How to Reset Sony Headphones

Reset vs Initialize: What's the Difference?

A reset restarts Sony headphones and keeps your pairings; initializing restores factory settings and deletes all pairing information.

Sony term	What it does	When Sony says to use it
Reset (soft reset)	Restarts the headset. "The pairing information and other settings are retained."	"If the headset cannot be turned on or cannot be operated even when it is turned on"
Initialize (factory reset)	"resets volume settings, etc. to the factory settings, and deletes all pairing information"	"If the headset does not operate correctly even after resetting"

Reset first; initialize only if that fails.

How to Reset (Soft Reset) Sony Headphones and Earbuds

To reset Sony headphones, connect them to a wall outlet and press two buttons; earbuds with a case use the button on its back.

Model	How to reset	Hold for	What you see
WH-1000XM6	Connected to an AC outlet: (power) and NC/AMB buttons	About 5 seconds	Charging indicator turns off, then lights up again
WH-1000XM5	Connected to an AC outlet: press (power) and NC/AMB simultaneously	No time given	Sony describes no light
WH-CH520	Connected to an AC outlet: press the + (volume +) and - (volume -) buttons simultaneously	No time given	Sony describes no light
WF-1000XM6, WF-1000XM5, WF-C510	Earbuds in the case, lid open: reset button on the back of the case	About 20 seconds or more	After about 15 seconds the case light flashes orange for about 5 seconds, then turns off
WF-C500	One earbud at a time: the button on that earbud	About 20 seconds	Orange flashes slowly for about 5 seconds, turns off, then blue flashes twice

How to Initialize (Factory Reset) Sony Headphones

To factory reset Sony headphones, turn them off, unplug the cable and hold two buttons until the blue light flashes 4 times:

1. Turn the headphones off.
2. Remove the USB Type-C cable.
3. Press and hold the buttons for your model (table below).
4. When initializing is complete, the indicator (blue) flashes 4 times.

Model	Buttons	Hold for
WH-1000XM6	(power) and NC/AMB	About 10 seconds
WH-1000XM5	(power) and NC/AMB	About 7 seconds
WH-CH520	(power) and - (volume -)	About 10 seconds or more

Then delete the headphones from your phone's Bluetooth list and pair them again.

How to Initialize (Factory Reset) Sony Earbuds

To factory reset the WF-1000XM6, WF-1000XM5 or WF-C510, hold the case button and let go within 5 seconds of the orange flashing:

1. Charge the charging case.
2. Put both earbuds in the case and leave the lid open.
3. Press and hold the initialize button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds or more.
4. When the case light starts flashing orange, release your finger within 5 seconds.
5. The case light flashes green 4 times when it's done.

On the WF-1000XM5, the case light flashes blue twice in a row before the orange starts.

The WF-C500 uses the buttons on both earbuds. Hold both for about 15 seconds and release within 5 seconds of the orange flashing. When the orange lights stay on, hold both again within 10 seconds; the blue lights flash 4 times and the earbuds turn off.

Initialize From the Sony Sound Connect App

Sony lists "Initialize the headset" among the Sony | Sound Connect app's functions for the WH-1000XM6, and the WF-1000XM5 guide says "You can also initialize the headset" with the app. Neither guide gives the menu path.

How to Check the Reset Worked

A factory reset worked when the light flashes 4 times: blue on the headphones and the WF-C500, green on the other earbuds' case.

1. Watch the light: if the case light doesn't flash green 4 times, Sony says "the headset has not been initialized. Try again".
2. Delete the old pairing on each device the headset used.
3. Pair again. With no pairing information left, the headset enters pairing mode by itself when you turn the headphones on or take the earbuds out; see How to Connect and Pair Sony Headphones With Any Device.

A soft reset skips steps 2 and 3, because your pairings stay.