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For the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, use the Bose app to open the headphone product page, tap Modes, and select Quiet, Aware, Immersion, or a custom mode. You can also press and hold the multifunction button on the right earcup to cycle through the modes you have marked as favorites. To change sound balance, use the app’s EQ shortcut or go to Settings > Equalization.
First confirm which generation you own. Bose lists the original headphones as a 2023 product and also sells second-generation QuietComfort Ultra Headphones from 2025. The instructions and labels below are for the original generation, so select the matching product in the Bose app before changing anything.
Confirm which QuietComfort Ultra generation you have
Bose uses the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones name for two generations. The original model is listed as sold from 2023; a second-generation model is sold from 2025. The controls, available settings, or app screens can differ between them.
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#1 Best Overall
- BREAKTHROUGH SPATIALIZED AUDIO: Super immersive sound spatializes everything, taking the music out of your head and placing it in front of you to push the boundaries of listening.
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Enjoy Bose’s best noise cancellation for headphones with Quiet Mode, turn on Aware Mode to hear more of your surroundings, or combine noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio with Immersion Mode.
- NEW CINEMA MODE: Bring video content to life like never before with Cinema Mode; spatialize and balance background sound and sound effects for movie-like immersion wherever you go.
- USB VOICE: Use the built-in mic to enjoy high-quality two-way communication for phone calls and video conferencing while connected via USB-C.
- ENHANCED LONG-LASTING BATTERY: Up to 30 hours of play time (23 with Immersive Audio)* keeps the music playing through even the longest listening sessions. Charge your headphones with the included USB-C cord and listen to music at the same time.
- Turn the headphones on before opening their controls in the app.
- Keep the headphones close to the phone so the app can connect to them.
- If the app shows more than one Bose product, tap the original QuietComfort Ultra Headphones entry rather than assuming the first result is correct.
Once the correct product is connected, the settings described in the following sections are available from the headphone product page.
What Quiet, Aware, Immersion, and Custom modes actually change
A mode is a group of listening settings, not just a noise-cancellation switch. Changing modes can alter noise control and Immersive Audio at the same time. Bose describes the original headphone modes as follows:
| Mode | Noise control | Audio behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet | Full noise cancellation | Bose-optimized stereo audio |
| Aware | Full transparency | Stereo audio while allowing surrounding sound through |
| Immersion | Full noise cancellation | Immersive Audio set to Motion |
| Custom | A level you choose | Your selected noise-control and immersive-audio combination |
These descriptions come from the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Owner’s Guide. Quiet is the factory default. The app also includes an option to have the headphones power on in the last-used mode instead of returning to Quiet.
Quiet
Choose Quiet when you want the strongest standard noise-cancellation setting and conventional stereo playback. It is the straightforward choice for aircraft cabins, trains, offices, or other places where reducing steady background noise matters more than hearing announcements naturally.
Aware
Aware is the transparency mode. It uses the external microphones to let environmental sound pass through while you continue listening in stereo. It is useful when you need to hear a colleague, a doorbell, announcements, or traffic without removing the headphones.
Immersion
Immersion combines full noise cancellation with Immersive Audio set to Motion. This is a different listening presentation from Quiet, so changing to Immersion changes more than the amount of outside sound you hear.
Rank #2
- BREAKTHROUGH SPATIALIZED AUDIO: Super immersive sound spatializes everything, taking the music out of your head and placing it in front of you to push the boundaries of listening.
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Enjoy Bose’s best noise cancellation for headphones with Quiet Mode, turn on Aware Mode to hear more of your surroundings, or combine noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio with Immersion Mode.
- NEW CINEMA MODE: Bring video content to life like never before with Cinema Mode; spatialize and balance background sound and sound effects for movie-like immersion wherever you go.
- USB VOICE: Use the built-in mic to enjoy high-quality two-way communication for phone calls and video conferencing while connected via USB-C.
