Alternatively, click the Bluetooth icon on the top menu bar and select Bluetooth On to activate it.
Conclusion
Even though wireless Sony headphones are portable and convenient, connecting them to your Mac can be frustrating if you don’t know the procedure. Fortunately, by following this guide, you will be able to connect Sony headphones to your Mac within minutes.
