How to pair your Sony WH-1000XM5 to a new device
The Sony WH-1000XM5 uses Bluetooth to connect to phones, tablets, laptops, and other devices. Pairing means telling the headphones and your device to recognize each other — you do this once per device, and after that the headphones will reconnect automatically when you turn them on nearby. The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you're connecting to an iPhone, Android phone, Windows laptop, or Mac.
The headphones can remember up to eight devices at once. If you pair a ninth device, they'll forget the oldest one. You can manually delete a device from the headphones' memory if you want to make room or stop using something.
Key Takeaways
- Turn on the headphones and hold the power button for seven seconds until you hear a voice prompt saying "pairing mode" — this is the only time you need to do this.
- On your device, go to Bluetooth settings and look for "WH-1000XM5" in the list of available devices, then tap it to connect.
- Once paired, the headphones will reconnect on their own every time you turn them on near that device.
- If the headphones don't appear in your device's Bluetooth list, make sure they're in pairing mode and that Bluetooth is turned on in your device's settings.
Put the headphones into pairing mode
The Sony WH-1000XM5 enter pairing mode automatically the first time you turn them on. If you're pairing to a second, third, or later device, you need to manually put them into pairing mode.
With the headphones on, press and hold the power button (on the left ear cup) for seven seconds. You'll hear a voice say "pairing mode" and see a blue light flash on the headphones. This means they're ready to connect to a new device. The headphones stay in pairing mode for about five minutes, so you have time to find your device's Bluetooth settings.
If you hear a voice say "power off" instead, you held the button too long. Turn the headphones back on and try again, releasing after seven seconds.
Find and select the headphones in your device's Bluetooth settings
Once the headphones are in pairing mode, open your device's Bluetooth settings. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, then Bluetooth. On an Android phone, go to Settings, then Connected Devices or Bluetooth (the exact name varies by phone). On a Windows laptop, go to Settings, then Bluetooth & Devices. On a Mac, go to System Settings, then Bluetooth.
Look for "WH-1000XM5" in the list of available devices. Tap or click on it. Your device will connect to the headphones, and you'll hear a voice say "connected" from the headphones. The blue light will stop flashing and stay steady.
If you don't see the headphones in the list, make sure they're still in pairing mode (the blue light should be flashing). If the light has stopped flashing, hold the power button again for seven seconds. Also check that Bluetooth is actually turned on in your device's settings — it's straightforward to miss.
What happens after pairing
Once you've paired the headphones to a device, they'll remember that device forever (or until you manually delete it). The next time you turn on the headphones near that device, they'll connect automatically without any extra steps. You don't need to go back into pairing mode.
If you turn on the headphones near multiple paired devices at the same time, they'll connect to whichever one they paired with most recently. To switch to a different device, go to that device's Bluetooth settings and select the headphones again.
Switching between devices you've already paired
Once the headphones are paired to multiple devices, switching between them is quick. Turn on the headphones near the device you want to use. Open that device's Bluetooth settings and tap the headphones' name. They'll disconnect from whatever they were connected to and connect to the new device. This usually takes five to ten seconds.
You can also use the Sony Headphones Connect app (available free on iPhone and Android) to see which devices are paired and switch between them without opening Bluetooth settings. The app also lets you adjust noise cancellation, sound quality, and other features.
Removing a device from the headphones' memory
If you want to delete a paired device — for example, if you sold an old phone or want to pair a new device and you've already hit the eight-device limit — you can do this through the Sony Headphones Connect app. Open the app, go to Device Settings, then Bluetooth Device List, and select the device you want to remove. Tap Delete or Remove.
Without the app, you can also reset the headphones entirely, which erases all paired devices. Hold the power button for ten seconds until you hear "power off" and the headphones turn off, then when ready hold it again for seven seconds. You'll hear a voice say "pairing mode" and all previous pairings will be gone. You'll need to pair them to your devices again from scratch.
Troubleshooting connection problems
If the headphones won't appear in your device's Bluetooth list, first check that the headphones are actually in pairing mode — you should see a blue light flashing. If there's no light, hold the power button for seven seconds. If the light is steady blue instead of flashing, they're connected to something else; hold the power button again.
If the headphones appear in the list but won't connect when you tap them, try turning the headphones off and back on, then putting them in pairing mode again. Also make sure your device's Bluetooth is fully on — sometimes it's in a low-power state where it can't find new devices. On phones, toggle Bluetooth off and back on in settings. On laptops, restart Bluetooth from the settings menu.
If you've paired the headphones before and they used to connect automatically but now won't, they may have connected to a different device instead. Check the Bluetooth settings on your other devices and disconnect the headphones from any you're not using right now. Then turn on the headphones near the device you want to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the headphones with two devices at the same time?
No. The Sony WH-1000XM5 can only play audio from one device at a time. They can be paired to eight devices, but they're connected to just one. If you want to switch to a different device, you need to manually select it in that device's Bluetooth settings.
Why do the headphones keep connecting to the wrong device?
Bluetooth connects to the most recently paired device that's nearby and has Bluetooth on. If you have multiple devices in the same room, the headphones might connect to whichever one they paired with last time. Turn off Bluetooth on devices you're not using, or manually select the headphones in the device you want to use.
Do I need the Sony app to pair the headphones?
No. You can pair the headphones using only your device's built-in Bluetooth settings. The Sony Headphones Connect app is optional and adds features like adjusting noise cancellation and switching between devices more easily, but pairing works without it.
What if I forgot which devices are paired to my headphones?
Open the Sony Headphones Connect app and go to Device Settings, then Bluetooth Device List. You'll see every device that's currently paired. If you don't have the app, you can also put the headphones in pairing mode and see which devices show up in your Bluetooth settings — those are the ones that are already paired.
Can I pair the headphones to a smartwatch or fitness tracker?
Yes, if the device has Bluetooth. Follow the same steps: put the headphones in pairing mode by holding the power button for seven seconds, then select them in the smartwatch or tracker's Bluetooth settings. Keep in mind the headphones can only play audio from one device at a time, so if they're connected to your watch, they won't play audio from your phone until you switch them over.