Causes
- The Auto Power Off idle timer is set to 15 minutes by default. If you pause a podcast or a song ends, the XM6 shuts down automatically and won't resume until you press power — many owners mistake this idle timeout for a hardware fault. This is the #1 cause reported on r/SonyHeadphones.
- The wear detection sensor (capacitive sensor inside the left/right ear pads) misinterprets sweat, humidity, or a loose fit as "headphones removed" and powers the headset down. Multiple XM6 owners report shutdowns during workouts or hot weather — a known behavior carried over from the XM5, whose sensor is more prone to misfiring than the XM4's.
- A firmware bug on early production units causes shutdowns even while music is actively playing ("It turns off even with music", per multiple Reddit reports). Sony addressed this in later firmware revisions, so an outdated build keeps the fault alive.
- The battery level is misreported by the power management IC. When the true charge drops below the shutdown threshold, the XM6 cuts power abruptly even though the app or the voice prompt still shows a usable percentage.
- The Auto Switch feature hands playback off to a registered compatible Sony speaker when it detects one nearby, which pauses the headphones and can feel like a random shutdown if you don't notice the audio moving to the speaker.
How to Fix
- Change the Auto Power Off setting: Open the Sony | Sound Connect app → System → Auto Power Off and switch it from "15 min" to "Do not turn off" (or a longer interval). If the shutdowns only happened when no audio was playing, this resolves it immediately.
- Turn off Auto Play/Pause (wear detection): In the app go to System → Auto Play/Pause when wearing headphones and set it to Off. If the shutdowns stop, the wear sensor was misfiring. Also wipe the ear pad sensor area dry after workouts — sweat confuses the capacitive sensor.
- Update the firmware: In the app go to Settings → System → Software Update and install any available update. Later XM6 firmware revisions contain fixes for random power-off behavior during playback.
- Factory reset the headphones: Press and hold the Power button and the NC/AMB button together for about 10 seconds until the indicator flashes blue. The headphones reset to factory defaults — re-pair them with your phone afterward. This clears corrupted power-management and sensor calibration data.
- Disable Auto Switch: In the app go to System → Auto Switch and turn it Off so playback can't be silently handed off to a nearby Sony speaker.
- Recalibrate the battery: Drain the headphones completely until they auto-shut-off, then charge them to 100% using the supplied USB-C cable. Repeat this full drain-charge cycle 2–3 times to reset the battery gauge if the percentage was being misreported.
- Check for accidental button presses: The power button on the left earcup powers the headset off when held for 2 seconds. When carrying the XM6 loose in a bag, the button can be pressed against other items — always store it in the supplied carrying case.
- If it still powers off during playback at a full charge, contact Sony Support. Brand-new units that shut off randomly (documented on r/SonyHeadphones even with "Never turned off" set) should be exchanged under the 1-year warranty.