You can almost always guarantee the product is exquisite whenever you hear Sony. Sony is renowned for making quality electronics; their audio products are excellent.
I have the WF-1000XM3 earbuds and can confirm that the audio is worth their price. The earbuds are highly customizable through the Connect app, and their QN1e chip provides even more versatility.
Although the headphones have limitless advantages, they also have a few defects that can make using them frustrating. My main issue with the XM3s is that they can sometimes power off and refuse to power back on. The problem affects multiple users, and there is no definite solution.
Therefore, I compiled all possible solutions to help members of the WF-1000XM3 family get their earbuds working.
Key Takeaways
- The earbuds are turned on by taking them out of the case, and they will play a Power On audio prompt, and the LED will flash Blue.
- If the earbuds are idle without connecting to any device for five minutes, they will power off automatically.
- If the XM3s are not powering on, observe the LEDs on the case and the buds. If the LEDs glow, they can tell you the issue, i.e., if the battery is low or the buds are overheating.
- Connect the case to a working power outlet when the earbuds malfunction.
- Usually, when the buds do not turn on, it is an issue with the battery being drained or defective.
- It could also be that they are not powering on because they were incorrectly placed in the charging case.
- The buds will not function properly if exposed to extreme temperatures, which could be why they are not turning on.
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Why Won’t My WF-1000XM3 Turn On?
Various aspects can cause the Sony WF-1000XM3 earbuds not to power on. These can range from a mild system bug to the buds being damaged.
Below are reasons why your XM3s are not powering on:
- The earbuds are powered on by taking them out of the case, and if they were placed in it incorrectly, they might not have powered off. This will result in the battery draining, and it will take some time before it recharges
- Another cause is that the earbuds are not charging while in the case, so they do not have power.
- If you use an incompatible charger, the buds and the case will not recharge, resulting in it not turning on.
- The XM3s have an ideal temperature operation range. When the range is exceeded, they will not function appropriately
- A firmware malfunction can also prevent them from turning on
- It could also be that the battery or the buds are damaged; thus, they cannot power on.
SONY WF-1000XM3 Not Turning On – Common Causes
What to Do
Now that we have a rough idea of why the buds will not power on, it is easy to solve the problem. Here are steps you can take to get the XM3s working again.
Observe the LED on the Buds and the Case
The LED on the charging case and the buds communicate different messages to the user depending on the color. The color of the LED and the way it lights can help you determine why the XM3s are not powering on.
When the buds function as intended, they should blink blue when you take them out of the case.
If you remove the buds from the case and realize the LEDs on them do not light, it means there is an issue, and you should look into the troubleshooting measures described in this article.
The LEDs will flash red for about fifteen seconds when the buds are out of the case to show that the battery is low. If this is the case, place them in the case, and the LED on the buds should light red to show that they are charging. We will look more into the LEDs’ behavior when charging later.
The LED on the case will also notify you when there is a problem with the charging or when the operation temperature limits are exceeded.
Observe the LED behavior – the LEDs on the buds and case can tell you all kinds of things.
If there is no reaction from the LEDs on the buds and the case when you remove them and put them back in, it can mean that the batteries are drained or the case/buds are damaged, but it is still too early to tell. Let us finish troubleshooting.
Reset the Earbuds in the Charging Case
Let’s assume that, after observing the LEDs on the case and the buds, you notice that the buds are not flashing. It could be that they were not correctly placed in the case. If this is the case, the buds might not have powered off during the last use; thus, their battery is drained.
Ensure that each bud is in the correct slot in the case and fits snuggly.
When the buds are placed in the case and the case is adequately charged, the LEDs on the buds should light solid red to show they are off and charging. Leave them in the case for thirty minutes or an hour before taking them out to check whether they work.
Leave the earbuds charging (with the lid closed) for at least 30 minutes.
Also, observe the LED on the case. If you see it flash red briefly and then go off, the case does not have enough power and should be recharged.
If the case’s LED does not light, its battery is drained completely and, thus, cannot recharge the buds.
Placing the buds back in the case and then taking them out also works as a reboot, and it can help them start working if they stop because of a misconfiguration.
Connect the Case to a Power Source
When the XM3’s charging case is opened while the buds are inside the LEDs on the case, the buds should light. If there is no reaction from the buds, the primary reason is that the battery is depleted and cannot even light the LEDs to communicate the fact.
You might also notice that the LEDs come on briefly and then go off, meaning the battery needs recharging.
