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To pair Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones, put them in Bluetooth discoverable mode, then select them in your phone or computer’s Bluetooth settings. On the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), hold the Bluetooth/Power button past the power-off tone and two white light blinks until you hear the discoverable tone and the status light blinks blue. Then choose the headphones from the available-device list. The exact voice prompt can vary: Bose changed prompts before February 2026, so do not rely on a remembered phrase such as “Ready to Connect.”
The detailed procedure below is for the 2nd Gen model sold since 2025. Menu names for iPhone, Android, Windows, macOS and Chromebook are included, followed by generation-specific troubleshooting for connection failures.
Before you start: identify the generation
Bose’s current detailed pairing instructions apply to the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), sold since 2025. The original QuietComfort Ultra Headphones use related controls, but Bose’s support pages do not establish that every first-generation button sequence, prompt or reset procedure is identical. Check the model name in the Bose app, on the product packaging or on the model-specific Bose support page before applying a generation-specific fix.
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Generation matters most when you are troubleshooting. Bose notes that voice prompts changed before February 2026, so a different spoken message does not necessarily mean pairing failed. Look for the discoverable tone and a blinking blue status light on 2nd Gen rather than waiting for one particular sentence. If your unit is first generation, follow its own support article for reset, charging and connection instructions instead of assuming the 2nd Gen sequence is universal.
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Put the 2nd Gen headphones into pairing mode
- Turn on the headphones.
- Press and hold the Bluetooth/Power button. Keep holding after you hear the power-off tone and see two white status-light blinks.
- Release the button only after the discoverable tone sounds and the status light begins blinking blue. The blue blink indicates that another Bluetooth device can find the headphones.
The timing is easy to miss. The first tone and two white flashes indicate the power-off portion of the button cycle, not successful pairing mode. If you release the button at that point, the headphones may simply turn off. Start again and continue holding through the white blinks until the separate discoverable indication appears.
Once the blue light is blinking, leave the headphones close to the phone or computer while you open its Bluetooth menu. Selecting the product promptly helps you distinguish a pairing problem from a device that has merely left discoverable mode.
Use the Bose app as an alternate route
With the 2nd Gen headphones turned on, open the Bose app and choose Source > Bluetooth > Add New. This makes the headphones available to a nearby Bluetooth device. It is an alternative to starting the process from the hardware button, not a requirement for ordinary pairing.
The app may show a name you assigned to the headphones. Otherwise, use the default Bose name shown in the Bluetooth list. A renamed product can therefore appear different from the model name printed on the box; select the name currently displayed by the app or by the headphones’ saved Bluetooth identity.
Pair with an iPhone
- Put the headphones into discoverable mode using the button procedure above.
- On the iPhone, open Settings > Bluetooth.
- Turn Bluetooth on if it is off.
- Wait under Other Devices or the available-device list for the Bose headphones. Select the name shown by your headphones. If you renamed them in the Bose app, select that custom name instead of guessing the default.
- Wait for the iPhone to show the headphones as connected. The 2nd Gen headphones normally provide a “Connected” tone and a solid blue status light for 10 seconds after a successful connection.
If the Bose name is absent, return to the headphones and verify the blinking blue light rather than repeatedly refreshing the iPhone. A unit that is powered on but not discoverable will not necessarily appear in the list. Also check that you did not select an old, similarly named entry left over from a previous setup.
Once paired, iOS stores the headphones for future use. The next time they are on and within range, they can reconnect without repeating the initial pairing steps, provided Bluetooth remains enabled. If you intentionally want to pair with a different phone, put the headphones back into discoverable mode and select them from that phone’s Bluetooth screen.
Connect to an Android phone
- Hold the Bluetooth/Power button until the 2nd Gen headphones give the discoverable indication: a tone and blinking blue light.
- Open your phone’s Bluetooth settings. Depending on the manufacturer and Android version, this may be under Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth, or under a similarly named Connections or Network menu.
- Turn Bluetooth on.
- Tap the Bose headphones in the list of available devices. Use the custom name shown in the Bose app if you renamed the product.
- Confirm that the phone reports a connected state and that the headphones give the connected tone.
Android manufacturers use different labels and menu layouts, so the setting may not be in exactly the same place on every phone. The essential sequence is unchanged: enable Bluetooth, display available devices and select the discoverable Bose headphones. If the list is filtered to previously paired products, open the option to scan for or add a new device.
When an Android phone shows more than one Bose-related name, compare it with the name in the Bose app. Do not assume the first result is correct if it is an old saved entry or an LE listing intended for a different Bluetooth function.
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- 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.
Pair with a Windows computer
Windows 11
- Put the headphones into discoverable mode.
- Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
- Turn Bluetooth on.
- Choose Add device > Bluetooth.
- Select the Bose headphones from the results.
- Choose Done when Windows confirms the connection.
Keep the headphones’ blue light blinking while Windows searches. If the result disappears, repeat discoverable mode before choosing Add device again.
Windows 10
- Make the headphones discoverable.
- Open Windows Bluetooth settings and turn Bluetooth on.
- Choose Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth.
- Select the Bose headphones.
- Choose Done.
