How to pair Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds (2024)

QUICK ANSWER

To pair the Sony WF-1000XM5 to your device, put them in pairing mode by opening the case if they’re new or long-pressing the power/pairing button for about five seconds if they’ve been previously paired to another device.

Then, go to your device's Bluetooth settings to find and connect to the earbuds. The specific steps are different on all platforms. So we’ll go over each device type in detail.

JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

• How to connect the Sony WF-1000XM5 to Android
• How to connect the Sony WF-1000XM5 to an iPhone or iPad
• How to connect the Sony WF-1000XM5 to a Windows PC or laptop
• How to connect the Sony WF-1000XM5 to a Mac or MacBook

To connect the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds to your device, they need to be in pairing mode. For a new pair, simply turning them on will do the trick. However, if you’ve connected them to a device previously, here’s how to put them in pairing mode and connect to your Android phone or tablet:

1. Open the Sony WF-1000XM5 charging case and long-press the power/pairing button for about 5 seconds. The LED indicator will flash twice and you’ll hear the feedback “pairing” to show that the device is in pairing mode.
2. Go to Settings > Connected devices on your Android device and turn on Bluetooth.
3. Tap Pair new device on your phone and wait for it to detect the earbuds.
4. Select your headphones from the list of Available devices. You’ll hear a connectivity chime and see your earbuds’ battery percentage if the pairing is successful.

Note that the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds work with Google Fast Pair. Putting them in pairing mode near your Android phone connects them in one tap. You can also download the Sony Headphones Connect app from the Google Play Store to use all the earbuds’ features.

How to connect the Sony WF-1000XM5 to an iPhone or iPad

Here’s how to pair Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds to an iPhone or iPad:

1. Put the earbuds in pairing mode by opening the case of a new pair or long-pressing the power/pairing button for about 5 seconds for a used pair. If successful, the LED indicator will flash twice, alongside the chime “pairing.”
2. Launch the Settings app on your iOS device.
3. Go to Bluetooth and turn it on. The toggle should appear green when enabled.
4. After some seconds of searching, the earbuds should appear on your iPhone in the Other Devices section.
5. Tap the name of the earbuds to begin pairing. You’ll get an audio confirmation of a successful connection and an update of your headphones’ battery percentage.

Like Android, you can set up the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds using the Sony Headphones Connect app from the Apple App Store.

How to connect the Sony WF-1000XM5 to a Windows PC or laptop

Here’s how to pair Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds to a Windows PC:

1. Put a new pair of Sony earbuds in pairing mode by opening the case. For a previously-connected pair, long-press the power/pairing button for about 5 seconds. The LED indicator will flash twice, alongside the chime “pairing,” if successful.
2. Click the Start icon on your Windows laptop.
3. Navigate to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices and click the toggle to turn on Bluetooth.
4. Click Add Bluetooth or another device.
5. Select your headphones from the available devices list and follow the instructions. You should hear the audio prompt, “connected.”

Note that you can use Windows Swift Pair when connecting your Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds by putting them in pairing mode near a Windows 10 or 11 device. This brings up the pop-up pairing guidance for a faster connection.

How to connect the Sony WF-1000XM5 to a Mac or MacBook

Follow these steps on how to pair Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds to a MacBook:

1. Put the earbuds in pairing mode by opening the case if they’re new or long-pressing the power/pairing button for about 5 seconds if they’re used. The LED will flash twice, and the buds will chime “pairing.”
2. Click the System Preferences (gear) icon on the Mac dock.
3. Select Bluetooth and ensure it is turned on. The buds should appear on your Mac under Devices.
4. Click the Connect button next to the name to pair the earbuds with your Mac. You should hear “connection was successful.”

Unlike Android and iOS, the Sony Headphones Connect app is not available on Windows or MacOS.