How to connect the WH-1000XM5 to Xbox Series X or S

If you have the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones and would like to use it with your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, then you can take a look at this guide from Seeking Tech to see how you can properly connect this accessory.

Can you connect WH-1000XM5 to Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S via Bluetooth?

Unfortunately, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S do not support Bluetooth connections. As a result, you won’t be able to connect the headset wirelessly to your game console.

However, there are two workarounds that you can do. The first of which is to pair and connect the WH-1000XM5 to a television screen that supports audio output over a Bluetooth connection. You should then be able to use the headphones with the Xbox as well as doing any other activities with your TV.

For the second method, you can buy a Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Audio 3.5mm Adapter. You will need to plug the adapter into the 3.5mm audio port of the Xbox Series controller. You should then be able to pair and connect the WH-1000XM5 to the adapter.

If you are interested in an Xbox compatible adapter for Bluetooth headsets, then we recommend checking out the UGREEN Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter and Receiver 2 in 1 Wireless 3.5mm Bluetooth Adapter. You can find this product on Amazon with this link. (#CommissionsEarned).

How to connect WH-1000XM5 to Xbox Series X or Xbox Series by using an audio cable

Of course, you can also simply plug in the WH-1000XM5 to your Xbox controller. In order to do so, you need to take the following steps:

1. Use the audio cable that came included with the WH-1000XM5 to plug one end of the cable to the headphones.

2. Plug the other end of the cable to the audio port of the Xbox controller.

3. The audio output of your Xbox should automatically be switched over to the WH-1000XM5.

4. By default, this headset will be using the Stereo Uncompressed format. In order to change to a different one, go to the Settings menu of your Series X or Series S.

From there, select General > Volume & audio output > Headset format. In the drop-down menu, you will be able to select the following:

  • Stereo uncompressed
  • Windows Sonic for Headphones
  • Dolby Atmos for Headphones
  • DTS Headphone:X

5. From the same General – Volume & audio output menu, you can also select the “Audio testing & details” option.

On the next screen, scroll down to the “Formats supported by your headset” section. This will show you a list of supported formats for the Sony WH-1000XM5.

Is the PlayStation Store $100 Gift Card + Free Sony Headphones bundle worth it?

When looking for a PlayStation Store Gift Card at Best Buy, you may notice the PlayStation Store $100 Gift Card + Free Sony Headphones bundle. So, is this product worth purchasing if you are looking to add funds to your PlayStation Store wallet?

You can find out in this review article at Seeking Tech.

About $100 PlayStation Store Gift Card

The first part of this bundle is the PlayStation Store Gift Card, which lets you add $100 to the digital wallet of your PlayStation Network account. You can then use the funds to purchase digital games, add-on DLC packs, subscription as well as other content from the PlayStation Store.

It is important to note that, if you purchase the bundle online from Best Buy, then the voucher won’t be sent to you via email. Instead, the code can only be found in a physical card from inside the packaging box.

You then need to scratch off the code and then manually input the string of letters and numbers into the redemption page on the PlayStation Store in order to add $100 funds to your PSN account.

So, if you are in a hurry trying to add funds to your PSN account, then buying this bundle online is not the fastest option. If you don’t mind waiting, however, then you will get a bonus gift.

About the free Sony Headphones

The free headphones that comes with the bundle is the black Sony MDR-E9LP Earphone. This accessory can be used with any devices that have an audio jack, including the DualShock 4, DualSense, PlayStation VR1 and PlayStation VR2.

Based on our experience, we wouldn’t recommend getting this as a standalone product as it feels cheaply made and seems to be very easy to break. It is also uncomfortable for us to wear as we prefer the in-ear earphones that have become more common in recent years.

The sound quality is also underwhelming as we definitely notice the tinny output with the occasional crackle.

As a result, we don’t recommend using the MDR-E9LP as your primary listening device for games, videos or audio. However, they should be serviceable as a temporary solution if your main headset, headphones or earbuds ends up breaking.

