Windows companion for Sony WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM6
Your Sony headphones. At home on Windows.
Headphone controls, model-matched EQ, and app-aware setups on your desktop. Install free; a separate $9.99 license unlocks paid features.
$9.99 USD once Up to three personal Windows PCs
Everything the headphones report, on one screen.Example: an XM6 connected to this PC and a phone, playing audio, with 82% battery.
01Headphone controls
Only the controls your model has.
Switch noise control and other settings reported by your connected WH-1000XM5 or WH-1000XM6. Means Audio reads what the headphones support and shows only those controls, so XM6 listening modes never appear on an XM5.
- Noise cancelling, ambient sound, and off
- XM6 Standard, Background Music, and Cinema modes
- Battery, connected devices, EQ, and Activity at a glance
WH-1000XM6 in Platinum Silver.
WH-1000XM6 in Black, with its listening modes.
WH-1000XM5: no listening-mode row, because the XM5 does not report one.
02App-aware Activities
Switch setups when selected apps open.
Assign Windows apps to Music, Gaming, Calls, or a custom Activity. When a matched app stays in front, Means Audio applies only the settings in that Activity and restores the prior state when it ends.
- WhenAurorais in frontGamingNoise Cancelling · Cinema · Clear EQ
- WhenSpotifyis in frontMusicNoise Cancelling · Standard · Heavy EQ
- WhenDiscordis in frontCallsAmbient Sound · Focus on Voice
Three saved Activities. Aurora is a sample game used for the preview.
- Music, Gaming, Calls, and custom setups
- Application matching with visible priority
- Plain-language history, undo, and manual override
03Sound profiles
Build and save EQ profiles.
Adjust the XM6 ten-band EQ or the XM5's six device EQ controls, start from a supplied profile, and save your own. The same screen manages individual Windows app volume and supported headphone processing.
- Model-matched EQ: ten bands on XM6; Clear Bass plus five bands on XM5
- Per-app Windows volume controls
- DSEE Extreme and Speak-to-Chat when reported by the headphones
A custom ten-band curve, applied as the XM6 confirms it.
Supplied profiles, grouped by use.
04Always within reach
From the tray, a shortcut, or Ctrl K.
Means Audio keeps running in the tray. Change noise control from the tray menu, open Quick Controls with a shortcut, or type a command inside the app.
- Tray menu for noise control, listening mode, and automatic switching
- Quick Controls in a compact window, from the tray or a shortcut
- Command palette with Ctrl K inside Means Audio
Settings and Activity history stay on your PC.
App matches, sound profiles, Activity history, and preferences remain on your PC. The paid license contacts a separate service for activation, recovery, and periodic checks; no account or cloud profile is required.
- No account required
- The paid build uses a license key. Activation and recovery need an internet connection; no account is required.
- Reversible automation
- Activities preserve the previous state, explain what changed, and give you a way back.
- Confirmed state
- Means Audio keeps the last state reported by the headphones visible while a change is pending.
Your headphones. One license.
Buy a separate license to unlock Means Audio's paid headphone controls, sound profiles, and app-aware Activities.
Means Audio license
$9.99 USD
One-time license · Up to three Windows PCs
Secure checkout through StripeIncluded with your license
- Up to three personal Windows PCs
- One-time purchase with no subscription
- 14-day refund period
- License key by email. No account required.
Install Means Audio free from the Microsoft Store. Paid features require a separate $9.99 USD one-time license. Your license key is emailed after purchase; open Means Audio and choose Enter license.
Install Means Audio free from the Microsoft Store.
The Store download is free. Buy the separate $9.99 one-time license to unlock paid features.
Windows 1164-bit PCSony WH-1000XM5 or WH-1000XM6
Free download; the separate license is required for paid features. Available controls vary by headphone model.
Questions about Means Audio
Which Sony headphones does Means Audio support?
The Microsoft Store listing names Sony WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM6 on Windows 11. Controls vary by model: the XM5 exposes its six EQ controls, while the XM6 has a ten-band EQ and its own listening modes. Other headphone models are outside the listed support scope.
Do I need an account?
No account is required. The paid build uses a license key on up to three PCs. A license check lasts 30 days with seven additional days of offline grace. Settings, Activities, and profiles stay on your PC.
What is an Activity?
An Activity is a saved headphone setup tied to one or more Windows apps. It can change selected settings when those apps become active and restore the previous state afterward.
Can I still change settings myself?
Yes. A manual adjustment takes priority, and Means Audio can resume automatic switching when you choose.
Means Audio is independent software and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sony.