About this download

Benefits and Improvements

• Improves Bluetooth connection stability
• Improves the hands-free calling quality

Previous Benefits and Improvements

The following benefits and improvements are also included in this update.  

• Fixes an issue where the headphones cannot be paired on a Windows computer
• Fixes an issue where, when there are 2 Bluetooth devices connected at the same time, the connected devices repeatedly disconnect and reconnect
• Improves general performance of the headphones

System Requirements

• An Android device (V5.0 or later) or an iOS device (iOS 11.0 or later)
• An active Internet connection
• The latest version of the Sony | Headphones Connect application must be installed
• The headphones must be connected to your Android or iOS device

File Info

File Name

• Firmware update 2.5.0 for WH-1000XM4

File Version

• Version 2.5.0

File Size

• 1 362 KB (1 395 504 bytes)

Release Date

• 18-05-2021

Preparation

Check the firmware version

You can check the firmware version as follows.

1. Launch the Sony | Headphones Connect application.
2. Connect your headphones to the Sony | Headphones Connect application.
3. Tap the three dots (menu button) in the upper right corner.
   
   NOTE: The device displayed on the screen depends on the device connected.
4. Select the version of your device shown in the menu. This item is shown only when the device is connected.
5. Confirm the firmware version.

Important notice

• Do not charge the battery or turn off your headphones while downloading updates, transferring data, or updating. Doing so may cause the headphones to become unusable.
  
• Do not perform the update in a location where the Wi-Fi signal is inconsistent, such as on a train, in a place where Wi-Fi signals become congested, or near a microwave, cordless phone, or any other devices that use the 2.4 GHz band frequency radio waves.
• Make sure both devices (Android/iOS device and headphones) are fully charged.
• Disconnect all other Bluetooth devices such as wearable devices or smart watches from your Android or iOS device before starting the update.
• When updating with your headphones taken off, go to the Auto Power Off function of the Sony | Headphones Connect application, and select Do not turn off. If you select Off when headphones are taken off, your headphones will automatically turn off after approximately 15 minutes and the data transfer of the update file will be interrupted. If that happens, the next time your headphones turn on and Bluetooth is reconnected, the data transfer will resume. If you change the settings for this update, you can restore the settings after the update is completed.

Before you upgrade

• After updating, the firmware cannot be reverted to an earlier version.
• The update process will take approximately 40 minutes to complete. The file size is about 1.33 MB.
• For iOS devices, make sure to turn off the Google Assistant function prior to the update.
• Depending on the radio wave environment and your Android/iOS device, it may take longer to complete.

Download & Install

To update these headphones, follow the procedure below:

• Download data from the server to the iOS device or the Android device.
• Transfer data from the iOS device or the Android device to the headphones.
• Execute update with the headphones.

Step 1: Install the update

1. Launch the Sony | Headphones Connect application.
2. Connect your headphones to the Sony | Headphones Connect application.
   • If you have never connected to the Sony | Headphones Connect application before, follow the instructions on the screen to connect the headphones to your Android device.
   • If you have connected to the Sony | Headphones Connect application before, select your headphones.
3. The following screen will be shown when the connection has been established.
   
4. If an update is applicable, Headphone update available will be displayed, and you can press More Info.
   
5. Verify that Version 2.5.0 is displayed and press OK to start the update.
   
6. Once the download starts, it will automatically move to the next screen after the download is completed.
   NOTE: When the message Bluetooth Pairing Request is displayed, press Pair. The update will resume. (Only for iOS devices)
7. The transfer starts. It will automatically move to the next screen after the download has been completed.
8. Once the transfer starts, it will automatically move to the next screen after the transfer has been completed. This will take approximately one minute.
   NOTE: Do not charge the battery or turn off your headphones while downloading updates, transferring data, or updating. Doing so may cause the headphones to become unusable. If a disconnection message is displayed, wait until it automatically reconnects.
9. When the software update is completed, press OK.
   NOTE: If the screen is not displayed, check whether the version has been upgraded in the following step.
   

Step 2: Check the update was successful

After the update, confirm that the new version has been installed successfully by following the steps in the Check the firmware version section.

If the firmware version shown is 2.5.0, the upgrade was successful.

Questions & Answers

An update error message appears.

1. Press OK.
2. Restart the headphones (turn the power off then on).
3. After that, restart Sony | Headphones Connect and update again.

Even though the update failed during the process, check the firmware version. If the Version is shown as 2.5.0, the firmware update was successful. If not, try the firmware update again. You can check the version from the setting in the Sony | Headphones Connect application. To find out how to check the version, go to the Check the firmware version on this page.