The basic pairing process takes about two minutes
To connect Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones to an iPhone, turn on the headphones, open your iPhone's Bluetooth settings, and select the headphones from the list of available devices. The headphones will appear as "WH-1000XM4" in your iPhone's Bluetooth menu. Once you tap that name, the two devices will pair and stay connected unless you manually unpair them or connect the headphones to a different device.
The first time you pair them, make sure the headphones are in pairing mode — this happens automatically when you turn them on for the first time, or you can hold the power button for about seven seconds until you hear a voice prompt saying "pairing." After that first pairing, your iPhone will remember the headphones and reconnect automatically whenever both devices are nearby and turned on.
Key Takeaways
- Turn on the WH-1000XM4 headphones and go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone to find and select them.
- The headphones enter pairing mode automatically the first time you power them on, or you can hold the power button for seven seconds to trigger it manually.
- Once paired, your iPhone will reconnect to the headphones automatically each time you turn them on, as long as Bluetooth is enabled on your phone.
- If the headphones do not appear in your Bluetooth list, restart both devices and try again, or reset the headphones by holding the power button for ten seconds.
Step-by-step pairing for the first time
Start with the headphones powered off. Press and hold the power button (located on the left ear cup) for about three seconds until you see the LED indicator light up. The light will flash blue and white, which means the headphones are in pairing mode and ready to connect.
On your iPhone, go to Settings, then tap Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — the toggle should be green. Wait a few seconds for your iPhone to scan for nearby devices. You should see "WH-1000XM4" appear in the list under "Other Devices." Tap that name to begin pairing.
Your iPhone will display a message asking you to confirm the pairing. Tap "Pair" on the confirmation screen. The headphones will emit a voice prompt saying "Bluetooth connected," and the LED light will stop flashing and turn solid blue. Your iPhone's Bluetooth settings will now show "WH-1000XM4" under "My Devices" with a "Connected" label next to it.
Reconnecting after the first pairing
Once the headphones are paired, you do not need to repeat the full pairing process. straightforward turn on the WH-1000XM4 headphones and make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone. The two devices will automatically reconnect within a few seconds.
If your iPhone does not reconnect automatically, open Settings > Bluetooth and tap the WH-1000XM4 name in the "My Devices" section. The connection should establish when ready. If the headphones still do not appear, restart both devices — turn off the headphones completely, turn off Bluetooth on your iPhone, wait ten seconds, then turn both back on.
Troubleshooting when the headphones will not appear
If the WH-1000XM4 headphones do not show up in your iPhone's Bluetooth list, the headphones may not be in pairing mode. Hold the power button for seven seconds until you hear the voice prompt "pairing." The LED should flash blue and white. If it does not, the battery may be low — plug the headphones into a USB-C charger for at least 15 minutes and try again.
If the headphones still do not appear after charging, reset them completely. Hold the power button for ten seconds — you will hear a beep and the LED will flash. Release the button and wait five seconds. The headphones are now reset to factory settings and will enter pairing mode automatically. Return to your iPhone's Bluetooth settings and try pairing again.
Another common issue is that the headphones are already connected to a different device. The WH-1000XM4 can only connect to one device at a time. If you recently used them with a computer, tablet, or another phone, they may still be trying to connect to that device instead of your iPhone. Go to the Bluetooth settings on the other device and disconnect the headphones, then try pairing with your iPhone again.
Managing multiple device connections
The Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones can be paired with up to eight different devices, but they can only play audio from one device at a time. Once you have paired them with your iPhone, you can also pair them with a Mac, iPad, or Android phone without unpairing from your iPhone.
To switch between devices, straightforward open the Bluetooth settings on the device you want to use and tap the WH-1000XM4 name. The headphones will disconnect from the previous device and connect to the new one. This usually takes two to five seconds. If you want to prevent the headphones from automatically reconnecting to a particular device, go to that device's Bluetooth settings, find the WH-1000XM4 in the list, and tap the "Forget This Device" or "Remove" option.
Using the Sony Headphones Connect app with your iPhone
Sony makes a free app called Sony Headphones Connect, available in the Apple App Store, that lets you customize your WH-1000XM4 settings on your iPhone. You do not need this app to use the headphones — they work fine with just Bluetooth pairing — but the app gives you access to noise cancellation levels, sound equalizer settings, and firmware updates.
To use the app, read it from the App Store, open it, and follow the on-screen instructions to connect it to your headphones via Bluetooth. The app will ask for permission to access Bluetooth, which you should allow. Once connected, you can adjust noise cancellation, change the ambient sound mode, and customize the touch controls on the ear cups.
Checking your connection and battery status
Once your WH-1000XM4 headphones are connected to your iPhone, you can see the connection status in your iPhone's Bluetooth settings. Open Settings > Bluetooth and look for the WH-1000XM4 entry. If it says "Connected" next to the name, the pairing is active and you can use the headphones.
To check the battery level of your headphones, look at the LED indicator on the left ear cup. A solid blue light means the battery is above 50 percent. A blinking blue light means the battery is between 20 and 50 percent. A blinking red light means the battery is below 20 percent and you should charge soon. You can also see the battery percentage in the Sony Headphones Connect app if you have it installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my headphones keep disconnecting from my iPhone?
Disconnections usually happen when Bluetooth is turned off on your iPhone, when the headphones are too far away (more than 30 feet), or when the battery is very low. Check that Bluetooth is on in Settings, move closer to your iPhone, and charge the headphones if the battery is below 10 percent. If disconnections continue, restart both devices and try pairing again.
Can I use the WH-1000XM4 with multiple iPhones at the same time?
No. The headphones can be paired with multiple iPhones, but they can only play audio from one device at a time. To switch between iPhones, open Bluetooth settings on the iPhone you want to use and tap the WH-1000XM4 name. The headphones will disconnect from the other iPhone and connect to the one you selected.
Do I need the Sony app to use the headphones with my iPhone?
No. The headphones work with just Bluetooth pairing and require no app. The Sony Headphones Connect app is optional and only adds features like noise cancellation adjustment and equalizer settings. You can use the headphones perfectly well without it.
What should I do if I forgot which device my headphones are currently connected to?
Turn on the headphones and listen for which device plays audio when you open it. Alternatively, go to Bluetooth settings on each of your devices and look for the WH-1000XM4 entry. The device showing "Connected" next to the name is the one the headphones are currently paired with. You can then disconnect from that device and connect to a different one.
How do I unpair the headphones from my iPhone completely?
Open Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone, find WH-1000XM4 in the "My Devices" list, tap the information icon (i) next to it, and select "Forget This Device." This removes the pairing. The headphones will no longer automatically reconnect to that iPhone, though you can pair them again anytime by following the first-time pairing steps.