This speaker comes equipped with a set of color changing, pulsating party LED lights that, by default, blink, scan, and flash to the beat of whatever you stream to the speaker. And you can turn these lights on and off. Further, resetting the speaker switches them ON again if OFF. But there is a less destructive way to start them glowing without having to reset. Thus we show here how to turn ON the Sony SRS XP500 party lights for when you desire a little light show to add to your party ambiance.

To turn ON the party lights, you first locate the LIGHT button. We find this control on the back of the speaker, outside and just above the ports compartment, as we see in the next picture. There are three buttons running horizontally above the ports door. The LIGHT button is the last button on the right.

How to Turn ON Lights on Sony SRS XP500, Using Buttons on the Speaker Itself
These lamps, which light the top and bottom front edges of the unit are set to display their party show by default. But you may have turned them off and do not remember how to switch them back on again. In that case, we post this to rescue you.
The lights work either when fresh out of the box, or just after a factory reset. But if they’re not glowing, and yet the speaker is running, you can turn them ON as follows…
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- Press and release the LIGHT button. Doing so may consume a bit more battery power, as these LED lights draw little but nonetheless significant energy. They should immediately begin glowing and flashing after the button press.
Then when you want to turn them off, simply repeat what you did above. I.e. Press and release the LIGHT button. Then the party lamps will go dark again.
How to Turn ON Lights on Sony SRS XP500, Using the Music Center App, Step by Step
1. Pair XP500 with Mobile Device that Has the Sony Music Center App
2. Open the Sony Music Center App
The home page for the XP500 comes up.

3. Scroll Down to the Settings Option
Next, swipe up until you see the Settings item at the bottom of the screen.

4. Tap the Settings Option
Then touch that item. This brings up the Settings page for the XP 500.

Next, find the Illumination option as we see in the last picture.
5. Tap the Illumination Item
Doing so brings up the Illumination page for our test speaker.

Note that the Lighting Mode option is set to LIGHT OFF. This explains why the lights on the speaker are dark.
6. Tap the Lighting Mode Item
Touching that link brings up the Lighting Mode screen for the XP500, as we see next. Notice the list of lighting mode options.

Next, choose one of the other lighting mode options from the list. That list includes Delightful, Rave, Chill, Strobe, Hot, Cool, Cute, Fresh, and Calm Daylight.
7. Tap the DELIGHTFUL Option
Here, we choose the DELIGHTFUL option, although any of the others, with the exception of LIGHT OFF, will activate the party lights as well.
Doing this moves the brown check mark from the LIGHT OFF option to the DELIGHTFUL option.

8. Tap the Done Link
Find the Done item near the top right corner of the screen.

Doing this sends the command to turn the party lights ON to the speaker, and the lights should immediately start glowing and changing colors.
Then the app takes you back to the Illumination page.

Note now that the Lighting Mode option value is now set to DELIGHTFUL.
9. Done with How to Turn ON Lights on Sony SRS XP500, Using the Music Center App
You now know how to turn on the party lights on this speaker using either the Light button on the speaker itself, or doing it in the Sony Music Center app.
Related Posts
Other Posts About the Sony SRS XP500
References for How to Turn On Lights on Sony SRS XP500
Revision History
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- 2022-12-15: First published.