Sony Noise-Canceling Headphones: Pairing Guide

This guide walks you through pairing Sony noise-canceling headphones with a phone, laptop, and tablet. You’ll learn the standard Bluetooth pairing process for each device type, plus how to switch between them and fix common connection problems. No special tools are needed—just your headphones and the device you want to connect.

What You’ll Need

Sony noise-canceling headphones (WH-1000XM series, WH-CH series, WF earbuds, etc.)
The phone, laptop, or tablet you want to pair with
Charged headphone battery (low battery can prevent pairing)
Bluetooth enabled on all devices you plan to use

Step-by-Step

Putting Your Headphones in Pairing Mode

Turn off the headphones if they are on. Press and hold the power button for about 7 seconds.
Keep holding until you hear a voice prompt saying “Bluetooth pairing” or see the indicator light flashing rapidly in blue and red.
If your model has a dedicated NC/Ambient button, you can also press and hold it for 2 seconds to enter pairing mode while the headphones are off.
For earbuds (like WF-1000XM5), remove both from the charging case. They enter pairing mode automatically the first time. To re-enter, touch and hold both touch sensors for about 5 seconds until you hear the prompt.

Pairing with an iPhone or Android Phone

On your phone, open Settings and tap Bluetooth.
Make sure Bluetooth is toggled on.
With the headphones in pairing mode, look under “Other Devices” or “Available Devices.”
Tap the name of your Sony headphones (e.g., “WH-1000XM5”).
If asked for a PIN, enter 0000.
Wait for the status to change to “Connected.” You’ll hear a confirmation tone in the headphones.

Pairing with a Windows Laptop

Click the Start button, then Settings (gear icon).
Select Bluetooth & devices (Windows 11) or Devices (Windows 10).
Turn on Bluetooth if it’s off.
Click “Add device” or “Add Bluetooth or other device.”
Choose Bluetooth from the list.
Select your Sony headphones from the discovered devices.
If a PIN appears, confirm it matches the one shown on the headphones (usually 0000).
Wait for “Connected” to appear. You may need to set the headphones as the default playback device in Sound settings.

Pairing with a MacBook

Click the Apple menu and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
Click Bluetooth.
Ensure Bluetooth is on.
Wait for your Sony headphones to appear in the list of devices.
Click “Connect” next to the headphone name.
Once connected, you can also set them as the output device in System Settings > Sound > Output.

Pairing with an iPad or Android Tablet

Open Settings and tap Bluetooth.
Confirm Bluetooth is enabled.
With the headphones in pairing mode, tap their name when it appears.
Accept any pairing request.
Check the connected status before closing Settings.

Switching Between Devices

Your Sony headphones remember multiple paired devices (typically up to 8).
To switch, simply disconnect from the current device (turn off Bluetooth on it) and connect from the new device’s Bluetooth menu.
Many Sony models support multipoint connection, allowing two devices at once. Enable this in the Sony Headphones Connect app under “Connection” settings.
If multipoint is on, the headphones will automatically switch audio to whichever device starts playing.

Common Mistakes

Not entering pairing mode: Holding the power button for only 2 seconds just turns the headphones on; you need the full 7 seconds to trigger pairing.
Leaving the headphones connected to another device: If they’re already connected to your phone, they won’t appear as available on your laptop. Disconnect first.
Forgetting old pairings: If the headphones are paired to many devices, the oldest pairing may be dropped. Remove unused devices from the headphone’s memory via the app.
Bluetooth off on the target device: Obvious but common—check the toggle.
Using the wrong button: On some models, the NC button enters pairing mode; on others, it’s the power button. Check your manual.

Tips

Use the Sony Headphones Connect app (iOS/Android) to manage pairings, update firmware, and adjust noise canceling.
Keep the headphones within 3 feet of the device during the initial pairing to avoid interference.
If you pair to a new device, the headphones will automatically disconnect from the previous one unless multipoint is enabled.
For quick reconnection, just turn the headphones on—they’ll connect to the last used device automatically.
Reset the headphones if they stop appearing in pairing lists: for over-ear models, hold power and NC buttons together for 7 seconds until the light flashes blue.
On Windows, after pairing, right-click the volume icon, select “Open Sound settings,” and ensure the Sony headphones are the default output and input device.

Troubleshooting

Headphones don’t appear in the device list

Make sure they are truly in pairing mode (rapid blinking light).
Turn the headphones off and on again, then re-enter pairing mode.
Move closer to the device and away from Wi-Fi routers or microwaves.
Restart the device you’re pairing to.

Pairing succeeds but no sound

On Windows, check that the headphones are set as the default playback device, not just paired.
On a phone, check the volume level and that media audio is not muted in Bluetooth settings.
On a Mac, open Sound settings and select the headphones as output.

Headphones connect but immediately disconnect

Low battery—charge them.
Too many paired devices—clear the headphone’s pairing list via the app or a factory reset.
Interference—move away from other Bluetooth devices.

Can’t pair to a second device

Disconnect from the first device first, or enable multipoint in the app.
If multipoint is on and still failing, turn it off, pair the new device, then turn it back on.

Headphones won’t enter pairing mode

Hold the power button longer—up to 10 seconds.
If still nothing, reset the headphones: for over-ear models, press and hold the power and NC buttons for 7 seconds.
For earbuds, place them in the case for 10 seconds, then take them out and try again.

Pairing works but sound cuts out

Reduce distance between headphones and device.
Turn off Wi-Fi on the device if it’s on the 2.4 GHz band.
Update headphone firmware via the Sony Headphones Connect app.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many devices can my Sony headphones remember?

Most Sony wireless headphones store up to 8 paired devices in memory. You can switch between them from the Bluetooth menu, but only one (or two with multipoint) can be actively connected at a time.

What does multipoint connection mean?

Multipoint lets the headphones stay connected to two devices simultaneously, like a phone and a laptop. When you play audio on one, the headphones automatically switch to it. Enable it in the Sony Headphones Connect app under “Connection.”

Why won’t my headphones connect to my laptop but work fine with my phone?

This usually means the laptop’s Bluetooth driver is outdated, or the headphones are already connected to the phone and not in pairing mode. Update the laptop’s Bluetooth driver, disconnect the phone, then retry.

Do I need to unpair from one device to pair with another?

No, but the headphones must be in pairing mode. If they’re already connected to one device, they won’t be discoverable. Turn off Bluetooth on the connected device or disconnect from it first.

How do I reset my Sony headphones to fix pairing issues?

For over-ear models, press and hold the power and NC/Ambient buttons together for about 7 seconds until the indicator flashes blue. For earbuds, place both in the case, then touch and hold both touch sensors for about 20 seconds until the light blinks. This clears all pairings.

Can I pair my Sony headphones with a device that doesn’t have Bluetooth?

No, these headphones only connect via Bluetooth. If your device lacks Bluetooth, you’d need a Bluetooth transmitter adapter plugged into its audio or USB port.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →