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To pair Bose QuietComfort headphones, put the headphones into Bluetooth pairing mode, open Bluetooth settings on your phone, computer, or television, and select the headphones from the device list. The exact switch movement, hold time, and confirmation sound depend on the generation, so identify the model before following the steps.
Identify your QuietComfort model first
Bose has used several pairing procedures under the QuietComfort name. A three-second hold is correct for QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), but not necessarily for the model sold from 2023 or the older QC35. Check the model name on the product label, in its owner’s guide, or on the Bose support page before pairing.
| Model | How to enter pairing mode | Confirmation | Documented connection details |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuietComfort Headphones, sold from 2023 | Hold the Power switch all the way to the right, toward the Bluetooth symbol. | The Bluetooth light blinks blue and you hear “Ready to connect.” | Bose documents direct Bluetooth pairing and setup through the Bose app. |
| QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) | Slide the Power/Bluetooth switch forward toward the Bluetooth symbol and hold it for three seconds. | A “Discoverable” tone sounds and the status light blinks blue. After connection, the light glows solid blue for 10 seconds and a voice announcement confirms the connection. | Stores up to eight devices and can be actively connected to two, while audio plays from only one at a time. |
| QuietComfort 35 | Slide and hold the Power/Bluetooth button toward the Bluetooth symbol. | You hear “Ready to pair,” or the Bluetooth indicator blinks blue. | Use the QC35 owner’s-guide procedure; do not assume the newer hold times apply. |
Do not use the generation differences as interchangeable instructions. The spoken prompts are useful confirmation that the headphones entered the intended state: “Ready to connect” identifies the 2023 model’s pairing mode, “Discoverable” is used by 2nd Gen, and “Ready to pair” appears in the QC35 guide.
Prepare the headphones and source device
- Charge the headphones enough to keep them powered through setup.
- Keep the headphones close to the phone, computer, or TV while pairing. For QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), Bose states a Bluetooth range of 33 feet (10 meters); walls, doors, appliances, and other wireless devices can reduce that distance.
- Turn Bluetooth on at the source device before searching.
- If the headphones were paired with another device nearby, temporarily turn Bluetooth off on that device or move it away. An existing connection can prevent the headphones from appearing as available.
- For a first-time setup, decide whether you want to use the Bose app. The app can guide setup, but Bose’s 2023 QuietComfort instructions also support pairing directly from the source device without the app.
The Bose app is setup-oriented and optional for direct Bluetooth pairing. If you use it, install the official app and have the headphones powered on before opening the device-add screen. If you do not use it, all discovery and selection happens in the source device’s Bluetooth menu.
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- 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
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- 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
Pair QuietComfort Headphones sold from 2023
Use the Bose app
- Turn on the headphones.
- Hold the Power switch all the way to the right, toward the Bluetooth icon, until the Bluetooth light blinks blue and you hear “Ready to connect.”
- Open the Bose app.
- On My Bose, tap the + button.
- Select Headphones and Frames, choose your QuietComfort headphones, and follow the prompts shown in the app.
The app route associates the headphones with the app while it completes setup. The pairing action still depends on the headphones being discoverable; if the app does not find them, repeat the switch movement and watch for the blue light.
Pair directly with an iPhone, iPad, or Android device
- Hold the Power switch toward the Bluetooth symbol until the light blinks blue and the headphones say “Ready to connect.”
- Open the phone or tablet’s Bluetooth settings. The exact path and wording vary by operating system and device maker.
- Wait for the Bose QuietComfort headphones to appear in the available-devices list.
- Tap the headphone name. Wait for the device to show a connected status before starting audio.
This direct method does not require the Bose app. If several Bose entries appear, select the entry that matches the headphones’ normal name rather than an unrelated or duplicate record. A successful connection should be shown as connected in Bluetooth settings; the exact wording differs between iOS, Android, and individual phone brands.
Pair with a computer
- Put the headphones into pairing mode by holding the Power switch toward the Bluetooth symbol until the blue light blinks and “Ready to connect” is announced.
- Open the computer’s Bluetooth settings and choose the control for adding or discovering a Bluetooth device.
