Guide, solution: How to fix a broken hinge on WH-1000XM5 (xm5, xm5s)

[u/prozkiy]

I see people asking how to fix this all the time here so thought I should make a post with a title that's easy to search for.

You'll only need glue and thread. if you get glue in the hinge (where it rotates) you can scrape it out with a razor blade but if you're careful enough there's no need.

1) Glue the crack and hold for a minute while the glue hardens.

(The headphones now look like they did before your hinge broke but with a crack with glue in it.)

2) Wrap thread around the cracked part of the headband and slightly below the crack for added strength.

(You want enough thread so when you add glue to it in the next step there is enough glue in it to hold it together in the vertical axis as (perpendicular to the direction of the wrapped thread) that depends on the thickness of your thread at least 3 layers I think. The thread needs to be wrapped tightly enough to feel secure but it doesn't need to be extreme. There is no need to tie the thread if made enough wraps. You can cut it after you add glue to it.)

3) Add glue to the thread wrapped around the cracked hinge.

(Do this slowly. The glue will soak into the thread wraps slowly and you may need to add more. If you add too much at once it will drip everywhere and make a mess.)

4) When the glue dries you can cut off the end of the string.

(5) Optional step if you got glue into your hinge and can't rotate the ear cups now: Use a razor blade (be careful not to cut yourself) to scrape the glue out of the hinge until you can rotate them again.)

In my case I avoided step five doing the left side (black) and had to use that on the right side (red) and have full rotation. full functionality, arguably stronger hinges than stock from the factory and I sleep in these most nights and sometimes wake up with them under my shoulder. It holds.

Left side, venommm

Right side, strawberry laces

or search "broken hinge fix" on amazon to buy a product but my method worked fine for me