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Put the WH-1000XM5 into Bluetooth pairing mode, then select WH-1000XM5 in your Apple device’s Bluetooth settings. The first time you turn on a new or initialized headset, pairing mode starts automatically; for another device, hold the power button for about five seconds until the blue indicator flashes twice and the headset says “Pairing.” Keep the device within 1 meter (about 3 feet), and finish within five minutes.
Before you start
Charge the headphones enough to remain powered during setup. Place the WH-1000XM5 and the iPhone, iPad, or Mac close together—Sony specifies a maximum distance of 1 meter (about 3 feet) for pairing. These are operating limits in Sony’s help guide, not performance measurements from an independent test. Keep the Apple device unlocked where possible so you can see the Bluetooth device list.
There are two ways the headset enters pairing mode:
- First pairing after purchase or initialization: turn on the headset. It enters pairing mode automatically.
- Pairing a second or later device: press and hold the headset’s power button for about five seconds. The blue indicator repeatedly flashes twice, and voice guidance announces “Pairing.”
Sony says pairing mode cancels after five minutes if no connection is completed. If that happens, turn the headset off, turn it on again, and repeat the appropriate pairing-mode step. See Sony’s model-specific instructions for the exact indicator behavior: WH-1000XM5 iPhone pairing guide.
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Pair the WH-1000XM5 with an iPhone
Step 1: Start pairing mode on the headphones
- Keep the iPhone within 1 meter of the headphones and confirm the headset has sufficient charge.
- If this is the first pairing after purchase or initialization, turn on the headset and wait for pairing mode to start.
- If the headset has already been paired with another device, press and hold the power button for about five seconds. Wait for the blue indicator to flash twice repeatedly and for the “Pairing” voice prompt.
Step 2: Select the headphones in iOS
- Unlock the iPhone.
- Open Settings > Bluetooth.
- Turn on the Bluetooth switch if it is off.
- Wait for WH-1000XM5 to appear under the list of available devices, then tap it.
- If iOS asks for a passkey, enter 0000.
When the connection succeeds, the headset appears as connected in Bluetooth settings and becomes available for audio. Apple documents the Bluetooth path for iPhone accessories in its support instructions: Apple iPhone and iPad Bluetooth instructions.
If two Sony entries appear
The Bluetooth list can show WH-1000XM5 and LE_WH-1000XM5. Sony says to select WH-1000XM5 when both entries are present. If only LE_WH-1000XM5 appears, select that entry instead. Do not keep tapping entries at random; first make sure the headset is actually in pairing mode and still within the 1-meter range.
Pair the WH-1000XM5 with an iPad
Step 1: Put the headset into pairing mode
Use the same headset procedure as for the iPhone. Turn it on for the first pairing after purchase or initialization. For a later device, hold the power button for about five seconds until the indicator flashes twice repeatedly and the voice guidance says “Pairing.”
Step 2: Connect from iPadOS
- Keep the iPad and headphones within 1 meter of each other.
- Open Settings > Bluetooth on the iPad.
- Turn Bluetooth on.
- Tap WH-1000XM5 when it appears in the device list.
- Enter 0000 only if the iPad requests a passkey.
Sony’s general Bluetooth procedure covers the headset behavior, while Apple documents the same Settings path for iPad accessories: Sony general Bluetooth pairing instructions and Apple’s iPhone and iPad accessory instructions.
Pair the WH-1000XM5 with a Mac
Step 1: Start pairing mode
- For the first pairing after purchase or initialization, turn on the WH-1000XM5 and allow automatic pairing mode to start.
- For a Mac or other device that is being added later, hold the power button for about five seconds until pairing mode begins.
- Keep the Mac within 1 meter of the headset while the Mac searches.
Step 2: Connect in current macOS
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
- Select Bluetooth in the sidebar.
- Find WH-1000XM5 in the nearby or available devices list.
- Click Connect (or the equivalent connect control shown beside the device).
Apple’s current user guide uses System Settings. Sony’s model guide illustrates older macOS versions with the label System Preferences; that difference is a menu-name change rather than a different headset procedure. Sony lists macOS 10.15 or later as compatible in its Mac pairing guide and notes that Bluetooth audio profiles must be supported for playback and calls. See Sony’s WH-1000XM5 Mac pairing guide and Apple’s Mac Bluetooth guide.
Step 3: Choose the headset for Mac audio
A Bluetooth connection does not always change the Mac’s current output immediately. If sound still comes from the Mac’s speakers:
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- Open Apple menu > System Settings > Sound.
- Under the output device selection, choose WH-1000XM5.
- For calls, check that the headset is also available as the input microphone when the calling app offers separate input and output controls.
Bluetooth audio profiles are required for the headset to handle playback and calls; a Mac that lacks the needed profile support may show a connection without providing every audio function.
