Sony WH-1000XM4 Not Turning On? (8 Best Ways to Fix!)

Sony WH-1000XM4 not turning on, and you’re worried? Worry no longer and keep reading!

The Sony WH01000XM4 headphones may refuse to start up due to charging issues or a power button failure.

There are, however, many surrounding factors, so this guide will walk you through all possibilities, and help you turn on your Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones with easy solutions.

If your Sony headset is not turning on, check if the Power button is stuck, or obstructed, troubleshoot charging failures, and clear the headset’s memory.

Also, you must replace the charging equipment to localize the culprit.

Why is My Sony WH 1000XM4 Not Turning On?

Here are all the possible causes why the Sony headphones aren’t turning on:

Keep reading further for a complete walkthrough of the solutions!

Sony WH-1000XM4 Not Turning On – Fix it Easily

Quick Note: Are you confident that your headset’s battery is not at 0%?

1. Inspect the Headset’s “Power” Button

In many cases, buttons can become unresponsive or stuck due to dust or debris on the contact pins underneath the button.

In addition, not pressing the button firmly enough could also prevent the Sony headset from recognizing the input, hence the first step is to inspect the power button.

How to Identify “Power” Button  Failure?

The power button inspection consists of three essential steps:

• External button inspection: Check whether there is button damage such as cracks, wear, misalignment, or dust accumulation.
• Functionality test: The second step is to determine whether the button is responsive by pressing and holding it for extended periods.
• Internal inspection: If you’re comfortable with electronics, disassemble the headset (if the warranty is over) and inspect the contact pins.

While identifying a fault with the “Power” button is rarely possible without disassembly, try to find out whether the button is causing all this fuss.

2. Try to Discover the Sony Headphones

The first step is to use your smartphone or wireless device to check if the Sony headphones can be discovered through the “Bluetooth” settings tab. 

This is important, as in some cases, a faulty LED indicator will refuse to illuminate whenever the headphones are in use or connected to a charger.

This ultimately deceives the user that the unit is not turning on, while the problem is down to a simple LED indication failure or a system bug.

2.1 How to Place WH-1000XM4 in “Pairing” Mode?

Well, placing the WH-1000XM4 headphones in “Pairing” mode is only possible immediately after turning the product “On.”

If the Sony headset does not automatically connect to a nearby device, the LED indicator should start consecutively flashing in blue while the headset is discoverable.

2.2 How to Discover Sony Headphones Bluetooth?

After ensuring the headphones are placed in “Pairing” mode, open the “Bluetooth” settings on your phone and check the “Discoverable Devices” section.

So, if the WH-1000XM4 headphones are discovered, your device will pair after tapping the “WH-1000XM4” profile tile from the menu.

Note: If the connection is successful, the status next to the profile will change to “Connected” and the LED will turn solid, only if it is functional.

3. Charge the Sony Headphones to 100%

The next step is to ensure that the Sony headphones are charged to maximum battery capacity by reconnecting the product to the supplied USB type-C charger.

Sometimes, the headphones are not turning on because the battery is dead, not because there is a functionality problem.

How to Know if Sony WH-1000XM4 is Charged?

If the headset’s LED indicator only comes on while charging, it has the following pattern:

• Red light while charging – The headset is charging, do not unplug the charger.
• Two consecutive red blinks – There’s an issue with the headset’s temperature.
• Slow red flashing – There’s an issue with the Sony headset’s charging session.

While the time it takes to fully charge the Sony headset varies on the equipment and source, it tends to be approximately 3 hours.

After Sony has finished charging, the indicator should go off, and you will be able to unplug and use the headset and turn it on.

Note: Do not disconnect the charger while the indicator remains solid red!

4. Hard Reset the Sony WH-1000XM4

If you’re still unable to turn on the Sony headphones or hear the playback, the next step is to perform a hard reset using the built-in “Power” button.