If Windows lists two Bose entries
Windows can display a normal headphones or speaker entry and a second entry whose name begins with LE-. Choose the entry with the headphones or speaker icon. Do not select the LE listing. Bose’s support instructions say to start over with the other entry if the LE listing was selected.
To recover, remove or cancel the incorrect LE connection, put the headphones back into discoverable mode, and run Add device again. Selecting the icon-marked headphones entry is especially important when both names appear at the same time; the duplicate does not mean you need to pair both.
Pair with a Mac
- Put the headphones into discoverable mode.
- Open Bluetooth from the macOS menu bar, or open System Settings and select Bluetooth. Older Bose instructions refer to Bluetooth Preferences; current macOS versions use different labels.
- Turn Bluetooth on if necessary.
- Find the Bose product and choose Pair (or the equivalent connect control in your macOS version).
- Wait for the connected status and the headphones’ confirmation tone.
Bose’s support documentation covers macOS 10.9.2 or newer, while the exact appearance of the Bluetooth screen depends on the macOS release. If the product is listed but not connected, remove the stale entry and repeat discoverable mode before selecting Pair again.
Pair with a Chromebook
- Enter discoverable mode on the headphones.
- Select the clock or status area in the lower-right corner of the Chromebook screen.
- Choose Bluetooth and turn it on.
- Select the Bose headphones from the available-device list.
After the connection is accepted, audio output may still need to be selected from the Chromebook’s audio controls if another speaker or headset remains the active output. Pairing establishes the Bluetooth link; it does not necessarily change which output ChromeOS is currently using.
What the lights and tones mean
| Indication | Meaning or action |
|---|---|
| Two white status-light blinks after the power-off tone | Keep holding the Bluetooth/Power button on 2nd Gen; this is not yet the discoverable state. |
| Discoverable tone and blinking blue light | The 2nd Gen headphones are ready to be selected in a Bluetooth menu. |
| “Connected” tone and solid blue light for 10 seconds | The 2nd Gen headphones have connected to the selected device. |
| A different spoken prompt | Prompts changed before February 2026; identify the generation and rely on the light and device list rather than a remembered wording. |
The light is the most useful confirmation when you are unsure what a prompt said. A blinking blue light means the headphones are advertising for a connection; the brief solid blue period after the connected tone confirms that a device accepted the pairing.
Use the headphones with two devices
Bose says the 2nd Gen headphones can retain up to eight devices in their saved-device list and can be actively connected to two devices at the same time. Audio plays from only one device at a time. For example, a phone and a laptop can remain connected while music is playing from the laptop; starting playback on the phone can move audio to the phone, but the headset does not play both streams simultaneously.
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- 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.
The first-generation Bose support guidance describes switching by pausing audio on the first mobile device and starting playback on the second. Calls can arrive from both connected devices regardless of which one is currently playing audio. Treat that switching procedure as first-generation guidance unless your model is confirmed; do not assume every 2nd Gen multipoint behavior is identical.
Turn off multipoint on first-generation headphones
On first-generation QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, open the Bose app and go to Settings > Bluetooth Connections. Turn Multi-point connection off to disconnect the secondary device. This setting and its behavior are documented for the first generation; do not assume the same control appears identically on 2nd Gen.
Why the headphones do not appear in Bluetooth
They are not actually discoverable
On 2nd Gen, repeat the button sequence and keep holding past the power-off tone and two white blinks. Stop only when you hear the discoverable tone and see a blinking blue light. If the headphones were merely turned on, they may not be advertising themselves for a new connection.
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Open the device’s Bluetooth settings, enable Bluetooth and refresh the available-device list. Keep the headphones close while the list updates. Select the exact name shown in the Bose app or the default Bose name, not a similarly named old entry.
You selected the Windows LE entry
Remove the failed Windows connection, restart discoverable mode and choose the Bose entry with the headphones or speaker icon. The LE- listing is not the entry Bose tells users to select for this pairing process. If both entries remain visible, close and reopen the Add device screen after removing the wrong one.
The headphones are still connected to an old device
On the phone, tablet or computer that previously used the headphones, open Bluetooth settings and remove or forget the Bose product. Remove duplicate LE listings as well. Then place the headphones back into discoverable mode and pair them from the device you actually want to use. This is especially useful when a saved entry has the wrong name or represents an obsolete connection.
If you have several nearby devices with Bluetooth enabled, temporarily turn Bluetooth off on the ones you are not using. That makes it easier to identify which device is accepting the new connection and prevents an old device from taking the active link first.
The headphones are charging
Bose’s first-generation “No audio” guidance says Bluetooth is disabled while those headphones are connected to a charger or powered USB jack. If you own the first generation, disconnect the charging cable once the headphones have enough power and try pairing again. This charging behavior is documented for the first generation, so verify the model before applying it to 2nd Gen.
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- 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.
Fix a connection that drops
Reduce distance and obstacles
The first-generation Bose troubleshooting page gives a nominal range of 33 feet (10 meters). Walls, doors and other electronics can reduce that range. Keep the headphones and the connected device closer together, and test in a space with fewer obstacles. The quoted distance is a nominal support figure, not a guarantee for every room or device.
