SONY WH-1000XM4 (05) PDF Document

The SONY WH-1000XM4 headset uses BLUETOOTH® wireless technology, allowing you to do the following:

Listening to music: You can receive audio signals from a smartphone or music player to enjoy music wirelessly.

Talking on the phone: You can make and receive calls hands-free, while leaving your smartphone or mobile phone in your bag or pocket.

In the factory setting, you will hear the English voice guidance in the following situations via the SONY WH-1000XM4 headset. You can change the language and turn the guidance on/off using the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app.

Power & Battery:

• When the headset is turned on: “Power on”

• When the headset is turned off: “Power off”

• When informing the remaining battery charge: “Battery about XX %” or “Battery fully charged”

• When the remaining battery charge is low: “Low battery, please recharge headset”

• When automatically turning off due to low battery: “Please recharge headset. Power off”

Bluetooth Connectivity:

• When entering pairing mode: “Bluetooth pairing”

• When establishing a Bluetooth connection: “Bluetooth connected”

• When disconnecting a Bluetooth connection: “Bluetooth disconnected”

Multipoint Connection (Available when ‘Connect to 2 devices simultaneously’ is on):

• For the first multipoint connection with a second device: “Bluetooth 2nd Device Connected”

• When establishing connection with the first device: “Bluetooth Device1 Connected”

• When establishing connection with the second device: “Bluetooth Device2 Connected”

• When disconnecting the first device: “Bluetooth Device1 Disconnected”

• When disconnecting the second device: “Bluetooth Device2 Disconnected”

• When connecting a third device, replacing the first: “Bluetooth Device1 Replaced”

• When connecting a third device, replacing the second: “Bluetooth Device2 Replaced”

Sound Modes:

• When turning on the noise canceling function: “Noise canceling”

• When turning on the Ambient Sound Mode: “Ambient sound”

• When turning off noise canceling and Ambient Sound Mode: “Ambient Sound Control off”

• When the NC Optimizer starts: “Optimizer start”

• When the NC Optimizer finishes: “Optimizer finished”

• When Speak-to-Chat is enabled: “Speak-to-chat activated”

• When Speak-to-Chat is disabled: “Speak-to-chat deactivated”

Voice Assistant:

• When Google Assistant is not available on the smartphone: “The Google Assistant is not connected”

• When Google Assistant is not available during a software update: “The Google assistant is not available during update. Please wait a moment until the update completes.”

• When Amazon Alexa is not available on the smartphone: “Either your mobile device isn’t connected; or you need to open the Alexa App and try again”

After opening the package for your SONY WH-1000XM4, check that all of the following items are included:

• Wireless Noise Canceling Stereo Headset

• USB Type-C® cable (USB-A to USB-C®) (approx. 20 cm / 7.88 in.) (1)

• Headphone cable (approx. 1.2 m / 47.25 in.) (1)

• Carrying case (1)

• Plug adaptor for in-flight use (1)

To properly store your SONY WH-1000XM4 headphones:

1. When you have finished using the headset, rotate the left and right units to flatten them.

2. Fold one unit toward the headband.

3. Store the folded headset in the supplied carrying case.

To store the cables and plug adaptor, put them in the holder separated by the divider in the carrying case.

Here are the locations and functions of the parts of the SONY WH-1000XM4 headset:

1. (L) (left) mark

2. Tactile dot: Located on the left unit to help identify it by touch.

3. Built-in antenna: A Bluetooth antenna is built into the headset.

4. N-Mark: Used for one-touch NFC connection.

5. Left unit

6. Sliders (left, right): Slide to adjust the length of the headband.

7. Headband

8. Noise canceling function microphones (external): Pick up noise to be cancelled.

9. (R) (right) mark

10. Noise canceling function microphones (internal): Pick up noise inside the earcup to be cancelled.

11. Right unit

12. Touch sensor control panel: On the right unit, used to control music playback and other operations.

13. CUSTOM button: Operates noise canceling, Ambient Sound Mode, and other customizable functions.

14. Indicator (red/blue): Lights up to indicate power or communication status.

15. (Power) button

16. Charging indicator (red): Lights up in red while charging.

17. USB Type-C port: Used for charging the headset.

18. Headphone cable input jack: For connecting the supplied headphone cable for wired use.

19. Voice pickup microphones: Pick up your voice for phone calls or Speak-to-Chat mode.

20. Proximity sensor: In the left unit, detects whether the headset is worn on the ears.

The status of your SONY WH-1000XM4 headset can be checked by the indicator lights.

