Sony WF-1000XM4 Case Not Charging [SOLVED]

Sony WF-1000XM4 are very reliable earbuds with excellent battery timing. The battery capacity of the earbuds and case collectively provides 24 hours of listing time.

But sometimes, you might face the Sony WF-1000XM4 case not charging issue, which is quite common.

When I bought my pair of XM4 earbuds, they worked great. Despite not being loud enough in the noisy gym environment, I never faced an issue until, one day, the charging case stopped charging.

I knew that Sony hardware was quite reliable, and it was highly unlikely that this might be permanent damage. So I set out to fix my charging case.

In my case, it was the wrong charging brick. I plugged my case into a fast-charging USB-PD source, and the case went into some ‘fail-safe’ mode. Once it plugged it into a normal 5v charger, it came back to life.

During my search, I came across a few other troubleshooting steps that you might find useful.

In this article, I will explain all the methods you can use to fix your Sony WF 1000XM4 case charging problem.

Use the correct charging source

This is what caused my Sony charging case to no longer work – an incorrect charging source.

I plugged my case into a power bank that I normally use to fast charge my iPhone. It has a USB-PD power output that is used for fast-charging smartphones. When I plugged in my Sony case in, it got ‘bricked’.

Apparently, there is some kind of fail-safe mechanism built into the charging case that stops the case from charging when an incorrect current/voltage is applied.

If you ‘bricked’ your case by using any such fast-charging power source, don’t worry as the solution is quite simple. Just charge it using a normal 5v USB charge or laptop USB port.

Sony WF-1000XM4 work best with a power source that is rated 5V and 0.5A current output. If you go higher than that, it might trigger a failsafe mechanism and your case will stop charging.

Use the original USB cable

A low-quality third-party USB cable might also cause your Sony WF-1000XM4 case to not charge.

Sony earbuds come with an original USB A-C cable inside the packing. If you have that cable, always use that for charging your earbud.

If you have lost your original cable, make sure the replacement cable you are using is of high quality. I have charged my case with my Macbook charging cable and it works fine.

Any other high-standard cable should work as well but avoid cheap Chinese cables.

Leave on charge overnight

Lithium-based batteries like the one used in Sony earbud cases are highly susceptible to critically low charge.

When you leave your case uncharged for a long time, it goes into hibernation mode to save the battery from critically low charge and damage.

If you are picking up your Sony WF-1000XM4 earbuds after a long period of inactivity, chances are that the case is already in hibernation mode.

In such a situation, you won’t see any sign of charging when you plug the case in. But don’t worry, the solution is easy – leave your case on charge for up to 12 hours, EVEN if you don’t see any charging activity.

Any battery that goes into hibernation mode will eventually come out when connected to a power source for a few hours.

Your charging case should now charge fine.

Check & clean the charging port

USB-C charging port is quite ‘roomy’ compared to other ports and can collect dust & debris over time. If the dust particles deposit over the charging pins, it can hamper the current flow.

To fix this problem, you can clean the charging port using a common electrical contact cleaner called WD40 contact cleaner and a cotton swab.

1. Connect the straw nozzle that comes with the WD40 can and direct it inside the charging port.
2. Spray the solution generously to dissolve dirt, debris, or rust particles.
3. Use a cotton swab and something small & pointy to clean inside the port.
4. Let the solution evaporate.

Once you clean the contacts inside the charging port, try charging it again and see if you can see the charging indicator turning ON.

From personal experience, I can tell you that this is how I once solved a charging issue with my Sony over-ear headphones.

Check the case temperature

Sony charging case has a built-in safety feature that limits or stops charging when the case temperature is either too high or too low. This is done to avoid damage to the battery cells.

The ideal charging temperature for lithium-based batteries is 15 °C to 35 °C (59 °F – 95 °F). If your case is outside of this temperature envelope, your case might not charge.

Check the case temperature; if it is too hot or cold, bring it to a suitable range and try charging again.

Reset the case

Sometimes, the case malfunction not due to a hardware issue but due to a software glitch. In such a case, a quick factory reset should fix the problem.

To reset. your Sony WF 1000XM4 earbud case, follow the below steps.

1. Put one earbud into the charging case and close the lid.
2. Connect the charging case to an AC outlet using the supplied USB Type-C cable and a commercially available USB AC adaptor.
3. Open and close the charging case lid more than 5 times within 20 seconds. The indicator (red) of the charging case should start flashing.
4. When the resetting is complete, the indicator (green) of the charging case flashes 4 times.
5. Remove the earbud from the charging case, set the other earbud into the charging case, and then repeat the above process

After the resetting process is complete, the charging case and earbuds should reinitialize and revert back to factory settings. Any software glitch or bug should now be cleared.

But remember that after a reset and reinitialization, all your paired devices will be deleted, and you will have to pair your earbuds again with your Bluetooth devices.

Check for physical damage

If you have recently dropped your charging case or got it into a spilled coffee accident, perhaps it’s the physical damage that is causing your case not to charge.

Dropping your case from heights can damage the delicate internal wirings and connections due to impact.

Similarly, water ingress can cause a short circuit, damaging the internal components. But usually, when your headphones are damage, they may also show other signs of malfunction like you might not be able to pair them with your phone or missing sound in one earbud.

If you are a DIY person, you can take the case apart and see for any signs of damage inside (perhaps a broken ribbon or wire?). Below is a good video I found to help you with your teardown.

Get a replacement case

If every troubleshooting step above fail to revive your dead charging case, you can either contact Sony support for a replacement (if you are still under warranty) or get a replacement case.

You can get an official replacement case or a cheaper third-party case from sites like Aliexpress.

But remember that a third-party charging case might be limited in its functionalities, so read about it before making a purchase.

An official case is a safer but a bit costlier option.

Official Sony

Sony WF-1000XM4 Replacement Charging Case (Official)

• Compatible with Sony WF-1000XM4
• Supports charging by Type-C cable
• Lightweight and convenient
• Easy wireless charging with Qi technology
• Perfect replacement for lost or backup charging case

Buy on Amazon

Sony WF-1000XM4 Case Not Charging – Conclusion

The Sony WF-1000XM4 are reliable earbuds with long battery life, but the charging case can sometimes stop working.

If the case stops charging, it could be due to using the wrong charging source, such as a fast-charging USB-PD source.

Using an original or high-quality USB cable is also important. Leaving the case on charge for up to 12 hours can help revive the battery if it is in hibernation mode.

Cleaning the charging port with a contact cleaner and cotton swab can help remove dust and debris that can prevent charging.

Checking the temperature of the case is also important since charging may stop if the case is too hot or cold.

Finally, a software glitch may cause a malfunction, and resetting the earbud case can be a quick fix.

I hope this detailed guide will help you fix your Sony WF 1000XM4 case not charging issue.