Connecting Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones to a MacBook takes about two minutes the first time, then one tap every time after
The Sony WH-1000XM4 uses Bluetooth, which your MacBook has built in. You turn on the headphones, put them in pairing mode, then select them from your Mac's Bluetooth menu. After that first connection, your MacBook remembers them and reconnects automatically when both devices are nearby and powered on.
The process is the same whether you have an Intel MacBook or an Apple Silicon model (M1, M2, M3, or newer). You do not need to install any software or read a driver — macOS handles the connection natively. If you want to use advanced features like noise cancellation control or custom sound settings, Sony makes a free app called Headphones Connect, but it is optional for basic listening.
Key Takeaways
- Turn on the WH-1000XM4 headphones and hold the power button for seven seconds to enter pairing mode — you will hear a voice prompt and see a blue light flashing.
- Open System Settings on your MacBook, go to Bluetooth, and select Sony WH-1000XM4 from the list of available devices.
- After the first pairing, your MacBook will reconnect automatically whenever both the headphones and Mac are on and in range.
- If the headphones do not appear in the Bluetooth list, restart them by holding the power button for ten seconds, then try pairing again.
- The Sony Headphones Connect app is free and lets you adjust noise cancellation levels and sound settings, but the headphones work without it.
Turn on the headphones and enter pairing mode
Press the power button on the right ear cup of the WH-1000XM4 once to turn them on. You will hear a startup sound and see a blue light on the right side. The headphones are now on but not yet in pairing mode — they will try to reconnect to the last device they were paired with.
To enter pairing mode, hold down the power button for seven seconds without releasing. You will hear a voice say "Pairing" and the blue light will flash on and off repeatedly. This tells your MacBook that the headphones are ready to be discovered. Leave the headphones in this mode while you move to your Mac — pairing mode stays active for about five minutes.
Open Bluetooth settings on your MacBook
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. On newer Macs (Ventura and later), this opens a window with a sidebar on the left. On older Macs (Big Sur and earlier), it opens System Preferences instead, but the steps are the same.
In the sidebar, click Bluetooth. Your Mac will start scanning for nearby Bluetooth devices. Within a few seconds, you should see "Sony WH-1000XM4" appear in the list of available devices. If you see multiple Sony headphones listed, look for the model number WH-1000XM4 in parentheses to make sure you pick the right one.
Select the headphones and complete pairing
Click on Sony WH-1000XM4 in the Bluetooth list. Your Mac will send a pairing request to the headphones. You may see a prompt on your screen asking you to confirm the pairing — if so, click Pair or Connect. The headphones will beep or play a tone to confirm they have paired with your Mac.
Once pairing is complete, the status next to the headphones name will change from "Not Connected" to "Connected". The blue light on the headphones will stop flashing and settle into a steady glow or turn off. Your MacBook is now paired with the WH-1000XM4 and will remember this connection.
Reconnecting on future uses
The next time you turn on the WH-1000XM4 near your MacBook, they will reconnect automatically without any action from you. Your Mac keeps a record of paired devices and looks for them whenever Bluetooth is on. If your headphones were last used with a different device (like a phone), they may try to reconnect to that device first — in that case, just open Bluetooth settings on your Mac and click Connect next to the headphones name.
If you want to switch the headphones to a different device, turn them off completely, turn on the new device's Bluetooth, then turn the headphones back on. They will connect to whichever device is actively looking for them. You can also hold the power button for seven seconds again to re-enter pairing mode if you want to pair them with a brand new device.
Using the Sony Headphones Connect app for extra features
Sony offers a free app called Headphones Connect in the Mac App Store. This app lets you adjust noise cancellation levels, turn on ambient sound mode, customize the touch controls on the ear cups, and check the battery level. It is not required to use the headphones — they work perfectly without it — but many people find the app useful for fine-tuning how they sound.
To install it, open the App Store on your Mac, search for "Sony Headphones Connect", and click Get. Once installed, open the app and it will automatically detect your paired WH-1000XM4 headphones. You can then adjust settings like ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) strength, which ranges from off to maximum, or enable Speak-to-Chat, a feature that pauses music when you start talking.
Troubleshooting when the headphones do not appear
If the Sony WH-1000XM4 do not show up in your Mac's Bluetooth list, the most common cause is that they are not actually in pairing mode. Turn off the headphones completely by holding the power button for ten seconds until you hear a shutdown sound and the light goes dark. Wait five seconds, then turn them back on and when ready hold the power button for seven seconds to enter pairing mode again. Check that the blue light is flashing before you look at your Mac's Bluetooth menu.
If the headphones still do not appear, restart your Mac's Bluetooth by turning it off and back on. Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen (or go back to System Settings > Bluetooth) and toggle Bluetooth off, wait ten seconds, then toggle it back on. Sometimes a fresh Bluetooth scan on your Mac will find devices that did not show up the first time. If you have paired these headphones with many other devices, they may have reached their pairing limit — in that case, you may need to unpair them from an old device first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pair the headphones every time I use them?
No. After the first pairing, your MacBook remembers the WH-1000XM4 and reconnects automatically whenever both are on and in range. You only pair once. If the headphones were last used with a different device, they may connect to that device first, but you can manually reconnect them to your Mac through Bluetooth settings in about five seconds.
Can I use the WH-1000XM4 with my MacBook and iPhone at the same time?
The headphones can only play audio from one device at a time, but they can be paired to multiple devices. To switch between your Mac and iPhone, just start playing audio on the device you want to hear from — the headphones will usually switch automatically. If they do not, open Bluetooth settings on the device you want to use and click Connect next to the headphones name.
Why do my headphones keep disconnecting from my MacBook?
Bluetooth disconnections usually happen when the headphones are too far from your Mac (more than 30 feet with obstacles in between), the battery is very low, or another Bluetooth device is interfering. Try moving closer to your Mac, charging the headphones, and turning off other nearby Bluetooth devices like speakers or smartwatches. If disconnections continue, restart both the headphones and your Mac.
Do the WH-1000XM4 work with older MacBooks?
Yes. These headphones work with any MacBook that has Bluetooth, which includes all models from the last ten years. Older Macs may take slightly longer to scan for devices, but the pairing process is identical. The Sony Headphones Connect app requires macOS 10.15 or newer, but the headphones themselves work on older systems without the app.
What if I forgot which MacBook I last paired the headphones with?
Hold the power button on the headphones for seven seconds to enter pairing mode, then pair them with your current MacBook as if it were the first time. This does not erase the old pairing — the headphones will still remember your other Mac — but your current Mac becomes the device they try to connect to first. You can pair the WH-1000XM4 with up to eight devices total.