How to Connect Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones to Your Device

Pairing your Sony WH-1000XM4 for the first time

The Sony WH-1000XM4 connects via Bluetooth, which means you pair it once to each device and it remembers that device afterward. The headphones come partially charged, so you can start pairing right away without waiting for a full charge.

Turn on the headphones by pressing and holding the power button (on the right ear cup) for about three seconds until you hear a voice prompt and see a blue LED light flashing. The headphones will automatically enter pairing mode if they have never been connected to a device before. If they have been paired before, hold the power button for seven seconds instead — you will hear "pairing" announced, and the LED will flash blue and red alternately.

On your phone, tablet, or computer, open the Bluetooth settings. The exact location depends on your device: on iPhone, go to Settings > Bluetooth; on Android, go to Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth; on Windows, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices; on Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth. Look for "WH-1000XM4" in the list of available devices and tap or click it. You should hear a confirmation tone, and the LED on the headphones will turn solid blue.

Key Takeaways

The Sony WH-1000XM4 uses Bluetooth to connect and remembers up to eight paired devices, so you only pair once per device.
To enter pairing mode on a new device, hold the power button for three seconds; to re-enter pairing mode on an already-paired device, hold it for seven seconds.
Once paired, the headphones automatically reconnect to the last device you used when you turn them on.
You can switch between paired devices manually through your device's Bluetooth settings, and the headphones will disconnect from one and connect to the other within a few seconds.

Connecting to a second or third device

The Sony WH-1000XM4 can remember up to eight devices at once. After you pair the first device, pairing a second one works the same way: turn on the headphones, hold the power button for seven seconds until you hear "pairing," then go to your second device's Bluetooth settings and select the headphones from the list.

Once you have paired multiple devices, the headphones will automatically reconnect to whichever device you used them with most recently. If you want to switch to a different paired device, open that device's Bluetooth settings, find the WH-1000XM4 in the list, and tap or click it. The headphones will disconnect from the previous device and connect to the new one in a few seconds. You do not need to hold any buttons or re-enter pairing mode.

Using the Sony Headphones Connect app

Sony makes a free app called Sony Headphones Connect (available on both iPhone and Android) that lets you adjust sound settings, check battery life, and update the headphone firmware. The app is optional — your headphones work fine without it — but many people find it useful for fine-tuning the noise cancellation or equalizer.

read the app from the App Store or Google Play, open it, and it will automatically detect your headphones if they are turned on and already paired to your phone. The app shows your current battery percentage, lets you toggle noise cancellation on and off, and provides access to sound quality settings. If a firmware update is available, the app will notify you and walk you through the installation process, which takes a few minutes and requires the headphones to stay connected and powered on.

Troubleshooting a failed connection

If the headphones do not appear in your device's Bluetooth list, first check that they are actually powered on — the LED should be lit. If the LED is off, charge the headphones for at least 15 minutes using the included USB-C cable, then try again.

If the headphones are on but still do not appear, try clearing the pairing history. Hold the power button for 12 seconds — you will hear a voice prompt saying the device has been reset — then hold it for three seconds again to re-enter pairing mode. Go back to your device's Bluetooth settings and look for the headphones again.

If your headphones were previously paired to another device and keep trying to reconnect to that device instead of your new one, turn off Bluetooth on the old device first. This prevents the headphones from automatically reconnecting to it. Then turn on Bluetooth on your new device and select the headphones from the list.

Switching between devices without re-pairing

Once you have paired the Sony WH-1000XM4 to multiple devices, you can switch between them without touching the headphones themselves. straightforward open the Bluetooth settings on the device you want to use, find the WH-1000XM4 in the list, and select it. The headphones will disconnect from whatever they were connected to and connect to your new device.

This is faster than re-pairing and works as long as both devices have Bluetooth turned on. If you are switching between a phone and a computer in the same room, the headphones will connect to whichever one you select, even if the other one is also nearby. If you want the headphones to stop trying to reconnect to a device you no longer use, you can "forget" that device from the headphones' memory by holding the power button for 12 seconds to reset them entirely, then re-pairing only the devices you currently use.

Connecting to computers and laptops

The pairing process on Windows and Mac is identical to phones: turn on the headphones, hold the power button for three seconds (or seven if re-pairing), then go to your computer's Bluetooth settings and select the WH-1000XM4 from the list. On Windows, this is Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. On Mac, this is System Settings > Bluetooth.

After pairing, your computer will use the headphones for both audio playback and microphone input during calls or video meetings. If you want to use a different audio output (like your computer's built-in speakers) while keeping the headphones paired, go back to your audio settings and select a different device. The headphones will stay paired in Bluetooth but will not receive audio until you switch back to them.

Battery and charging basics

The Sony WH-1000XM4 comes with a USB-C charging cable. Plug the cable into the USB-C port on the bottom of the right ear cup and connect the other end to any standard USB power adapter or computer. A full charge takes about three hours and provides roughly 24 hours of battery life with noise cancellation on, or up to 32 hours with it off.

The Sony Headphones Connect app shows your current battery percentage, so you can check it before you leave home. If the battery runs completely empty, the headphones will not turn on until you charge them for at least 15 minutes. The headphones will not pair or connect to any device while powered off, so always charge them before trying to use them with a new device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Sony WH-1000XM4 with two devices at the same time?

No. The headphones can only be actively connected to one device at a time. However, they can be paired to up to eight devices, and you can switch between them by selecting the headphones in each device's Bluetooth settings. The switch takes a few seconds.

What if my headphones keep disconnecting from my phone?

First, make sure your phone's Bluetooth is turned on and the headphones are charged. If disconnections keep happening, try forgetting the headphones from your phone's Bluetooth settings, then re-pair them by holding the power button for seven seconds and selecting them again. If the problem continues, reset the headphones by holding the power button for 12 seconds, then re-pair.

Do I need the Sony Headphones Connect app to use the headphones?

No. The headphones work completely without the app — they will pair and play audio on any Bluetooth device. The app is optional and mainly useful for adjusting sound settings, checking battery life, and installing firmware updates.

How do I know if my headphones are in pairing mode?

When in pairing mode, the LED on the right ear cup will flash blue and red alternately, and you will hear a voice prompt saying "pairing." If the LED is solid blue, the headphones are already connected to a device. If the LED is off, the headphones are powered off.

Can I pair the Sony WH-1000XM4 with a non-Bluetooth device?

No. These headphones only connect via Bluetooth. They do not have a 3.5mm audio jack or any wired connection option. If your device does not have Bluetooth, you cannot use these headphones with it.

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