A permanent charging fix for "old" Sony WH-1000XM4s
Long-time lurker, first-time poster here.
I’ve seen quite a few posts from people having trouble getting their "older" headphones to charge via USB (not just the WH-1000XM4s) and I ran into the same issue. I tried all the usual troubleshooting steps, but they would only work for a month or two before the problem came back. However, about a month ago, I stumbled across a solution that has consistently worked ever since.
The trick (insert one weird trick headphone manufacturers hate joke here) is to plug the headphones into the USB charger while they are still turned on.
I honestly don't know why this works, and I won't pretend to understand the logic behind it. When my Sonys are switched off and I plug them in, they refuse to charge, no matter what brick or cable I use. But if I plug them in while they're turned on they charge without a hitch, every single time.
Hopefully, this helps someone else out. It’s been a lifesaver for me!