- Select the Bose QuietComfort headphones when they appear.
- Open the computer’s sound-output selector and choose the headphones if the computer remains set to its built-in speakers.
Bose gives the same headphone-side procedure for computers but notes that menu names differ by manufacturer. If you cannot find the Bluetooth controls, use the computer maker’s owner’s guide for that menu rather than changing the headphone procedure. Pairing and audio output are separate selections on many computers: the headphones can show as connected while the computer still sends sound to its internal speakers.
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Pair with a television
- Hold the Power switch toward the Bluetooth symbol until “Ready to connect” is heard and the light blinks blue.
- Open the television’s Bluetooth or audio-device settings.
- Choose the option to add, search for, or pair a Bluetooth audio device.
- Select the Bose QuietComfort headphones from the results.
- Start a program and confirm that the TV is sending sound to the headphones instead of its speakers.
Television manufacturers use different labels and may place Bluetooth audio under sound-output, accessories, or device settings. Bose’s guidance is to consult the television owner’s guide for those menus. The headphones must remain within usable Bluetooth range during the search. Some TVs show the headphones as an available audio output only after they have been selected from an add-device screen, so check both the pairing list and the final sound-output setting.
Pair QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
Pair from any Bluetooth source
- Slide the Power/Bluetooth switch forward toward the Bluetooth symbol and hold it for three seconds.
- Release the switch when you hear the “Discoverable” tone and see the status light blinking blue.
- On the phone, computer, or TV, open Bluetooth settings and enable Bluetooth if it is off.
- Choose the QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) from the available-device list.
- Listen for the voice confirmation. The status light glows solid blue for 10 seconds after a successful connection.
The same discoverable-then-select sequence works for a phone, computer, or television. Only the source device’s menu changes; the headphone control does not. If the list is open before you make the headphones discoverable, leave it open and wait briefly for the name to appear; otherwise refresh or reopen the Bluetooth screen.
Make the headphones discoverable from the Bose app
If the headphones are already configured in the Bose app, open the app, tap Source, choose Bluetooth, and tap Add New. The app then makes the headphones available for a new Bluetooth connection. Complete the selection on the source device when the headphones appear.
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- 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
Understand the 2nd Gen device limit
Bose says this generation can store up to eight paired devices and maintain active connections to two devices. It can play audio from only one connected device at a time. A second connection therefore does not mean that both sources will play simultaneously; it allows the headphones to remain connected while you choose which source supplies audio.
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For example, the headphones may stay connected to a phone and a computer, but starting audio on one source does not create mixed playback with the other. If the wrong source takes priority, pause its media or disconnect it temporarily, then start playback on the source you want.
Pair the legacy QuietComfort 35
- Slide and hold the QC35 Power/Bluetooth button toward the Bluetooth symbol.
- Keep holding until you hear “Ready to pair” or the Bluetooth indicator blinks blue.
- Open Bluetooth settings on the phone, computer, or TV.
- Select the Bose QuietComfort headphones from the list and wait for the connected confirmation.
The QC35 owner’s guide uses the “Ready to pair” wording. Because Bose uses different prompts and controls across generations, do not substitute the 2023 or 2nd Gen timing if you own a QC35. If the indicator does not blink blue, release the control, power the headset off and on, and repeat the QC35 procedure rather than applying a 15-second clear-list action intended for another model.
What to do when the headphones do not appear
Restart both sides and check Bluetooth
For the 2023 QuietComfort model, Bose recommends restarting the headphones and the phone or tablet, then confirming that Bluetooth is switched on. After both devices restart, put the headphones back into pairing mode and search again. Keep the source nearby while it searches. A restart is especially useful when the source still displays an old connection but cannot complete a new one.
Clear old Bluetooth records on the 2023 model
- Power on the headphones.
- Slide the Power/Bluetooth switch to the right and hold it for 15 seconds.
- Release it only after the voice prompt says, “Bluetooth device list cleared. Ready to connect.”
- On the source device, remove any old Bose QuietComfort entry.
- Search again and select the headphones as a new device.
