Sony Headphones Won’t Charge? (Here’s the Fix)

Sony headphones are known for their durability, noise-canceling features, and long battery life. But, sometimes the headphones won’t charge. So, how to fix it?

To fix Sony headphones that won’t charge, use a USB data blocker, use the correct charger, replace the charger, clean the charging port, or pair the headphones and then charge.

Sony headphones take 3 hours to fully charge, but they might take more if you connect them to a PC or use a different charger. To know if the headphones are fully charged check the LED indicator light — it will automatically turn off.

How To Fix Sony Headphones That Won’t Charge?

To fix Sony headphones that won’t charge, do the following things.

1. Use a USB Data Blocker.
2. Use the Correct Charger.
3. Replace the Charger.
4. Clean the Charging Port.
5. Pair the Headphones then Charge.
6. Hard Reset or Soft Reset the Headphones.
7. Upgrade the Firmware Version.
8. Recalibrate the Battery.
9. Replace the Battery.
10. Replace Faulty Hardware.

1. Use a USB Data Blocker

Sometimes, the Sony headphones won’t charge when the data lines are connected — so physically blocking the data lines of the charger or using a simple USB Data blocker will fix the issue.

A USB Data blocker, also known as a USB pass-through adapter, is a small device that prevents data transfer while allowing power to pass through.

You can use a charging brick as an alternative to a USB Data blocker.

2. Use the Correct Charger

Some Sony headphones won’t charge if you use a third-party charger, fast charger, or wall charger with a higher charging speed than recommended.

Use an original Sony charger or a charger with a rated max of 18W (Watts) or less. Avoid using fast chargers.

Note: Connect the original charger and headphones with your PC or Laptop instead of the wall (brick) charger. This has fixed the issue for several people.

3. Replace the Charger

A faulty charger (USB-C or wall) won’t charge your headphones. To know if the charger is faulty, use it to charge another device — if the other device charges, the charger is working fine. If the charger doesn’t charge other devices, the charger is faulty and you must replace it.

Replace the wall (brick) charger first, then the USB-C. Use the old USB-C charger with a new brick charger — if the charging continues normally, the old wall charger was faulty.

If a new wall (brick) charger doesn’t fix the issue, change the USB-C charger, too. The new USB-C charger must have the same voltage output as the old one. Preferably, get an original Sony charger.

4. Clean the Charging Port

A dirty charging port will prevent a connection between the charger and the port’s pin, and prevent headphones from charging. You will notice intermittent charging where charging stops and resumes randomly if the port is dirty.

To clean the charging port, use a toothpick or soft brush damped in rubbing alcohol. Use one of these tools you take the dirt, dust, or lint out of the port. After cleaning the port, use compressed air to dry it out and take off the remaining residue from the port.

5. Pair the Headphones then Charge

Pairing the headphones with an audio source device (e.g. smartphone, TV) and then charging can fix the issue.

Simply turn on the headphones, connect them to an audio source device, and then connect the charger and leave the headphones to charge for 3 hours.

Note: There’s no reported reason why this works, but it probably bypasses a software glitch that is preventing the headphones from charging.

6. Hard Reset or Soft Reset the Headphones

If Sony headphones aren’t charging because of a software bug (or glitch) a hard reset, soft reset, or upgrading the firmware version will fix it.

A hard reset will restore the original factory data, clear the internal memory, and clear the Bluetooth list and sound modes. A soft reset will restart the internal software without removing stored data (e.g. Bluetooth list).

To soft reset Sony Headphones (WH 1000XM3), do the following things.

1. Connect the headphones with their charger (the charger must be connected to a power source).
2. Wait until the red charging light turns on (you can continue even if it doesn’t turn on).
3. Press and hold the power and the NC/Ambient buttons simultaneously for 10-15 seconds.
4. Remove the charger and turn on the headphones.

To soft reset Sony Headphones (WH 1000XM3), do the following things.

