Sony WH 1000XM4 Right Side Not Working? FIX IT NOW!

Sony WH 1000XM4 right side not working, and you’re worried? Well, this guide will help you!

If Sony WH-1000XM4 playback can be only heard through one of the ear cups, the issue can be related to uneven audio balance, interference, or improper audio configuration.

By the end of this guide, you will know exactly how to troubleshoot the issue and hear audio on both sides.

If only the left or right side of your Sony WH-1000XM4 works, adjust the “Audio Balance” options and assign a different “Touch” function to the headset.

Also, deactivate Sony’s voice assistant, recharge the headset, and perform a factory reset.

Let’s get in-depth, shall we?

Why is the Sony WH-1000XM4 One Side Not Working?

Here are the most probably causes for a non-working side of Sony WH-1000XM4:

To explore possible resolutions for the Sony headset’s playback equality, keep reading!

Sony WH 1000XM4 Right Side Not Working – Quick Solutions!

Before you start: Have you increased the audio from the headphones and the connected device simultaneously?

1. Adjust the “Audio Balance” Options

The first step is to ensure the “Audio Balance” settings of your device are adjusted properly, so both headphone ear cups can output equally.

If the balance slider is dragged all the way to the “Left” side, the right ear cup of the Sony XM4 headphones will not output audio playback at all.

Let’s learn how to adjust the audio balance on Android and iOS devices!

How to Adjust “Audio Balance” On Android?

1. Open the “Settings” app on your Android mobile device.
2. Scroll down and enter the “Accessibility” or “Audio” tab.
3. Find the “Audio Balance” slider on the adjustments page.
4. Drag the slider towards the middle or adjust it accordingly.
5. Test the playback of the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones.

How to Adjust “Left/Right Balance” On iOS?

1. First, enter the “Settings” app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and enter the “Accessibility” page.
3. Access the “Audio & Visual” tab from the menu.
4. Scroll down to the “BALANCE” adjustment slider.
5. Adjust the dot to “0,00” by dragging it in the middle.

Tip: If you’re not using a mobile device with the Sony headphones, consult the user manual or check online how to access and adjust the “Balance” audio settings.

2. Set Both Ear Cups to “Playback Control”

Both ear cups on your Sony WH-1000XM4 have touch sensors that can be assigned different functions on demand.

Setting the touch sensor’s functionality to “Playback Control” ensures both ear cups are at an equal setting and output strength. 

For this purpose, you’re going to need the Sony | Headphones Connect app installed and the profile of the WH-1000XM4 headphones.

Here’s how to set the touch functionality of both ear cups to “Playback Control”:

1. Open the Sony app on the device and tap “System.”
2. Tap the “Settings” button on the right part of the tab.
3. Scroll down to “Change the touch sensor function.”
4. Choose the “Left” or “Right” ear cup to configure first.
5. Tap the cogwheel icon to configure the functionality.
6. Next, tap “Function” and select “Playback control.”
7. Tap on the other ear cup and repeat the same steps.
8. Test the playback and the touch sensor’s functionality.

Quick Tip: You can assign other functions to the touch button on either ear cup, such as “Ambient Sound Control” or “Volume Control.”

3. Deactivate Sony XM4’s Voice Assistant

Improper configuration of the headset’s voice assistant menu can result in an unbalanced sound distribution and mute the ear cups entirely.

To solve the issue, you must instruct your headset to use the voice assist functions of your mobile device or set the feature to “off” to test without it.

Here’s how to properly configure the Sony headset’s voice assistant function:

1. Open the Sony | Headphones Connect app on your mobile.
2. Navigate to the “System” tab and scroll to “Voice Assistant.”
3. Option #1: Select “Voice Assist Functions of Mobile Device.”
4. Option #2: Set your voice assistant feature to “Do Not Use.”
5. Save the changes, exit the app, and test the Sony’s playback.

Note: The Sony headset will now use the default voice assistant of your device – Siri for iOS or Google for Android.

4. Hard Reset Your Sony WH-1000XM4

If you’re still unable to hear the playback through both Sony ear cups equally, you must perform a hard reset on the WH-1000XM4 headset.

This is a highly effective solution against improper charging or underlying issues with the internal battery of the headphones, so it’s worth the try!

Here’s how to perform a hard reset on the Sony XM4 headphones:

1. Connect the headset with the supplied USB-C charger.
2. Press and hold the outer “Power” button for 15 seconds.
3. Release the button and unplug the headset from power.
4. Hold the “Power” for an extra 5 seconds to power it off.
5. Reconnect the headphones with a charger and then test.

Before moving on to the next solution, ensure the Sony headphones are charged to maximum battery capacity.

Well, low battery capacity may cause issues with the playback with one of the ear cups, so use the supplied USB type-C cable to maximally charge the headset before testing.

5. Disable Your “Noise Cancellation”

While noise cancellation is one of the Sony WH-1000XM4 model’s premium perks, it can impact the quality of the playback and the output’s strength.

The next step is to test the audio equality of the headset after manually deactivating the “Noise Cancellation” function and increasing the audio to the maximum level.

Here’s how to disable the Sony headset’s “Noise Cancellation” feature:

1. Verify the WH-1000XM4 headset is working.
2. Place one of the ear cups close to your ear.
3. Next, press the “CUSTOM” button repeatedly.
4. Listen to what the “Voice Guidance” states.

Based on whether the cancellation is enabled or not, press the “CUSTOM” button once activated or deactivate the feature, followed by a statement from Sony’s voice guidance.

6. Erase Sony XM4’s Bluetooth Profile

Another reliable solution for the missing audio on the left side of Sony is to erase the Bluetooth profile created by the headset on your device.

So, after connecting the headphones for the first time, a pairing profile is automatically created and stored in the “Bluetooth” tab of your device.

The Bluetooth profile stores all wireless and audio preferences of the headset particularly for your device but can sometimes cause issues with the audio equality. 

Follow these steps to erase the Sony headset’s profile on most devices:

1. Go to “Settings” and access the “Bluetooth” tab on your mobile.
2. Next, scroll down and locate the profile of the Sony XM4 headset.
3. Tap on the “Settings” or “Configure” button next to the profile tile.
4. Choose the “Forget this Device” or the “Remove” menu option.
5. Discover the headset through the “Discoverable Devices” menu.

Notice: All custom wireless and audio settings for the headset will be erased!

7. Factory Reset the Sony WH-1000XM4

If the playback of the Sony headset is still uneven, it is strongly recommended that the headset be factory reset.

The procedure restores all the Sony headphones settings to default values and addresses issues with the wireless or audio settings.

Follow these steps to factory reset the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones:

1. Turn off the headset by pressing the “Power” button.
2. Optional: Disconnect your headset from the charger.
3. Next, simultaneously press “Power” and “CUSTOM.”
4. Release the buttons after ~5–7 seconds of holding.
5. Wait until Sony’s LED flashes 4 times consecutively.
6. Next, turn on the headset and test the audio playback.

Note: Factory resetting the headset does not erase the custom settings within the Sony app!

Quick Recap

Whenever the Sony WH 1000XM4 right side not working, adjust the “Audio Balance” feature on the connected device and turn off the noise cancellation feature.

Also, hard reset your Sony headphones, recharge the battery, and force a factory reset.

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