If you’re the proud owner of a pair of Sony’s industry-leading noise-canceling headphones or earbuds, there’s good news waiting for you. Sony has just rolled out significant firmware updates for both the over-ear WH-1000XM6 and the in-ear WF-1000XM5, delivering a suite of enhancements that refine the Bluetooth experience and add smart new features.
This move continues Sony's pattern of supporting its products long after launch, ensuring that even the slightly older WF-1000XM5 (which you can often find at a compelling price on Amazon) remains at the cutting edge. For those keeping track, the WF-1000XM5 was recently updated to Version 5.0.2 in July, while the WH-1000XM6 received a similar feature set in its Version 2.0.2 update. Now, both models are leaping to their next major version numbers.
The new releases are Version 6.0.0 for the WF-1000XM5 and Version 3.0.0 for the WH-1000XM6. At their core, these updates fully unlock the potential of Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio, while also integrating deeper with the Google ecosystem and adding practical new controls for locating your gear.
Unlocking the Full Power of LE Audio
The most significant improvement shared by both models is the expansion of features compatible with the modern Bluetooth LE Audio standard. Previously, using LE Audio might have meant sacrificing access to some of Sony's signature smarts. That barrier is now gone.
With these updates, you can now seamlessly use the following features while connected via the more efficient and higher-quality LE Audio codec:
- Digital Assistant: Get quick answers and control your phone without breaking your audio immersion.
- Head Tracking: For a more immersive, spatial audio experience that makes you feel like sounds are fixed in space around you.
- Find Hub: The crucial "find my earbuds/headphones" feature now works flawlessly with LE Audio.
A crucial note for users: To take advantage of Digital Assistant and Head Tracking with LE Audio, Sony instructs you to delete the existing pairing information for your headset from your phone or device and then re-pair them after you've completed the firmware update. This fresh start ensures a clean, stable connection.
For detailed instructions and to download the update for your WF-1000XM5, you can visit the official Sony support page for the UK here: Sony WF-1000XM5 Software Update. The global support page can be found here.
New Features: Gemini Live, Audio Sharing, and Smarter Find Hub
Beyond the LE Audio expansion, Sony is packing in more useful features.
1. Support for Google Gemini Live
In a move that embraces the new era of AI assistants, both the XM5 earbuds and XM6 headphones now officially support Google Gemini Live. This allows for more natural, conversational interactions with the Gemini assistant directly through your headphones, making it easier to multitask and get things done.
2. Audio Sharing with Fast Pair
Sharing your audio with a friend just got a lot simpler. The new Audio Sharing with Fast Pair feature leverages Google's Fast Pair technology to quickly and effortlessly connect two sets of supported Bluetooth headphones to a single Android device. Perfect for watching a movie on a plane or listening to a podcast with a partner without disturbing those around you.
WF-1000XM5 Gets a "Find My" Upgrade
The update is particularly impactful for owners of the WF-1000XM5 earbuds, which receive two critical quality-of-life improvements for the Find Hub feature:
- Individual Earbud Location: You can now locate the left and right earbuds individually on the map within the Sony | Headphones Connect app. No more guessing which one is under the couch and which is in the bedroom.
- Disable Find Hub Without the Case: Previously, disabling the Find Hub feature required using the charging case. Now, you can turn it off directly from the app, giving you more control over your privacy and battery life.
As with any major firmware release, Sony also notes that both updates include general security enhancements to protect your devices, though the specific vulnerabilities patched are not detailed.
Full Changelogs at a Glance
Sony WF-1000XM5 Version 6.0.0:
- Digital Assistant and Head Tracking now available with LE Audio.
- Support for Gemini Live is now available.
- Support for Audio Sharing with Fast Pair is available.
- Find Hub can now locate each earbud (left/right) individually.
- Find Hub can be disabled without using the charging case.
- Enhances system software security features.
Sony WH-1000XM6 Version 3.0.0:
- Digital Assistant, Head Tracking, and Find Hub now available with LE Audio.
- Support for Gemini Live is now available.
- Support for Audio Sharing with Fast Pair is available.
- Enhances system software security features.
How to Update Your Sony Headphones
To get these new features, simply open the Sony | Headphones Connect app on your smartphone. If your connected device is eligible for the update, you should see a notification prompting you to install it. Ensure your headphones or earbuds have a sufficient battery charge and are connected to your phone via Bluetooth during the process.
These updates demonstrate Sony's commitment to not just building excellent audio hardware, but also continuously refining the software experience, making two of the best noise-canceling audio products on the market even better.
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