How to Pair Sony Headphones (Every Model)

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How to Enter Pairing Mode

Sony headphones need to be in Bluetooth pairing mode before they can connect to a new device. The way you enter pairing mode depends on whether you have over-ear headphones, earbuds, or neckband-style models.

Over-Ear Headphones (WH Series)

This covers the WH-1000XM5, WH-1000XM4, WH-CH720N, WH-CH520, and other Sony over-ear models.

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Turn off the headphones if they’re currently on.
Press and hold the power button for about 7 seconds. The indicator light flashes blue rapidly, indicating pairing mode.
On your phone or device, open Bluetooth settings and select the headphones from the list of available devices.
The headphones announce “Bluetooth connected” through the speakers when paired successfully.

If the headphones have been paired before, turning them on with a short press of the power button automatically connects to the last paired device. To pair with a new device, you need the 7-second hold to force pairing mode. Some models announce “Bluetooth pairing” when they enter pairing mode.

True Wireless Earbuds (WF Series)

This covers the WF-1000XM5, WF-1000XM4, WF-C700N, WF-C500, LinkBuds, and other Sony true wireless earbuds.

Place both earbuds in the charging case.
Open the charging case lid. The earbuds power on automatically.
If the earbuds are brand new (never paired), they enter pairing mode automatically when the case opens.
If previously paired, hold the touch sensor on both earbuds for about 7 seconds until you hear a beep or the indicator light flashes blue.
On your phone, go to Bluetooth settings and select the earbuds from the device list.

Alternative method for WF-1000XM5 and similar: hold both earbuds in the case, press and hold the pairing button on the back of the charging case for about 5 seconds until the indicator on the case flashes blue.

Pair Sony Headphones to iPhone

Put your Sony headphones into pairing mode (using the steps above).
On your iPhone, go to Settings, then Bluetooth.
Make sure Bluetooth is toggled on.
Your Sony headphones appear in the “Other Devices” section. Tap the name to connect.
The headphones announce “Bluetooth connected” and appear under “My Devices” as “Connected.”

After the initial pairing, your iPhone remembers the headphones. Turn them on and they connect automatically. If they connect to a different device instead (like your laptop), go to iPhone Bluetooth settings and tap the headphone name to switch the connection.

Pair Sony Headphones to Android

Put your headphones into pairing mode.
On your Android phone, go to Settings, then Connected Devices (or Connections, then Bluetooth).
Tap “Pair new device.”
Select your Sony headphones from the list.
Accept the pairing request if prompted.

Samsung Galaxy phones support Google Fast Pair for compatible Sony models. When you enter pairing mode near a Samsung phone, a popup notification appears asking if you want to connect – tap it to pair instantly without going into Bluetooth settings.

Pair Sony Headphones to Windows Laptop

Put the headphones into pairing mode.
On Windows, click the Start menu and go to Settings, then Bluetooth & Devices.
Click “Add device,” then select “Bluetooth.”
Your headphones appear in the list. Click to pair.
Windows installs the drivers automatically. The headphones are ready to use.

For audio calls (Zoom, Teams), make sure your headphones are set as both the output and input device in your call app’s audio settings. Sony headphones with a built-in microphone work for calls, but the microphone quality is adequate rather than great. For critical calls, a dedicated microphone sounds better.

Pair Sony Headphones to Mac

Put the headphones into pairing mode.
On your Mac, click the Apple menu, then System Settings, then Bluetooth.
Your headphones appear in the list of nearby devices. Click “Connect.”
The headphones pair and connect.

To switch audio output to your headphones on Mac, click the Sound icon in the menu bar (or Control Center) and select the headphones. If the headphones connected but audio still plays through the Mac speakers, this manual switch usually fixes it.

Pair Sony Headphones to TV

Most smart TVs support Bluetooth audio output. The process varies by TV brand.

Put your headphones into pairing mode.
On your TV, go to Settings, then Sound (or Audio), then Bluetooth (or Bluetooth Speaker List).
Select your headphones from the available devices.
Audio routes to the headphones. TV speakers typically mute automatically.

Some older TVs don’t support Bluetooth audio output. If your TV doesn’t have a Bluetooth option in settings, buy a Bluetooth transmitter ($20 to $40) that plugs into the TV’s headphone jack or optical audio port. The transmitter sends audio wirelessly to your headphones.

Using the Sony Headphones Connect App

Sony’s Headphones Connect app (free on iOS and Android) gives you control over noise cancellation levels, EQ settings, ambient sound mode, and adaptive sound control. It also handles firmware updates. While you don’t need the app to pair or use the headphones, it unlocks the full feature set.

The app lets you customize touch controls (change what single tap, double tap, and triple tap do on each earcup or earbud), adjust the noise cancellation intensity on a scale from full cancellation to ambient sound pass-through, and optimize audio quality by selecting between sound quality priority and connection stability priority.

Can Sony headphones connect to two devices at once?

Yes. Sony’s multipoint connection (available on WH-1000XM5, WH-1000XM4, WF-1000XM5, and other recent models) lets you stay connected to two devices simultaneously. Audio plays from whichever device is actively sending audio. If a call comes in on your phone while you’re listening to music from your laptop, the headphones switch to the phone automatically. Enable multipoint in the Sony Headphones Connect app under System settings.

Why won’t my Sony headphones pair?

Make sure the headphones are actually in pairing mode (rapid blue LED flashing), not just powered on. If they connected to a previously paired device, they won’t enter pairing mode on their own. Power them off completely, then hold the power button for 7 seconds. If pairing still fails, clear the pairing list: hold the power button for about 15 seconds (on WH models) until the light flashes blue four times. This erases all saved pairings and puts the headphones into fresh pairing mode.

How do I switch between paired devices?

Without multipoint, disconnect from the current device first (either from the device’s Bluetooth settings or by powering the headphones off and on near the desired device). With multipoint enabled, the headphones stay connected to two devices and switch audio automatically based on which device plays audio or receives a call. For manual switching between more than two devices, use the device’s Bluetooth settings to connect to the headphones.

Sources

Sony – Connect Bluetooth Headphones | Sony – Headphones Connect App