Picture of the button panel on the Sony SRS XB12 Bluetooth speaker.

Sony SRS XB12 Hard Reset Instructions

Gives hard reset instructions for the Sony SRS XB12 speaker to set it back to its default settings. Hard resetting restores the XB12 to factory default state. Plus, it erases any earlier connected Bluetooth devices from its memory. Clearing these stops this unit from pairing to any nearby BT devices. Also, you might hard reset to get this speaker ready for sale or re-gifting, or to stop it from pairing with devices you no longer wish it to connect with.

Sony SRS XB12 Hard Reset Instructions, Step by Step

1. Power UP the Speaker

Press the Power button for a half-second or so and then release it.

E.g. Find the Power button as we show in the next picture.

Picture of the Sony SRS XB12 portable speaker powered OFF, showing the -Power- button.
Sony SRS XB12 portable speaker powered OFF, showing the -Power- button.

Then, the status light comes on, as shown next.

Picture of the speaker, powered ON, showing the Status lamp lit.
The speaker, powered ON, showing the Status lamp lit.

The speaker may make a ping-pang tone sound when it powers up, should it pair to a nearby device. Or it may make no noise at all if it does not.  Yet whether paired or not, this hard reset routine works the same, as follows.

2. Press and Hold the Volume DOWN and Power Buttons At the Same Time

Find both of them near the bottom of the speaker, as called out in the next picture.

Picture of the speaker, powered ON, showing the -Power- and -Volume Down- buttons highlighted.
The speaker powered ON, showing the -Power- and -Volume Down- buttons highlighted.

The XB12 then enters hard reset mode.

After a small pause, the speaker powers OFF, and the power lamp goes dark, as shown next. Note that on the SRS XB12, there is no power-OFF sound.

Picture of the Sony SRS XB12 wireless speaker powered OFF, showing the dark Status lamp.
Sony SRS XB12 wireless speaker powered OFF, showing the dark Status lamp.

3. Check that your Sony SRS XB12 Did Indeed Hard Reset

Next, power on the unit again, as we detail in step 1.

Note that after a hard reset, the XB12 comes up in pairing / discovery mode. The Power lamp blinks blue rapidly to alert you to this.  This is a prompt that you may then look for this speaker on a nearby BT device, and pair to it if you so desire.

4. Done with Sony SRS XB12 Hard Reset !

Hard reset is now done. So you may now gift or sell this speaker, or link it again with your favorite Bluetooth devices.

After a hard reset, the XB12 no longer auto connects with any prior paired Bluetooth device. Thus, to set up automatic pairing again, you manually pair it with a device. Then, any time that both speaker and that device have Bluetooth turned on, and they’re near to each other, pairing would automatically take place once more.

Other Posts About the Sony SRS XB12

    1. Telling that the Sony SRS XB12 is Charging
    2. Sony SRS XB12 Charging Light Stays On, CHG Lamp
    3. Pairing the Sony SRS XB12 BT Speaker with Alexa
    4. How to Pair the Sony SRS XB12 Speaker with Common Bluetooth Devices
    5. How to Make Sony SRS XB12 Discoverable

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References for Sony SRS XB12 Hard Reset 

    1. Sony Bluetooth Speakers Product Page at Sony.com

Revision History

    • 2021-08-12: First published.