The basic steps to pair Bose headphones
To connect Bose Bluetooth headphones, turn on the headphones, hold the power button until you see a blinking light, then open your device's Bluetooth settings and select the headphones from the list. The first time you pair them, this process takes about 30 seconds. After that, your headphones will reconnect automatically when you turn them on and your device's Bluetooth is active.
The exact steps vary slightly depending on whether you're using a phone, tablet, computer, or other device, but the core idea is the same: put the headphones in pairing mode, then tell your device to find and remember them.
Key Takeaways
- Most Bose headphones enter pairing mode when you hold the power button for 5 to 10 seconds until the light blinks blue and white.
- On your phone or tablet, go to Settings, then Bluetooth, turn Bluetooth on, and tap the headphones' name when it appears in the list.
- On a computer, the process is similar but the Bluetooth settings location depends on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Linux.
- Once paired, your headphones will reconnect on their own the next time you turn them on, as long as Bluetooth is enabled on your device.
- If your headphones won't pair, restart both the headphones and your device, then try again from pairing mode.
Pairing Bose headphones for the first time
Start by turning on your Bose headphones. Look for the power button — on most models it's on the side or bottom of one ear cup. Press and hold it until you see a light on the headphones start to blink. The light will usually blink blue and white, or blue and red, depending on the model. This blinking light means the headphones are in pairing mode and ready to connect.
While the headphones are blinking, pick up the device you want to connect — your phone, tablet, or computer. Open the Bluetooth settings. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, then Bluetooth, and turn Bluetooth on if it's off. On an Android phone, go to Settings, then Connected Devices or Bluetooth (the exact name varies by phone brand), and turn Bluetooth on. On a Windows computer, go to Settings, then Devices, then Bluetooth & Other Devices. On a Mac, go to System Preferences, then Bluetooth.
Once Bluetooth is on, your device will show a list of nearby Bluetooth devices. Look for your Bose headphones in that list — they'll usually show up with a name like "Bose QuietComfort 45" or "Bose Sport Earbuds," depending on your model. Tap or click on the headphones' name. Your device will connect, and the light on the headphones will stop blinking and stay solid, usually blue. You're now paired.
Connecting on iPhone and iPad
On an iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and tap Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — you'll see a toggle switch at the top. If it's already on, you'll see a list of available devices below it. Put your Bose headphones in pairing mode by holding the power button until the light blinks, then look for them in the list on your phone or tablet.
Tap the headphones' name. Your device will show "Connecting" for a moment, then the headphones will appear under "My Devices" with a blue checkmark or the word "Connected" next to them. From now on, when you turn on the headphones and your iPhone or iPad has Bluetooth on, they'll connect automatically.
If you want to disconnect the headphones without forgetting them, just turn off the headphones or turn off Bluetooth on your phone. If you want to remove them completely so they don't auto-connect, tap the information icon next to the headphones' name in the Bluetooth settings and choose "Forget This Device."
Connecting on Android phones and tablets
On an Android device, open Settings and look for a section called Connected Devices, Bluetooth, or Device Connection — the exact name depends on your phone's brand and version of Android. Tap that section, then make sure Bluetooth is turned on. You'll see a toggle switch or a button to enable it.
Put your Bose headphones in pairing mode by holding the power button until the light blinks. On your Android device, tap "Pair New Device" or "Available Devices" — again, the exact wording varies. Your headphones should appear in the list. Tap their name to pair them. Once connected, they'll show up under "Paired Devices" or "Connected Devices" and will reconnect automatically when you turn them on.
To disconnect without forgetting, just turn off the headphones or disable Bluetooth on your phone. To remove them completely, find the headphones in your paired devices list, tap the settings icon or menu next to them, and choose "Unpair" or "Forget."
Connecting on Windows computers
On a Windows computer, open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then press Enter. Click Devices, then Bluetooth & Other Devices on the left side. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — you'll see a toggle switch at the top. Click "Add Bluetooth or Other Device" or "Add Device."
A window will open asking what kind of device you want to add. Choose Bluetooth. Your computer will start searching for nearby devices. Put your Bose headphones in pairing mode by holding the power button until the light blinks. Your headphones should appear in the list on your computer. Click them to pair.
