Sony WH-1000XM3 Headphones not working on Windows?

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.

10. 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 :)

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.