While they are over two years old, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are still among the best available today. We understand that many of you have spent a lot of money on them but you may be having trouble pairing them.

If you need help, we can teach you XM5 Bluetooth pairing and how to connect the Sony WH-1000XM5 to MacOS, Windows, iOS and Android.

XM5 Bluetooth Pairing

To link the Sony WH-1000XM5 with a phone or laptop, first put the headset in pairing mode. Press and hold the power button for roughly 5 seconds, or until the LED light starts blinking blue.

After that, navigate to your device’s Bluetooth settings and pair the headphones. Continue reading for detailed instructions on all main platforms.

How to put the Sony WH-1000XM5 in pairing mode

First and foremost, you must learn how to put the Sony WH-1000XM5 into pairing mode. If you’ve never paired the headset with a device, it should go into pairing mode the first time you turn it on.

If it does not, or if you have previously associated the headphones with a device, see the instructions below:
Make sure the Sony WH-1000XM5 is charged. Plug it in for some time.
When you’re ready, press and hold the power button for around five seconds.
You can let go when the indicator LED light turns blue. In addition, the headphones will say “Pairing.”
Once the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones have entered pairing mode, you can select the device to which you want to connect them.

How to Connect the Sony WH-1000XM5 to a Mac or MacBook?

Do you use a Mac computer? Here’s how to pair it with your Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.

On your Mac computer, click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner.
Go into System Settings.
Select Bluetooth.
Hold the cursor over WH-1000XM5 and click on Connect.
The headphones will connect after a few seconds.

How to connect the Sony WH-1000XM5 to a Windows PC or laptop

Those of you using Windows will have to dig a little more, but the process is still rather basic.

On your Windows computer, launch the Settings app.
Go into Bluetooth & devices.
Select the Add Device option.
Click on Bluetooth.
The tool will search for available devices. Select the WH-1000XM5.
The headphones will connect within a few seconds.

How to Connect the Sony WH-1000XM5 to an iPhone

Let’s move on to mobile. We know many of you are using iPhones, so we’ll go over the iOS instructions.

On your iPhone, launch the Settings app.
Go to the Bluetooth option.
Look under Other Devices. WH-1000XM5 should show up there. Tap on it.
The headphones will connect after a few seconds.

How to connect the Sony WH-1000XM5 to an Android Phone

Here’s how to connect a Sony WH-1000XM5 headset to an Android handset:

On your Android phone, launch the Settings app.
Go into Connected Devices.
Tap on the Pair new device option.
Look under Available Devices. WH-1000XM5 should show up there. Tap on it.
Select Pair.
The headphones will connect after a few seconds.

Causes of Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones not Connecting or Pairing via Bluetooth

It is generally advisable to have a concept of the potential reasons for the problem. This is because you can simplify the troubleshooting steps and save time by avoiding solutions that are irrelevant to the problem at hand.

Here are some of the possible causes of the Sony XM5 not connecting:

Devices are incompatible.
The devices are not within the Bluetooth pairing range.
The devices are running low on battery.
Bluetooth on the devices is not enabled.
The device’s firmware is outdated.

Possible Solutions to Bluetooth Pairing Issues with Sony WH 1000XM5

We do not want Bluetooth connectivity troubles to disrupt your music experience with the Sony WH 1000XM5.

Here are some alternative solutions to help you resolve Bluetooth pairing troubles easily:

1. Bring the Devices in Bluetooth Pairing Range

The first step is to ensure that the Sony WH 1000XM5 and your other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as an iPhone, PC or laptop, are within range.

When pairing over Bluetooth, Sony recommends keeping your devices within 3 feet of each other to achieve the greatest connection possible.

If they are more than this distance away, you may encounter audio or connection drops, or you may be unable to pair at all. So it’s worth ensuring they’re as close together as possible.

2. Move away from the obstacles

If you have both the XM5 and another Bluetooth-enabled device nearby but are still having pairing troubles, an object may be obstructing the signal.

Common impediments to Bluetooth connectivity include walls, furniture, rugs and other wireless devices such as Wi-Fi routers or microwaves. To ensure a reliable Bluetooth connection, check that there are no impediments between your XM5 and the other device.

3. Charge both the XM5 battery and the pairing device

Once you’ve checked that both devices are nearby and nothing is interfering with Bluetooth connectivity, you should check your XM5’s battery life.

