Sony has been evolving its earbud shape and fit for decades. The Sony WF-C500 is a true reflection of all the hard work the company has achieved so far. They have a rounded ergonomic design to fit any ear shape. They also have easy-to-use buttons that allow you to skip, play, and stop tracks or adjust the volume.
The earbuds deliver uncompromising sound with their 360-degree reality audio feature and offer up to 20 hours of battery life between charges, for an extended listening experience.
The best part is that they are compatible with most devices, including iOS, Android, PC & Mac. But before you can connect them to your Bluetooth device, you must pair them.
Here’s how to pair the Sony WF-C500 with your laptop, iPhone, or iPad.
Key Takeaways
- Your Sony WF-C500 earbuds must enter pairing mode before you can pair them with your devices. If new, the earbuds will automatically enter pairing mode.
- When pairing your earbuds with a second device, you must manually put them in pairing mode. Press the touch buttons on both units for 5 seconds to enter pairing mode.
- Bluetooth limitations can cause pairing issues in your Sony WF-C500. Ensure the earbuds are within 10 meters from the device you want to pair with.
- Bluetooth connections require a sufficient charge to complete the pairing process. Ensure your headset and Bluetooth devices are charged to prevent pairing issues.
- Initializing or resetting your Sony WF-C500 can help correct minor glitches, including pairing issues. Reset the earbuds if you experience pairing problems.
Introducing SONY WF-C500
How to Put Sony WF-C500 in Pairing Mode (Device Registration)
Bluetooth devices must exchange registration between themselves to connect and communicate. This process is called pairing.
Your Sony WF-C500 earbuds must enter pairing mode before you can pair them with your smartphone or laptop. Pairing mode makes them discoverable so that your devices can find them.
If the earbuds are new, they will automatically enter pairing mode when using them for the first time. If pairing with a second or third device, the earbuds can only enter pairing mode with your intervention.
Follow these steps to put Sony WF-C500 in pairing mode:
- Remove the earbuds from the charging case and fit them in your ears.
- Press the touch sensor button on both earbuds for about 5 seconds.
Press touch sensors on both buds for 5 seconds to enable pairing mode
- Release the buttons when you hear “Bluetooth Pairing” or the indicator flashes blue twice.
- Your Sony WF-C500 is now in pairing mode.
- Jump to the next section to pair your earbuds with your laptop, iPhone, or iPad.
Enabling Pairing Mode on WF-C500 Earbuds
Pairing Sony WF-C500 with Windows PC
Follow these steps to pair Sony WF-C500 with a Windows laptop:
- Right-click the Start button on your laptop.
- Select Settings.
- Click Bluetooth & other devices.
- Turn Bluetooth on.
- Click Add Bluetooth or other device.
- Click Bluetooth.
- Select WF-C500.
Settings > Bluetooth & Devices (Enable Bluetooth) > Add Devices > Add Bluetooth Device > Select WF-C500
- The voice guidance will say, “Bluetooth Connected.”
Pairing Sony WF-C500 with Mac
Follow these steps to pair your Sony WF-C500 with your Mac:
- Click the Apple icon on the menu bar.
- Go to System Preferences.
- Click Bluetooth.
- Turn on Bluetooth.
- Select WF-C500 from the list of Bluetooth devices.
- Click Connect.
System Preference > Bluetooth (Turn It On) > Select WF-C500 > Click Connect
- The voice guidance will say, “Bluetooth Connected.”
- Go to Sound settings to set Sony WF-C500 as the audio output.
Pairing Sony WF-C500 with iPhone & iPad
The pairing procedure is the same for iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads
- On your iPhone, tap the gear icon to open the Settings app.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- Tap the slider to Toggle Bluetooth on.
- From the list of Bluetooth devices, tap WF-C500.
- The voice guidance will say, “Bluetooth Connected.”
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Troubleshooting Sony WF-C500 Pairing Issues
Sony F-C500 earbuds rarely have pairing issues. However, this does not mean they are exempt from malfunctions. Your earbuds might fail or act up when you want to pair them with your laptop, iPhone, or iPad.
Here are some troubleshooting tips to help you solve Sony WF-C500 pairing issues.
Check Bluetooth Range
Bluetooth limitations can cause pairing issues in your Sony WF-C500 earbuds. A good rule of thumb is to view your Bluetooth connection as an invisible 10-meter cord. Any distance beyond 10 meters can cause noise disturbances and connectivity problems.
The max recommended distance between the earbuds and a Bluetooth source is 10m/33ft
Obstacles between your earbuds and Bluetooth devices can also cause pairing issues. With your earbuds fitted, move closer to your phone or laptop and clear obstructions to ensure you are within range.
Charge Your Earbuds
Your Sony WF-C500 earbuds might develop pairing issues because of low battery power. Bluetooth connections require a sufficient charge to complete the pairing process. Check the battery status of your earbuds. The indicator light on the earbuds will flash orange, meaning the battery charge is low. If the voice guidance feature is on, you’ll hear a prompt telling you the remaining battery charge. Remember to charge your laptop or smartphone before retrying the pairing process.
Check the Number of Paired Devices
Most smartphones can pair with up to 8 devices. Computers can hold more pairing information but might have problems if the devices are too many. Go to your phone’s or laptop’s Bluetooth menu to check the list of paired devices. If the number of paired devices exceeds the specified number, you may experience pairing issues with your Sony WF-C500 earbuds. To solve this problem, unpair your laptop, iPhone or iPad with one device to create space for your earbuds.
