Sony headphones have superior sound quality, and their advanced features make Sony a go-to brand when looking for quality headphones. The Sony Headphones Connect app gives users more control, like changing the touch controls on their earbuds.
I recently bought the Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds, and getting them into pairing mode for the second time was challenging. As I went through the manual, the steps seemed clear and straightforward. To avoid similar challenges, I compiled instructions on getting different models (both on-ear and in-ear models) in pairing mode.
Key Takeaways
- Sony headphones will go into pairing mode when you power them on for the first time or when you power them on after a reset.
- Putting the headphones in pairing mode for the second time usually entails pressing and holding the power button for a specific duration in seconds.
- However, some models follow different procedures when putting them in pairing mode.
- Some Sony headphones support NFC connectivity which is a faster, easier way of pairing them to other devices that support the feature.
- If prompted for a PIN when pairing the headphones to a source device, use 0000.
- Most models will have a ‘pairing mode’ voice prompt to show that the headphones are in pairing mode. The LED will also continually flash blue.
- Ensure the headphones have sufficient power when in pairing mode to avoid connection issues.
- Leaving the headphones in pairing mode without connecting them to a source device will power off after five minutes.
Putting Sony Headphones in Pairing Mode
Whenever you power on the Sony headphones for the first time, they automatically go into pairing mode. However, if you want to manually put the headphones in pairing mode to connect to another device, follow the instructions below depending on the model of your headphones.
How to Put SONY WF-1000XM4 Earbuds in Pairing Mode
These are one of Sony’s best earbuds, and they automatically turn on when you remove them from the charging case.
You can get them in pairing mode by touching and holding the touch sensor on both buds for five seconds, and you will hear a ‘Bluetooth pairing’ voice prompt.
Image Credit – SONY YouTube Channel
Ensure you put the earbuds in your ear before enabling pairing mode; otherwise, they will not work.
How to Put SONY WF-C500 Earbuds in Pairing Mode
When you take them out of the charging case, these earbuds automatically turn on. You can manually turn them on by touching and holding the sensor area on both buds for two seconds. The LED on the buds will flash blue, and you will hear a “power on” voice prompt.
To get the buds in pairing mode, place them in your ears, then touch and hold the sensor area for five seconds. The LED on the buds will repeatedly flash Blue twice, and you will hear a ‘pairing mode ‘voice prompt to show they are in pairing mode.
Pairing SONY WF-C500 Earbuds
How to Put SONY LinkBuds S in Pairing Mode
To get these earbuds in pairing mode, open the charging case. The buds will not go into pairing mode if the case is closed.
Then press and hold the pairing button behind the charging case, and the LED on the case will flash blue, indicating the buds are in pairing mode. The button is next to the case’s charging port.
These instructions also apply to the WF-L900 buds, and the pairing button is next to the charging port.
Pairing SONY LinkBuds S Earbuds – Step-by-Step Instructions
How to Put SONY WF-1000XM3 Headphones in Pairing Mode
To get these earbuds in pairing mode, touch and hold the sensor area on both buds for seven seconds. You will hear the ‘pairing mode’ voice prompt from the left earbud, and the LEDs on both buds will flash blue twice.
Ensure the buds are in your ear when initializing pairing mode.
How to Initiate Pairing on SONY WF-1000XM3
How to Put SONY WH-1000XM4 Headphones in Pairing Mode
Long-press the power button for seven seconds to manually get the buds in pairing mode. Do this when the headphones are off so they can power on and go to pairing mode.
The LED will flash Blue twice to show the headphones are in pairing mode. These steps apply to the WH-1000XM3, WH-CH710N, WH-XB900N, and WH-H910N models.
How to Initiate Bluetooth Pairing Manually on SONY WH-1000XM4
How to Put SONY WH-1000XM5 Headphones in Pairing Mode
To get these headphones in pairing mode, press the power button on the left earcup for five seconds.
The LED repeatedly flashes blue twice to show that the headphones are in pairing mode.
These steps also work for the Sony WH-XB910N headphones.
How to Initiate Bluetooth Pairing Manually on SONY WH-1000XM4
How to Put SONY WH-CH510 Headphones in Pairing Mode
To get these headphones in pairing mode, long-press the power button on the right cup for seven seconds.
