Wireless earbuds have come a long way since first appearing in 2015. In fact, they have become one of the most popular accessories for almost everyone.
One of the major appeals of wireless headphones is that they tend to last longer. This is because there are fewer moving parts and fewer chances for things to get snagged and damaged.
But they are not perfect…
For some people, when they first use wireless headphones, they have trouble getting a Bluetooth connection set up properly. Compared to traditional wired headphones, which were simple plug-and-play, wireless is a bit more complicated.
One of the leading audio manufacturers in the world, Sony, offers some of the best quality wireless earbuds and headphones you can buy. So, I decided to take a look at how to pair Sony Bluetooth headphones to any device. Let’s get started…
Putting Sony Earphones into Pairing Mode
Sony made a very smart decision a few years ago. They standardized how all Sony devices pair via Bluetooth. This means that no matter what device you have, the method for activating and pairing should be mostly identical.
Simply hold down the power button for at least seven seconds. The LED should start blinking either red, green, or blue. The blinking indicator tells you that the device is in pairing mode.
Pairing to a Workstation
A large part of the global workforce has to earn their living behind a computer these days. People have to spend hours behind a laptop or computer. So, pairing earbuds or headphones to a workstation to listen to music or podcasts is a great way to alleviate some of the boredom.
So, let’s have a look at how to pair Sony Bluetooth headphones with different types of PCs and laptops.
How To Pair Sony Bluetooth Headphones with a Windows PC/Laptop
To pair Sony Bluetooth headphones with a Windows machine, start by powering the device on. Then, enable pairing mode by pressing and holding the power button for seven seconds or more.
Next, you’ll want to open the Bluetooth settings on your Windows machine. You can do this in a few different ways:
- Click on the notifications button on the taskbar (usually on the far right). Then, right-click on the little Bluetooth icon and select “go to settings.”
- Click on Start or open the Start menu by pressing the Windows key. Then, click on the settings icon (a gear icon). Next, select “devices,” and the Bluetooth settings will be the default screen opened.
- Press the Windows key or click on the start button with your mouse. Type the word “Bluetooth” and then select “Bluetooth and other device settings” when it appears as a search result.
Once you have the Bluetooth setting page open…
Make sure that the toggle switch for Bluetooth is in the On position. Now find and click on the “Add Device Button.” It should be located at the very top of the screen, right above the toggle switch that turns Bluetooth on and off.
Click on the “Add Device” button and select your Sony device when it appears on the list of available devices. Remember to make sure they are in pairing mode (check for the Blinking LED indicator).
It would be a good idea to get familiar with this dialogue box. You will need to use it every time you want to pair up your Sony headphones with a new machine. Once you’ve done the initial pairing, your Sony device will automatically connect to the PC whenever it gets in range.
How To Pair Sony Bluetooth Headphones with macOS
The pairing process for a macOS and Sony Bluetooth headphones compared is not that dissimilar to Windows.
Start by opening the Bluetooth settings; you can do this by clicking on the icon on the menu bar. If your menu bar doesn’t show the Bluetooth icon, you can activate this feature from System Preferences.
Click on the Apple icon on the menu bar (usually located in the top left of the screen), then select “system preferences” from the drop-down menu. Once the system preferences window opens up, you can click on Bluetooth.
In Bluetooth settings…
Tick the little box next to “Show Bluetooth in the Menu bar.” As you’ve probably noticed, adding the Bluetooth icon to the menu bar is merely a shortcut to the Bluetooth settings page.
Make sure that the Bluetooth on the macOS device is turned on. Then, put your Sony device into pairing mode by pressing the power button for at least seven seconds. Wait for the blinking indicator.
Click on the “connect” button next to your Sony earphones when they pop up on the available devices list, and the two devices will pair.
How to Pair Sony Bluetooth Headphones to Any Device
Android
Start by making sure that your Android device’s Bluetooth is turned on. If you are unsure, check at the top of the screen next to your other status icons (battery, WiFi, signal, etc.). If there is a Bluetooth symbol there, then the device’s Bluetooth connection is turned on.
To turn on the Bluetooth, simply swipe down from the top of the screen to open the system tray. Tap on the Bluetooth symbol to activate it, then tap and hold to go to the Bluetooth settings page.
Alternatively…
You can open the settings app (gear icon) and then scroll down to Bluetooth and other connections. Set the Bluetooth toggle to the On position.