In terms of pricing, you can find the current price tag for the Sony MDR-E9LP Earphone as a standalone product on Amazon with this link. (#CommissionsEarned).

Overall

If you don’t mind waiting for the PlayStation Store $100 Gift Card + Free Sony Headphones bundle to get shipped to you via Bestbuy.com (or having to purchase it from a brick-and-mortar Best Buy store), then we recommend purchasing this product.

While the extra earphone that comes with the gift card is cheaply made, feels uncomfortable to wear and has poor sound output quality, it is serviceable enough to have as a temporary backup option if your main listening device needs to be repaired or replaced.

How to connect WH-1000XM5 to PS5

You are able to connect the Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones to your PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console. To see how you can properly do so, you can take a look at this tutorial from Seeking Tech. 

Can you connect WH-1000XM5 to PS5 via Bluetooth?  

You won’t be able to connect WH-1000XM5 to your PS5 directly via Bluetooth as it won’t show up in the Bluetooth Accessories menu. Instead, you can try a few workaround methods.  

For the first method, you can try connecting the WH-1000XM5 to your television set if the screen supports Bluetooth. If you managed to make the connection, then the audio output of the TV will be switched over from the television speakers to the headphones. 

For the second method, you can plug in a Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Audio Transmitter Adapter to one of the USB ports of the PS5 and then connect the adapter to your WH-1000XM5 over Bluetooth. You should then be able to use the headphones for your game console. 

If you are looking for a compatible adapter, then we recommend getting the Skull & Co. AudioStick Bluetooth Wireless Audio Transmitter Adapter, which you can find on Amazon with this link. (#CommissionsEarned).

Keep in mind that, by using a Bluetooth connection, you may end up noticing some audio delay. 

How to connect WH-1000XM5 to PS5 by using an audio cable 

You will also be able to connect the WH-1000XM5 to your PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Digital Edition console by using the 3.5 mm audio cable that came with the headphones. In order to do so, you can take the following steps: 

1. Connect one end of the 3.5 mm audio cable to the WH-1000XM5. 

2. Connect the other end of the 3.5 mm audio cable to the DualSense controller. 

3. Turn on your PS5 console if you haven’t done so already. 

4. The console should start outputting audio to the headphones.  

If it doesn’t then you can press the PS button on the controller to bring up the Control Center menu. From there, select the Sound option in the bottom-side menu and then select Output Device. Afterwards, make sure that the audio output is set to WH-1000XM5. 

It is important to note that the microphone of the WH-1000XM5 isn’t compatible with the PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. So, if you want to chat with others online and/or use voice commands, then you can either use the built-in mic of the DualSense controller or a completely separate device.

What to do if the WH-1000XM5 is not working

If you are having problems trying to get your Sony WH-1000XM5 to work properly, then you can take a look at this troubleshooting guide at Seeking Tech.

1. The first step we recommend taking is to make sure that your headset isn’t wet. This is because the WH-1000XM5 is not water resistant at all.

If the headset is wet, then we recommend that you turn it off, disconnect any cables and then let it dry out before trying to use it again.

To find out more about how you can prevent liquid damage to your WH-1000XM5, we recommend that you check out this guide.

2. You should also make sure that you aren’t using the WH-1000XM5 outside of the recommended temperature range of 0 °C to 40 °C (or 32 °F to 104 °F). In extremely cold or hot temperatures, the wireless headphones could malfunction.

3. If your headset appears to be dry and you are operating it in the recommended temperature range, then the next step you can take is to recharge it.

Keep in mind that the charging process can take up to 3.5 hours if the battery charge in completely empty.

To see how you can take advantage of quick charging with the WH-1000XM5, you can take a look at this guide. If your headset isn’t charging at all, then you can check out this troubleshooting article.

4. If the Sony WH-1000XM5 can turn on just fine, then you should check whether or not it has properly paired to the device you can trying to connect to.

To resolve pairing issues with this product, you can read through this post.

5. You should also make sure that you are getting a good Bluetooth connection.

To troubleshooting Bluetooth issues, we recommend that you take a look at this guide.

