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To pair Bose QuietComfort headphones, put the headphones into Bluetooth pairing mode, open Bluetooth settings on your phone, laptop, or tablet, and select the Bose headphones. The exact button hold, voice prompt, and device name vary by model and firmware; the steps below give model-specific instructions where Bose documents them.
How do I pair Bose QuietComfort headphones with my phone or tablet?
- Turn on Bluetooth in your phone or tablet’s settings.
- Put the headphones into discoverable or pairing mode. On QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), slide the Power/Bluetooth switch toward the Bluetooth symbol and hold it for three seconds. Wait for the discoverable tone and flashing blue status light.
- In the device’s Bluetooth list, tap the Bose headphones. Apple devices may show them under “Other Devices”; Android devices may show them under “Available Devices.”
For QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), Bose says a connected prompt follows pairing and the status light glows solid blue for ten seconds. Other models may use different controls or prompts, so follow the owner guide for your exact product if these instructions do not match it. Bose’s instructions for QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) and its Bluetooth pairing guidance describe the general approach.
How do I connect Bose headphones to a laptop?
Windows 11
- Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices and turn Bluetooth on.
- Select Add device > Bluetooth.
- Put the headphones in pairing mode, then select the Bose product from the list.
Windows 10
- Open Bluetooth and other device settings and turn Bluetooth on.
- Select Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth.
- Put the headphones in pairing mode and select the Bose product.
If Windows lists two entries for the same product, choose the entry with a headphones or speaker icon, not the one marked “LE.”
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Mac
- Open Bluetooth settings or preferences and turn Bluetooth on if needed.
- Put the headphones in pairing mode.
- Select Pair next to the Bose product.
Chromebook
- Open the clock or system menu and choose Bluetooth.
- Turn Bluetooth on if needed.
- Put the headphones in pairing mode and select the Bose product.
Bose’s computer pairing instructions cover these platform paths.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
Do I need the Bose app to pair my headphones?
No. You can pair directly from your phone, tablet, or computer’s Bluetooth settings. On supported models already set up in the Bose app, you can also open the product, tap Source > Bluetooth > Add New to make the headphones available for pairing. App menus vary by model; check the instructions for your product. Bose documents app-assisted setup alongside direct Bluetooth pairing.
How many devices can QuietComfort headphones remember or connect to?
Stored-device capacity and simultaneous connections are different things. Bose says QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) can store up to eight devices and actively connect to two at a time; audio can play from only one device at a time. For QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) Club and QuietComfort SC Headphones (2nd Gen), Bose states a limit of up to six stored devices, while also allowing two active connections and playback from one device at a time. These figures apply to the named models, not every QuietComfort version. QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) and Club and SC Headphones (2nd Gen) have separate Bose support instructions.
Rank #2
- 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
Why won’t my headphones pair to my device?
- Check distance and Bluetooth: Turn on Bluetooth at the source device and keep it near the headphones. For QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, Bose advises a maximum distance of 33 feet (10 meters); obstacles can reduce range. This is model-specific guidance. See Bose’s Ultra Headphones troubleshooting guidance.
- Select a previously paired product manually: If the headphones were paired before, open Bluetooth settings and choose them from the list. If they do not appear, toggle Bluetooth off and on or restart the phone, laptop, or tablet.
- Clear the headphone pairing list: For QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), power on the headphones, then slide and hold the Power/Bluetooth switch toward the Bluetooth symbol for 15 seconds, until you hear the tone. Remove the Bose product from your device’s Bluetooth list as well, including duplicate LE entries if present, and try pairing again. Prompts and reset controls vary by model.
- Check duplicate Windows entries: If Windows offers both a standard and an LE entry, select the headphones or speaker icon entry.
- Isolate the problem: Try pairing the headphones with a different Bluetooth device. If that works, the issue may be with the original source device; if it does not, troubleshoot the headphones using their model-specific Bose guide.
- Unplug the charging cable if applicable: Bose says Bluetooth is disabled while QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are charging. Disconnect the cable before trying to connect; confirm this behavior against your model’s guide.
For model-specific steps, Bose provides QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) pairing and troubleshooting and QuietComfort Ultra Headphones troubleshooting.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- 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
Rank #4
- LEGENDARY NOISE CANCELLATION: Effortlessly combines noise cancelling headphones technology with passive features so you can shut off the outside world, quiet distractions, and take music beyond the beat
- PREMIUM COMFORT: 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
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
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