Place your Sony earbuds/headphones into pairing mode by holding down the power button for at least seven seconds. Return to your Android device and tap on the Sony device when it pops up on the list of available devices. This will initiate the pairing process.
iOS
When it comes to pairing Sony Bluetooth headphones with iOS devices, the process is fast and easy. And, in most regards, quite similar to pairing them with an Android device.
Start by making sure that Bluetooth on the iOS device is turned on…
If there is a Bluetooth icon next to your battery level and signal indicators, then it is currently active. But, if not, you can turn it on via the control center. Simply swipe upward from the bottom of the screen and tap on the Bluetooth icon.
You can also activate it via a home screen widget if you created one for your Bluetooth. Alternatively, you can open the settings app and then navigate to Bluetooth, and place the toggle in the on position.
Put your Sony Bluetooth device in pairing mode by holding down the power button for seven seconds or more. Return to your iOS device and tap on the Sony device when it appears on the list of available devices. The word “connected” will appear next to them when the pairing is successful.
Connected But No Sound?
No sound from your Sony Bluetooth headphones despite being connected? Well, there may be various reasons for this.
One of the most common reasons…
At least for mobile devices, is that the device automatically deactivates the media sounds. That’s because it assumes that you want to use your headphones for phone calls. Start by checking that your device’s media sounds are turned on and turned up to an audible level.
When it comes to PCs and laptops, a common issue is that the drivers are out of date, incorrect, or broken in some way.
Bluetooth Troubleshooting on Windows Machines
Windows has a built-in troubleshooter that can identify and sometimes solve system problems. Including audio devices and drivers. Here’s how to use the troubleshooter:
Open the Start menu by pressing the Windows key or clicking on the start button on the taskbar. Type “Find and fix problems with playing sound” and click on the option that is returned in the search results.
Alternatively, you can right-click on the speaker icon located on the taskbar (usually at the bottom right) and then click on “troubleshoot sound problems.”
Once you have opened the troubleshooter…
You will be given a list of devices. Select your Sony headphones from the list and run the troubleshooter to see if the system can find and fix the problem.
If you open the troubleshooter and your Sony earbuds/headphones don’t show up in the devices list, you will need to go online to Sony’s website. From there, download and install the drivers for your device manually.
Bluetooth Troubleshooting on macOS
The most common audio issue reported by mac users is that the computer accidentally picks the wrong device as the default audio device when it starts up or comes out of sleep mode.
This problem can be rectified in the Apple settings…
Start by clicking on the Apple icon on the menu bar. Then select System Preferences from the drop-down menu. Navigate to the sound options and select your Sony headphones/earbuds. This will activate them.
Ensure that they are set as the default device. That way, they automatically pair when you get within range of the computer.
If you are still experiencing problems, make sure that the headphones aren’t muted in the system mixer. Finally, you can try un-pairing or “forgetting them” and then re-pairing to see if the issue gets fixed.
Bluetooth Troubleshooting on Android Devices
When there’s no sound from Sony Bluetooth headphones on Android devices, it is because the media sound is turned off.
Open the audio mixer on your device by pressing the volume up or down button and then tapping on the three dots next to the speaker icon. This will open the mixer; then, you need to make sure that the media sounds aren’t muted or turned down too low.
Interested in Sony Bluetooth Headphones and Devices?
If you do, take a look at our in-depth Sony MDR-7506 Review, our Sony WH-1000XM2 Review, our Sony LinkBuds Truly Wireless Review, our Sony WH-CH700N Review, and our Sony WF-C500 Truly Wireless Earbuds Review for fantastic Sony products you can buy in 2023.
Also, check out our detailed Sony SRS-XB41 Review, our Sony HT-S350 Soundbar Review, our Sony SRS-XB01 Review, our Sony SRS-RA5000 Review, and our Sony SS-CS3 3-Way 4-Driver Review and discover more great Sony items currently on the market.
How to Pair Sony Bluetooth Headphones to Any Device – Final Thoughts
Wireless technology came with a bunch of benefits, but there were some challenges too. Luckily, the engineers at Sony have a pretty standardized connection protocol. Therefore, connecting Sony Bluetooth headphones to any device is very easy and fast.
If you are planning to use Sony Bluetooth headphones with one device frequently, it will be a good idea to know how all the settings work. That way, you are well-equipped for any potential problems you may encounter.
Until next time, good luck, and happy listening.