- ENHANCED LONG-LASTING BATTERY: Up to 30 hours of play time (23 with Immersive Audio)* keeps the music playing through even the longest listening sessions. Charge your headphones with the included USB-C cord and listen to music at the same time.
Custom
Custom modes let you save a particular combination of noise-cancellation level, Wind Block, and Immersive Audio preferences. Bose’s owner’s guide says the app allows up to seven custom modes. You can create separate combinations for a quiet desk, a windy commute, and situations where you want some awareness without using full Aware mode.
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How do I change modes?
Change a mode in the Bose app
- Power on the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.
- Open the Bose app and wait for the headphones to connect.
- Open the product page for the connected headphones.
- Tap Modes.
- Tap Quiet, Aware, Immersion, or one of your custom modes.
The selected mode takes effect after you tap it. If the app does not show these choices, check that the correct generation is selected and that the headphones are powered on and connected rather than merely paired in the phone’s Bluetooth settings.
Change a mode from the right earcup
- Press and hold the multifunction button on the right earcup.
- Listen for the voice prompt announcing the selected mode.
- Keep holding to continue cycling through the available modes.
- Release the button when the desired mode is announced.
The button cycles only through modes marked as favorites in the Bose app. If a custom mode never appears, open the app’s Modes area and adjust the favorite-mode selection. The button does not provide a list of every mode automatically; it follows that favorites list.
How to adjust noise cancellation with a custom mode
The Bose app’s Modes area is where you set a noise-cancellation level rather than simply choosing the full-cancellation Quiet preset or full-transparency Aware preset.
- Connect the powered-on headphones in the Bose app.
- Open the headphone product page and tap Modes.
- Create a new custom mode or open an existing custom mode for editing.
- Choose the preferred noise-cancellation level.
- Set any available Wind Block and Immersive Audio preferences for that custom mode.
- Save the mode, then select it from the Modes list when you want to use it.
Bose explains that lowering cancellation allows more sound to enter through the external microphones. Turning noise cancellation off disables both the cancellation function and the external microphones. That means an off setting is not the same as Aware: Aware deliberately passes environmental sound through for transparency, while noise cancellation off removes the microphone-based processing.
Choosing a cancellation level
- Use a higher level when steady engine, HVAC, or crowd noise is the main problem.
- Use a lower level when you want some awareness but do not need the full Aware presentation.
- Use off only when you specifically want neither active cancellation nor the external microphones.
- Save different levels as separate custom modes if you change environments often; up to seven custom modes can be created according to Bose’s guide.
The app does not present the custom control as a measurement in decibels. Treat the control as a listening preference, and compare levels in the environment where you will actually use the headphones.
Rank #3
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Effortlessly combines noise cancellation technology with passive features so you can shut off the outside world, quiet distractions, and take music beyond the beat
- COMFORTABLE HEADPHONES: Plush over-ear cushions softly hug your ears, while a secure and comfortable padded band gently keeps your studio headphones in place for those extra-long listening sessions
- 2 LISTENING MODES: These wireless Bluetooth headphones feature Quiet and Aware Modes that let you toggle between full noise cancelling or full awareness of your surroundings for seamless sound control
- HIGH-FIDELITY AUDIO/EQ CONTROL: Supercharge your favorite tracks with high-fidelity audio and Adjustable EQ that puts you in control of the bass, mid-range, and treble for unmatched bold sound
- ALL DAY BATTERY LIFE: Bose QuietComfort wireless headphones provide up to 24 hours of battery on a single charge, plus a 15-minute charge via USB-C gives you up to 2.5 hours of additional play time
How to use Aware mode and ActiveSense
Aware mode provides full transparency, but it also has an option called ActiveSense. ActiveSense is Bose’s dynamic noise-cancellation feature for Aware mode. It responds to the surrounding sound instead of keeping one fixed behavior at all times.
Turn ActiveSense on or off
- Connect the headphones to the Bose app.
- Open the product page and tap Modes.
- Select Aware.
- Open the Aware settings control.
