FIX: Sony headphone stopping when talking or singing along

WH-1000XM5 cutting out when talking?

If you’re the owner of a Sony headphones (I’ve got the WH-1000XM5), you might have encountered a slightly annoying “feature” that kicks in when you start talking or singing along. Suddenly, your music stops, and you’re left without music.

Don’t worry, it’s not a bug. It’s actually a feature called Speak-to-Chat, and while it can be useful in some scenarios, it can also be a bit overzealous.

Let’s dive into what’s going on and how you can fix it.

The culprit: Sony’s Speak-to-Chat

What you’re experiencing is a feature called Speak-to-Chat.

Sony, decided to add this feature, which automatically pauses your audio and activates ambient sound mode when it detects you speaking.

The idea? To let you have a quick conversation without removing your headphones.

In practice? Often more of a nuisance.

How to turn off Speak-to-Chat

Luckily, it’s easy to disable:

• Via the Sound Connect by Sony app (IOS/Android)
• Manually via finger swipes on your Sony headphones (for me the WH-1000MX5)

Via Sound Connect

1. Open the Sony Headphones Connect app (iOS/Android)
2. Go to Speak-to-Chat (this will open the sound settings)
3. Find Speak-to-Chat (first in the list) and turn the slider Off.

That’s it! Your music will no longer stop when you make a sound.

Manually disable stopping when talking

If you don’t have the app handy, you can also disable Speak-to-Chat directly on the headphones:

1. Place two fingers on the touchpad of the right earcup
2. Hold them there for a few seconds
3. You’ll hear a voice prompt confirming that Speak-to-Chat has been turned off

What if you actually like Speak-to-Chat on your Sony headset?

If you think Speak-to-Chat is useful but just too sensitive, you can adjust the sensitivity:

1. In the Sony Headphones Connect app, go to Speak-to-Chat settings
2. Select Voice Detect Sensitivity
3. You can also shorten the time with Time until the mode closes
4. Lower the sensitivity so it only triggers when you really start talking (instead of every small sound).

That way, you get the best of both worlds. Your music doesn’t stop unless you actually want it to.