The LED repeatedly flashes blue twice to show that the pairing mode is active.
How to Initiate Bluetooth Pairing on SONY WH-CH510
How to Put SONY WH-CH700N Headphones in Pairing Mode
To get WH-CH700N headphones in pairing mode, long-press the power button on the left earcup for seven seconds.
The LED on the headphones will flash red and blue to show they are in pairing mode.
These steps also work for the MDR-ZX770BN, WH-H900N, and WH-1000XM2 headphones.
How to Put SONY WF-XB700 Earbuds in Pairing Mode
These earbuds have a button, whereas other models have a touch sensor.
To get the WF-XB700s into pairing mode, place them in your ears while they are powered on.
Then, press and hold the buttons on both buds for seven seconds, and the LEDs will start continually flashing blue to show pairing mode is active.
Initiating Bluetooth Pairing on SONY WF-XB700 Earbuds
How to Put SONY WH-CH500 Headphones in Pairing Mode
To get these headphones in pairing mode, ensure they are sufficiently charged and powered on.
Then long-press the power button on the right earcup for seven seconds. The LED will start flashing red and blue to indicate the headphones are in pairing mode.
These steps also work for the MDR-ZX330BT model.
How to Put SONY WF-1000X Earbuds in Pairing Mode
To put these earbuds in pairing mode, place both buds in the case and ensure you hear a click.
Then take out only the left earbud and press and hold the button on the left bud for seven seconds.
Yow will know the buds are in pairing mode when you hear a ‘pairing mode’ voice prompt and the LED flashes blue and red.
You can now remove the right earbud, which will automatically pair with the left bud.
How to Initiate Pairing on SONY WF-1000X Earbuds
Getting Other Models of Sony Headphones in Pairing Mode
Sony has over one hundred headphone models; listing them all in this article would take forever. However, that does not mean that if your model is not mentioned, you cannot get it into pairing mode.
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If your model is outside those mentioned above, you can access the user manual from Sony’s website and follow the instructions provided there.
Remember to ensure the headphones are adequately charged for successful pairing.
Sony Headphones with the NFC Feature
Some Sony headphones can connect to Android devices via the Near Field Communication feature.
The feature allows the headphones to easily and quickly pair to devices just by tapping on the source device with the headphones.
To use NFC for pairing, ensure the headphones and the device you want to connect the headphones to support NFC. Also, ensure NFC connectivity on the source device is enabled.
Sony headphones with NFC connectivity have an N logo on one of the headphone’s earcups, and the earbuds have the logo on the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How to enable pairing mode on my Sony WH 1000XM3 headphones?
- Answer: While the headphones are off, long-press the power button on the left earcup for seven seconds. The LED on the headphones will continually flash blue twice to indicate that the pairing mode is active.
- Question: How to engage pairing mode on Sony WH 1000xm4 headphones?
- Answer: The first time you power on these headphones, they automatically go into pairing mode. However, if you wish to enable pairing mode manually, long-press the power button for seven seconds, and the LED will repeatedly flash blue twice to show the headphones are in pairing mode.
- Question: Why won’t my Sony headphones go into pairing mode?
- Answer: Various issues can stop the headphones from getting into pairing mode. Such issues include drained batteries or a system malfunction.
- To troubleshoot when such issues occur, ensure the headphones have sufficient power. You will know the power level by observing the LEDs and using the manual to interpret what each light pulse means.
- If you connect the headphones and realize they are not charging, leave them connected to a charger for ten to twenty minutes and check if they are taking power. If not, consult the manual on how to solve charging problems.
- You can also reset the headphones; hopefully, they will be in pairing mode the next time you power them on. The factory resetting process differs depending on the model; therefore, consult the user manual.
Conclusion
Sony has a lot of headphone models, and each follows different steps when getting them in pairing mode. Fortunately, Sony has made the user manuals for each model easily accessible; therefore, anyone can download and follow the provided instructions.
If you encounter any challenges with the headphones, contact Sony’s customer support service for further assistance. You can also post your problem in Sony’s community for assistance from other Sony headphone users.
