Information about charging USB peripherals using Windows 8.1 PC - Updated on 22nd October 2013

Microsoft has issued a driver update through Windows Update to fix this issue. If your PC is set to update automatically with Windows Update, no additional steps are needed. However, if your PC does not install Windows Updates automatically, or if you still experience this issue, you can manually install the driver update.

Please find below the list of affected products:

16th October 2013

Dear Valued Sony customer,

Sony discovered that some products may experience issues with charging via the USB port of PCs with Windows 8.1 operating system (slated for release by Microsoft Corporation on October 18, 2013).

Please find below the list of affected products:
Cyber-shot Cameras
Handycam Camcorders
Action Cam (including Live-view Remote Control)
Headphones
Head Mounted Display
Portable Headphone Amplifier
Portable battery

[Root cause and symptom]
The issue with charging of some products via USB port of PCs using Windows 8.1 appears to be due to a change to the USB interface specification on Windows 8.1 Operating System.

This issue does not occur with Windows 8 or former versions of Windows operating system.

[Countermeasure]
Alternatively, users can charge the affected product using its bundled or Sony genuine AC adaptor or via the USB port of a PC with Windows 8 or former version of Windows operating system.

A permanent solution towards using the USB port of PCs with Windows 8.1 operating system to charge the above mentioned products will be announced as soon as it is available.

[Privacy policy]
Personal information, such as your name, mailing address and/or telephone number, provided to the Sony service centre shall be kept and used by Sony only for responding to your inquiries related to this announcement. In certain cases, your personal information may be given to third-party companies to whom Sony has consigned certain elements of such service. In this event, Sony will ensure that such third-party companies abide by the same strict guidelines with regard to the use, storage and disposal of your personal information.

*Please contact your local Sony service centre if you wish to inquire, modify, erase or suspend use of your personal information provided in connection with this announcement.
(Please be advised that in the case of erasing or suspending use of your personal information, Sony might not be able to provide appropriate services in accordance with the purpose of usage mentioned above.)