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Use this sequence rather than repeatedly refreshing the Bluetooth screen:
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| No WH-1000XM5 entry | Put the headset into pairing mode again, then reopen or refresh the device’s Bluetooth list. Confirm it is within 1 meter and that pairing mode has not exceeded five minutes. |
| WH-1000XM5 and LE_WH-1000XM5 | Select WH-1000XM5. |
| Only LE_WH-1000XM5 | Select LE_WH-1000XM5, as Sony instructs when that is the only available entry. |
| The headset connects to a different nearby device | Temporarily turn Bluetooth off on the previously connected device, or power that device off, then start pairing on the intended Apple device. |
| Connected, but no Mac audio | Open System Settings > Sound and select WH-1000XM5 as the output. |
These symptoms and remedies are covered in Sony’s pairing troubleshooting guidance and its reconnection instructions.
Fix a failed or interrupted pairing
1. Check the basic conditions
- Charge the headset and turn it on.
- Move the Apple device to within 1 meter of the headset.
- Confirm the indicator and voice prompt show pairing mode rather than an ordinary power-on state.
- Complete the connection before the five-minute pairing window expires.
2. Prevent an automatic connection to another device
The WH-1000XM5 can reconnect to a previously paired device that is nearby. If a phone, tablet, computer, or other device grabs the connection first, disable Bluetooth temporarily on that device or switch it off. Then place the headset back into pairing mode and search from the Apple device you actually want to use. Sony describes this behavior and the related paired-device procedure in its paired-device instructions.
3. Forget the old entry and pair again
If the headset was previously paired but will not reconnect, remove or forget the existing WH-1000XM5 entry from the iPhone, iPad, or Mac’s Bluetooth settings. Restart the Apple device, put the headphones into pairing mode again, and select the headset as a new device. This clears a stale Bluetooth record without erasing every pairing stored in the headset.
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If simpler steps fail, Sony advises resetting or initializing the headset. Initialization deletes all pairing information stored in the headphones. Afterward, remove the old headset record from each Apple device and pair again from scratch. Do not initialize merely because a second device is not visible; first verify pairing mode, distance, timeout, and competing nearby connections.
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Pairing several Apple devices and using multipoint
Ordinary multi-device pairing
The headset can store up to eight paired devices, according to Sony’s WH-1000XM5 guide. Storage of eight pairings does not mean it plays audio from eight devices simultaneously: under ordinary Bluetooth pairing, music plays from one paired device at a time. You can pair an iPhone, iPad, and Mac independently, then connect to the one you need from that device’s Bluetooth settings.
Two simultaneous connections
To keep two devices connected at once, enable Connect to 2 devices simultaneously in Sony’s headphones app, then pair both devices and establish both connections. Sony’s app guide now uses the name Sony | Sound Connect; the app was renamed in October 2024. The app is not required for a basic one-device Bluetooth pairing, but it is required for this two-device connection setting. See Sony’s multipoint guide and the WH-1000XM5 help guide.
Switching playback between the two connected devices
Multipoint keeps both devices connected, but Sony’s documented switching method is manual: stop playback on the device currently playing, then start playback on the other device. If audio does not move, pause the first device completely before pressing play on the second. This avoids confusing a stored pairing with an active two-device connection.
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First pairing versus later pairing: quick reference
| Situation | Headset action | Apple-device path | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| First pairing after purchase | Turn on the headset; pairing mode starts automatically. | iPhone/iPad: Settings > Bluetooth. Mac: Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth. | Stay within 1 meter and finish within five minutes. |
| Adding a second or later device | Hold the power button for about five seconds until the blue indicator flashes twice and “Pairing” is announced. | Use the same iPhone, iPad, or Mac Bluetooth path. | Select WH-1000XM5; use 0000 only if prompted. |
| Two devices at once | Enable Connect to 2 devices simultaneously in Sony | Sound Connect, then establish both connections. | Pair each device normally first. | Audio still switches one device at a time; stop playback on one before starting the other. |
| After initialization | Turn on the headset; automatic pairing mode starts as with a first pairing. | Pair each Apple device again. | All pairing information previously stored in the headset has been deleted. |
Limits and labels worth remembering
- Range during setup: Sony specifies 1 meter (about 3 feet) between the headset and the device.
- Pairing window: pairing mode is canceled after five minutes if no connection completes.
- Stored pairings: the headset stores up to eight paired devices.
- Playback: ordinary pairing plays from one paired device at a time.
- Multipoint: the optional two-device mode maintains two simultaneous connections, with playback switched by stopping one device and starting the other.
- Mac menus: current macOS uses System Settings; older Sony illustrations may say System Preferences.