Follow these instructions to perform a hard reset on the Sony headset:

1. Connect the Sony headphones with the USB-C charger.
2. Plug the USB-C charger into a functional electrical outlet.
3. You need to locate and hold the headset’s Power button.
4. Disconnect Sony from the charger and continue holding.
5. Release Sony’s “Power” button after about ~20 seconds.
6. Press the “Power” button one time to turn on the headset.

Note: If the headset’s indicator does not illuminate, ensure the charger is connected securely!

5. Solve Issues with Sony’s Charging

The main reason why the Sony headphones WH-1000XM4 not turning on is because of a charging process fault.

Various issues, including an unsecured charger, insufficient power supply, or obstruction of the charging port can prevent the WH-1000XM4 from charging well.

Let’s review multiple solutions for charging issues with the Sony headset:

• Inspect the charger’s adapter, power outlet, and headset connection.
• Attempt to charge the Sony WH-1000XM4 through a different outlet.
• Remove any third-party equipment present in Sony’s charging setup.
• Clean your headset’s charging port from debris, dust, or obstructions.

Note: Keep tracking the LED indicator to know if the headset is receiving a charge!

6. Delete the Sony’s Pairing Registration

If your Sony WH-1000XM4 headset is not turning on, we recommend trying to erase registered devices and wireless connections with the help of a factory reset process.

Hence, even if the Sony headset appears off and not turning on, we still recommend attempting the reset process.

The reset can be initiated by simultaneously pressing and holding a combination of buttons on the headset until it restarts.

Here’s an in-depth walkthrough of how to start WH-1000XM4’s reset:

1. Connect your Sony WH-1000XM4 headset to the USB-C charger.
2. Press and hold the “Power” and “CUSTOM” buttons on the ear cup.
3. Release the buttons after 10 seconds and wait for 40–60 seconds.
4. Finally, press the “Power” button to turn on the headset and test it.

Reminder: The headset’s Bluetooth profile will be erased on all registered devices!

7. Reconnect the Internal Sony Battery

Well, if you’ve recently dropped your Sony headset, and the unit has been exposed to physical impact, the internal battery might have been disconnected.

However, there is a straightforward way to disassemble the headset and reconnect the internal battery.

Here are the steps to reconnect the Sony WH-1000XM4 internal battery:

1. Remove the ear pad from the right side of the headphones.
2. Remove the foam under the ear pad and undo the screws.
3. Then, the outer cup will come loose, and you can remove it.
4. Alert: Be very gentle not to damage the ribbon of the sensor.
5. Then, you’ll see where the battery of the device is connected.
6. Unplug the connector, wait for 60 seconds, and plug it back in.
7. Then, re-assemble your headset, and plug it into the charger.

If your headset charges, then surely, it will turn on! If not, your charging equipment is defective!

Warning: If you’re a newbie, SKIP THIS STEP! (disassembling your Sony headset without the proper technical knowledge can lead to voided warranty and irreversible hardware damage).

8. Replace Sony WH-1000XM4’s Charger

Your Sony WH-1000XM4 headset might not be turning on because the device is not charging at all, which means that the battery has reached 0%.

There is no way to resolve the problem if the charging equipment is defective, which means that replacement should be the conclusion step.

Let’s start with testing the USB cable first!

8.1 How to Identify a USB Type-C Charger Fault?

The best way to test your Sony headphones charger is by connecting it to an alternative device compatible with USB-C.

If no charging indications seem to be present in the tested device, you should consider replacing the adapter, the USB-C cable, or both!

8.2 How to Test Sony WH-1000XM4 USB-C Cable?

To determine if the USB-C cable used by the headphones is faulty, install a replacement cable with the same power adapter.

If the unit receives power, there’s a fault with your previous cable.

Quick Recap

If the Sony WH-1000XM4 not turning on, check if the headset is already discoverable, refill the internal battery to maximum capacity, and fix charging issues.

If the fault persists, reconnect the internal battery or replace your charging equipment.

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