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Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphones not working on Windows?
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XM3-GUIDE.md

Edit: This method usually works but there is an easier way explained by @Instinctlol in the comments below. You might want to try that way first!

Introduction

When I first got these headphones they worked perfectly with my phone but trying to get them to connect to my Windows pc seemed hopeless. In my case, they paired & pressing 'connect' showed the headphones as connected, but the audio device was disabled & disconnected in sound settings. I later realised that they instantly connected & worked properly with my newer laptop, so the following guide was produced by imitating the setup my laptop automatically configured. This is something you should only have to do once when initially pairing the device.

Method

  1. First ensure that you are attempting to pair the device as WH-1000XM3 and not LE_WH-1000XM3. I'm not sure what the latter is for but it will not let you connect/play sound. If you cannot see the device, check that you have not already paired it or try holding the power button for ~7 seconds when turning the headphones on to place them in 'bluetooth pairing' mode.
  2. Attempt to connect to the device under 'Bluetooth & other devices'. In my case this doesn't work, giving That didn't work. Make sure your Bluetooth device...
  3. Open Device Manager and look under Bluetooth. If your case is the same as mine, the headphones will be listed as just WH-1000XM3.
  4. Right-click WH-1000XM3 and click Update driver > Browse my computer for driver software > Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer > Untick Show compatible hardware > Select Microsoft Bluetooth Avrcp Transport Driver under Microsoft > Yes.
  5. Under Bluetooth & other devices (in system settings like before) click on Devices and printers on the right panel. Find WH-1000XM3 Avrcp Transport under Devices.
  6. Right-click WH-1000XM3 Avrcp Transport > Properties > Hardware. Click on Bluetooth AV > Properties > Change settings > Driver > Update Driver > Browse... > Let me pick... > Microsoft Bluetooth A2dp Source.
  7. The audio device at this stage will still show Disconnected, but the Bluetooth device will connect.
  8. In the Properties panel you had open before for WH-1000XM3 Avrcp Transport, click on Bluetooth Remote Control > Change settings > Driver > Update Driver > Browse... > Let me pick... > Microsoft Bluetooth Avcrp Transport Driver.
  9. The audio device should now show connected and will allow you to play music.

The final step is only for if you wish to optionally use the device in 'headset mode'. It seems like there are two modes for the device - 'stereo mode' and 'headset mode'. Due to some limitation of Bluetooth, using the microphone on the headphones drastically reduces the quality of the sound. So this is only a feature you want to enable when you need to use the microphone.

  1. Under Properties again, click on Bluetooth Hands-free > Properties > Change settings > Driver > Update Driver > Browse... > Let me pick... > Microsoft Bluetooth Hands-Free Profile AudioGateway Role.

There will now be two additional audio devices - a speaker & a microphone. If either of these are used WH-1000XM3 Stereo is disabled and sound is instead played from the WH-1000XM3 Hands-Free AG Audio device (at a much lower quality).

Enjoy your new Sony headphones :)

@SparkYaro
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Solved my issues with my XM3 Headphones. You were so helpful, thank you!

@seedsnj
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seedsnj commented Sep 10, 2021 •
edited
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Solved my issue with the headset with this writing being a reference guide, thank you! Moved my comments to https://gist.github.com/lichuan80/eb9bf38ef7ab0930beeb35dab001b126.

@Diogomrol
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I can't find the Bluetooth AV on step 6. It doesn't show up on the hardware tab. Any clue?

@curz46
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curz46 commented Sep 28, 2021

@Diogomrol My first guess would be to uninstall the device under device manager & pair it again to see if it'll come back. But I think you could change any variation e.g. Bluetooth Hands-free or Bluetooth AV Remote Control Target - the important part is just that "Microsoft Bluetooth A2dp Source" and "Microsoft Bluetooth Avcrp Transport Driver" are added to that space. It should then should show "AudioWear", "CSR GAIA" and "WH-1000XM3 Avrcp Transport" where Bluetooth AV would be. I'm not an expert on this but I hope that helps.

@CallMeFireSauce
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I made this account just to say thank you, it helped me so much. I wasted more that 20 hours and at least 60+ threads just to pop on your guide. God bless you stranger ♥

@kbraimakis
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Man you can't imagine how grafetul I am. I was totally desperate with not being able to connect the headphones. I was at the point of considering to do a fresh windows installation. You actually saved 2 days of my life. Thanks a lot. This thread is valuable. I think it should be posted on reddit on youtube maybe. An excellent guide.

