How to pair your Sony WH-1000XM4 with a new device

The Sony WH-1000XM4 uses Bluetooth to connect to phones, tablets, laptops, and other devices. The pairing process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you're connecting to your first device or your tenth. Once paired, the headphones will automatically reconnect to any device you've previously paired with when that device is nearby and Bluetooth is turned on.

The headphones can remember up to eight paired devices at once. If you try to pair a ninth device, the oldest pairing will be replaced. You don't need to unpair old devices manually — just pair the new one and the headphones handle the rest.

Key Takeaways

  • Turn on the headphones and hold the power button for seven seconds until you hear a voice prompt saying "Bluetooth pairing".
  • On your new device, go to Bluetooth settings and look for "WH-1000XM4" in the list of available devices, then tap it to connect.
  • Once paired, the headphones will automatically reconnect to that device whenever both are turned on and in range.
  • If the headphones don't appear in your device's Bluetooth list, restart both the headphones and your device, then try again.

Putting the headphones into pairing mode

The Sony WH-1000XM4 enters pairing mode when you hold down the power button (located on the left ear cup) for about seven seconds. You'll hear a voice say "Bluetooth pairing" and see the indicator light on the headphones flash blue and white alternately. This means the headphones are now discoverable and ready to connect.

The pairing mode stays active for about five minutes. If your device doesn't find the headphones within that window, the headphones will exit pairing mode and you'll need to press the power button again for seven seconds to re-enter it.

Finding and selecting the headphones on your device

Once the headphones are in pairing mode, open the Bluetooth settings on your new device. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth. On Android phones, go to Settings > Connected devices > Bluetooth (the exact path varies by phone brand). On Windows laptops, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Bluetooth.

Look for "WH-1000XM4" in the list of available devices. Tap or click on it. Your device will then connect to the headphones. You should hear a voice prompt from the headphones saying "Bluetooth connected" once the pairing is complete. The indicator light will stop flashing and stay solid blue.

What to do if the headphones don't appear in your device's list

If you don't see the WH-1000XM4 in your device's Bluetooth list after holding the power button for seven seconds, the headphones may not have entered pairing mode. Turn off the headphones completely by pressing the power button once, wait five seconds, then turn them back on and hold the power button again for seven seconds. You should hear the "Bluetooth pairing" voice prompt this time.

If the headphones still don't appear, restart your device's Bluetooth. On most phones, turn Bluetooth off in settings, wait ten seconds, then turn it back on. On a laptop, you may need to restart the computer entirely. After restarting Bluetooth or your device, put the headphones back into pairing mode and try again.

Switching between paired devices

Once you've paired the headphones with multiple devices, they will automatically reconnect to whichever device you last used them with. If you want to switch to a different paired device, turn off Bluetooth on the current device, then turn on Bluetooth on the device you want to use. The headphones will detect the change and reconnect within a few seconds.

You can also manually switch devices by holding down the power button for two seconds (not seven — just two) to bring up a voice menu that lets you select which device to connect to. This is useful if you have multiple devices nearby and the headphones connect to the wrong one.

Removing a paired device

If you want to unpair the headphones from a device you no longer use, go to that device's Bluetooth settings and look for "WH-1000XM4" in the list of paired devices. Tap or click "Forget" or "Remove" (the exact wording depends on your device). The pairing will be deleted from both the device and the headphones.

You don't need to do this to make room for new pairings — the headphones will straightforward replace the oldest pairing when you pair an eighth device. But removing old pairings can prevent the headphones from accidentally connecting to devices you no longer use.

Troubleshooting connection problems

If the headphones connect but then when ready disconnect, the issue is usually that Bluetooth is interfering with other wireless devices nearby. Move away from Wi-Fi routers, microwaves, and other Bluetooth devices. If that doesn't help, restart both the headphones and your device.

If the headphones connect but the sound is choppy or cuts out, move closer to your device. The WH-1000XM4 has a typical Bluetooth range of about 30 feet in open space, but walls, metal objects, and other obstacles can reduce that range. If you're at the edge of range, moving closer usually solves the problem.

If you've tried restarting and the headphones still won't connect, you can perform a factory reset. Hold down the power button for ten seconds (longer than the seven-second pairing mode) until you hear a voice say "Power off" and the headphones turn off. Then turn them back on and hold the power button for seven seconds to enter pairing mode. This erases all previous pairings, so you'll need to pair your devices again from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the headphones with two devices at the same time?

No. The Sony WH-1000XM4 can only play audio from one device at a time. However, some devices support a feature called multipoint connection that lets the headphones stay paired to two devices and automatically switch between them based on which one is actively sending audio. Check your device's Bluetooth settings to see if this option is available.

Why do the headphones keep reconnecting to my old phone instead of my new one?

The headphones automatically reconnect to the device they were last used with. If your old phone is nearby and has Bluetooth turned on, the headphones will connect to it first. Turn off Bluetooth on the old phone, or move it out of range, then turn on Bluetooth on your new device and the headphones will connect to that instead.

Do I need to pair the headphones every time I use them?

No. Once paired, the headphones will automatically reconnect to your device whenever both are turned on and in range. You only need to pair once per device. After that, just turn on the headphones and they'll connect on their own.

What if I forget which devices I've already paired?

The headphones don't display a list of paired devices on the headphones themselves. You can see which devices are paired by going to the Bluetooth settings on each device and looking for "WH-1000XM4" in the paired devices list. If you want to start fresh, perform a factory reset by holding the power button for ten seconds.