Indicator (blue/red) next to the power button:

• Turning on: Flashes twice in blue. If the battery is 10% or lower, it will also flash slowly in red for about 15 seconds.

• Turning off: Lights up in blue for about 2 seconds.

• Displaying remaining battery:

– More than 10% charge: Flashes twice in blue.

– 10% or lower charge: Flashes slowly in red for about 15 seconds.

• Low battery: Repeatedly flashes slowly in red for about 15 seconds.

• Bluetooth Pairing mode: Repeatedly flashes twice in blue.

• Bluetooth Not connected: Repeatedly flashes in blue at about 1-second intervals.

• Bluetooth Connection process completed: Repeatedly flashes quickly in blue for about 5 seconds.

• Bluetooth Connected: Repeatedly flashes in blue at about 5-second intervals.

• Incoming call: Repeatedly flashes quickly in blue.

• Headphone cable connected (power on): Repeatedly flashes in blue at about 5-second intervals.

• Updating software: Repeatedly flashes slowly in blue.

• Initialization completed: Flashes 4 times in blue.

USB Type-C port charging indicator (red):

• While charging: Lights up in red. The indicator turns off when charging is complete.

• Abnormal temperature: Repeatedly flashes twice in red.

• Abnormal charging: Repeatedly flashes slowly in red.

To wear your SONY WH-1000XM4 headphones correctly, follow these steps:

1. Adjust the length of the headband for a comfortable fit.

2. Put the headset on your head with the (L) mark on your left ear and the (R) mark on your right ear. There is a tactile dot on the (L) mark side to help with identification.

The SONY WH-1000XM4 headset has a built-in proximity sensor and acceleration sensors that detect when the headset is attached or removed, automatically controlling operations like music playback and powering off. This is the wearing detection feature.

When the headset is worn:

• The indicator next to the power button turns off.

• You can use the touch sensor control panel to play music, make calls, etc.

When the headset is removed:

• Music playback will pause automatically. When you put the headset back on, playback resumes.

• To save battery, the headset will automatically turn off after 15 minutes of not being worn.

• Music playback, calls, and other touch sensor operations cannot be performed.

• If you are on a call, the call automatically switches to your smartphone. When you put the headset back on, the call switches back to the headset.

Note: Wearing detection may not work correctly in certain situations, such as with the headset around your neck, when wearing it over a cap or scarf, or if the proximity sensor is fogged up. In such cases, wear the headset correctly so your ears are inside the earpads.

The SONY WH-1000XM4 headset contains a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery. Use the supplied USB Type-C cable to charge the headset before use.

1. Connect the headset to an AC outlet using the supplied USB Type-C cable and a commercially available USB AC adaptor (capable of supplying 1.5 A or more).

2. The charging indicator (red) on the headset will light up.

3. Charging is completed in about 3 hours, and the indicator will turn off automatically.

4. After charging is complete, disconnect the USB Type-C cable.

You can also charge the headset by connecting it to a running computer using the supplied USB Type-C cable. If charging starts while the headset is on, it will turn off automatically.

Warning: The headset is not waterproof. If water or foreign matter enters the headset, it may result in fire or electric shock. Be careful when using the headset near liquids, in the rain, or while perspiring.

The available operating times of the SONY WH-1000XM4 headset with a fully charged battery are as follows. A 10-minute charge can provide about 5 hours of music playback.

Music playback time (Bluetooth connection):

Communication time:

Standby time:

Headphone cable connected (power is turned on):

You can check the remaining battery charge of your SONY WH-1000XM4 headset in several ways:

Voice Guidance:

Press the (power) button while the headset is on. You will hear a voice guidance indicating the remaining charge, such as “Battery about XX %” or “Battery fully charged”.

Low Battery Warning:

When the charge becomes low, a warning beep sounds, and the operating indicator turns from blue to red. You will hear the voice guidance say, “Low battery, please recharge headset”. When the battery is completely empty, a warning beep sounds, the voice guidance says, “Please recharge headset. Power off”, and the headset automatically turns off.