Test at short range first. If the connection is stable beside the phone but drops when you move away, distance or an obstruction is more likely than a failed pairing record. If it drops even when the devices are close, continue with the stale-entry and restart checks below.
Check Windows power management
If Windows repeatedly disconnects the headphones, inspect the Bluetooth adapter’s power-management setting in Device Manager. Disable the option that allows Windows to turn off the adapter to save power, then reconnect the headphones. Menu wording can vary by adapter driver and Windows version, so look for the adapter’s power-management tab rather than changing unrelated audio settings.
Restart both sides
- Turn Bluetooth off and back on at the phone or computer.
- Power the headphones off and on.
- Put the headphones into discoverable mode again.
- Reconnect from the device’s Bluetooth list.
If the problem remains, restart the phone or computer as well. Bose’s reset instructions vary by generation, so use the support instructions for the confirmed model rather than applying a button-and-cable sequence from another version. A reset should be a later step after forgetting stale pairings and verifying the correct generation.
Pairing checklist
- Confirm whether the headphones are first generation or 2nd Gen.
- For 2nd Gen, hold the Bluetooth/Power button through the power-off tone and two white blinks.
- Wait for the discoverable tone and blinking blue light.
- Enable Bluetooth on the target phone or computer.
- Select the exact Bose name shown in the app or device list.
- On Windows, choose the headphones or speaker icon, not the LE- entry.
- Forget stale or duplicate pairings before trying again.
- If the first-generation headphones are charging, disconnect the charger before pairing.
- Move the device within the nominal 33-foot (10-meter) range and reduce obstacles when diagnosing drops.
- Use generation-specific Bose reset instructions if restarting does not solve the problem.
How pairing differs by device
| Target | Bluetooth path | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Settings > Bluetooth | Turn Bluetooth on and select the Bose headphones under available devices. |
| Android phone | Bluetooth settings; labels vary by manufacturer | Turn Bluetooth on and select the discoverable Bose name. |
| Windows 11 | Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth | Choose the headphones/speaker entry, not an LE duplicate, then choose Done. |
| Windows 10 | Bluetooth settings > Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth | Select the headphones and choose Done. |
| Mac | System Settings or Bluetooth menu | Choose Pair next to the Bose product; older systems may say Bluetooth Preferences. |
| Chromebook | Clock/status area > Bluetooth | Turn Bluetooth on and select the headphones. |
What to do when the product name has changed
The Bluetooth name is not always the retail name. If you renamed the headphones in the Bose app, that custom name is the one to select on every phone or computer. If you cannot remember the new name, open the app while the headphones are connected to another device and check the product label there. Otherwise, look for the default Bose name and avoid similarly named entries from older pairings.
Removing an old entry does not change the headphones’ name; it only clears the device’s remembered connection. After forgetting it, return the headphones to discoverable mode and select the current name again.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I put Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones in pairing mode?
For the 2nd Gen model, turn the headphones on, then hold the Bluetooth/Power button past the power-off tone and two white status-light blinks. Release it only when the discoverable tone sounds and the light blinks blue.
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Verify that the headphones are truly discoverable, Bluetooth is enabled on the phone or computer, and you are selecting the exact name shown in the Bose app. On 2nd Gen, the blinking blue light confirms discoverable mode. Forget stale or duplicate entries and try again.
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- 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.
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How do I pair Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones with my iPhone?
Put the headphones in discoverable mode, open Settings > Bluetooth on the iPhone, turn Bluetooth on, and select the Bose name under the available devices list. A connected tone and brief solid blue light confirm a 2nd Gen connection.
How do I connect Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones to Android?
Open your Android phone’s Bluetooth settings, enable Bluetooth, and select the discoverable Bose headphones. Menu names vary by manufacturer, but the sequence is the same.
Which Bose entry should I choose in Windows?
Choose the entry with the headphones or speaker icon. Do not choose a duplicate whose name begins with LE-. If you selected the LE entry, remove it, restart discoverable mode and pair with the other listing.
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Can QuietComfort Ultra headphones connect to two devices?
Bose says the 2nd Gen model can store up to eight devices and actively connect to two at once, although audio plays from only one device at a time. First-generation guidance says to pause audio on one device and start it on the other when switching.
Can I pair the headphones while they are charging?
Bose’s charging restriction is documented for first-generation QuietComfort Ultra Headphones: Bluetooth is disabled while they are connected to a charger or powered USB jack. Disconnect the charger before pairing that generation. Verify your model before applying this behavior to 2nd Gen.
What is the Bluetooth range for Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones?
The first-generation Bose troubleshooting page gives a nominal range of 33 feet (10 meters). Walls, doors and other electronics can reduce it, so move the devices closer when diagnosing drops.
The Bottom Line
For 2nd Gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, hold the Bluetooth/Power button through the power-off tone and two white flashes until the discoverable tone and blinking blue light appear. Then select the headphones in your iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac or Chromebook Bluetooth menu. Use the headphones/speaker entry rather than Windows’ LE duplicate, forget stale pairings, and keep first-generation charging and reset advice separate from 2nd Gen instructions.
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