6. Depending on the Bluetooth profile you are using, some of the advertised functions may not work. So, if possible, you can try changing the profile on the connected device.

For the uninformed, the Sony WH-1000XM5 supports the following:

  • A2DP
  • AVRCP
  • HFP
  • HSP

7. If you are connecting your WH-1000XM5 via a headphone cable, then a few features may not work. Other functions, such as Noise Cancellation and Ambient Sound Mode, requires the headset to be turned on.

To find more information on how to use WH-1000XM5 as a wired headset, you can check out this article.

8. If possible, you can try updating the WH-1000XM5 firmware to see if doing so will help fix whatever issue you are having.

9. You can also try updating the firmware for the connected device.

10. Restarting the connected device may help as well.

11. You may also want to reset or factory reset the headset. By doing a factory reset, you will restore the headphone settings to the original default factory parameters.

To see how you can do both of these actions with the WH-1000XM5, you can take a look at this tutorial.

12. Instead of the headset, your issues may be related to the connected device instead.

If you believe that this is the case, then you can try connecting WH-1000XM5 to a different device to see if you can get the headphones to work correctly.

13. If your headset is still not working after you try all of the aforementioned steps, then we recommend that you contact Sony for additional support.

WH-1000XM5 call controls guide

If you connect the Sony WH-1000XM5 to your smartphone, then you can use it to receive calls as well as call other people. To find out how you can control the call functionality with this wireless headset, you can take a look at this tutorial from Seeking Tech.

HFP vs. HSP for Bluetooth Calling with WH-1000XM5 

In order to use call controls with the Sony WH-1000XM5, you need to use either the HFP or HSP Bluetooth profile.

With HFP (Hands-free Profile), you get more functions, when it comes to calling, compared to HSP (Headset Profile).

How to voice dial with WH-1000XM5 by using HFP

If you are using the HFP Bluetooth profile, then you can dial a number by using your voice by first pressing and holding the touch sensor control panel for 1 second. For the uninformed, the touch sensor is located on the right ear cushion.

How to cancel an outgoing call with WH-1000XM5 by using HFP or HSP

If you decide to cancel a call you are making to someone else, then you double tap the touch sensor control panel when your phone is dialing. These quick taps should be around 0.4 seconds apart. This method applies to both the HFP and HSP Bluetooth profiles.

If done correctly, the headset should stop ringing the recipient.

How to switch between your smartphone and WH-1000XM5 for outgoing calls by using HFP

If you are using the HFP profile, then you also have the ability to switch the call device from your WH-1000XM5 to your smartphone and vice versa during outgoing calls.

In order to do so, you need to press and hold the touch sensor control panel until the switch occurs.

How to answer an incoming call with WH-1000XM5 by using HFP or HSP

In order to answer an incoming call with the WH-1000XM5, you need to double tap the touch sensor control panel. This method will work for both the HFP and HSP Bluetooth connections.

How to reject an incoming call with WH-1000XM5 by using HFP

You can only reject an incoming call with your WH-1000XM5 only when you are using the HFP profile.

In order to do so, you need to press and hold the touch sensor control panel until the ringing stops.

How hang up a call with WH-1000XM5 by using HFP or HSP

Once you are done with an incoming or outgoing call, you can hang up by double tapping the touch sensor control panel on your WH-1000XM5. You can use this action on both the HFP and HSP Bluetooth profiles.

How to switch between your smartphone and WH-1000XM5 during the middle of calls by using HFP

If you are using the HFP profile, then you can also switch between your smartphone or WH-1000XM5 as the calling device during the middle of a call. To do so, you need to press and hold the touch sensor control panel of the headset until the switch occurs.

How to fix WH-1000XM5 call audio issues

When using your Sony WH-1000XM5 to receive or make calls, you may have a hard time hearing the person on the other end of the connection. The other person may also have a hard time hearing you.

To see how you can fix these audio issues when using this wireless headset for calls, you can check out this troubleshooting guide from Seeking Tech.