On an iPhone or iPod touch:

When connected via HFP Bluetooth, an icon indicating the headset’s remaining battery charge will appear on the screen. The charge is shown in 10 different levels (e.g., 100%, 70%, 50%, 10% or lower).

On an Android™ smartphone (OS 8.1 or later):

When connected via HFP Bluetooth, go to [Settings] – [Device connection] – [Bluetooth] to see the remaining battery charge of the headset, displayed in 10 levels.

Using the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app:

You can also check the remaining battery charge within the app on both Android and iOS devices.

To turn on the headset:

Press and hold the (power) button for about 2 seconds until the indicator (blue) flashes.

To turn off the headset:

Press and hold the (power) button for about 2 seconds until the indicator (blue) turns off.

You can also turn off the headset using the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app. Additionally, the headset will automatically turn off after 15 minutes of not being worn, a setting which can be changed in the app.

To pair your SONY WH-1000XM4 for the first time with an Android smartphone, follow these steps:

1. Enter pairing mode on the headset.

• If you are pairing for the very first time after purchase or after initializing the headset, simply turn it on. It will enter pairing mode automatically.

• To pair a second or subsequent device, press and hold the (power) button for about 7 seconds with the headset turned off. The indicator (blue) will repeatedly flash twice in a row, and you will hear the voice guidance say, “Bluetooth pairing”.

2. Unlock the screen of the Android smartphone.

3. Find the headset on the smartphone.

• Go to [Settings] – [Device connection] – [Bluetooth].

• Turn on the Bluetooth function.

4. Select [WH-1000XM4] from the list of available devices.

• If both [WH-1000XM4] and [LE_WH-1000XM4] are displayed, select [WH-1000XM4]. It may take up to a minute to appear.

• If a Passkey is required, enter “0000”.

The headset and smartphone will pair and connect. You will hear the voice guidance say, “Bluetooth connected”.

If you have an NFC-compatible smartphone (Android 4.1 or later), you can easily connect it to your SONY WH-1000XM4 headset.

1. Unlock the screen of the smartphone.

2. Turn on the smartphone’s NFC function. This is typically found in [Settings] under [Device connection] or similar.

3. Touch the smartphone to the N-Mark on the left earcup of the headset. Keep them touching until the smartphone reacts.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions on your smartphone to complete the pairing and connection. When connected, the indicator (blue) on the headset will flash slowly, and you will hear the voice guidance say, “Bluetooth connected”.

To disconnect, simply touch the smartphone to the N-Mark on the headset again.

To pair your SONY WH-1000XM4 for the first time with an iPhone, follow these steps:

1. Enter pairing mode on the headset.

• If pairing for the very first time, turn the headset on to enter pairing mode automatically.

• For subsequent pairings, with the headset off, press and hold the (power) button for about 7 seconds. The blue indicator will flash twice repeatedly, and you will hear “Bluetooth pairing”.

2. Unlock the screen of your iPhone.

3. Find the headset on the iPhone.

• Go to [Settings] and touch [Bluetooth].

• Turn on the Bluetooth function.

4. Touch [WH-1000XM4] from the device list.

• If both [WH-1000XM4] and [LE_WH-1000XM4] appear, select [WH-1000XM4].

• If a Passkey is requested, enter “0000”.

The headset and iPhone will pair and connect, and you will hear the voice guidance say, “Bluetooth connected”.

To pair your SONY WH-1000XM4 headset with a Windows 10 computer, follow these steps:

1. Enter pairing mode on the headset. Press and hold the (power) button for about 7 seconds until the indicator flashes blue and you hear “Bluetooth pairing”.

2. Wake the computer from standby, sleep, or hibernation mode.

3. Register the headset on the computer.

• Click the [Start] button, then [Settings].

• Click [Devices].

• Click the [Bluetooth & other devices] tab, click the [Bluetooth] switch to turn it on, then click [Add Bluetooth or other device].

• Click [Bluetooth].

• Select [WH-1000XM4] from the list. If [LE_WH-1000XM4] appears first, wait for [WH-1000XM4] to show up and select it.

• Click [Done].