Therefore, get the USB cable provided by the manufacturer and connect the case to a power source while the buds are in the case. It is essential that you use the supplied cable, as third-party ones might be incompatible with your XM3 earbuds.
Use the supplied USB cable to charge the case and earbuds.
You should use an adapter, not a USB port, to recharge the case. The recommended current rating for the adapter is 0.5 A or 500 mA.
You can also use a USB port on your computer or laptop if accessing the adapter proves challenging.
However, do not connect the USB cable to a hub, as this will reduce the power going into the case and might not charge.
If the earbuds have been left unused for an extended period, it is normal if the case’s LED does not light up immediately after you connect it to a charger. Give it some time and check later if there is any change.
Also, remember to ensure the case is shut correctly when charging to reduce the amount of power being consumed and to hasten charging.
When the recommended power requirements are met, the case takes three and a half hours to recharge, while the earbuds recharge in one and a half hours. Therefore, check on the buds in six hours and see if they turn on when you take them out of the case.
Do not worry about overcharging the case or the buds, as the Lithium-ion batteries they come with have a feature that stops charging once the battery is full and resumes once the battery percentage drops.
Check the Charging Contacts
If charging or leaving the XM3s connected to a charger does not get them working, then the issue could be the case or the buds are not charging.
A charging problem could result from dirty/damaged charging contacts in the case and on the buds. The charging port on the case could also be dirty or defective, affecting the charging process and preventing the buds from turning on.
Check the charging contacts on the earbuds and case. Clean them if they are dirty or corroded.
Rule out all these possibilities by first checking the state of the USB cable and the adapter or the USB port it is connected to. If you notice any damage, swap the defective part with one in good condition.
Also, use a dry lint, free, soft cloth, or anything similar to clean the charging contacts in the case and those on the earbuds.
If the contacts or the buds are too dirty, use mild dilute detergent to wipe off the stubborn stains. Ensure you use a small amount that does not wet the buds or the case since this will cause further damage.
Cleaning True Wireless Earbuds – A Detailed Guide
Also, do not use strong chemicals to clean the contacts or the buds, as strong chemicals corrode the metallic parts and cause irreversible damage.
A soft-bristled brush will come in handy in cleaning the USB port on the charging case and the USB cable.
Once these parts are clean, observe them again to ensure they are in good condition before returning the buds to the case and then taking them out to see if they turn on.
If they do not turn on, connect the case to a charger while the buds are inside and leave them that way for three and a half hours, then check if they work.
Removing Dirt and Corrosion from the Earbuds’ Charging Contacts
Use a Different Charger
Cleaning the earbuds and the charging contacts might not get the buds working, but there is still hope.
The next troubleshooting measure is to use a different power source and charger.
Remember, you should prioritize the supplied USB cable, but if it does not work, use a third-party one since the original one could be defective.
Also, alternate between using an adapter and a USB port to see if this brings about any change. Remember, it might take some time before the case, and the buds indicate charging, especially if they are not turning on, so be patient.
Try using different power sources to charge your SONY WF-1000XM3.
Some users have also reported getting the earbuds to work using different chargers, particularly those with higher ratings than the recommended five hundred milliamps. Although this solution worked for a user who had a problem with only the left earbud, it might also solve the problem for a user who has both buds not working.
Move the XM3s to a Different Location
The batteries in the case and the earbuds are sensitive when exposed to extreme temperatures and can malfunction when temperature limits are exceeded.
For instance, the recommended ambient charging temperature for the XM3s is between 59 °F and 95 °F which translates to 15 °C and 35 °C. When the temperature exceeds and goes beyond the 41 °F and 95 °F limit, the LED on the case will begin flashing red twice in quick intervals.
If the ambient temperature exceeds the recommended limits, the earbuds might malfunction.
If you notice that the LED on the case behaves this way or is not responsive at all temperatures, that could be the issue.
You can solve this by moving the buds and the case to a different environment within the recommended temperature range and waiting for the buds and case to stabilize.
Do not rush the process by heating up or cooling the XM3s, as this will damage the earbuds further. However, you can take the buds out of the case and leave them until you are confident that the temperature has stabilized and is within the stated range.
If the earbuds were exposed to extreme temperatures for extended periods, it might take longer to regain normal functioning. The damage could be so much that it is irreversible.
Reset the Earbuds
Sometimes, the earbuds can have problems turning on because of a bug that can easily be removed. These bugs occur randomly and can significantly impact how the earbuds function.
