We all know that Sony produces high-quality gadgets that are long-lasting. Sony has an impeccable lineup of various day-to-day electronics ranging from TVs to sound systems.
I am a huge Sony fan, so I knew exactly what I needed when it was time to get a new pair of earbuds. Thus, choosing the WF-1000XM3 buds was an easy task.
The earbuds have worked seamlessly for a year, but a few months ago, I realized they were charging slowly, and sometimes they would not charge at all. This was frustrating, and I had to find a solution immediately.
Luckily, Sony has a vibrant user community that is ready to help. They offered suggestions, and I finally got the earbuds charging.
Below are the recommended steps and more I came across while conducting my research. Hopefully, they work for you now that you are experiencing the same issue.
Key Takeaways
- The LEDs on the buds and the case light solid red to indicate charging.
- The LED on the case will go off once both the case and the earbuds are fully charged.
- The LED on each bud will be off when you open the case to show the respective bud is fully charged.
- If the LEDs on the earbuds flash red twice, it means the operational temperature limits are exceeded. The earbuds will have trouble charging if the operational temperature limits are exceeded.
- Dirty or damaged charging pins in the case and on the buds can also affect charging.
- A defective USB cable or power source will also not charge the earbuds.
- A firmware malfunction can stop the earbuds and the case from charging.
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How Do I Know My Sony WF-1000XM3 Is Charging?
It is important to know the LED indicator behavior on your Sony earbuds. That way, you can quickly notice any irregularities, especially when the LEDs on the buds and the case start lighting differently.
Here are the signs that your Sony WF-1000XM3 buds and case are charging;
- The LED on the charging case lights solid red when the case is connected to a power outlet. The LED will go off once the earbuds and the case are fully charged.
The LED on the case glows red when the case is connected to a power source and charging. It will turn off automatically when the case is charged.
- The LEDs on the earbuds will light solid red to show they are charging when placed in the case. The earbud LEDs will go off once the buds are fully charged.
The LEDs on the earbuds will glow red when the earbuds are charging. They will turn off automatically when the earbuds are charged.
- You will also feel the case get warm to the touch while it charges.
- Charging the earbuds will take approximately three and a half hours, assuming the batteries are completely drained. Charging can take longer or shorter depending on the power source connected to the case.
Why Is My Sony WF-100XM3 Not Charging?
Sometimes, the earbuds and the case will not charge even if connected to a power source. This can be frustrating, mainly because the problem could be any of several factors.
Below are suggestions that will help you identify the problem and solve it.
Ensure the Charging Pins Are Clean and Dry
The case charges the earbuds. They cannot be charged directly from a power outlet. The case charges the buds through charging pins inside it that come into contact with those on the buds.
The charging contacts on the buds and those in the case need to be cleaned to supply power from the case to the buds efficiently.
Dirt on the charging contacts is the first culprit because lint, dust, and other tiny fragments normally get trapped on and around the charging contacts.
Check the charging pins and contacts. Clean them if they are dirty.
Therefore, solve this using a microfiber cloth damped with some isopropyl alcohol to clean the contacts. The cloth and alcohol will remove any stubborn stains and debris.
If some debris does not come out, you can use a soft-bristled brush or a compressed air can to remove it.
How to Clean the Charging Case and Earbuds – Step-by-Step Guide
Be gentle when cleaning these pins to avoid causing damage to the earbuds and the case.
Also, check the charging port on the case to ensure it is clean. You can use a brush or air can to clean it if it is dirty.
Once you are sure everything is clean and in good condition, place the buds in their respective slots in the case and close it. Then, connect the USB cable to an adapter and the case and check if it’s charging.
Earbuds Not Charging Because of Dirty or Corroded Charging Contacts – Cleaning the Charging Contacts with a Toothbrush and Sandpaper
Use the USB Cable from the Manufacturer
Your USB cable can also affect how the case and buds charge. Some USB cables are low-quality, so they will not charge your earbuds.
Sony advises you to use the cable that came with the earbuds since other cables might not work.
If possible, use the original USB cable that came with the earbuds to charge the case.
However, you can try other cables, especially if the earbuds do not charge when you use the default cable. The idea is to try different USB cables and see if they will charge the WF-1000XM3s.
Use an Alternative Power Source
The power source you use to charge the buds can also be an issue. Power outlets do not output the same amount of power.
For instance, the USB port on your desktop outputs less power than the power provided by a wall outlet. Also, adapters have different power ratings.
Additionally, note that the earbuds case will not charge if it is connected to a USB port of a desktop that is in sleep mode.
Therefore, test different power outlets, adapters, and USB ports before concluding that the earbuds will not charge.
