Most Sony WH-CH720N Bluetooth problems are cleared by putting the headset into the correct pairing mode, keeping it close to the phone or computer, and selecting the exact WH-CH720N entry. If the headset was paired before, delete its old Bluetooth record on the device and pair it again. Use a reset before initialization: reset keeps saved pairings, while initialization erases them.
Work through the checks below in order. They cover a headset that does not appear, pairing that times out, a previously paired headset that will not reconnect, and a connection being captured by another nearby device.
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Start with these checks
Before changing settings, make the simple conditions right:
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- Make sure the headset has enough charge to remain on during pairing.
- Turn off Bluetooth on other nearby devices that have used the headset, especially the last device connected.
- Keep the Bluetooth settings screen open on the device you want to use so you can select the headset as soon as it appears.
Pairing is the process of registering a device for a connection. Sony defines it as “the operation to register the device that you wish to connect to.” Once registration exists, a later connection is a reconnect rather than a new pairing.
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Identify the problem before changing anything
The headset does not appear in Bluetooth settings
The WH-CH720N is probably not in pairing mode, or pairing mode has timed out. Follow the first-pairing procedure below, including the power-button hold for a headset that already contains pairing records.
Pairing starts but will not complete
A stale record on the phone or computer is a common cause, particularly after the headset has been initialized or repaired. Remove the existing WH-CH720N entry from that device, restart the device, and try a fresh pairing.
The headset was paired before but will not reconnect
Turn on the headset and start the connection from the phone or computer’s Bluetooth list. The headset may not reconnect automatically, and another nearby device may still be claiming the last connection.
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The headset is unresponsive
Use Sony’s reset procedure first. If that does not restore operation, initialization is the more disruptive final software step because it restores factory settings and deletes every saved headset pairing.
Pair the WH-CH720N for the first time
Use this sequence for a new headset or immediately after initialization.
- Place the devices close together. Sony specifies a maximum separation of 1 m (3.2 ft) while pairing and says the headset should be sufficiently charged. See the WH-CH720N pairing guide.
- Turn on the headset. On the first pairing after purchase, or after initialization, turning it on enters pairing mode automatically.
- Open Bluetooth settings on the phone or computer. Wait for detected devices to populate.
- Select WH-CH720N. Do not select a similarly named entry unless the device’s connection flow specifically instructs you to do so.
- Enter the passkey if requested. Sony specifies 0000.
- Wait for the connected status. If the device does not complete pairing within five minutes, pairing mode is canceled. Turn the headset off, turn it on again, and repeat the procedure.
If the headset does not enter pairing mode automatically because it has already been used, use the additional-device procedure instead of repeating the normal power-on step.
Pair an additional phone or computer
When the WH-CH720N already has pairing records, turning it on may simply try to reconnect to a known device. To make it discoverable for another device:
- Turn the headset on.
- Press and hold the power button for about 5 seconds or more.
- Watch for the blue indicator to flash twice repeatedly and listen for the voice guidance saying “Pairing.”
- On the new phone or computer, open Bluetooth settings and select WH-CH720N.
- Enter 0000 if a passkey prompt appears.
Pairing mode remains available for five minutes. If it expires, turn the headset off and start again; holding the power button again while the headset is already on is what reopens pairing mode.
Reconnect a device that is already paired
For a previously registered phone or computer, do not begin by trying to create a second record. Turn on the headset, then inspect the Bluetooth connection status on the device. If it is listed but not connected, select it to initiate the connection manually.
Sony notes that a nearby device used most recently can take the connection. If the WH-CH720N keeps connecting to the wrong phone or computer, deactivate Bluetooth on that device or turn that device off temporarily. Then initiate the connection from the device you actually want to use. The detailed connection flow is in Sony’s guide to connecting a paired Bluetooth device.