Confirm Connected Devices
If you are a tech enthusiast, you likely have other Bluetooth products in your space. You may have paired your Sony WF-C500 earbuds with another device earlier. When you turn your earbuds on, they will automatically connect to the paired device, causing them not to pair with your laptop or smartphone.
The point is that these Bluetooth earphones can only work with one paired device at a time. To solve this issue, turn off all Bluetooth products except your earbuds and laptop or iPad.
Turn Bluetooth Off and On Again
Turning Bluetooth off and then on again is one of the oldest tricks in the book. If you want to pair your Sony WF-C500 earbuds with your laptop or iPhone, and can’t find the earbuds on the Bluetooth device list, try turning Bluetooth off and on again.
Your phone or computer might pick up many surrounding wireless devices that might contaminate your list. Turning Bluetooth off and on refreshes the list, allowing you to find your earbuds and restart the pairing process.
Restart Your Earbuds and Bluetooth Devices
Another quick way to fix pairing issues in your Sony WF-C500 is to restart your earbuds. Place each earbud in the corresponding slot in the charging case and close the lid for a few minutes. Open the charging case and remove the earbuds to turn them on again.
Rebooting your laptop or iOS devices can also help resolve pairing issues. Locate the power button and press it to switch off your Bluetooth device. Wait a few seconds before restarting your computer or smartphone.
Initialize Your Sony WF-C500 Earbuds
Initializing your Sony WF-C500 earbuds resets volume settings and erases all pairing information. It can help resolve Bluetooth connection issues by un-pairing your headset from previously connected devices.
Follow these steps to initialize your earbuds:
- Turn your earbuds on by removing them from the charging case.
- Fit the earbuds in your ears.
- Press and hold the sensor buttons on both earbuds for 15 seconds.
- Release the buttons when the indicators start flashing orange.
- Press the touch sensor buttons again within 10 seconds after they light up.
- Release the buttons when the earbuds flash blue four times.
- Your earbuds are now ready for pairing.
Initializing WF-C500
Reset Your Sony WF-C500 Earbuds
If you reach this point and nothing works, consider resetting your Sony WF-C500 earbuds. A reset restores your earbuds to factory mode. It erases pairing information from previously connected devices and can help correct minor problems. You can only reset one earbud at a time. Here are the steps:
- Press and hold the sensor button on the left earbud for 20 seconds.
- The indicator will flash orange slowly for about 5 seconds.
- Release the button when the indicator light goes off.
- The left earbud will reset.
- The indicator will flash blue twice as the left earbud restarts.
- Repeat the above steps to reset the right earbud.
Resetting SONY WF-C500
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How do I put my Sony WF-C500 in pairing mode?
- Answer: If your Sony WF-C500 earbuds are new, they will automatically enter pairing mode. If not, you must manually put them into pairing mode when pairing with a second device.
- Remove the earbuds from the charging case and fit them in your ears. Press the touch sensor button on both earbuds for about 5 seconds. Release the buttons when you hear “Bluetooth Pairing” or the indicator flashes blue twice.
- Question: How to pair Sony WF-C500 with my phone?
- Answer: Put your Sony WF-C500 in pairing mode to make them discoverable. Next, activate Bluetooth on your phone by going to Settings and selecting Bluetooth. Check the list of Bluetooth devices on your phone’s Bluetooth menu. Select your Sony WF-C500 earbuds to pair. If prompted, enter 0000 as the passkey. The voice guidance will say, “Bluetooth Connected” once the pairing process is complete.
- Question: My Sony WF-C500 earbuds are not connecting. Why is this happening?
- Answer: Your Sony WF-C500 earbuds might fail to connect for several reasons. First, confirm that the earbuds are on by removing them from the charging case. Turn on the Bluetooth device you are trying to connect to as well. Verify that your earbuds are not connecting to other paired devices by turning off other Bluetooth products. If the issue persists, reset your earbuds.
- Question: How to reset Sony WF-C500 earbuds?
- Answer: To reset your Sony WF-C500, press the sensor button on the left earbud for 20 seconds. The indicator will flash orange slowly for about 5 seconds. Release the button when the indicator light goes off. The left earbud will reset. The indicator will flash blue twice as the left earbud restarts. Repeat the steps to reset the right earbud.
Conclusion
The Sony WF-C500 earbuds are among the most advanced wireless headsets to hit the market. The company has invested heavily in research and technology to ensure Sony products rarely have problems.
Given their innovative design, many people face challenges pairing their earbuds with their computers or smartphones. Fortunately, this does not have to be you. Use this detailed guide to learn how to pair Sony WF-C500. You can also follow our troubleshooting tips to fix Sony WF-C500 pairing issues.
I did everything its written but still my MacBook cannot find the earbuds
Do you have the same problem when trying to pair the earbuds with some other device (your phone, Windows PC, etc.)? If yes, the problem is not in your MacBook – it’s in the earbuds. In this case, try standard troubleshooting steps – restart the earbuds, update the earbuds, reset them.
If the earbuds can pair with other devices, the problem is in your MacBook. Try disabling/enabling your Bluetooth settings. Then, if your MacBook still cannot find the earbuds, try resetting your Bluetooth module and, after resetting the module, go to Library > Preferences and look for com.apple.bluetooth. You should see a PLIST document with this name. Delete it and restart your MacBook. You may also have to restart your Bluetooth once again (disable and re-enable it).
Hope this helps,
Steve