1. Press and hold the power and the NC/Ambient buttons simultaneously for 10-15 seconds.
2. Release the buttons once the light indicator blinks a blue light 4 times.
3. Press the power button once to turn it on.

To hard reset Sony WH-1000XM4, do the following things.

1. Press and hold the power and the Custom buttons simultaneously for 10-15 seconds.
2. Release the buttons after 10-15 seconds and turn the headphones on.

7. Upgrade the Firmware Version

An outdated firmware version can cause charging issues for Sony headphones.

The outdated firmware may not have the latest charging algorithm or optimization, may not work or recognize new charging technologies, and can have software bugs (or glitches) that prevent charging.

To upgrade the firmware version of Sony headphones, do the following things.

1. Download and Open the Sony | Headphones Connect app (iOS & Android).
2. If an update is available, a yellow banner will appear at the bottom of the application with the text “The latest headphones software is available.”
3. Press “More Info” next to the yellow banner.
4. Press “Start” if you want to upgrade the firmware version. You can also see all the improvements and changes before you upgrade.
5. Wait until the update is completed. The headphones will disconnect and turn off multiple times, don’t touch them. Keep them close to your smartphone.
6. For iOS users, press “Pair” if the notification for pairing appears.
7. You will see an “Update Completed!” text when it’s done.

If there’s no yellow banner when you open the Sony headphones app, you have the latest version available.

8. Recalibrate the Battery

A miscalibrated battery will report an inaccurate reporting for its charging level — this can trick the headphones into thinking they are fully charged, when in fact they aren’t and prevent them from charging.

You must recalibrate the battery to improve its accuracy in reporting its charge level.

Recalibrate battery refers to a process where the battery is reset to improve its overall performance. This is done for rechargeable batteries, such as the Lithium-ion polymer that the Sony headphones use.

To recalibrate Sony headphones batteries, do the following.

1. Connect the charger to the headphones and leave it charging for more than 3 hours.
2. Remove the charger.
3. Drain the battery to 0% (by using or leaving the headphones turned on).
4. Once the battery is drained, fully charge it to 100%.
5. Drain the battery again, and recharge it back to 100%.

9. Replace the Battery

Sony headphones use Lithium-ion polymer batteries that have a certain number of charging cycles, usually 500. Once the battery completes its charging cycles, its overall performance and capacity will gradually start to decrease until it goes to 0, where it won’t accept charge anymore. This can take 3-5 years of daily use.

A (1) charging cycle is completed when the battery goes from 100%-0 and back to 100%.

Indicators that the battery has completed its charging cycles are listed below.

1. Headphones will charge, but won’t keep the charge for more than 10-30 minutes.
2. The charging time increased but the battery no longer holds a charge as long as it used to.

It’s recommended to replace lithium-ion batteries every 3-5 years. To replace the Sony headphones battery, contact the support or send them to an electronic repair shop.

10. Replace Faulty Hardware

A faulty hardware will prevent Sony headphones from charging or doing normal processes.

The hardware parts that are responsible for charging headphones are the battery, charging circuitry, charging port, charging contacts/pins, battery protection circuit, and battery connectors.

These hardware parts work together to enable the charging process of the headphones. If any of these hardware parts is faulty or not working properly, the headphones won’t charge.

Unfortunately, there’s no way for you to know which part is faulty. We recommend contacting Sony Support  (if you have a warranty) or sending the headphones to a local electronic repair shop (if you don’t have a warranty) to fix them.

FAQs

1. How Long Do Sony Headphones Take to Fully Charge?

Sony headphones take 3 hours to fully charge, according to their user manual. They might charge slower if you connect them to a PC, use a different USB-C or brick charger, or if you haven’t used them for a long time.

2. How to Know if Sony Headphones Are Charging?

To know if Sony headphones are charging, check the LED light indicator — it must be steady red.

3. How to Know if Sony Headphones are Fully Charged?

To know if Sony headphones are fully charged, check the LED light indicator — it will automatically turn off (be blank) once the battery is full.