Earphones

The Sony LinkBuds S comes with a charging case that will recharge the internal batteries of the two ear phones.

If the ear buds are recharging slowly, or not at all, then you can check out this troubleshooting guide at Seeking Tech to see how you can potentially resolve your problem.

1. Before we begin, it is important to note that the ear buds will take up to 2 hours to fully charged. When it comes to the charging case, it can take up to 3 hours to recharge its battery.

2. To start off, make sure you are recharging the ear buds within a range of 59 °F to 95 °F (or 15 °C to 35 °C). Outside of this temperature range, the charging could slow down or even stop entirely.

3. Do not try to charge the ear buds or the charging case of the LinkBuds S if any of these parts are wet. Instead, you need to make sure that they are completely dry first.

4. Make sure that the charging ports of the ear phones and case aren’t dirty. If they are, then you can check out this guide to see how you can properly clean these ports.

5. You should also make sure that the ear phones are properly placed into their designated positions inside of the charging case.

The ear bud tips could end up preventing the charging ports from connecting to each other. In this case, you can try repositioning the tips are removing them from the ear buds.

6. When recharging the ear phones, make sure that you keep the top of the charging case closed in order to prevent wasted battery energy.

7. If you are recharging the Sony LinkBuds S case, then make sure you use the USB Type-C cable that came included in the box as another cable may not be compatible.

8. Furthermore, you should also make sure that the cable is firmly connected to the USB port of the charging case as well as its power source.

9. If you are connecting the other end of the USB Type-C cable to an USB AC adaptor, then then adaptor must have an output current of at least 0.5 A (or 500 mA).

10. If you are connecting the other end of the USB Type-C cable to a desktop computer, laptop, game console or any other device, then make sure that the power source is turned on.

Otherwise, a device in rest mode, sleep mode, hibernation mode or similarly named low-power state mode may not be able to supply power to the charging case.

11. You should also avoid connecting the other end of the USB Type-C cable to an USB hub or USB pass-through device. Instead, the cable should be directly connected to one of the USB ports on the power source.

12. If the power source has multiple USB ports, then you can try using a different one.

13. Moreover, you may want to consider resetting or factory resetting the Sony LinkBuds S as either of these actions may help the ear phones recharge normally again.

To see how you can do both, we recommend that you follow the steps laid out in this tutorial.

If you have a hard time trying to power on the Sony LinkBuds S, then you can take a look at this troubleshooting guide to see how you can get the ear phones to turn on.

1. If your ear buds feel wet when touched, then we recommend that you let then completely air dry first before you do anything else.

To find about more information about how you can properly dry the LinkBuds S when it gets wet, you can take a look at this post.

2. The next step you can take is to try to recharge the wireless ear phones by placing them into their designated positions in the charging case.

If the indicator on the case isn’t showing any lights, then make sure you plug the case into a power source.

We recommend waiting for a minimum of 2 hours for the ear buds to be fully charged.

3. You should also make sure that the wireless ear phones are properly paired and connected to the other device.

4. Moreover, you can also try reconnecting the LinkBuds S to the other device via Bluetooth.

5. If reconnecting the Bluetooth communication does not turn the ear phones on, then you can try forgetting the connection on the Bluetooth menu of the other device.

Afterwards, pair the LinkBuds S again to the same device to see if you are able to get the ear phones to power on.

6. It is important to note that only the right ear bud will work when the Service Link feature is enabled in the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app.

In this case, you can try disabling this function from the mobile application.

7. If you are using the LinkBuds S with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, then the left ear bud will not work by default. Instead, you need to use the right ear bud when utilizing either of these two features.

If you would rather use the left ear bud instead for Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, then you need to configure the Playback Control settings in the “Sony | Headphones Connect” mobile app.

Keep in mind that, even if you set Playback Control to both ear buds, only the right ear bud will offer the complete set of functions.

8. A reset may help fix to power issues with your ear phones. If a regular reset does not work, then you can try doing a factory reset.

You can check out this article to see how you can do both of these actions with this device.

9. If the LinkBuds S still does not turn on properly, then we recommend that you contact Sony for additional support.

If your Sony LinkBuds S gets too wet, then its sound output and noise cancellation effects may weaken. Furthermore, you may hear unusual sound coming from the ear buds. In the worst-case scenario, the ear phones will suffer from permanent liquid damage.

To see how you can prevent the LinkBuds S from getting water damage, you can take a look at this guide from Seeking Tech.

What is the IP rating for the Sony LinkBuds S?

The LinkBuds S has an ingress protection rating of IPX4, which means that it should be shield against water splashes from any direction.