If the Sony WH-1000XM5’s battery life is poor, it may affect Bluetooth pairing functionality. As a result, before continuing with Bluetooth pairing, the headphones must be charged.

Anyway, to check the battery life of your Sony WH-1000XM5, look for this indicator light:

If the light flashes twice in blue, there is more than 10% battery life left.
If the light flashes slowly in orange for roughly 15 seconds, the battery has less than 10% remaining.

4. Turned on Bluetooth on both devices

How can two devices be paired while one or both have Bluetooth turned off? That is why it is critical to verify the Bluetooth on both devices.

Check the Bluetooth settings on your smartphone, tablet or computer to ensure that Bluetooth is enabled. Similarly, you may verify the Sony WH-1000XM5’s Bluetooth settings by looking at the indicator lights.

5. Refresh the Bluetooth Connectivity

If you’re reading this, it suggests the battery life isn’t an issue and you’ve looked for any potential problems.

However, if the headphones have previously been associated with another device, they will be unable to establish a new connection until you explicitly activate Bluetooth connectivity.

If you’re not sure how to accomplish this, see our article for a step-by-step instruction to enable Bluetooth connectivity on the Sony WH-1000XM5.

6. Restart the connected device.

At this point, Sony recommends restarting the device you’re attempting to connect to. Restarting any linked devices, such as smartphones, PCs or smartwatches, will reload their Bluetooth settings. It can also assist in repairing any small issues that are generating pairing troubles with your XM5.

7. Check the Compatibility of XM5 with Bluetooth Device

The Sony XM5 works with most Bluetooth-enabled devices, including smartphones, tablets and PCs. To ensure compatibility, always check the Bluetooth version and profile of the device you want to pair with your XM5 headphones.

The XM5 is equipped with Bluetooth 5.2, which is backward compatible with all previous Bluetooth versions. The XM5 also supports SBC, AAC and LDAC Bluetooth profiles, which improves connectivity and audio streaming.

If your Sony XM5 isn’t connecting to a specific device, make sure they’re compatible. To confirm the XM5’s compatibility, we recommend reading the user handbook.

8. Update the Firmware of XM5

If you’re still unable to connect the Sony WH-1000XM5 to a PC or other device, the device may have an unsupported software version. This can lead to small issues that prevent two devices from partnering. It is highly advised that you upgrade your device’s software and the Sony WH-1000XM5 firmware.

To be compatible with the Sony WH-1000XM5, your device must match the following software requirements:

Android device: V5.0 or
iOS device: iOS 11.0 or later
Reset Sony WH-1000XM5

If all else fails, you should reset the XM5 to factory settings. Resetting XM5 implies that all of your custom settings and any other data stored on the device will be destroyed; thus, I recommend that you save the settings first.

However, resetting the Sony WH-1000XM5 is a simple and quick operation. But if you don’t know, check out this article.

What to Do If Other Sony Headphones Aren’t Connecting?

If your Sony headphones are not pairing with Bluetooth devices, follow the troubleshooting instructions outlined above for XM5.

FAQs

Do Sony’s WH-1000XM5 headphones enable Fast Pair?

Yes, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headset supports Fast Pairing. This guide includes manual procedures, although you may be able to link your headphones more effortlessly. With Fast Pair, all you have to do is place your headphones in pairing mode and close to a supported device. You should notice a window on your device’s screen inviting you to connect to the headphones.

Which Android smartphones support Fast Pairing?

Fast Pair is compatible with devices running Android 6.0 or higher. Find Support for My and device renaming features are enabled starting with Android 10.

Can I disable Fast Pairing?

You can disable Fast Pair. Simply navigate to the Settings app and search for ‘Fast Pair.’ Select Devices from the Google Play Services menu. Turn off Scan for Nearby Devices.

Do I need the Sony Headphones Connect app?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones do not require the Sony Headphones Connect app to function properly. However, some upgraded capabilities are only accessible through this app. We recommend that you download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to improve your experience.

How far can the Sony WH-1000XM5 Bluetooth range extend?

According to Sony, the Bluetooth connection on the WH-1000XM5 headphones can extend up to 10 meters (30 feet). Your experience may vary, however, because the stated ranges are based on ideal conditions with no obstructions or interference.