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When searching for a previously paired headset, a device may show WH-CH720N, LE_WH-CH720N, or both. Follow the selection guidance presented by the phone or computer’s Bluetooth flow; Sony’s paired-device instructions cover this naming situation.
Remove a stale Bluetooth record and pair again
If the headset appears but refuses to connect, or if pairing fails after a reset, repair, or initialization, clear the old record on the phone or computer:
- Open the device’s Bluetooth settings.
- Find the saved WH-CH720N entry.
- Choose the device-management command such as Forget, Remove, or Unpair; the wording depends on the operating system.
- Turn Bluetooth off and on again, or restart the phone or computer.
- Put the headset into pairing mode and select WH-CH720N as a new device.
Deleting the device-side record matters after initialization because the headset no longer has the keys associated with that old record. Sony specifically warns that an old record left on the phone or another device can prevent a new pairing. Its pairing-failure guide also includes restarting the connected device as a recovery step.
Reset versus initialization
These procedures are not interchangeable. Choose the least destructive option that matches the symptom.
| Recovery option | When to use it | What happens to pairing information | Key controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reset | The headset remains unresponsive or connection behavior is stuck after ordinary pairing steps. | Pairing information and other settings are retained. | Connect the headset to an AC outlet with the supplied USB Type-C cable and a commercially available USB AC adaptor, then press power and NC/AMB simultaneously. |
| Initialization | Use only when reset does not help and you are prepared to set up every Bluetooth device again. | Factory settings are restored and all headset pairing information is deleted. | Turn the headset off, remove the USB Type-C cable, then hold power and play/call for about 10 seconds or more. Four blue indicator flashes confirm completion. |
How to reset the headset
- Connect the WH-CH720N to an AC outlet using the supplied USB Type-C cable and a commercially available USB AC adaptor.
- Press the power button and the NC/AMB button at the same time.
- After the reset, check the phone or computer’s Bluetooth list and try the existing connection. If it still fails, remove the device-side record and perform a new pairing.
The reset is the safer first recovery because it does not erase the headset’s stored pairings. Sony’s exact sequence is in the WH-CH720N reset guide.
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- Turn the headset off.
- Disconnect and remove the USB Type-C cable.
- Press and hold power and play/call together for about 10 seconds or more.
- Release the buttons when the blue indicator flashes four times, indicating that initialization is complete.
- On every phone or computer that still lists the old WH-CH720N record, choose Forget, Remove, or Unpair.
- Start a fresh pairing using the first-pairing procedure.
Initialization is not a routine reconnect command. It removes the headset’s complete pairing history, so have access to each device you intend to connect before starting. Sony documents the procedure in its initialization guide.
Android connection steps
On Android, unlock the phone and open Settings → Device connection → Bluetooth, then select WH-CH720N when it appears. Menu names vary by Android release and phone manufacturer, but the controls are still in the Bluetooth section. If the headset is not listed, return to the pairing-mode steps rather than repeatedly tapping a missing entry.
For a failed reconnect, open the saved-device list and use the phone’s Forget or Unpair command before trying again. If another Android phone or tablet is nearby and has used the headset, switch Bluetooth off on that device while you connect the intended phone. Sony’s illustrated Android instructions are in the Android connection guide.
Windows 11 connection steps
- Place the computer and headset close together; Sony recommends keeping them within 1 m during pairing.
- Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices.
- Turn Bluetooth on, choose the command to add a Bluetooth device, and select WH-CH720N.
- Complete the on-screen pairing prompt. Windows 11 may offer Swift Pair as an optional shortcut when the headset is discoverable.
- After pairing, choose the WH-CH720N as the active output device if Windows continues sending sound to the computer’s speakers.
The computer must support Bluetooth audio playback through the A2DP profile. Hands-free calling requires a calling profile, HFP or HSP, in addition to the Bluetooth hardware and drivers. If the headset pairs but music or calls do not work, check Windows’ sound-output and input-device selections and confirm that the computer supports the relevant profile. Sony’s Windows 11 procedure is in the Windows 11 connection guide.