A reset will eliminate the bug without erasing the earbuds’ saved settings and list of connected devices. The upside of the reset procedure is that it does not require the earbuds to be on, and you can proceed even when you do not see any response from the buds.
You can reset your Sony WF-1000XM3 by following these steps:
- Place both buds in the case and their respective slots.
- Hold the touch sensor on the left bud first. Hold for twenty seconds, and the LED on the bud should begin flashing red. You should release the sensor once the LED is off.
- If the earbud does not respond after twenty seconds, release the touch sensor and hold it again for thirty seconds.
- Next, go to the right earbud, hold the touch sensor for twenty seconds, and release once the LED turns off. Do this even if the left earbud’s LED does not come on.
- If the right earbud’s LED does not light red, release the sensor, then hold it for thirty seconds.
SONY WF-1000XM3 – SOFT RESET
- The LEDs on the buds might start flashing red after the reset is complete. That is normal, and it should stop once they are recharged and connected to a device.
Resetting Sony WF-1000XM3 – SOFT RESET
Restore the Earbuds to Factory Settings
If the reset procedure described above fails, you can try a more aggressive reset to clear the earbud’s settings and connection history. The reset will also restore the XM3’s factory settings if successful.
The reset will also clear any stubborn bugs that might be causing the earbuds not to turn on.
You can restore the factory settings on the XM3 by following these steps:
- Place both earbuds in the case and keep it open.
- Then, hold the touch sensor on both buds for ten seconds simultaneously.
Press and hold the touch controls on both buds for about 10 seconds. Wait for the LEDs to start flashing red.
- Remove your fingers from the touch sensors when you see the red LED on the buds flashing.
- The LEDs on the buds will then flash blue four times to show that the factory reset is successful.
- Remember to delete the XM3s from the Bluetooth settings of any device they have been paired to before.
If this process does not make the buds responsive, then chances are high that you have a defective unit.
How to Restore Factory Settings on Sony WF-1000XM3 – HARD RESET
Replace the Earbuds’ Batteries
The earbuds might still not be working even after trying all the suggested troubleshooting, but that is not necessarily a bad sign. This is because the troubleshooting aimed to narrow down what the problem could be, and that is precisely what you have done.
At this point, it is easier to assume that the battery or an internal component is damaged. Since the battery is usually the main culprit, replacing it can get the buds to work.
Replacing the battery on XM3 earbuds is relatively easy, compared to other earbud models.
If you notice the LED on the case is flashing red in slow succession, it means that there is a problem with the charging process, and it is related to the battery.
That indicates the battery is defective, especially if you followed the above troubleshooting tips.
Therefore, you can follow online tutorials on replacing the earbuds’ batteries and check if that helps.
The battery inside each WF-1000XM3 earbud is VARTA CP1254. It’s a Li-Ion 3.7V/0.2Wh battery. Look for a replacement battery with the same ratings.
On the other hand, you can replace the battery on your own if you have the necessary skills and tools, especially if the warranty has already expired.
Also, remember that the issue could be the case’s battery, especially if both the case and the buds were unresponsive. So, only replace the buds’ batteries if you are certain they are the issue.
How to Replace Batteries on the XM3 Earbuds – Step-by-Step Guide
Contact Support
Instead of attempting the repair independently, contact Sony for further assistance. Let them know the steps you have already tried, and they will help you find a repair center near you if they deem it necessary.
Contact Sony even if the warranty is expired to prevent unqualified technicians from causing further damage because they are just winging it.
In some instances, taking the buds to an authorized service center is the most convenient solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: What to do if my Sony headphones won’t turn on?
- Answer: You can:
- Ensure the buds and the case are adequately charged.
- Check for any signs of physical damage.
- Attempt a factory reset.
- Ensure you are using a compatible charger to charge the headphones.
- Ensure the charger and charging port on the headphones are in good condition.
- Question: How do I turn on my Sony WF 1000XM3 without the case?
- Answer: If the buds are out of the case for five minutes, they will automatically power off. Turn them on by touching the touch area or placing the buds in your ears.
- Question: How do I turn on my Sony WF 1000xm3 earbuds?
- Answer: Take the buds out of the case, and they will automatically power on.
Conclusion
When gadgets do not function as expected, it is easy to get agitated and give up, but that should not be the case. If you are determined, you can get the troublesome device working, and that is what matters.
The Sony WF-1000XM3 buds are an excellent earbud option and, thus, worth the trouble. And it is not trouble if the solutions are explained in detail. You just have to follow the instructions above and your earbuds will be fixed.
