I can personally say that Bose makes listening easy, but the pairing and connecting process is a little less so. To avoid pairing frustration and skip straight to the sound, we broke down the easiest ways to pair your Bose headphones with whichever device you desire. Also: The best noise-canceling earbuds Let’s get into it.
How to put Bose headphones in pairing mode
How to pair Bose headphones to an iPhone
How to pair Bose headphones to a Mac
How to pair Bose headphones to an Android device
How to pair Bose headphones to a PC
How to pair Bose headphones using the Bose Music App
Where is the pairing button on Bose headphones?
Sneakily camouflaged in the hardware, the Bose pairing button can be hard to find. For over-ear headphones, the pairing button is actually a switch located on the side of the earcup. For earbuds, the button is located on the back of the charging case. Over-ear models, like the QuietComfort 45s, will have a switch on the ear cuff. Slide the switch to the “on” position until a blue light starts pulsing blue. For earbuds, like the QuietComfort II earbuds, the button is located on the back of the case. Press down on the button for about 2 seconds. Release the button when you see a slow blinking blue light. On both in-ear and on-ear models, the blue light signals that you’ve activated the Bose’s Bluetooth capability and your headphones are ready to pair. If the buds are in your ears already, you’ll also hear a voice saying, “Ready to pair.” Tap on the Bose option and place the headphones on or in your ears. Next, don’t be startled like a certain ZDNET editor was the first time she paired her Bose headphones. To signal connectivity, the earbuds will project a whooshing sound followed by a robotic voice notifying you of a successful connection and updated battery level. Luckily, the robot voice doesn’t signal a Terminator-style takeover (yet), just the go-ahead that your headphones are connected and ready for listening. You can also swipe down from the upper-right corner of the home screen and tap the Bluetooth toggle on for quick access. The same process applies for connecting to an iPad or another iOS device. Your Mac will recognize your headphones and the name of your Bose device will pop up as a device option. Put the headphones in or on your ears and select the Connect button. Also: How to quickly connect your laptop to a TV Upon a successful connection, you’ll hear a robotic voice telling you connection was successful, and all the listening awaits. You can also swipe down on the home screen twice and tap the Bluetooth quick toggle. Select your headphones, pressing the Pair button when your Android phone prompts you. Put your headphones in or over your ears to hear a connectivity chime and your headphones’ battery percentage. Download the app to your iOS or Android device and set up an account. Select the Connect button and wait a few seconds for the pairing process to complete. The app interface will change from a “connecting” screen to a widget displaying your make and model of headphones, their battery percentage, and the device they’re connected to. Tap the widget to further adjust the EQ or switch between modes as you listen. From here, all there’s left to do is place the headphones in or on your ears and lock in to the sound.
What do I do if the Bose App won’t connect?
If your Bose app isn’t connecting, here are some quick troubleshooting suggestions:
Clear the Bose Connect app cacheEnable location permissions Check the app for updates Connect manually through Bluetooth
Will my Bose headphones automatically connect to my device after I pair them?
Unless you’ve paired the headphones with multiple devices, your phone should recognize your Bose headphones and automatically connect them once you take the earbuds out of the case or turn the earphones on and place them on your ears.