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The normal entry to select is WH-CH720N. A Bluetooth list can also display LE_WH-CH720N or both names when reconnecting. The presence of an LE entry does not by itself mean the headset is defective; use the option directed by the operating system’s connection flow and Sony’s paired-device instructions.
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During additional-device pairing, the repeated double blue flashes and the voice prompt “Pairing” confirm that the headset is advertising itself. If those signals do not appear, the headset is not in the state required for discovery; hold the power button for about five seconds or more and watch again.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Understand the WH-CH720N’s pairing capacity
The headset stores pairings with up to eight Bluetooth devices. Pairing a ninth device overwrites the oldest registration. It can be paired with multiple devices, but music playback comes from only one paired device at a time. This explains why an old phone can appear to “steal” a connection even though the headset has enough capacity for the new device: the old phone may still be active and selected as the most recent connection.
To make a new device reliable, keep unused devices’ Bluetooth radios off while pairing, then reconnect each device deliberately from its own Bluetooth settings. If the stored list has become confusing, initialization clears it, but use that only after the less destructive reset and record-deletion steps.
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| What you see | Most likely state | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing named WH-CH720N appears | The headset is not in pairing mode, or its five-minute pairing window expired. | Hold the power button for about five seconds or more, confirm the double blue flashes and “Pairing” prompt, then search again. |
| WH-CH720N appears but pairing is rejected | The phone or computer has a stale registration. | Forget or remove the saved entry, restart the device, and pair again. |
| The headset is listed as paired but says disconnected | Automatic reconnection did not occur. | Select WH-CH720N manually in the device’s Bluetooth settings. |
| The wrong nearby device connects | The last-connected device is still advertising Bluetooth. | Turn Bluetooth off on that device, then initiate the connection from the intended phone or computer. |
| The headset remains unresponsive | Ordinary Bluetooth changes did not clear the headset state. | Perform the reset with USB power; initialize only if the reset fails. |
| Pairing works but Windows has no headset audio | The computer’s audio profile, output selection, or Bluetooth support is unsuitable. | Confirm A2DP support for playback, HFP/HSP support for calls, and select WH-CH720N in Windows sound settings. |
Common mistakes that make pairing fail
Holding the wrong button for the situation
First pairing after purchase or initialization enters pairing mode when the headset is turned on. A headset that already has records needs the power button held for about five seconds or more. Treating every attempt as a first pairing can leave the headset trying to reconnect instead of advertising itself.
Leaving the old record in place after initialization
Initialization clears the headset, not the Bluetooth database on your phone or computer. The old device-side record must also be removed. Otherwise the device may try to use keys that no longer match the headset.
Waiting past the pairing window
Pairing mode is canceled after five minutes if no pairing is completed. If you opened Bluetooth settings late, restart pairing rather than assuming the headset is broken.
Pairing from too far away
Perform the initial registration with the headset and Bluetooth device no more than 1 m apart. Once a stable connection exists, normal use can be tested separately; the 1 m figure is Sony’s pairing instruction.
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Initializing before trying reset
Initialization creates extra work because it deletes every stored pairing. Reset retains those records and should be attempted first when the headset is unresponsive.
Verify that the repair worked
- Confirm the phone or computer shows WH-CH720N as connected, not merely saved.
- Play audio and verify that output is routed to the headset.
- On Windows 11, test the microphone separately if calls matter; playback and calling use different Bluetooth profiles.
- Turn the headset off and on once, then confirm that the intended device reconnects. If another device takes over, disable Bluetooth on that device and reconnect manually.
- Keep the Bluetooth record that successfully works and avoid creating repeated duplicate entries for the same headset.
Following this order separates a discovery problem from a stale-record problem and from a headset-state problem. In most cases, pairing mode, a clean device-side record, and a close-range retry restore the connection without initialization.
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