Following those distinctions prevents the most common setup mistakes: looking for the headset while it is not in pairing mode, selecting the low-energy entry when the standard entry is available, or assuming that eight stored devices provide eight concurrent audio streams.
Pairing details that often cause confusion
The headset’s first-device behavior is different from its later-device behavior. Turning it on is enough to trigger pairing mode only for the first pairing after purchase or after initialization. Once the headset has pairing information, simply powering it on may make it reconnect to a known device instead. To add another Apple device, deliberately hold the power button for about five seconds and wait for the repeated double blue flashes and the spoken “Pairing” prompt.
The five-minute limit applies to the pairing state, not to the time you may use the headphones after they are connected. If you are still deciding which Bluetooth entry to tap and the window expires, start over rather than assuming the Apple device or headset is defective. Likewise, the 1-meter instruction applies while establishing the connection; moving farther away after pairing is a separate use condition.
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There is also a difference between forgetting the headset on one Apple device and initializing the headset itself. Forgetting removes that device’s saved record. Initialization removes every pairing stored in the headphones, so it affects all phones, tablets, and computers that had been paired. That is why initialization belongs at the end of troubleshooting, not at the beginning of a routine second-device setup.
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Checklist before contacting support
- Verify the headset has charge and is powered on.
- Place the intended iPhone, iPad, or Mac within 1 meter.
- Use the correct pairing action: power on for a first or post-initialization pairing, or hold the power button for about five seconds for a later device.
- Look for the spoken “Pairing” prompt and the repeated double blue flashes.
- Select WH-1000XM5 when both standard and LE entries appear; select LE_WH-1000XM5 only when it is the sole entry.
- Finish within five minutes.
- Disable Bluetooth on a nearby previously connected device if it keeps taking the connection.
- Forget the old entry and restart the Apple device before considering initialization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the passkey for the WH-1000XM5?
Enter 0000 if the iPhone, iPad, or Mac asks for a Bluetooth passkey. Most pairings do not display a passkey prompt, so do not enter one unless the Apple device requests it.
Why does my WH-1000XM5 not appear in Bluetooth settings?
Put the headset into pairing mode again, keep it within 1 meter, and search before the five-minute pairing window ends. For a later device, hold the power button for about five seconds; turning the headset on alone may reconnect it to an earlier device instead.
Should I choose WH-1000XM5 or LE_WH-1000XM5?
Choose WH-1000XM5 when both names appear. If LE_WH-1000XM5 is the only entry, Sony says to select it.
Can I pair the headphones with an iPhone, iPad, and Mac?
Yes. Sony says the headset stores up to eight paired devices. Pair each Apple device separately, remembering that ordinary Bluetooth playback comes from one paired device at a time.
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No. Pairing several devices is not the same as simultaneous playback. Enable Connect to 2 devices simultaneously in Sony | Sound Connect to maintain two connections, then stop playback on one device before starting it on the other.
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Do I need Sony | Sound Connect to pair with one Apple device?
No. Basic Bluetooth pairing uses the iPhone or iPad Bluetooth settings or the Mac’s Bluetooth settings. The app is needed for the two-device simultaneous-connection setting.
Why does my Mac show connected but play through its speakers?
Open Apple menu > System Settings > Sound and select WH-1000XM5 as the output. For calls, also check the headset as the input microphone when the calling app provides separate controls.
Why does the headset keep connecting to another device?
A nearby previously paired phone, tablet, or computer may reconnect automatically. Turn Bluetooth off on that device temporarily, or power it off, then put the WH-1000XM5 back into pairing mode and connect from the intended Apple device.
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Sony says pairing mode is canceled after five minutes without a completed connection. Turn the headset off, turn it on again, and repeat the correct first-device or later-device pairing procedure.
Should I initialize the headset if pairing fails?
Only after simpler steps fail. First check charge, distance, pairing mode, the timeout, competing nearby devices, and the saved Bluetooth entry. Initialization deletes all pairing information stored in the headset, so every device must be paired again afterward.
Why does Sony say System Preferences while my Mac says System Settings?
Sony’s illustrations use older macOS terminology. Current macOS uses Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth; the headset’s pairing procedure is otherwise the same.
What Mac versions does Sony list as compatible?
Sony’s Mac pairing guide lists macOS 10.15 or later and notes that Bluetooth audio profiles must be supported for playback and calls.
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The Bottom Line
For a first pairing, turn on the WH-1000XM5 and select it in Settings > Bluetooth on an iPhone or iPad, or System Settings > Bluetooth on a Mac. For every additional device, hold the power button for about five seconds until “Pairing” is announced. Stay within 1 meter, finish within five minutes, select the standard WH-1000XM5 entry when available, and use Sony | Sound Connect only when you need two simultaneous device connections.
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