1. The first step you can take, if you can’t hear the other person in the call, is to make sure that the WH-1000XM5 is turned on.

2. You should also make sure that the connected phone is also turned on.

3. If both devices are powered on but you are still running into audio issues, then you can try to increase the volume of your WH-1000XM5.

To do so, you need to swipe from the bottom of the touch sensor control panel to the top. From the uninformed, the touch panel is located on the right ear cup.

You can repeat the swiping gestures to gradually raise the volume level. Alternatively, you can upwards from the bottom of the touch panel and then hold at the top to continuously raise the audio volume.

4. You should also try to increase the volume level of your phone.

5. Make sure you are using either the HFP or HSP Bluetooth profile when connecting your phone to your WH-1000XM5.

6. If you are getting low or muted call audio with HFP, then you can try switching over to HSP.

7. On the other hand, if you are experiencing audio issues when using HSP, then you can try switching to HFP.

8. If the other person can’t hear your voice, then you should make sure that you didn’t mute the microphone on your headset.

9. If you are experiencing audio issues during a video call, then you need to check the audio setting of the video calling application you are using.

If you can’t hear the other person, then the speaker setting of the app should be set to your WH-1000XM5.

If the other person can’t hear you, then you need to set the microphone setting to your WH-1000XM5.

10. You can also try restarting your phone to see if you can get better call audio.

11. You can also reset your headset. If a normal reset ended up not making any difference, then you can restore the WH-1000XM5 to its original factory default settings.

To find out how you can reset and factory reset this Sony wireless headset, you can follow this tutorial.

12. If you still can’t increase the call audio volume for your WH-1000XM5, the we recommend that you don’t use it.

Instead, disconnect the headset from your phone and then use your phone like you normally would for outgoing and incoming calls.

How to fix WH-1000XM5 audio skipping issues

When using your WH-1000XM5 to listen to music, watch a video and/or play a videogame, you may notice that the audio may skip from time to time.

To see how you can get a smoother listening experiencing when using the wireless headphones, you can check out this troubleshooting article at Seeking Tech.

1. The first step we recommend taking is to try playing a different media file to see if the audio skipping issues are related to just a specific content or are happening across all contents.

2. If the audio is still skipping when other content is being played, then you can try to changing the Bluetooth setting to stabilize connection.

In order to do so, you can try taking the following steps:

  • Open the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app on your smartphone or mobile device. If you don’t have the application, then you need to download and install the from the Google Play Store of your Android device or Apple App Store of your iOS device.
  • With the app opened, connect your WH-1000XM5.
  • Change the sound quality mode to “Priority on stable connection.”

3. You can also try moving the headphones closer to the Bluetooth device to see if doing so will stop the audio from skipping.

4. If there are any physical objects blocking the line of sight between the WH-1000XM5 and the connected device, then it may weaken the Bluetooth connection to the point with the audio starts to skip.

5. You should also avoid the covering the left ear cushion of the WH-1000XM5 as that it where the built-in Bluetooth antenna is located.

6. Furthermore, you should also avoid covering the Bluetooth antenna on the connected device.

7. Any other wireless devices that are nearby may also interfere with the Bluetooth communication, causing a choppy audio streaming experience.

In this case, you can try moving the WH-1000XM5 and the device to an area that don’t have any other wireless devices. Alternatively, you can turn off the other devices in the area.

8. You can also try resetting the connected device. By doing so, you will refresh the Bluetooth connection. This action will also close apps and any processes on the connected device that may have been causing the audio to skip.

9. You can also try turning off the Service Link feature in the aforementioned “Sony | Headphones Connect” app.

10. If you are using the Adaptive Sound Control feature, then the audio may pause while the noise cancellation parameters are being adjusted by the headset.

This feature is considered to be normal by Sony. If you want to turn it off, then you need to disable noise cancellation.

11. You can also try updating the firmware versions for both the WH-1000XM5 and its connected device to see if the audio skips go away afterwards.