Clearing the list removes the headphones’ previously stored Bluetooth devices, so those devices will need to be paired again later. Do not release the switch at the first blue-light indication; wait for the spoken confirmation that the list was cleared.
Reset the 2nd Gen pairing records
- Remove the headphone entry from the source device’s Bluetooth list.
- On the headphones, slide the Power/Bluetooth switch forward and hold it for 15 seconds until a tone sounds.
- On the source device, remove duplicate Bluetooth entries, including any duplicate LE entry.
- Put the headphones into discoverable mode again with the three-second hold and reconnect.
If the 2nd Gen headphones connect successfully to a different source, the original source or its Bluetooth settings may be the cause. Test another phone or computer before repeating resets. Removing the saved entry on the source matters because a stale record can cause the source to attempt an old pairing instead of treating the headphones as a new device.
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- 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
Choose the correct Windows entry
Bose’s Windows troubleshooting guidance for QuietComfort Ultra notes that Windows can show two entries: one marked LE and another with a headphones or speaker icon. Select the headphones or speaker entry, not the LE entry. This is model-specific guidance for QuietComfort Ultra and should not be treated as a universal rule for every QuietComfort model or Windows release. If your model does not show those two entries, select the normal headphones listing that matches the product name.
Move closer and reduce interference
For 2nd Gen headphones, Bose specifies 33 feet (10 meters) as the Bluetooth range under normal conditions, with walls, doors, appliances, and wireless devices able to reduce it. During pairing, keep the source within a few feet, then move it farther away only after the connection is stable. Pairing across a room, behind a closed door, or beside several wireless devices makes discovery less reliable than pairing with the source nearby.
When pairing succeeds but audio does not play
- On a computer, open the sound-output selector and choose the QuietComfort headphones instead of the built-in speakers.
- On a television, check the TV’s audio-output setting after pairing; a connected device may not be selected automatically.
- On a phone or tablet, start playback only after Bluetooth shows the headphones as connected.
- If another source is connected, stop its playback or disconnect it so the desired source can provide audio. The 2nd Gen can maintain two active connections but plays from one source at a time.
A connected status confirms the Bluetooth link, not necessarily that the source has routed media to it. Always test with a short piece of audio and verify the selected output before assuming the pairing failed.
Pairing a phone, computer, and TV without losing the connection
Pairing is a one-time discovery process for each source. After a source remembers the headphones, turn on Bluetooth on that source and power on the headphones to reconnect. If the headphones connect to an unintended nearby device, switch Bluetooth off on that device temporarily, remove its saved QuietComfort entry, or use the headphones’ clear-list procedure for your model and pair the intended sources again.
For a household that uses all three source types, pair the phone first, then the computer, and finally the TV while keeping the other sources’ Bluetooth radios off. This avoids an existing connection being mistaken for a failed discovery. Once each source is saved, turn Bluetooth back on and test the source you plan to use most often.
When moving between rooms, remember that the stated 33-foot (10-meter) figure applies to 2nd Gen and can be reduced by walls, doors, appliances, and other wireless equipment. Keep the source close during the initial connection and investigate range only after the headphones appear and connect normally.
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- 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 gives you up to 2.5 hours of additional play time
Model-specific pairing checklist
| If you own | Hold or slide | Look or listen for | Then select |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 QuietComfort Headphones | Power switch fully right toward Bluetooth | Blue blinking light and “Ready to connect” | The headphones in the source’s Bluetooth list, or the device in Bose app > My Bose > + > Headphones and Frames |
| QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) | Power/Bluetooth switch forward for three seconds | “Discoverable” tone and blue blinking light | The headphones in Bluetooth settings; in the app, use Source > Bluetooth > Add New |
| QuietComfort 35 | Power/Bluetooth button toward Bluetooth until ready | “Ready to pair” or blue blinking indicator | The Bose QuietComfort headphones in Bluetooth settings |
If the model name, prompt, or light behavior does not match the row you are following, stop and verify the model in its owner’s guide before holding the control again. That prevents applying a generation-specific reset or timing rule to the wrong headphones.
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Common pairing pitfalls
- Using the wrong hold time: the 2nd Gen uses a documented three-second hold, while the 2023 and QC35 instructions rely on their own switch movement and confirmation prompts.