This rating only applies to fresh water, tap water and sweat. Any other types of liquid aren’t guaranteed to be shielded from the ear buds.

How to prevent the LinkBuds S from getting too wet

Although the Sony LinkBuds S offers some protection, it is not remotely waterproof. To prevent liquid damage, you can try taking the following precautionary steps:

1. Avoid touching the LinkBuds S if you have wet hands.

2. Be careful when wearing the ear phones near any body of water. Make sure that the buds don’t fall off your ears and into the liquid.

3. Avoid using the device in very humid environment.

4. Do not place the earphones in damp clothing.

5. Keep in mind that the charging case does not offer any water protection. Therefore, we recommend that you keep the case dry at all times.

6. If you decide to wear the earphones during a rainstorm or any other situations where it could be exposed to a significant amount of water splashes, then you can try wearing a hood or other similar water-resistant clothing to help keep LinkBuds as dry as possible.

How to properly dry the Sony LinkBuds S when it gets wet

If your LinkBuds S gets too wet, then we recommend taking the following steps in order to properly dry the device:

1. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you turn off your ear phones.

To see how to do so, you can take a look at this article.

2. If the ear buds are still in the charging case, then make sure disconnect the case from its power source and then take the buds out.

3. If the LinkBuds S has been exposed to liquid other than tap or fresh water, then we recommend that you clean all parts of the device.

To find out how you can properly do so, you can visit this tutorial.

4. To dry the ear phones and charging case, you need to shake them several times to get the liquid to drip out from the insides.

Make sure you remove the ear bud tips before shaking. Otherwise, the tips may block the liquid from dripping out.

Furthermore, we also recommend that you try to shake the ear phones and charging case at different angels.

5. Next, you need to use a dry soft cloth to wipe off any visible wet spots you see.

6. Once you are done with wiping the Sony LinkBuds S dry, we suggest that you let the earphones and charging case air dry at room temperature.

7. After waiting for the device to air dry, you can try turning it on and then testing it to see if there is any liquid damage.

You can use the touch sensors of the Sony LinkBuds S for several functions.

If you are having problems trying to get the touch inputs of the ear buds to work correctly, then you can take a look at this troubleshooting article at Seeking Tech.

1. The first step we recommend taking is to make sure that your ear buds aren’t overheating.

For the uninformed, these devices have a recommended operating temperature range of 32 °F to 104 °F or 0 °C to 40 °C.

If your ear phones feel hot, then you should turn them off and then remove them from your ears. Afterwards, wait for both to cool down before using the LinkBuds S again.

2. If your ear buds are wet, then you should turn them off. Afterwards, you should wait until the buds are completely dried before turning them back on again.

3. By default, you won’t be able to use touch controls if you aren’t currently wearing the LinkBuds S. In order to change this setting, you need to do the following:

• First off, you need to download and install the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app on a smartphone or mobile device if you haven’t done so already.
• With the application installed, open it and then link it to your Sony LinkBuds S.
• After linking the earphones, you should be able to find the option to disable the automatic power off feature from the dashboard of the Sony LinkBuds S.

4. Make sure that your finger isn’t dirty when using the touch controls as the sensor may not be able to recognize your inputs.

5. You should also make sure that you aren’t earing any gloves as the sensor may not be able to detect your touch.

6. Keep in mind that both the left and right ear buds have touch sensors. The touch input functions could be different depending on which sensor you are using.

So, if the touch controls aren’t working as intended on one of the ear buds, then you can try using the touch sensor located on the other bud.

7. The earphones should also not be dirty. To find out how you can properly clean the Sony Link Buds S, you can take a look at this post.

8. If you are only experiencing issues with the double tap or triple tap functions, then you make sure you are tapping the touch sensor quickly enough. According to Sony, you should wait no more than around 0.3 seconds in between taps.

9. If you are using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant on the connected device, then the touch controls for the Sony LinkBuds S may have changed. You may have made changes to the touch controls previously as well.

To view the touch controls, as well as customize its functions to suit your preferences, you need to use the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app.

10. You can also try resetting or factory resetting the Sony LinkBuds S. If you don’t know how to do either of these actions, then you can follow the steps laid out by this tutorial.

You can use the touch controls of the Sony LinkBuds S to perform actions such as play/resume media playback, pause media playback, receive an incoming call, end an ongoing call, skip to the next track, skip to the previous track, enable Quick Attention mode, use voice assistance as well as switch between the Noise Cancellation and Ambient Sound modes.

You can check out this guide from Seeking Tech to see how you can properly use the touch control sensors for these wireless headphones.

