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Your Mac can now control your Sony headphones almost as nicely as your phone
Jul 14, 2026 — 7:46 AM ET
- There’s now an unofficial app that lets you control settings for your Sony-branded Bluetooth headsets from your Mac.
- The app is built by reverse-engineering the Sony Sound Connect mobile app.
- The unofficial Mac app works for both old and new Sony headsets and offers control over ANC modes, manual EQ settings, and a toggle for Sony’s DSEE.
If you fancy using a pair of Bluetooth headphones or earphones with your Mac, you’ll instantly find yourself grappling to find controls similar to what Apple adds to macOS for AirPods. Apple isn’t to blame here, as you’re largely at the mercy of the hardware controls for changing modes or adjusting volume, especially since major brands don’t offer a companion app for desktop use. Despite that, there are unofficial ways to access these settings, and the one we’re discussing today specifically gives you better control over your Sony headphones or earphones directly from your desktop.
Headset controls are limited to Sony’s Sound Connect for Android and iOS. To cut the wires loose, someone has built an app that lets you do more with your Sony headsets on a Mac.
The unofficial app, called Sony Bridge, builds upon an older app with a similar purpose: the unofficial Sony Headphones Client. However, the latter only supported the audio giant’s older headsets that used an older connection protocol, which was reverse-engineered from Sony’s mobile apps. These protocols are unofficial versions v1 and v2, based on functionality developed by the open-source community.
While the older Sony Headphones Client only supported v1 headsets, the newer app now also supports v2 headsets, broadening the range of headphones that work with your Mac. Moreover, while the older protocol only supported changing ANC modes, v2 enables users to tweak EQ settings and get a precise battery percentage.
Here’s a breakdown of the models supported under v1 and v2, as per the developer:
| Protocol version | Supported headsets |
|---|---|
v2 (newer, more controls) | Headphones: WH-1000XM5, WH-1000XM6, WH-XB910N, WH-CH720, WH-CH520 Earphones: WF-1000XM4, WF-1000XM5, WF-C700N, LinkBuds S |
v1 (ANC controls only) | WH-1000XM4, WH-1000XM3, WH-1000XM2, WH-XB900N, MDR-XB950BT |
The only challenge is that while the older app was available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, the new one only works on Mac for now. The developer says they are working on versions for other OSes, including Android.
Features in the unofficial Sony Bridge app
The app brings much of the functionality that you get with Sony’s mobile apps to your Mac. The most basic options include the ability to switch between ANC modes or adjust sensitivity levels in Ambient mode. The latest version of the app also lets you choose from existing EQ presets or use manual settings — all of which are saved to your headset, so you don’t need to reapply them on another device.
In addition to the EQ function, you can toggle Sony’s DSEE, which upscales audio quality. You will still not be able to use Sony’s proprietary LDAC because macOS limits Bluetooth transmission to AAC.
I’ve tested the app with my Sony WH-1000XM5, and the ANC modes switch almost seamlessly. There is some resistance when switching too frequently, but randomly hitting other buttons can reset the app. Manual EQ also works well enough, as well. Some users also say it crashed on the WH-1000XM4, but the developer says they’re already working on a fix.
Own a pair of Sony Bluetooth headphones or earphones that you use with your Mac? Go ahead and try the app out while listening to this highly-revered sound check track.
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