12. Resetting or factory resetting the wireless headphones may also help with the problem. To find out how you can do both of these actions to the WH-1000XM5, you can check out this tutorial.

If the sound output is still skipping after you try all of the aforementioned potential solutions, then we suggest contacting Sony for additional help.

How to fix WH-1000XM5 Bluetooth problems

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a wireless headset that uses Bluetooth in order to connect to another device. If you are experiencing issues trying to establish and/or maintain a Bluetooth connection, then you can check out this troubleshooting guide at Seeking Tech.

1. The first step we recommend taking is to make sure that the WH-1000XM5 is close to the other device. The maximum Bluetooth range for the wireless headphones is 10 meters or 30 feet.

2. Keep in mind that any solid objects will weaken the Bluetooth connections. Therefore, you need to make sure that there is a direct line of sight between the headset and the device you are trying to connect it to.

3. Nearby wireless electronics, such as a Wi-Fi router or microwave oven, could also weaken the Bluetooth connection.

In this case, you can turn off the other electronics or move away to a different area with less wireless interference.

4. Before you can use a Bluetooth connection, you first need to pair the WH-1000XM5 to the other device.

If you are having issues with the pairing process, then we recommend that you take a look at this article.

5. If you previously paired the wireless headset to a different device, then you can try to disable the Bluetooth connection or completely turn off the different device.

With that said, you can actually connect the WH-1000XM5 to two devices at the same time with the proper setup. To find out how to do so, you can check out this tutorial.

6. The Bluetooth connection will be disabled when you have the headset connected to another device via the headphone cable. Therefore, you need to disconnect the headphone cable from the headphone jack of the headset if you want to use it wirelessly.

7. On the device that you are trying to connect to, make sure that its Bluetooth connection has been enabled.

8. You can also try restarting the other device as doing so will refresh its Bluetooth connection and clear up potential software bugs and conflicts that may have been interfering with the wireless communication.

9. If possible, you can also try updating the other device to the latest available firmware as a new update may help improve its Bluetooth capabilities.

10. If the other device goes to a sleep mode, rest mode or any other modes that put it in a low-powered state, then the Bluetooth connection won’t work.

To avoid this problem, make sure you disable these modes on the other device.

11. If you are still experiencing wireless connection issues, then you can try resetting the Sony WH-1000XM5.

If a standard reset does not work, then you can try a factory reset. This process will return all of the headset’s settings to its original factory reset, which may help resolve the Bluetooth connection errors.

To see how you can reset or factory reset the WH-1000XM5, you can take a look at this walkthrough.

12. You can also try updating the firmware of your WH-1000XM5 if possible.

13. If none of the aforementioned steps helped fix the Bluetooth connection issues, then we recommend contacting Sony for additional support.

How to fix WH-1000XM5 Speak-to-Chat issues

The Sony WH-1000XM5 has a feature called Speak-to-Chat where it will automatically pause audio playback when it detects that you are talking. If you are having problems trying to use this function, then you can take a look at this troubleshooting article from Seeking Tech.

How to activate Speak-to-Chat for WH-1000XM5

The Speak-to-Chat features needs to be manually activated before you start talking to become effective. To turn it on, you need to take the following steps:

Put your index finger and middle finger simultaneously on the touch panel sensor of the WH-1000XM5, which you can find on the right ear cushion. Make sure that there is some separation between the two fingers.

Keep your index finger and middle finger on the touch panel sensor until you hear a voice notification from the headphones saying “Speak-to-Chat activated.”

Next, you need to start speaking in order to use this feature. If you don’t talk within the time limit, then Speak-to-Chat will be deactivated after some time has passed.

If you need a video guide, then you can check out a small clip from Sony below:

How to fix Sony WH-1000XM5 Speak-to-Chat activation issues

If the Speak-to-Chat doesn’t seem to be activating, then you can try doing the following:

1. First off, make sure that there is some distance in between the two fingers.

2. Using your finger nails on the touch panel sensor may not work.

3. Putting the full finger lengths on the sensor will most likely not work as well. You only need to use the top parts of the fingers in order to activate Speak-to-Chat.

