Earbud Pairing Mode Lights Across Brands
Sony, Jabra, Anker, JLab, and Samsung all signal pairing mode differently. A comparison of every major earbud brand's pairing LED.
Signal: Earbuds Red and Blue Alternating Light (Pairing Mode)
Full page| Brand | What it means on this brand | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
Sony WF-1000XM5, WF-C700N | Sony earbuds flash blue-red alternating when in pairing mode. On the WF series, hold the button on both earbuds simultaneously for 7 seconds to enter pairing mode. Sony's case LED shows solid white when charging and off when full. | Open Bluetooth on your device and select the Sony model from the list. |
Jabra Elite 4, Elite 85t | Jabra uses blue-red alternating for pairing mode, same as the industry standard. Pairing mode is entered by holding the button for 3 seconds when the earbuds are disconnected. | Open Jabra Sound+ app for guided pairing, or pair directly via Bluetooth settings. |
Anker / Soundcore Liberty 4, Space A40 | Anker earbuds use the same red-blue alternating pattern. To enter pairing mode, remove from case and hold touch controls for 3 seconds, or use the Soundcore app. | Pair via Bluetooth settings or Soundcore app. |
JLab Go Air, Epic Air | JLab's pairing mode uses rapid blue-white alternating, not red-blue. But some JLab models do show red-blue on first use. Check the quick-start guide. | For JLab: triple-tap the right earbud to cycle connection modes if device doesn't auto-appear. |
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, Buds Pro | Samsung Galaxy Buds do NOT use a visible external LED for pairing mode — they use a subtle light inside the case or no visible indicator. Pairing happens via Samsung's popup system on Galaxy phones, or through Bluetooth settings. | No red-blue pattern on Samsung — see the Galaxy Wearable app for pairing. |
Summary by brand
Sony
Earbuds Red and Blue Alternating Light (Pairing Mode): Sony earbuds flash blue-red alternating when in pairing mode. On the WF series, hold the button on both earbuds simultaneously for 7 seconds to enter pairing mode. Sony's case LED shows solid white when charging and off when full. — Open Bluetooth on your device and select the Sony model from the list.
Jabra
Earbuds Red and Blue Alternating Light (Pairing Mode): Jabra uses blue-red alternating for pairing mode, same as the industry standard. Pairing mode is entered by holding the button for 3 seconds when the earbuds are disconnected. — Open Jabra Sound+ app for guided pairing, or pair directly via Bluetooth settings.
Anker / Soundcore
Earbuds Red and Blue Alternating Light (Pairing Mode): Anker earbuds use the same red-blue alternating pattern. To enter pairing mode, remove from case and hold touch controls for 3 seconds, or use the Soundcore app. — Pair via Bluetooth settings or Soundcore app.
JLab
Earbuds Red and Blue Alternating Light (Pairing Mode): JLab's pairing mode uses rapid blue-white alternating, not red-blue. But some JLab models do show red-blue on first use. Check the quick-start guide. — For JLab: triple-tap the right earbud to cycle connection modes if device doesn't auto-appear.
Samsung
Earbuds Red and Blue Alternating Light (Pairing Mode): Samsung Galaxy Buds do NOT use a visible external LED for pairing mode — they use a subtle light inside the case or no visible indicator. Pairing happens via Samsung's popup system on Galaxy phones, or through Bluetooth settings. — No red-blue pattern on Samsung — see the Galaxy Wearable app for pairing.