- Toggle ActiveSense on or off.
With ActiveSense enabled, Bose says the headphones increase cancellation when a sudden or loud sound occurs, then return to the previous setting after the sound stops. This can make Aware more comfortable near intermittent noise while preserving the general purpose of transparency. If a loud event causes Aware to sound temporarily less open, check ActiveSense before assuming the headphones or microphones have failed.
Turn ActiveSense off when you want Aware to remain as consistent as possible, or leave it on when unpredictable bursts of sound are more distracting than a brief change in transparency. ActiveSense is an Aware-mode option; it is not a separate top-level mode in the mode selector.
Wind Block and Immersive Audio preferences
When you edit a custom mode, the Bose app can also expose Wind Block and Immersive Audio preferences. Wind Block is relevant when moving air causes microphone noise, such as on a bicycle, near an open window, or while walking in strong wind. Save it with the custom mode so you do not have to change the setting every time conditions change.
Immersive Audio is a separate dimension from noise cancellation. Bose’s Immersion preset uses Immersive Audio set to Motion. In custom modes, consider whether you are stationary or moving when choosing the available Immersive Audio preference: a stationary listening session and a walk or commute do not have the same practical requirements. The app’s labels are the authority for the options available on your connected generation.
Because a mode stores several preferences together, switching from Quiet to Immersion or a custom mode can change both the external-sound treatment and the spatial presentation. If a familiar track suddenly sounds different after a mode change, check the mode’s Immersive Audio setting before changing the EQ.
Rank #4
- BREAKTHROUGH SPATIALIZED AUDIO: Super immersive sound spatializes everything, taking the music out of your head and placing it in front of you to push the boundaries of listening.
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Enjoy Bose’s best noise cancellation for headphones with Quiet Mode, turn on Aware Mode to hear more of your surroundings, or combine noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio with Immersion Mode.
- NEW CINEMA MODE: Bring video content to life like never before with Cinema Mode; spatialize and balance background sound and sound effects for movie-like immersion wherever you go.
- USB VOICE: Use the built-in mic to enjoy high-quality two-way communication for phone calls and video conferencing while connected via USB-C.
- ENHANCED LONG-LASTING BATTERY: Up to 30 hours of play time (23 with Immersive Audio)* keeps the music playing through even the longest listening sessions. Charge your headphones with the included USB-C cord and listen to music at the same time.
How do I use the Equalizer settings?
Open the EQ controls
- Open the Bose app with the headphones connected.
- From the app home screen, tap the EQ shortcut; or open Settings > Equalization.
- Choose an EQ preset or select Custom EQ.
- Adjust the sound to your preference and listen to familiar material to compare the result.
Bose documents the equalizer choices in its support article, Using the Equalizer settings | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones:
| EQ choice | What it does |
|---|---|
| Flat EQ | Adds no equalization. |
| Bass Boost | Increases bass. |
| Bass Reducer | Decreases bass. |
| Treble Boost | Increases treble. |
| Treble Reducer | Decreases treble. |
| Custom EQ | Lets you set a personal equalization profile. |
The cited Bose support page does not specify numeric frequency bands or adjustment ranges. Do not expect a documented frequency chart from these instructions, and do not infer exact decibel changes from the preset names.
Build a useful Custom EQ
Start with Flat EQ, then change one part of the sound at a time. If music feels thin, try a small bass increase. If voices or cymbals feel too sharp, try a small treble reduction. If the sound is dull, a modest treble increase may help. These are listening suggestions, not Bose laboratory results.
Make gradual changes and return to Flat EQ between comparisons. Large bass or treble changes can mask other problems, such as an incorrect mode, a poor recording, or a bad seal around the earcups. Bose recommends checking that bass and treble adjustments are not set too high or too low for your preference when sound quality is poor.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Pick a setting for the situation
Use the following decision path rather than treating one mode as best for every activity:
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- You need to hear the environment naturally: choose Aware. Decide whether ActiveSense should react to sudden loud noises.
