Connect via Bluetooth in four steps
The Sony WH-1000XM4 connects to your PC through Bluetooth. Turn on the headphones by pressing the power button on the left ear cup for three seconds until you hear a startup sound and see the LED indicator light up. On your PC, open Settings, go to Devices, then Bluetooth & other devices, and toggle Bluetooth on. The headphones will appear in the list as "WH-1000XM4" — click it to pair.
The first time you pair, the headphones enter pairing mode automatically. If you are reconnecting after the initial setup, press and hold the power button for seven seconds until you hear "pairing" to put them back in pairing mode. Once connected, the LED on the headphones will turn blue and stay solid, and your PC will show "Connected" next to the headphone name in Settings.
After pairing once, your PC will remember the headphones. The next time you turn them on near your PC, they will connect automatically if Bluetooth is enabled on your computer. You can have the headphones paired to multiple devices — your phone, tablet, and PC — but they can only play audio from one device at a time.
Key Takeaways
- Turn on the headphones and enable Bluetooth on your PC, then select WH-1000XM4 from the Bluetooth device list to pair them.
- The first pairing happens automatically; future connections require you to press and hold the power button for seven seconds to enter pairing mode again if the headphones do not connect on their own.
- Once paired, the headphones will reconnect automatically whenever you turn them on and Bluetooth is enabled on your PC.
- You can pair the headphones to multiple devices, but audio will only play through one device at a time.
- If your PC does not detect the headphones, restart Bluetooth on your computer or hold the power button for ten seconds to reset the headphones.
Check your PC's Bluetooth capability first
Not all PCs have built-in Bluetooth. Desktops rarely do; most laptops made after 2015 have it. To check whether your PC has Bluetooth, open Settings, go to Devices, and look for a Bluetooth & other devices option. If you see it and can toggle it on, your PC has Bluetooth built in.
If your PC does not have Bluetooth, you can add it with a USB Bluetooth adapter. These plug into any USB port and cost between $15 and $40. The Sony headphones work with any standard Bluetooth 5.0 adapter. After plugging in the adapter, your PC will install drivers automatically, and you can then pair the headphones the same way — through Settings, Devices, Bluetooth & other devices.
Use the Sony Headphones Connect app for extra control
Sony makes a free app called Sony Headphones Connect that you can read from the Microsoft Store on Windows or from the Apple App Store on Mac. The app lets you adjust sound settings, check battery level, update the headphone firmware, and customize the touch controls on the ear cups. You do not need the app to use the headphones — they work fine without it — but it gives you more options than the standard Windows or Mac audio settings.
After you pair the headphones via Bluetooth, open the Sony Headphones Connect app and sign in with a free Sony account. The app will detect your WH-1000XM4 automatically. From there you can turn noise cancellation on or off, switch between ambient sound modes, and adjust the equalizer to change how bass, midrange, and treble sound. Any changes you make in the app sync to the headphones themselves, so the settings stay even if you use the headphones with a different device.
Troubleshoot if the headphones do not appear or connect
If your PC does not see the WH-1000XM4 in the Bluetooth list, first make sure the headphones are powered on and in pairing mode. Press and hold the power button for seven seconds — you should hear "pairing" from the headphones. Wait ten seconds for them to show up in your PC's Bluetooth list.
If they still do not appear, restart Bluetooth on your PC. Go to Settings, Devices, Bluetooth & other devices, toggle Bluetooth off, wait five seconds, then toggle it back on. If that does not work, reset the headphones by holding the power button for ten seconds until the LED flashes red and blue. This clears all previous pairings and puts the headphones back in factory mode. Then try pairing again from the beginning.
If your PC connects to the headphones but you hear no sound, check that the headphones are set as your default audio device. Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray, select Open Sound settings, scroll down to Advanced, and under Output devices, make sure WH-1000XM4 is selected. If it is not, click it and select Set as default.
Switch between devices without unpairing
Once the headphones are paired to your PC, phone, and tablet, you can switch which device plays audio without unpairing. When you want to listen on your PC, make sure Bluetooth is on and the headphones are on. If they are currently connected to your phone, they will disconnect from the phone and connect to your PC instead — but only if your PC is the device you are actively using.
If the headphones stay connected to your phone when you want to use them with your PC, manually disconnect them from your phone first. On your phone, go to Bluetooth settings, find WH-1000XM4, and tap Disconnect or Forget. Then turn the headphones off and back on, and they will connect to your PC. You do not have to unpair them completely — Disconnect keeps them paired but stops the active connection, so you can reconnect later without going through pairing again.
Adjust audio settings in Windows or Mac
After the headphones connect, you can control volume from your PC or from the headphones themselves. On your PC, use the volume slider in the system tray or press the volume keys on your keyboard. On the headphones, tap the touch panel on the right ear cup once to play or pause, twice to skip forward, and three times to skip back. You can also adjust volume by swiping up or down on the touch panel.
If you want to change how the headphones sound — more bass, less treble, or other adjustments — use the Sony Headphones Connect app. Windows and Mac audio settings do not give you an equalizer for these headphones. The app is the only way to customize the sound profile beyond basic volume control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Sony WH-1000XM4 with both my PC and phone at the same time?
The headphones can be paired to multiple devices, but they only play audio from one at a time. If you are listening on your PC and your phone rings, you can answer the call and the headphones will switch to your phone. When you hang up, they will switch back to your PC if Bluetooth is still on there.
What if my PC keeps disconnecting from the headphones?
Disconnections usually happen when your PC goes to sleep or when the headphones move out of Bluetooth range. Bluetooth typically works up to 30 feet in open space. If disconnections happen even when your PC is awake and the headphones are nearby, try resetting the headphones by holding the power button for ten seconds, then pair them again.
Do I need to read anything to use the headphones on my PC?
No. The headphones work with just Bluetooth — no drivers or software required. The Sony Headphones Connect app is optional and only adds extra features like equalizer control and firmware updates. You can use the headphones without it.
Why does my PC show the headphones as connected but I hear no sound?
Your PC is likely set to play audio through a different device. Right-click the speaker icon in your system tray, open Sound settings, and check that WH-1000XM4 is selected as the default output device. If another device is listed first, click the headphones and select Set as default.
Can I use a USB cable to connect the headphones to my PC instead of Bluetooth?
The Sony WH-1000XM4 has a USB-C port for charging only, not for audio. You must use Bluetooth to connect them to your PC. If your PC does not have Bluetooth, add a USB Bluetooth adapter instead of trying to use a cable.