Sony WF-1000XM5 case light: what each colour means

The WF-1000XM5 charging case has one indicator on the front and Sony uses it for everything: battery (green or orange for a few seconds), charging (orange), errors (orange flashing in different rhythms), Bluetooth (blue) and reset (slow orange, then four green flashes). Several faults are all orange flashing; the rhythm is what tells them apart.

The indicator shows the bud with less charge when both are in the case, the bud that is in the case when only one is, and the case itself when both buds are out.

1. Green for about 6 or 3 seconds

   High charge. With buds in the case, the bud reading is 95% or more; with both buds out, the case is at 31% or more. It stays on about 6 seconds after you open or close the lid (or unplug the cable after charging), about 3 seconds when you take the buds out or put them in.

   WF-1000XM5. About the earbuds or the case. Sony gives no step for this light.

2. Orange for about 6 or 3 seconds

   Lower charge. With buds in the case, the bud reading is between 1% and 94%; with both buds out, the case is between 1% and 30%.

   WF-1000XM5. About the earbuds or the case. 1 step from Sony on its page.

3. Solid orange while plugged in

   Charging: the buds, the case, or both. It goes out when charging is complete. If the battery was already full when charging started, it stays on for about 1 minute and then goes out; opening or closing the lid while charging makes it go off for about half a second and come back.

   WF-1000XM5. About the earbuds or the case. 2 steps from Sony on its page.

4. Orange, flashing twice, about every second

   Abnormal charging temperature.

   WF-1000XM5. About pairing, reset or an error. 1 step from Sony on its page.

5. Orange, flashing slowly about every 0.5 seconds

   An error occurred while charging and charging cannot be done.

   WF-1000XM5. About pairing, reset or an error. 1 step from Sony on its page.

6. Orange, flashing 3 times about every 1.3 seconds

   Sony calls this an abnormal combination of the left and right headset units.

   WF-1000XM5. About pairing, reset or an error. Sony gives no step for this light.

7. Blue, flashing twice over and over

   Pairing mode: the earbuds are ready to be found by a phone or computer.

   WF-1000XM5. About pairing, reset or an error. Sony gives no step for this light.

8. Blue, flashing 10 times

   The Bluetooth connection is complete. It shows while one or both buds are in the case.

   WF-1000XM5. About pairing, reset or an error. Sony gives no step for this light.

9. Orange and blue, flashing in turn

   The lid was opened while the earbuds’ software is updating automatically.

   WF-1000XM5. About pairing, reset or an error. Sony gives no step for this light.

10. Slow orange flashing about 15 seconds after pressing the reset button

    Getting ready to reset or initialise. About 15 seconds after you first press the reset/initialize button on the back of the case, the light flashes slowly orange (about every 0.7 seconds) for up to about 5 seconds.

    WF-1000XM5. About pairing, reset or an error. Sony gives no step for this light.

11. Green, flashing 4 times quickly

    Initialisation is complete: the earbuds are back to factory settings.

    WF-1000XM5. About pairing, reset or an error. Sony gives no step for this light.

12. No light

    Less than 1% charge (the buds if they are in the case, the case if both buds are out) when it stays off as you open or close the lid. It also goes out when charging is complete.

    WF-1000XM5. About the earbuds or the case. 1 step from Sony on its page.

Find a light by colour on any maker’s earbud case →