@umustaf2
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Thank you so much for this write up. I was so frustrated trying to make the headphones work. Your solution worked 100% on 1st attempt. Thank you!!!

@blijonline
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Thanks hero

@framesfree
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Many thanks @curz46 for the guide.
Just to complement what you described, correct "AudioWear" driver is in Bluetooth > Microsoft Audio Sink Service. It allows you to use touch controls of XM3's, such as volume up/down, play/stop etc.

@sandmefa
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sandmefa commented Aug 5, 2022

For me, it was enough to just log in as an ADMIN, then undo the pairing and pair again!

@TS80085
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TS80085 commented Sep 22, 2022

Solved it on Win 10, thank you very much!

@mlandman1967
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This works (Win 10 Lenovo T460s) Thank you so much.

@Instinctlol
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Instinctlol commented Nov 5, 2022 •
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I had the same problem as @Diogomrol but managed to work it out a totally different way

  1. (Optional) In Device Manager, uninstall all devices related to WH-1000XM3 under Audio inputs and outputs, Bluetooth and Sound, video and game contorllers
  2. Open Blueooth & other devices window. Pair the headset. Only LE_WH-1000XM3 showed up for me, so that's what I used.
  3. Wait for Windows to install the device
  4. Under Blueooth & other devices (in system settings like before) click on Devices and printers on the right panel.
  5. In the category UnspecifiedRight-click LE_WH-1000XM3, Properties, Services
  6. Untick Hands-free Telephony and untick Audio Sink, Apply
  7. Tick Audio Sink, Apply

This way I can listen to music in high quality. Under Blueooth & other devices it should now also say Connected music instead of only Connected voice

You might want to reenable Hands-free Telephony if you want to use the mic. I use another mic so I don't need it.

@curz46
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curz46 commented Nov 5, 2022

@Instinctlol that sounds far easier than my hack, thanks for sharing!

@coolk8
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coolk8 commented Nov 15, 2022

Thank you for your guide!

Some combination of this and another thing helped me at the end (goodbye few hours of life).

Another thing to try (found on reddit):

  1. Press Windows key + R to go to the run command.
  2. Type services.msc and click Enter.
  3. Search and double-click on Bluetooth Support Service.
  4. Under Startup type, click on the drop down menu and change it to Automatic.
  5. Restart the service.

@ScottBurfieldMills
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None of the solutions worked for me.

I ended up buying a $20 Bluetooth USB dongle and disabling the internal Macbook Bluetooth adapter. No more issues.

@HomoHabilis
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Thank you so much @curz46 , I tried a bunch of things, different drivers update (lost all bluetooth and had to reinstall, long road...) etc but finally this worked!
As said @framesfree the AudioWear->Audio Sink driver works to add the touch support for volume and pausing !

@PekkoVehvilainen
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Thank you solved my issue! (tried to pair first with LE-WH... after switching to WH-1003XM3 the headset started to work :)

@AGARAN24
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dude, thanks a lot. you have no idea, you saved me ton of time from resetting my device. I got this problem after fresh install. you are doing god's work.

@bt5e
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bt5e commented Jun 5, 2023

Fixed for me. Thank you!

@deejaycee
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Thank you both - @curz46 and @Instinctlol
This issue has made the headphones practically unusable without sinking considerable amounts of time into troubleshooting.

Removing hands-free telephony, disabling, and reenabling audio sink has done the trick. Appreciate it.

@fpauser
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fpauser commented Jan 25, 2024

Windows is great.

@Seriousdeadman
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i couldn't find microsoft a2dp in step 6. any help?

@Instinctlol
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i couldn't find microsoft a2dp in step 6. any help?

Did you try my method? It's linked in the very first sentence of this guide.

@M-r-A
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M-r-A commented Jun 18, 2024

It happened with my Windows 11 laptop after an accidental headset reset. Since I use WH-1000XM3 with mic all the time, I used the next sequence:

  1. Open Settings -> Bluetooth & devices -> Devices -> More devices and printer settings
  2. Locate WH-1000XM3. Open context menu -> Properties
  3. Open Services tab. Uncheck all checkboxes except Handsfree Telephony, click OK
  4. After a minute, open Settings -> System -> Sound -> More sound settings
  5. Open Playback tab. Locate WH-1000XM3 Hands-Free. Open context menu -> Set as Default Device, open context menu -> Set as Default Communication Device.
  6. Open Recording tab. Repeat actions from the previous step.

The headset should work normally now.
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