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To pair the Sony WH-1000XM5 for the first time, turn on the headset and it enters Bluetooth pairing mode automatically. For another device, hold the power button for about five seconds until the blue indicator flashes twice repeatedly and voice guidance says “Pairing.” Then select WH-1000XM5 in the device’s Bluetooth settings. Keep the headset and Apple device within 1 metre (about 3 feet), and finish within five minutes because pairing mode then cancels.
On an iPhone or iPad, use Settings > Bluetooth. On a current Mac, use Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth. The complete procedures, correct device name, multipoint setup and recovery steps are below.
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Before you start
Charge and position the headset
Give the WH-1000XM5 sufficient charge before pairing. Place it close to the iPhone, iPad or Mac—Sony specifies a maximum pairing distance of 1 metre (about 3 feet) in its model guide. Keep the headset and the Apple device unobstructed while the connection is being created. Staying close matters most while the device is being discovered; after pairing, you can move farther away within the normal Bluetooth range.
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Make sure Bluetooth is available on the Apple device and that you can unlock it. Pairing is controlled from the operating system’s Bluetooth settings, not from a music or video app. If you are adding the headphones to several devices, complete one connection at a time so a previously paired device does not capture the headset automatically.
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Know which pairing mode to use
The first pairing after purchase, or after the headset has been initialized, starts automatically when you turn the headphones on. If the headset has already been paired with another device, press and hold the power button for about five seconds. The blue indicator repeatedly flashes twice and the voice guidance announces “Pairing.”
Pairing mode remains available for five minutes. If no connection is completed during that period, turn the headset off and begin the pairing procedure again. The five-minute period is a discovery window, not a limit on how long an established connection can remain active. Sony’s model-specific iPhone instructions and general Bluetooth guide document these operating limits.
Understand the names shown by Bluetooth
The normal audio entry is WH-1000XM5. Some Apple devices may also show LE_WH-1000XM5. If both names are listed, Sony says to choose WH-1000XM5. If the low-energy entry is the only one visible, select LE_WH-1000XM5 and allow the connection to complete. Do not repeatedly select both entries; wait for the first attempt to finish before trying another.
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Most Apple devices connect without asking for a code. If a passkey prompt appears, enter 0000. A passkey request does not indicate that the headset needs a separate account or subscription; it is simply the Bluetooth pairing code.
Pairing and connecting are different
Pairing saves the headset’s identity in the Apple device. Connecting is the later step in which that saved device becomes active. A headset can therefore be paired with several products while connected to only one source during ordinary use. If the name is already saved but the status is not connected, tap or click the saved entry rather than starting a completely new pairing attempt.
Pair the WH-1000XM5 with an iPhone
- Put the headset into the appropriate pairing mode described above. For a first-ever pairing, turn it on; for a later device, hold the power button for about five seconds until “Pairing” is announced.
- Unlock the iPhone and open Settings > Bluetooth. Apple’s accessory instructions use this same path for Bluetooth headphones and other devices; see the Apple iPhone and iPad Bluetooth instructions.
- Turn on the Bluetooth switch if it is off. Wait for the device list to populate rather than leaving the page immediately.
- Tap WH-1000XM5. If both the standard and LE names appear, use the standard name as described in the previous section.
- Enter
0000only if the iPhone requests a passkey. - Wait for the headset name to move into the connected devices area. The headphones’ voice guidance or indicator should confirm the connection.
After the connection is shown, start a song or podcast and check that sound comes through the earcups. If the iPhone remains connected to another speaker or headset, select the WH-1000XM5 from the playback destination control in the app or system media controls. This audio-routing check is separate from Bluetooth pairing: an iPhone can show a successful connection while another output remains selected.
For a later use, turn on the headphones near the iPhone and look under the saved Bluetooth devices. If they do not reconnect, tap the WH-1000XM5 entry. If another previously paired product connects first, temporarily turn Bluetooth off on that product and try again.
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Pair the WH-1000XM5 with an iPad
- Turn on the headset for its first pairing, or hold the power button for about five seconds when adding the iPad as another device.
- On the iPad, open Settings > Bluetooth and switch Bluetooth on.
- Tap WH-1000XM5 when it appears. Choose LE_WH-1000XM5 only when that is the sole entry displayed.
- If asked for a passkey, enter
0000.
Keep the iPad near the headset until the status changes to connected. Sony’s general pairing instructions cover the headset’s Bluetooth behavior, while Apple’s accessory guide confirms the iPad menu path.
If you are pairing an iPad after an iPhone, the headphones must be placed into pairing mode again; simply turning them on may reconnect to the phone instead. Once the iPad has been saved, it remains available in the Bluetooth list for later connections. Ordinary pairing still sends audio from one active device at a time.
Pair the WH-1000XM5 with a Mac
Connect in current macOS
- Place the headset in pairing mode. Turn it on for the first pairing; hold the power button for approximately five seconds for a subsequent device.
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings > Bluetooth. Apple’s current instructions are in the Mac Bluetooth user guide.
- Find WH-1000XM5 in the nearby devices list and click Connect. If only LE_WH-1000XM5 appears, use that entry.
