Do you want to use your Sony headphones with your Mac, but they will not connect? Don’t worry. I’ll walk you through it step by step.
The good news is that pairing takes about one minute. You put the headphones in pairing mode, then pick them in your Mac’s Bluetooth settings. If something goes wrong, I have simple fixes for that too.
This guide works for most Sony wireless headphones, including the WH-1000XM series (like the XM4, XM5, and XM6). I checked the steps against Sony’s own support pages.
Quick Steps
If you are in a hurry, here is the short version:
- Turn on Bluetooth on your Mac.
- Put your Sony headphones in pairing mode.
- Open System Settings > Bluetooth on your Mac.
- Click your headphones in the list, then click Connect.
- If you hear no sound, pick your headphones under System Settings > Sound > Output.
Now let’s go through each step in detail.
Before You Start
A few quick checks can save you a lot of trouble:
- Charge your headphones. A low battery can cause pairing problems.
- Disconnect them from your phone. Sony headphones love to reconnect to your phone on their own. When that happens, your Mac can’t find them. Turn off Bluetooth on your phone for now.
- Keep them close. Put the headphones right next to your Mac. Sony suggests staying within about 1 meter (3 feet).
- Move other Bluetooth devices away. Other speakers or headphones nearby can get in the way.
Step 1: Turn On Bluetooth on Your Mac
- Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Click System Settings. (On older Macs, this is called System Preferences.)
- Click Bluetooth in the side menu.
- Make sure the Bluetooth switch is on.
Step 2: Put Your Sony Headphones in Pairing Mode
Pairing mode makes your headphones visible to your Mac.
If your headphones are brand new, turn them on. They usually go into pairing mode by themselves the first time.
If you used them before (for example, with your phone), you need to start pairing mode by hand:
- Turn the headphones on.
- Press and hold the Power button for about 5 to 7 seconds.
- Let go when the light starts to flash blue and you hear a voice say “Pairing” (or “Bluetooth pairing”).
How long you hold the button depends on your model. Sony’s newer guides for the WH-1000XM5 say about 5 seconds. Sony’s general support page says at least 7 seconds. The WH-1000XM6 guide says to hold the Bluetooth button instead of the Power button. If your headphones do not respond, try a little longer, or check the Help Guide for your exact model on Sony’s website.
Tip: Pairing mode does not last forever. If you do not finish pairing within 5 minutes, it turns off. Then you need to start again.
Step 3: Connect From Your Mac
- Go back to the Bluetooth page on your Mac.
- Look for your headphones in the list. You will see the model name, like “WH-1000XM5.”
- Click Connect next to the name.
- If your Mac asks for a passkey (some call it a PIN or password), type 0000. Most of the time, it won’t ask.
- When it works, your headphones show up under My Devices, and you hear a sound telling you they are connected.
If you do not see your headphones in the list, don’t panic. Turn Bluetooth off and on again on your Mac. Then check that your headphones are still flashing blue.
Step 4: Make Sure the Sound Comes From Your Headphones
Sometimes the headphones say “Connected,” but the sound still plays from your Mac speakers. Here is how I fix that:
- Open System Settings > Sound.
- Click the Output tab.
- Choose your Sony headphones.
Tip: Add Bluetooth to Your Menu Bar
Want a faster way to connect next time? You can put a Bluetooth icon at the top of your screen.
- On macOS Tahoe: Go to System Settings > Menu Bar and turn on Bluetooth.
- On macOS Sequoia or older: Go to System Settings > Control Center, find Bluetooth, and choose Show in Menu Bar.
After that, you can click the icon and pick your headphones in one step.
How to Connect Again Later
You only need to pair once. After that, connecting is easy:
- Turn on your headphones. Hold the Power button for about 2 seconds.
- Wait a few seconds. Many times they connect on their own.
- If they do not, open your Mac’s Bluetooth settings, click your headphones, and choose Connect.