How to play and pause media playback with the Sony LinkBuds S

In order to play audio or other types of media via the Sony LinkBuds S, you need to tap the right touch sensor.

To pause the audio or media playback, you need to tap the touch sensor located on the right ear bud.

How to skip to the next track with the LinkBuds S

If you want to skip to the next track on a playlist, then you need to double tap the right touch sensor.

How to skip to the previous track with the Sony LinkBuds S

If you want to go back to the beginning of the previous track of a playlist, then you need to triple tap the right touch sensor of the LinkBuds S.

How to switch between the LinkBuds S Noise Cancellation Mode and Ambient Sound Mode

With the Sony LinkBuds S, you can either use the Noise Cancellation Mode or Ambient Sound Mode.

To switch between the two modes, you need to tap the touch sensor located on the left ear bud.

How to turn off the LinkBuds S Quick Attention Mode

In order to enable the Quick Attention Mode of Sony LinkBuds S via touch controls, you need to tap and hold the left touch sensor.

How to receive an incoming call with the Sony LinkBuds S

If your Sony LinkBuds S is connected to a smartphone, then you can use the touch controls on the earphones to receive an incoming call.

In order to do so, you can double tap either the left touch sensor or right touch sensor.

How to end an ongoing call with the LinkBuds S

If you are done with a call, then you can end the session by double tapping either the left or right touch sensors of the Sony LinkBuds S.

How to activate Google or Siri voice assistance with the LinkBuds S

If you want to use the Google or Siri voice assistance feature via the Sony LinkBuds S, you need to tap and hold the touch sensor located on the right ear bud.

How to deactivate Google or Siri voice assistance with the Sony LinkBuds S

If you no longer want to use the Google or Siri voice assistance function, then you need to tap and hold the right touch sensor.

Keep in mind that you can customize touch controls of the wireless earphones via the official “Sony | Headphones Connect” app.

The Sony LinkBuds S can get dirty easily, especially if you use it often. To see how you can properly clean these wireless headphones, as well as the included charging case, you can take a look at this guide from Seeking Tech.

What cleaning solution should you use for the Sony LinkBuds S?

When it comes to the type of cleaning solution you should use with the Sony LinkBuds S, we recommend getting a high-concentration isopropyl alcohol mixture as it will also act as a disinfectant. Furthermore, this mixture will also evaporate a lot quicker when compared to plain water, making it a lot less likely to cause any water damage.

If you are searching for a specific product, then we recommend picking up the MG Chemicals 99.9% Isopropyl Alcohol Electronics Cleaner Liquid Bottle, which you can find on Amazon with this link. (#CommissionsEarned).

What other cleaning tools do you need for Sony LinkBuds S?

Since the ear buds and charging case of the LinkBuds S are small, then we recommend that you use Q-tip cotton swabs as you will be able to get into the smaller nooks and crannies.

How to clean the Sony LinkBuds S

In order to clean the Sony LinkBuds S, we recommend that you take the following steps:

1. If you are currently using the Sony LinkBuds S, then make sure that you take if off of your ears.

2. You should then disconnect the wireless ear buds from the connected device.

3. Afterwards, make sure that you turn off the Sony LinkBuds S.

If you don’t know how to shut down the wireless earphones, then you can take a look at this tutorial.

4. If the charging case is connected to a power source, then you need to disconnect it from the USB power cable.

5. You should remove the ear buds from the charging case if you have them inside.

6. Once you are ready, gently twist off the ear bud tips from the left and right ear buds.

7. You should then apply the isopropyl alcohol to a Q-tip cotton swab.

Do not pour the solution directly on the ear buds or charging case as you could end up causing liquid damage.

We also recommend using multiple Q-tip cotton swabs, especially if your device is very dirty. Once a Q-tip starts to look dirty, then you can replace it with a new one.

8. Use the cotton swab to wipe off any ear wax, dirt and other types of residues on the ear buds and ear bud tips.

Pay special attention to the charging ports on the ear buds. If these are dirty, then you won’t be able to recharge your wireless ear buds.

9. Once you are done cleaning the ear buds and ear bud tips, gently twist the ear bud tips back into the ear buds.

10. Afterwards, you should place the ear buds with the IR sensors facing sideways or upwards. Otherwise, the sensors may accidentally detect that the buds are being worn and then turn them on.

11. Next, you can move on to cleaning the charging case.

Once again, make sure you pay special attention to the charging ports of the case. This is because that, if these are dirty, then you may not be able to recharge your wireless ear buds.

12. Once you are done cleaning the charging case, leave the lid open so that any excess solution will evaporate more easily.