Try using different sources to charge your earbuds.
Leave the Earbuds Connected to a Power Source for a While
Sometimes, when the power is drained from the case and the buds, it will take a while before they both show they are charging. That is also the case when the earbuds and the charging case are left for long periods without charging.
So, check if this is the case for you by leaving the buds in the case and the case connected to a power source. You can leave them charging for around thirty minutes before checking on them.
Leave the earbuds charging for at least 30 minutes, even if the LED indicators don’t turn on.
If they recharge, they will take longer to charge the first few times you charge them, but the charging cycle will go back to normal after a while.
But do not habitually store the WF-1000XM3s without power, as this will degrade the battery quickly. Instead, ensure the buds and case are fully charged before storing them.
Ensure the Sony WF-XM3 Is Using the Latest Firmware
Other times, an outdated firmware version could be the culprit. Firmware updates improve a device’s efficiency by solving problems like charging issues.
The Sony earbuds are the same and should use the latest firmware, even if they seem to work with the old one.
However, the WF-1000XM3 buds automatically update their firmware by default. The process below applies when you suspect the firmware could be the issue.
Before attempting the update, ensure the following conditions are met;
- Ensure you have the Sony Headphones Connect app installed on your device.
- The device should also be connected to the Sony earbuds.
- The earbuds should have at least 50% power and be outside the case.
- The Automatic power-off feature is enabled by default. You can turn it off by navigating System > Automatic power off and selecting ‘Do not turn off’.
Disable Automatic Power Off
Turning off this feature ensures the update is not interrupted since the earbuds will automatically power off if they remain idle for some time.
A notification will appear on the app indicating an update if there is any. Then, you can select More Info, which will take you through the update process.
How to update the firmware on Sony WF-1000XM3?
You might be unable to update the firmware because the battery is below fifty percent. If so, skip the firmware update procedure and try other solutions.
Ensure the Earbuds Are Not Exposed to Extreme Temperature
The Sony WF-1000XM3 buds have an ideal operational temperature that should be maintained. The temperature ranges between 41 ºF (5 °C) and 95 ºF (35 °C), and anything above or below that will affect charging, most likely to the extent of stopping it.
Do not charge the earbuds if the temperatures exceed the max or min recommended values.
If the temperature limits have been exceeded, place the buds and the case in a room-temperature environment for an hour or two. The LEDs on the buds will briefly flash red twice to show that operational temperature limits have been exceeded.
Do not attempt to warm the earbuds by placing them under direct sunlight, a microwave, or fire. Also, do not cool the earbuds down by placing them in a fridge or anywhere similar. Such activities will damage the buds.
Recharge the earbuds and the case once their temperature has stabilized.
Reset the Earbuds
If the earbuds are not charging up to this point, the problem could be more challenging than expected.
In this case, you can reset the buds and restore the factory settings if that does not work.
A reset will not clear the pairing information or settings you might have customized on the app.
You can reset the earbuds by following the steps below:
- Place both earbuds in the case and confirm that they both light red.
- Hold the touchpad on the left earbud for twenty seconds and release it once the LED on the same bud flashes red, then turn it off.
- Repeat the above procedure on the right earbud. You can now take the buds out to power them on.
Step-by-Step Instructions – Resetting Sony WF-1000XM3
Resetting Sony WF-1000XM3
Check whether the earbuds are now charging. If not, follow the steps below to restore the factory settings.
- Ensure both buds are in the charging case and their LEDs light red
- Hold the touchpad on both buds until their LEDs start flashing. This will be after approximately ten seconds. The LEDs will flash red slowly, then fast.
Press and hold both touchpads simultaneously for about 20 seconds. The LEDs will blink red slowly. Then, they will blink rapidly. Finally, all the LEDs will turn off. You can release the touchpads after the LEDs turn off.
- The LEDs on the buds will then flash blue four times to indicate the restoration is complete.
Restoring Sony WF-1000XM3 to Factory Default Settings
Contact Customer Support
If the Sony WF-1000XM3 still does not charge, the problem could be an internal component like the charging system.
Bonus Video – How to Replace or Upgrade Batteries on Sony WF-1000XM3 Earbuds
In such cases, you should contact Sony’s customer support and notify them of your problem and the solutions you have already tried.
They will either suggest more solutions or ask you to send in the defective unit, and they will replace it.
Bonus Video – How to Replace Charging Case Battery on Sony WF-1000XM3
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
It gets frustrating when either the buds or the case are not charging. But we have to accept that even the best of gadgets malfunction. Charging problems can be a result of various aspects. Some are easy to solve, while others are complex, like replacing the batteries.
Either way, now you know what might affect your Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds and what to do.