- You want a middle ground: create a Custom mode with a lower cancellation level and save it as a favorite for quick access.
- You are bothered by wind: edit the custom mode and review Wind Block.
- You like more or less bass or treble: leave the mode unchanged and adjust EQ separately through the EQ shortcut or Equalization settings.
- You move between these situations repeatedly: save distinct custom modes and mark the ones you use most as favorites so the earcup button can reach them.
Stationary listening and movement can also influence the Immersive Audio preference. Bose’s Immersion preset uses Motion, while custom modes let you choose the combination that fits your activity and the options displayed by the app.
Best Value
- SPATIAL AUDIO HEADPHONES: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones with spatial audio give you an immersive experience that makes music feel more real; CustomTune technology offers personalized sound, shaped to you
- NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES: These wireless noise cancelling headphones feature Quiet Mode, Aware Mode and Immersion Mode, which combines full noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio
- HEADPHONES WITH MIC: Microphones focus on the sound of your voice and the bluetooth headphones with microphone filter out background noise for the clearest phone calls of any Bose headphones
- COMFORTABLE HEADPHONES: Soft ear cushions hug your ears, the band spreads pressure evenly and elevated materials let you make a statement with these noise cancelling over-the-ear headphones
- WIRELESS HEADPHONES BLUETOOTH: Advanced Bluetooth 5.3 offers connection within 30 feet of your device; SimpleSync allows you to sync with a Bose smart soundbar so you can listen to TV at your own volume
Troubleshoot common problems
The Modes menu is missing
Check that the headphones are powered on and connected inside the Bose app, not just listed as a remembered Bluetooth device. Then verify that the selected product is the original QuietComfort Ultra Headphones if that is the model you own. The first- and second-generation products are separate entries.
The right-earcup button skips the mode I want
The multifunction button cycles only through favorited modes. Reopen Modes in the app and change the favorite selection. The app’s direct mode list remains the way to select a mode that is not in the button cycle.
Aware suddenly reduces outside sound
Check whether ActiveSense is enabled under Modes > Aware. Bose describes ActiveSense as increasing cancellation during sudden or loud noise and then returning to the previous setting. Toggle it off if you want a steadier transparency behavior.
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That is expected. Bose states that turning cancellation off also disables the external microphones. Use Aware when you want environmental sound deliberately passed through the microphones.
The EQ made the headphones sound worse
Return to Flat EQ, then make smaller changes. Check bass and treble independently instead of increasing both at once. Also verify that a mode change did not enable Immersive Audio, since mode and EQ affect different parts of the listening experience.
The sound changes when switching modes
Modes can combine noise control and Immersive Audio. Compare the Immersive Audio preference in the two modes before changing your EQ. A difference between Quiet, Immersion, and a custom mode can therefore be intentional.
A practical setup that is easy to operate
- Keep Quiet as the default if strong noise cancellation is your normal use case.
- Create one custom mode with a lower cancellation level for offices or conversations.
- Create another custom mode with your preferred Wind Block and Immersive Audio combination for outdoor use.
- Keep Aware as a favorite, and decide whether ActiveSense suits your surroundings.
- Mark the modes you use most as favorites so the right-earcup button can cycle among them.
- Set EQ independently: begin with Flat EQ, then save a Custom EQ only after gradual listening comparisons.
This arrangement separates the two controls that are most often confused: Modes determines noise control and immersive-audio behavior, while Equalization changes the bass and treble balance. If a result is unexpected, identify which of those two areas changed before troubleshooting the headphones themselves.
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Where Bose documents these controls
The original-generation owner’s guide covers mode definitions, custom modes, the right-earcup control, noise-cancellation behavior, Wind Block, Immersive Audio, and ActiveSense: QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Owner’s Guide.
Bose’s equalizer support article covers the EQ shortcut, the Settings > Equalization path, and the available presets: Using the Equalizer settings.
Quick Recap
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