Once paired, your headphones will appear in the Bluetooth & Other Devices list. They'll reconnect automatically when you turn them on and your computer's Bluetooth is on. If you want to disconnect them, you can turn off the headphones or disable Bluetooth on your computer. To remove them completely, right-click the headphones' name in the Bluetooth settings and choose "Remove Device."
Connecting on Mac computers
On a Mac, click the Apple menu in the top left corner and choose System Preferences. Click Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — you'll see a button or toggle to enable it. Your Mac will automatically search for nearby Bluetooth devices.
Put your Bose headphones in pairing mode by holding the power button until the light blinks. Your headphones should appear in the list on your Mac. Click them to pair. Once connected, they'll appear in the Bluetooth list with "Connected" next to them. From now on, they'll reconnect automatically when you turn them on.
To disconnect, turn off the headphones or disable Bluetooth on your Mac. To remove them completely, click the information icon next to the headphones' name in the Bluetooth settings and choose "Remove."
What to do if your headphones won't pair
If your Bose headphones aren't showing up in your device's Bluetooth list, the first step is to restart both the headphones and your device. Turn off the headphones completely, wait 10 seconds, then turn them back on. At the same time, restart your phone, tablet, or computer. Once both are back on, put the headphones in pairing mode again by holding the power button until the light blinks, and try pairing from your device's Bluetooth settings.
If they still won't pair, check that your device's Bluetooth is actually turned on — it's easy to miss. Also make sure the headphones are fully charged or have enough battery. Some Bose models won't enter pairing mode if the battery is very low. If the headphones have been paired with another device recently, they might still be trying to connect to that device instead. Put the headphones in pairing mode and keep them close to the device you want to pair with — Bluetooth works best within about 30 feet, and interference from walls or other electronics can cause problems.
If you've tried all of this and the headphones still won't pair, you can reset them to factory settings. The exact way to do this varies by model, but it usually involves holding down a button combination for 10 to 15 seconds. Check your headphones' manual or the Bose website for your specific model's reset instructions. After a factory reset, the headphones will be cleared of all previous pairings and you can start fresh.
Connecting to multiple devices
Most Bose headphones can remember multiple devices at once, but they can only be connected to one device at a time. Once you've paired your headphones with your phone, tablet, and computer, they'll automatically try to reconnect to whichever device they were last connected to when you turn them on.
If you want to switch to a different device, turn off Bluetooth on the device the headphones are currently connected to, or turn off the headphones themselves. Then turn on Bluetooth on the device you want to use, and the headphones will connect to it. Some Bose models have a button on the headphones to switch between paired devices, but most require you to manage the connection through your device's Bluetooth settings.
If you want to remove a device from your headphones' memory completely, go to that device's Bluetooth settings and choose to forget or unpair the headphones. The next time you want to use them with that device, you'll need to pair them again from scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Bose headphones keep disconnecting?
Disconnections usually happen because something is blocking the Bluetooth signal between your headphones and device. Move closer to your device, remove any obstacles between them, and check that no other devices are trying to connect at the same time. If the problem continues, restart both the headphones and your device, then try again. Low battery on the headphones can also cause disconnections, so charge them fully.
Can I pair my Bose headphones with two devices at the same time?
No, Bose headphones can only be actively connected to one device at a time. However, they can remember multiple devices. Once you've paired them with your phone and computer, they'll automatically reconnect to whichever one you were using last. To switch devices, disconnect from the current one and the headphones will connect to the other.
How do I know if my Bose headphones are in pairing mode?
When you hold the power button for 5 to 10 seconds, the light on the headphones will start blinking. The blinking light — usually blue and white or blue and red — means pairing mode is active. Once your device connects, the light will stop blinking and stay solid, usually blue.
What if I forgot which device my Bose headphones are paired with?
Put the headphones in pairing mode by holding the power button until the light blinks. Then check the Bluetooth settings on each of your devices to see which one shows the headphones as available or connected. You can also reset the headphones to factory settings, which will erase all previous pairings and let you start fresh.
Do I have to pair my Bose headphones every time I use them?
No. Once you've paired them the first time, your headphones will remember your device. The next time you turn on the headphones and your device has Bluetooth on, they'll reconnect automatically. You only need to pair them again if you reset the headphones, forget them in your device's Bluetooth settings, or pair them with a new device.