How to Put Sony SRS XB21 in Pairing Mode

Sony SRS XB21 front right view.

To pair your SRS XB21 Sony speaker with a Bluetooth source device for the first time, or to refresh old connection info in that device, you have to know how to start up pairing mode on the speaker. That’s because in this mode, the speaker broadcasts its name and valid connection information over the Bluetooth airwaves. This is necessary for connecting to the speaker wirelessly using this data in order to play your music on it. So in this post, we show you how to put the Sony SRS XB21 speaker into pairing mode, to let you to link it with phones, tablets, computers, and smart speakers.

How to Put Sony SRS XB21 in Pairing Mode, Step by Step

1. Turn On the XB21

Turn on the speaker by rapidly pressing its Power-Pairing button.

E.g. See this button, that we point out with the green arrow, in the next picture.

Sony SRS XB21 -Power- button.

The speaker then comes on.

The -Power- lamp glowing.

2. Press and Hold that Same Button for Two or Three Seconds

Secondly, This lets you see your XB21 on your source device. So, place the speaker into pairing mode by pressing and holding the the Power-Pairing button, as pointed out in the first picture above.

When you press this button, the speaker plays a rising sequence of beeps, and the unit announces in a lady’s voice, “Bluetooth pairing.”

The -Bluetooth Status- lamp blinking.

Also, the Bluetooth Status lamp begins rapidly flashing blue. The unit is now in pairing mode thus.

3. Done with How to Put Sony SRS XB21 in Pairing Mode

While the Bluetooth Status lamp is flashing, you should be able to see the XB21 on any in-range phone, computer, tablet, or smart speaker, that is within several feet of it, as shown next.

The iPadOS -Bluetooth Settings- page, showing Sony SRS XB21 speaker as Discovered but not Connected.

Note in the last picture, that the speaker appears as “SRS-XB21”. So at this point, you could connect to the speaker if you wish.