- Complete the connection. Enter
0000if macOS asks for a passkey.
Sony’s model guide lists macOS 10.15 or later as compatible. Its illustrations use the older label “System Preferences”; on current macOS releases, the equivalent control is “System Settings.” The wording differs by macOS version, but the Bluetooth control serves the same purpose.
Make the headphones the sound output
A Mac can report a successful Bluetooth connection while continuing to send audio to its internal speakers or another output. Open System Settings > Sound, choose the WH-1000XM5 under sound output, and then play audio again. For calls, select the headset as the input and output device in the calling application when necessary. Sony notes that playback and calls require the relevant Bluetooth audio profiles to be supported by the Mac and software; see its Mac pairing guide.
Test both a media file and the application you use for calls. A music application may follow the system output, while a calling application can retain its own microphone and speaker choices. Selecting the headset in the application resolves that separate routing issue without re-pairing.
What the two Bluetooth entries mean
The standard WH-1000XM5 entry is the one Sony identifies for normal headphone pairing. The LE_WH-1000XM5 name represents a Bluetooth Low Energy listing that can appear during discovery. Selecting the standard name when it is available avoids accidentally choosing a different service entry. When the standard name is absent, Sony’s instructions allow selecting the LE name instead.
If neither name appears, the headset is probably not currently discoverable, has connected automatically to another nearby device, or has allowed pairing mode to expire. Put it back into pairing mode before searching again rather than repeatedly tapping an old entry. If a saved WH-1000XM5 entry is present but inactive, select that saved entry after confirming the headset is powered on.
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Use the headphones with several Apple devices
Ordinary pairing versus simultaneous connections
The WH-1000XM5 can store up to eight paired devices, according to Sony’s operating guide. That storage does not mean it plays audio from eight sources at once: under ordinary Bluetooth pairing, audio playback is from one connected device at a time.
For example, you can pair an iPhone, iPad and Mac individually and leave their records saved. When you want to use one of them, connect it from that device’s Bluetooth settings. A device that was connected previously may reconnect automatically when it is nearby, so temporarily disabling Bluetooth on that device can make it easier to connect the intended one. This is often faster than deleting every saved pairing.
Adding a ninth product exceeds Sony’s documented eight-device pairing capacity. If you reach that limit, remove an old WH-1000XM5 record from the Apple device and use the headset’s reset or initialization procedure only when necessary. Initialization erases the headset’s stored pairing information, so it requires fresh pairing afterward.
Enable two-device multipoint
- Install or open Sony’s headphones application, now named Sony | Sound Connect. Sony changed the application name in October 2024; the current help material is at the WH-1000XM5 Help Guide.
- Enable Connect to 2 devices simultaneously in the application.
- Pair the first Apple device and then the second one, following the normal Bluetooth steps in this article.
- Confirm that both connections are established before starting playback.
Multipoint keeps two devices connected, but it still does not mix music from both sources. To move music from one device to the other, stop playback on the current device and start playback on the second. For example, stop music on the iPhone before starting a video on the Mac. Sony’s multipoint instructions describe this switching behavior.
Multipoint is useful when one device handles calls and another handles music, but it does not remove the need to select the correct sound output. Check each device’s Bluetooth and audio settings if a call or stream remains silent.
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| Use case | Recommended setup | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| One iPhone only | Standard Bluetooth pairing | The phone reconnects whenever the headset and Bluetooth are available. |
| iPhone and iPad used at different times | Pair both devices normally | Both records remain saved, but audio is played from one device at a time. |
| Mac for calls and iPhone for music | Enable Connect to 2 devices simultaneously | Two devices can remain connected; stop playback on one before starting it on the other. |
Troubleshoot pairing problems
The WH-1000XM5 does not appear
- Verify that the headset is actually in pairing mode. For a later pairing, hold the power button for about five seconds until the indicator flashes and “Pairing” is spoken.
- Check that the headset has charge and is close to the Apple device.
- Wait for the Bluetooth list to refresh, then search again from the device’s Bluetooth settings.
- Look for both device names. Select WH-1000XM5 when present; use LE_WH-1000XM5 only when it is the only available listing.
- If more than five minutes have passed since pairing mode started, turn the headset off and restart the process.
- Check nearby phones, tablets and computers. If one is already paired, turn its Bluetooth off temporarily so it cannot take the automatic connection.
Sony’s pairing troubleshooting guide recommends checking power, discovery mode and the Bluetooth device before moving to more disruptive recovery steps.
The headset appears but will not connect
- On the iPhone, iPad or Mac, open its Bluetooth device list and choose the old WH-1000XM5 record.
- Select the option to forget, remove or remove the device, depending on the Apple operating system.
- Restart the Apple device.
- Place the headset back into pairing mode and create a fresh connection.
Removing the old record is especially useful after an interrupted pairing or when the headset was previously used with another Apple device. Sony’s reconnection instructions and paired-device guidance cover reconnecting and managing saved devices.