Sony Headphones Not Connecting to Your Mac? Try These Fixes
Here are the fixes I would try, in order. Start at the top.
1. Check that pairing mode is on. The light should flash blue, and you should hear the voice say “Pairing.” If not, press and hold the button again.
2. Turn Bluetooth off and on. Do this on your Mac. It refreshes the device list.
3. Disconnect the headphones from your phone. Your headphones can only play sound from one device at a time. If they are stuck on your phone, they will ignore your Mac. Turn off your phone’s Bluetooth for a couple of minutes, then try again.
4. Forget the headphones and start over. On your Mac, open Bluetooth settings. Click the small Info (i) button next to your headphones. Choose Forget This Device. Then repeat the pairing steps from the start. If your phone has old pairing info for them, remove it there too.
5. Restart your Mac. Sometimes Bluetooth on the Mac just needs a fresh start.
6. Reduce interference. Turn off other Bluetooth devices near you. Stay close to your Mac while you pair.
7. Update your software. Update macOS from System Settings > General > Software Update. You can also update your headphones from Sony’s app on your phone (see the next section).
8. Reset your headphones. This is the last step, because a reset deletes all pairing info. After a reset, you must remove the headphones from every device and pair them again. The reset steps are different for each model, so look up your model in Sony’s Help Guide.
Sony’s App: Do I Need It?
No, you do not need an app to connect to your Mac. But Sony has a phone app that gives you extra options. It is called Sony | Sound Connect on newer models, and Sony | Headphones Connect on some older ones.
The app is for phones. It is not available on a Mac. With the app, you can:
- Update your headphone software
- Turn multipoint on or off (multipoint lets two devices connect at once, on models that support it)
- Change sound quality settings
Switching Between Your Mac and iPhone
You can pair your Sony headphones with your Mac and your iPhone at the same time. Sony says most models remember up to 8 devices. If you pair a ninth one, the device you used the longest time ago is removed.
But your headphones usually play sound from only one device at a time, unless your model supports multipoint. Here is how to switch:
- Open the Bluetooth settings on the device you want to use.
- Tap or click your headphones.
- If they do not switch, disconnect them from the other device first. Then connect again.
A Note About Sound Quality
- Your Mac uses the AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs. Sony’s LDAC codec, which gives higher quality on some phones, does not work on a Mac. So do not worry if you cannot turn it on.
- Your headphone mic can lower the sound quality. When Bluetooth uses the headphone mic (like on a video call), the sound often gets worse. If that bothers you, open System Settings > Sound > Input and pick your Mac’s built-in mic instead.
Want to Use a Cable Instead?
Many Sony headphones also work with a 3.5 mm audio cable. If Bluetooth keeps failing, or your battery is empty, you can plug the cable into your Mac. If your Mac has no headphone jack, use a USB-C adapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t my Mac find my Sony headphones? Most of the time, the headphones are not in pairing mode, or they are still connected to your phone. Turn off your phone’s Bluetooth, hold the button until the light flashes blue, and refresh Bluetooth on your Mac.
What is the passcode for Sony headphones? If your Mac asks for one, type 0000. Most of the time, no code is needed.
Do I need to pair my headphones every time? No. After the first time, you only need to turn them on. If they don’t connect on their own, click Connect in your Mac’s Bluetooth settings.
Can I use my Sony headphones with my Mac and iPhone at the same time? You can pair them with both. But they play sound from one device at a time, unless your model supports multipoint.
How do I remove my Sony headphones from my Mac? Open System Settings > Bluetooth, click the Info (i) button next to your headphones, and choose Forget This Device.
Final Thoughts
Connecting Sony headphones to a Mac is simple once you know the trick: put the headphones in pairing mode, then click Connect in Bluetooth settings. Most problems happen because the headphones are still linked to a phone. If you are stuck, forget the headphones on both devices and start over.
I hope this guide helped you get connected. Enjoy your music!