4. If using your fingers for activation doesn’t seem to be working, then you can try using the Sony | Headphones Connect app by taking the following steps:

  • Download and install the official application of WH-1000XM5.
  • Afterwards, connect your wireless headphones to the smartphone or mobile device that has the app installed.
  • You should see the option to enable Speak-to-Chat.

5. If you managed to enable Speak-to-Chat but can’t get it to activate when you are talking, then you can try raising your voice and enunciating your words.

6. If there is too much ambient noise in the room, the headset may not be able to detect your voice. If you are using a wired connection, then the feature will be disabled. Furthermore, the connected device or app may not support Speak-to-Chat.

In these cases, you can either stop wearing the WH-1000XM5 or turn off the headphones if you want to talk to someone.

How to stop Speak-to-Chat from accidentally activating on its own

If Speak-to-Chat is accidentally activating on its own when you are using your WH-1000XM5, then you can try changing the voice detection sensitivity setting. To do so, you need to take the following steps:

1. Open the Sony | Headphones Connect app.

2. On the dashboard, select the gear icon next to Speak-to-Chat.

3. In the Speak-to-Chat Setting menu, select Voice Detect Sensitivity.

4. After getting to the Voice Detect Sensitivity menu, select L Sensitivity.

How to fix WH-1000XM5 Ambient Sound Mode issues

The Sony WH-1000XM5 features an Ambient Sound Mode that you can use to hear external noises along with being able to simultaneously listen to the audio output from the wireless headphones. This is helpful if you want to pay attention to the surrounding environment while also listening to music or other types of audio at the same time.

If you are having problems getting this mode to work properly, then you can take a look at this troubleshooting article at Seeking Tech.

1. The first step you should take is to press the NC/AMB button. By default, the WH-1000XM5 will have the Noise Cancellation mode enabled right out of the box.

Therefore, you need to press the NC/AMB button in order to switch over to Ambient Sound Mode.

  • 2. You should also make sure that you have the NC/AMB button configured based on your preferences. In order to do so, you need to take the following steps:
  • Download, install and open the “Sony | Headphones Connect” app on a compatible smartphone or mobile device if you haven’t done so already.
  • With the app opened, you then need to connect your Sony WH-1000XM5 to the phone or mobile device.
  • From the dashboard of the app, select the “Change function of [NC/AMB] button” option.
  • Make sure you change this function to your preference.

3. If you are using the WH-1000XM5 as a wired headset via the headphone cable, then you need to make sure that it is turned on.

Although you can still use the headphones to listen to music and other audio types while it is turned off, the Ambient Sound Mode will be disabled.

4. You should also avoid covering the left and right ear cushions of the WH-1000XM5. Otherwise, you will be blocking the microphones, which will result in the lack of effectiveness when it comes to detecting ambient noise.

Therefore, you should not have any clothing, accessories, stickers or other adhesive types covering the ear cushions of the headphones.

5. If you still can’t the Ambient Sound Mode to work efficiently, or at all, then you can try turning on the Quick Attention Mode. This function will lower the volume level of your WH-1000XM5, which should make it easier to hear the ambient noises from your surround environment.

In order to enable Quick Attention Mode, you need to take the following steps:

  • Use your hand to touch the touch sensor panel located on the right ear cushion. Make sure that your hand is making contact with the entire panel or the Quick Attention Mode won’t activate.
  • Keep your hand in contact with touch sensor panel in order to keep Quick Attention Mode activated.
  • Once you want to return to normal listening, you can let go of the touch sensor panel.

You can watch a video demonstration on how to use Quick Attention Mode below:

6. The Ambient Sound Mode and Quick Attention Mode may not be fully effective when it comes to ambient noises, especially if the noise from the surround environment is quiet.

If you want to pay full attention to your surround environment, we recommend that you turn off your WH-1000XM5 or remove the wireless headphones from your ears.