If Passkey input is required, enter “0000”. The headset and computer will pair and connect, and you will hear “Bluetooth connected”.

To pair your SONY WH-1000XM4 headset with a Windows 8.1 computer, follow these steps:

1. Enter pairing mode on the headset. Press and hold the (power) button for about 7 seconds until you hear “Bluetooth pairing”.

2. Wake the computer from standby, sleep, or hibernation mode.

3. Register the headset using the computer.

• Move the mouse pointer to the top-right corner of the screen to show the Charm Bar, then select [Settings].

• Select [Change PC Settings].

• Select [PC and devices] from the [PC Settings] screen.

• Select [Bluetooth].

• Select [WH-1000XM4] from the list, then select [Pair].

If Passkey input is required, enter “0000”. The headset and computer are paired and connected. You will hear the voice guidance say, “Bluetooth connected”.

To pair your SONY WH-1000XM4 headset with a Mac computer (macOS 10.10 or later), follow these steps:

1. Enter pairing mode on the headset. Press and hold the (power) button for about 7 seconds until the indicator flashes and you hear “Bluetooth pairing”.

2. Wake the computer from standby, sleep, or hibernation mode.

3. Register the headset using the computer.

• Select [System Preferences] – [Bluetooth] from the task bar.

• On the [Bluetooth] screen, select [WH-1000XM4] and click [Connect]. If [LE_WH-1000XM4] appears first, wait for [WH-1000XM4] to show up and select it.

4. Select the headset as the audio output.

• Click the speaker icon in the upper right part of the screen and select [WH-1000XM4].

You are now ready to enjoy music playback on your computer.

To connect the SONY WH-1000XM4 to two Bluetooth devices at the same time, you must first enable the feature in the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app.

1. Pair the headset with the two devices you want to connect, respectively.

2. Operate the first device (the one with the app installed) to establish a Bluetooth connection with the headset.

3. Open the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app and turn on [Connect to 2 devices simultaneously].

4. Operate the second device to establish a Bluetooth connection with the headset.

When both devices are connected, you can switch music playback between them and wait for incoming calls on both smartphones.

Music Playback: The music will play from the device that you last operated. To play from the other device, stop playback on the current one and then start playback on the second one.

Phone Calls: When connected to two smartphones, both will be in standby mode. If a call comes to one device, a ring tone is heard. If a second call comes to the other device while you are on the first call, a ring tone will be heard via the second device. If you finish the first call, the ring tone from the second device will be heard.

You can use the touch sensor control panel on the right earcup of your SONY WH-1000XM4 to control audio playback from a connected Bluetooth device that supports AVRCP.

• Play/Pause: Tap the touch sensor control panel twice quickly.

• Skip to the next track: Swipe forward and release.

• Skip to the previous track (or beginning of the current track): Swipe backward and release.

• Fast-forward: Swipe forward and hold. Release at the desired point.

• Fast-reverse: Swipe backward and hold. Release at the desired point.

• Increase the volume: Swipe up repeatedly. For continuous adjustment, swipe up and hold.

• Decrease the volume: Swipe down repeatedly. For continuous adjustment, swipe down and hold.

When the volume reaches the maximum or minimum, an alarm sounds.

The noise canceling function on your SONY WH-1000XM4 allows you to enjoy music without being disturbed by ambient noise. The function turns on automatically when you turn on the headset.

To cycle through sound modes, press the CUSTOM button repeatedly. Each press switches the function as follows, announced by the voice guidance:

1. The Ambient Sound Mode: ON

2. The noise canceling function: OFF / The Ambient Sound Mode: OFF

3. The noise canceling function: ON

The noise canceling circuit senses outside noise with built-in microphones and sends an equal-but-opposite canceling signal to the headset. It is most effective on low-frequency noise like vehicles and air conditioning.

The NC (Noise Canceling) Optimizer function on the SONY WH-1000XM4 optimizes the noise canceling performance by detecting the shape of your face, your hairstyle, whether you are wearing glasses, and changes in air pressure (like in an airplane).

To run the NC Optimizer:

1. Put on the headset with the power turned on.

2. Press and hold the CUSTOM button for about 2 seconds until you hear the voice guidance say, “Optimizer start”.

Test signals will be heard during the optimization. When the process is finished, you will hear the voice guidance say, “Optimizer finished”.