- Searching before pairing mode is active: a powered-on headset is not necessarily discoverable. Wait for the blue blinking indicator and the model-specific voice prompt.
- Leaving a previous source connected: another nearby phone, computer, or TV can take the connection. Turn its Bluetooth off while setting up the intended source.
- Choosing a duplicate or LE listing: remove stale entries and, where Bose’s Windows guidance applies, choose the headphones or speaker entry rather than LE.
- Stopping after Bluetooth says connected: select the QuietComfort headphones as the actual audio output on computers and TVs.
- Clearing records without planning to re-pair: a clear-list action removes saved devices, so every desired source must be added again afterward.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the Bose app to pair QuietComfort headphones?
No. Bose’s 2023 QuietComfort instructions support direct pairing from a phone or tablet’s Bluetooth settings, and the same basic discoverable-then-select process is used for computers and TVs. The app is an optional setup route.
Why does my 2nd Gen headset say “Discoverable” instead of “Ready to connect”?
Those prompts identify different instructions. “Discoverable” is the confirmation Bose documents for QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen). “Ready to connect” is used for the QuietComfort Headphones sold from 2023, while the QC35 guide says “Ready to pair.” Verify the model before changing the hold time.
Can QuietComfort Headphones connect to two devices at once?
Bose documents that capability for QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen): up to eight devices can be stored and two can be actively connected. Audio still plays from only one device at a time.
Why can my computer see the headphones but still play through its speakers?
Bluetooth connection and audio-output selection are separate on many computers. After pairing, open the computer’s sound-output selector and choose the QuietComfort headphones. If you are using Windows and see both an LE entry and a headphones or speaker entry, Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra guidance says to select the headphones or speaker entry.
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First confirm the headphones are in the correct pairing mode for their generation and that the blue indicator is blinking. Keep them close to the TV, turn off Bluetooth on nearby sources, and open the TV’s Bluetooth audio-device or sound-output menu. Menu names vary by television manufacturer, so consult the TV owner’s guide for the location of that menu.
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- 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 earcup cushions softly hug your ears, while a secure and comfortable padded band gently keeps your over ear 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 gives you up to 2.5 hours of additional play time
How do I start over after a failed pairing?
Restart both devices, remove the old headphone entry from the source, and try again. For the 2023 model, hold the Power/Bluetooth switch right for 15 seconds until “Bluetooth device list cleared. Ready to connect” is spoken. For 2nd Gen, remove the source entry, hold the switch forward for 15 seconds until a tone, remove duplicate entries, and then repeat the three-second discoverable procedure.
How far apart can the headphones and source be?
Bose states 33 feet (10 meters) for QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), but walls, doors, appliances, and other wireless devices can reduce that range. Pair at close range first and increase the distance only after the connection is stable.
Can I pair with a phone, computer, and TV in one session?
Yes. Pair each source separately while the other sources’ Bluetooth radios are off. Once each source has saved the headphones, turn Bluetooth back on and reconnect to the source you want to use. The 2nd Gen can keep two active connections, but it cannot play audio from both simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the Bose app to pair QuietComfort headphones?
No. Direct Bluetooth pairing is supported; the app is optional for setup.
What does the blue blinking light mean?
It indicates that the headphones are in Bluetooth pairing or discoverable mode. The spoken confirmation differs by model.
Can QuietComfort headphones pair with a TV?
Yes, if the TV supports Bluetooth audio. Put the headphones in pairing mode, open the TV’s Bluetooth audio settings, and select them.
How do I fix a stale or duplicate Bluetooth entry?
Remove the saved QuietComfort entry from the source, clear the headphone list using the procedure for your model, and pair again.
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Choose the QuietComfort headphones as the computer or TV’s active audio output; a connected status alone may not change the output.
The Bottom Line
Identify the QuietComfort generation, use its exact switch movement and confirmation prompt, then select the headphones in your phone, computer, or TV’s Bluetooth settings. If discovery fails, restart both devices, remove stale entries, clear the headphone list with the model-specific procedure, and keep the source close while pairing.
Quick Recap
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