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Another device keeps taking the connection
A previously paired phone, tablet or computer that is nearby may connect automatically before the intended device does. Turn Bluetooth off on that competing device temporarily, or power it down, then put the headset into pairing mode and search from the target Apple device. After the new connection is complete, you can restore Bluetooth on the other device. With multipoint enabled, verify which two devices are currently connected before starting playback.
macOS says connected, but there is no sound
- Open System Settings > Sound and select WH-1000XM5 as output.
- Check the application’s own audio destination; video-call and music applications can maintain separate output selections.
- For calls, confirm that the headset is selected for both microphone input and speaker output.
- If the Mac is running an older release, remember that Sony’s documentation may say “System Preferences,” while current macOS uses “System Settings.”
A passkey is rejected
Use 0000 when a passkey is requested. If that does not work, cancel the attempt, remove the saved WH-1000XM5 entry from the Apple device, restart the device and pair again from discovery mode. Confirm that you are selecting the headset’s standard entry when it is visible.
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Restart both the Apple device and the headset, then repeat the normal procedure. If simpler steps fail, Sony advises resetting or initializing the headset. Initialization deletes all headset pairing information. After initializing, remove old WH-1000XM5 records from the iPhone, iPad and Mac, then pair each device again as if it were new. Do not initialize merely because a device is not selected as the sound output; fix the output setting first.
Initialization is therefore a last resort, not a routine reconnect step. Have the Apple devices available before using it so you can rebuild the connections immediately afterward. The first power-on after initialization uses the automatic first-pairing behavior; subsequent devices use the five-second power-button procedure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Verify the connection after pairing
Once Bluetooth shows the headset as connected, test the functions you actually need:
- Music and video: start playback and confirm sound is in both earcups.
- Mac output: select WH-1000XM5 in System Settings > Sound if audio remains on the computer.
- Calls: choose the WH-1000XM5 microphone and speakers in the calling app when required.
- Device switching: with ordinary pairing, disconnect or stop playback on the current device before using another; with multipoint, stop the current stream and start the next one.
- Reconnection: turn the headset off and on later, then check whether the intended Apple device reconnects. If a different paired device captures it, temporarily disable Bluetooth there.
These checks distinguish a completed Bluetooth pairing from a separate audio-routing problem. The Apple Bluetooth status confirms the wireless link; the Sound settings and application controls determine where audio and calls are delivered.
Quick decision guide
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| First time using the headset | Turn it on, then select WH-1000XM5 in the Apple device’s Bluetooth settings. |
| Adding another Apple device | Hold the power button for about five seconds, wait for “Pairing,” then search from Bluetooth settings. |
| Only LE_WH-1000XM5 is listed | Select the LE entry and complete pairing. |
| Two Apple devices need to stay connected | Enable Connect to 2 devices simultaneously in Sony | Sound Connect, then pair both devices. |
| Connected but silent on Mac | Choose WH-1000XM5 under System Settings > Sound. |
| Nothing works after repeated attempts | Forget the old device entry, restart both sides, and initialize the headset only as a last resort because initialization erases its pairing records. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I put the WH-1000XM5 into pairing mode?
Turn it on for the first pairing after purchase or initialization. To add another device, press and hold the power button for about five seconds until the blue indicator flashes twice repeatedly and the voice guidance says “Pairing.”
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How close should my iPhone, iPad or Mac be during pairing?
Sony specifies keeping the headset and the Apple device within 1 metre (about 3 feet) while pairing.
How long does pairing mode stay active?
Pairing mode cancels after five minutes if no connection is completed. Turn the headset off and restart pairing if it times out.
Which Bluetooth name should I select?
Choose WH-1000XM5 when it appears. If both WH-1000XM5 and LE_WH-1000XM5 are listed, select WH-1000XM5. Select LE_WH-1000XM5 only when it is the sole listing.
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What is the WH-1000XM5 passkey?
Enter 0000 if the iPhone, iPad or Mac asks for a passkey.
Can the headphones be paired with an iPhone, iPad and Mac?
Yes. Sony says the headset can store up to eight paired devices, but ordinary playback is from one connected device at a time.
How do I keep two Apple devices connected?
In Sony | Sound Connect, enable Connect to 2 devices simultaneously, then pair both Apple devices and confirm both connections. Stop playback on one device before starting it on the other.
Why does my Mac say connected but play sound through its speakers?
Open System Settings > Sound and select WH-1000XM5 as the output. Also check the calling or media app’s own input and output selections.
What should I do if another device keeps connecting?
Turn Bluetooth off temporarily on the nearby previously paired phone, tablet or computer, then put the headset into pairing mode and connect from the intended Apple device.
Will initializing fix every pairing problem?
Initialization can help after simpler recovery steps fail, but it deletes all headset pairing information. Remove old Apple device entries and pair everything again afterward.
The Bottom Line
For a first pairing, turn on the WH-1000XM5 and select it in your iPhone, iPad or Mac Bluetooth settings. For each additional device, hold the power button for about five seconds until “Pairing” is announced. Stay within 1 metre, finish within five minutes, and choose WH-1000XM5 rather than the LE entry when both appear. If the connection succeeds but audio does not, correct the device’s sound output. Use Sony | Sound Connect only when you need two simultaneous connections; initialize the headset only after forgetting old entries and restarting have failed.
Quick Recap
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