It is recommended to run the NC Optimizer when using the headset for the first time, or after changing your hairstyle or glasses.

Ambient Sound Mode allows you to hear ambient sound through the microphones on your SONY WH-1000XM4 while enjoying music.

To activate the Ambient Sound Mode:

Press the CUSTOM button while the noise canceling function is on. Each press of the button cycles through Noise Canceling ON -> Ambient Sound Mode ON -> Sound Control OFF.

You can also change settings for the Ambient Sound Mode, such as enabling “Voice focus” to suppress unwanted noise while allowing voices to be heard, using the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app.

To turn off the Ambient Sound Mode:

Press the CUSTOM button repeatedly until the Ambient Sound Mode is turned off.

Quick Attention Mode on the SONY WH-1000XM4 temporarily turns down your music volume to allow ambient sound to be heard more easily, which is useful for listening to announcements or having a quick conversation.

To activate Quick Attention Mode:

Touch the entire touch sensor control panel on the right earcup with your hand. The mode is active only while you are touching the panel.

To deactivate Quick Attention Mode:

Release your hand from the touch sensor control panel.

If Speak-to-Chat is enabled on your SONY WH-1000XM4, the headset will automatically detect when you start talking to someone. It then pauses or mutes your music and captures the voice of the person you are conversing with on the microphone to make it easier to hear.

To enable Speak-to-Chat:

In the factory setting, Speak-to-Chat is disabled. To enable it, hold 2 fingers to the touch sensor control panel until you hear the voice guidance say, “Speak-to-chat activated”.

To disable Speak-to-Chat:

Hold 2 fingers to the touch sensor control panel again until you hear the voice guidance say, “Speak-to-chat deactivated”.

The mode automatically ends if the headset does not detect any speech from you for about 30 seconds.

You can manage hands-free calls on your SONY WH-1000XM4 using the touch sensor control panel on the right earcup.

Receiving a Call:

When you hear a ring tone, tap the touch sensor control panel twice quickly to answer the call. To reject the call, touch and hold your finger to the control panel.

During a Call:

• End the call: Tap the touch sensor control panel twice quickly.

• Switch call device: Touch and hold your finger to the control panel to switch the call back and forth between the headset and your smartphone.

Making a Call:

Operate your smartphone to make a call. The dial tone will be heard from the headset. To cancel an outgoing call before it’s answered, tap the touch sensor control panel twice quickly.

Activating Voice Dial/Voice Assistant:

During standby or music playback, touch and hold your finger to the touch sensor control panel for about 2 seconds to start your phone’s voice dial function or activate Google Assistant or Siri.

To use your SONY WH-1000XM4 for video calls on a computer, follow these steps:

1. Connect the headset to your computer via Bluetooth connection.

2. Launch the video calling application on your computer.

3. Check the settings of your video calling application:

• Speaker/Audio Output Settings: Select the calling connection, which is typically named [Headset (WH-1000XM4 Hands-Free)]. Avoid selecting [Headphones (WH-1000XM4 Stereo)], as this is for music playback.

• Microphone Settings: Select [Headset (WH-1000XM4 Hands-Free)].

Depending on the application, these options may just be listed as [WH-1000XM4]. Ensure you select the headset for both speaker and microphone to make a video call.

If your SONY WH-1000XM4 headset cannot be turned on or operated, you can reset it. This operation does not delete pairing information.

1. Connect the headset to a power source using the USB Type-C cable to start charging.

2. While charging, press both the (power) button and the CUSTOM button simultaneously.

The headset will be reset. If the headset does not operate correctly even after resetting, you should initialize it to restore factory settings.

Initializing the SONY WH-1000XM4 headset resets volume settings and deletes all device pairing information. This should be done if the headset does not operate correctly even after a reset.

1. Turn off the headset and ensure the USB Type-C cable is disconnected.

2. Press and hold the (power) button and the CUSTOM button simultaneously for 7 seconds or more.

3. The indicator (blue) will flash 4 times, and the headset will be initialized.

After initializing, you will need to delete the pairing information for the headset from any connected devices and then pair them again.

If you are unable to turn on your SONY WH-1000XM4 headset, try the following:

• Make sure the battery is fully charged.