13. Wait for the charging case and ear buds to fully dry out at room temperature.

14. Once the charging case and ear buds have dried, you can start using the ear buds normally again. You can also put the ear buds back to the charging case and recharge the charging case without any problems.

The Sony LinkBuds S does not have a traditional button or touch input command that you can use in order to turn off the wireless earphones. Instead, there are three ways that you can completely power down this device. To find out what these methods are, you can take a look at this article from Seeking Tech.

Method #1: Using the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app

The first method can be done by using the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app by taking the following steps:

1. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you download and install the “Sony | Headphones Connect” application. You can search for it on the Google Play Store if you have an Android device or Apple App Store if you have an iOS device.

2. You should also link your LinkBuds S to the app if you haven’t done so already.

3. After linking your wireless ear buds, you should be in the dashboard of the app. Here you need to tap the power icon located on the top right side of the screen to manually turn off the Sony LinkBuds S.

Method #2: Using the Charging Case

You can also manually turn off the Sony LinkBuds S by using its charging case by doing the following:

1. Open the top lid of the LinkBuds S charging case.

2. Put the wireless ear buds into their designated positions in the case. The left ear bud should be placed to the left while the right ear bud should be placed to the right if you are looking at the charging case from the front.

For the uninformed, the buds should snap into place via built-in magnets when placed correctly.

3. With the ear buds placed correctly into the charging case, the LinkBuds S should be turned off.

You should also see the light indicator show a green or orange light for around 3 seconds. The display color depends on the remaining battery charge of the case.

4. Make sure you close the lid of the charging case once you are done turning off the Sony LinkBuds S.

If this method does not appear to be working, then it may be due to the charging case running out of battery charge. In this case, you can try plugging the case into a power source and then wait for a few minutes before trying to use it to turn off the ear buds.

Method #3: Waiting for Sony LinkBuds S to Automatically Turn Off

The last method is pretty simple as you can simply wait for the LinkBuds S to automatically turn off by itself.

In order to do, make sure you remove the ear phones from your ear as, otherwise, the wear detection feature will prevent the device from shutting down.

Next, you simply need to wait for around 15 minutes. If the earphones detect no activity for 15 minutes, then it should be able to shut down on its own.

Keep in mind that this method is not the most efficient, especially if you want to preserve battery life. Therefore, we recommend using either the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app or the charging case to manually turn off the Sony LinkBuds S.

If you are having problems trying to get your Sony LinkBuds S to work properly, then you can try resetting or factory resetting the wireless earphones. To find out how you can do both of these actions, you can take a look at this tutorial at Seeking Tech.

How to reset the LinkBuds S

If you want to reset your Sony LinkBuds S, then you need to do the following:

1. To begin, make sure that the LinkBuds S charging case still has some battery life remaining as you need to use it to reset the earphones.

2. Next, open the lid of the charging case.

3. Put one of the ear buds into their designated position in the charging case. Make sure that the charging contact points are properly aligned.

4. Make sure that the lid of the case is still opened.

5. Press and hold the reset button of the charging case, which should be located on its back.

You should see an orange light flashing slowly at the front status indicator. It should take around 15 seconds for the flashing to start.

6. The orange light will flash for around 5 seconds. Afterwards, it will automatically start the reset process. Once the reset process is completed, you should see either a green light or an orange light depending on the remaining battery charge of the ear bud that has been placed inside the charging case.

At that point, you can finally let go of the reset button.

7. Repeat the same process for the other ear bud.

You can take a look at the official video guide for the reset procedure below:

How to factory reset the LinkBuds S

If you want to perform factory reset for your Sony LinkBuds S, then you need to take the following steps:

1. To start off, make sure that your Sony LinkBuds S charging case still has some battery life. If not then, you need to recharge it before continuing.

2. Open the lid of the charging case.

3. Put both ear buds into their designated positions in the charging case.

4. Leave the lid of the charging case opened.

5. Press and hold the reset button at the back of the charging case until use see the light indicator flashing blue two times before starting to flash an orange light afterwards. This process should take around 15 seconds.

6. Once you see the orange light flash, you can take your finger off of the reset button.

7. The factory resetting process should then start. Once it has been completed, the light indicator on the charging case should flash green 4 times.

After the factory reset has been completed, you need to delete the pairing information for the LinkBuds S on connected devices if you want to pair the ear buds to the same devices again.

You can take a look at the Sony’s video guide for the factory reset procedure below:

If you are having problems trying to factory reset your LinkBuds S using the aforementioned method, then you can use the Sony | Headphones Connect App. You can perform the same procedure by going to System and then Initialize Settings from the dashboard of the application.