• The headset cannot be turned on while it is charging. Disconnect the USB Type-C cable and then try to turn on the headset.

• Reset the headset. While charging, press and hold the power button and the CUSTOM button simultaneously.

If your SONY WH-1000XM4 headset is not charging, please check the following:

• Be sure to use the supplied USB Type-C cable.

• Check that the USB Type-C cable is firmly connected to the headset and the USB AC adaptor or computer.

• Make sure the USB AC adaptor is firmly connected to the AC outlet.

• Check that the computer is turned on and not in standby (sleep) or hibernation mode.

• If using Windows 8.1, update using Windows Update.

• Restart your computer and check if the situation has improved.

• Reset the headset.

If you have no sound or a low sound level, try these troubleshooting steps:

• Check that both the headset and the connected device are turned on.

• Turn up the volume on both the headset and the connected device.

• Check that the connected device is playing back.

• If using a Bluetooth connection, ensure the devices are connected via an A2DP Bluetooth profile for music playback. For calls, check for an HFP or HSP connection.

• If using a wired connection, check that the headphone cable is connected firmly.

• Pair the headset and the Bluetooth device again.

• Reset the headset.

• Charge the headset.

• Restart your playback device (e.g., smartphone or computer).

If the sound skips frequently on your SONY WH-1000XM4, it could be due to Bluetooth interference. Try the following:

• Set the headset to “Priority on stable connection” mode using the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app.

• Remove any obstacles between the antenna of the connecting Bluetooth device and the built-in antenna of the headset. The headset’s antenna is located in the left earcup.

• Keep the headset away from devices that can cause interference, such as microwave ovens, wireless LAN devices, or other Bluetooth audio devices.

• The situation may improve by changing the wireless playback quality settings on your transmitting device.

• If you are enjoying music with your smartphone, try shutting down unnecessary apps or restarting the smartphone.

• Connect the headset and the Bluetooth device once again.

If you feel the noise canceling is not effective enough, check the following points:

• Make sure that the noise canceling function is turned on.

• Adjust the headset to ensure a comfortable and secure fit over your ears.

• The noise canceling function is most effective in low-frequency ranges (airplanes, trains) and less effective for higher frequencies (human voices).

• Check the setting of the Adaptive Sound Control in the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app. When it is turned on, the noise canceling function may become insufficient in some situations. Turn it off to test.

• In the app, check the setting of [Ambient Sound Control]. If it is set to [Wind Noise Reduction] or [Ambient Sound], the effect is reduced. Set it to the noise canceling mode.

• Disable Speak-to-Chat and check if the situation has improved.

If you are having trouble pairing your SONY WH-1000XM4 headset, try these solutions:

• Bring the headset and the Bluetooth device within 1 meter (3 feet) of each other.

• Make sure the headset is in pairing mode. To pair a second or subsequent device, press and hold the power button for 7 seconds or more to enter pairing mode.

• If you have initialized or repaired the headset, the pairing information might still be stored on your other device (e.g., iPhone). Delete the pairing information for the headset from that device’s Bluetooth settings and then try pairing them again.

If you cannot hear the other person during a call, please check the following:

• Ensure that both the headset and the connected smartphone are turned on.

• Turn up the volume of both the headset and the connected device.

• Check the audio settings of your Bluetooth device to make sure the sound is being output from the headset during a call (HFP or HSP profile should be active).

• Try re-establishing the Bluetooth connection.

• If you are listening to music when a call comes in, stop the playback and tap the touch sensor control panel twice quickly to answer the call.

If the touch sensor on your SONY WH-1000XM4 is not responding correctly, consider the following:

• The sensor is on the flat surface of the right earcup. Ensure you are operating within this range.

• When swiping, make forward/backward movements perpendicular to the headband, and up/down movements parallel to the headband.

• The headset will not operate correctly if you use your fingernail or a gloved hand. Use the ball of your finger.

• The touch sensor is not available when the headset is not worn on your ears.

• Check that the touch sensor control panel setting is enabled in the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app.

• When Speak-to-Chat is enabled, music playback pauses automatically when you speak, which is normal operation.

• You cannot perform operations like volume adjustment or play/pause via the touch panel when using the supplied headphone cable.