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Turn on the Bose SoundLink Max, press and hold its Bluetooth button until it is ready to pair, then choose Bose SoundLink Max in your phone, computer, or TV’s Bluetooth settings. TVs vary: if yours cannot send audio over Bluetooth, a compatible analog audio output and a 3.5 mm cable may provide a wired AUX connection.
Pair the SoundLink Max with a phone
- Turn on the speaker.
- Press and hold the Bluetooth button until the speaker is available for pairing.
- On your phone, open Bluetooth settings, turn Bluetooth on, and select Bose SoundLink Max.
On Android OS 6.0 or newer, Google Fast Pair may offer a pairing pop-up. Bose says Bluetooth and location services must be enabled for this option. Bose SoundLink Max product page.
Pair through the Bose app instead
First add the speaker to your Bose account. In the Bose app, tap Source → Bluetooth → Add New, then complete pairing by selecting the speaker in your phone’s Bluetooth settings. Bose app pairing instructions.
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Pair it with a laptop or computer
- Put the SoundLink Max into Bluetooth pairing mode by pressing and holding its Bluetooth button.
- Open the computer’s Bluetooth device settings and choose Bose SoundLink Max.
The precise setting labels vary by operating system and version. Use the current Bluetooth settings on Windows, macOS, or ChromeOS. Bose provides general instructions for Windows 10/11, Mac, and Chromebook, but those steps are not specific to every device configuration: Bose Bluetooth connection guidance.
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- DEEP BASS, BIG SOUND: Whether you're the crew's go-to DJ or a music lover with the best playlists, the Bose SoundLink Max Bluetooth Speaker delivers deep, rich bass for a sound that will truly wow the party
- VIBE WHEREVER YOU GO: Easily bring your Bose portable speaker to any hangout, the soft removable climbing rope handle makes it easy to pick up the party speaker so the music travels wherever you go
- WATERPROOF AND DUSTPROOF: Worry less about accidental drops or getting caught in the rain, this dustproof and waterproof speaker is IP67 rated and is also shock and rust resistant
- 20 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE*: This large portable speaker gives you up to 20 hours of battery life*, so you can listen to your favorite tunes all day and night so the party never stops. USB-C cable included
- POWER UP WHILE LISTENING: The USB-C port on the back lets you charge any device using the speaker’s built-in battery which means if the SoundLink Max Bluetooth Speaker has power, so does your device
Connect the speaker to a TV
Bluetooth connection
- Press and hold the speaker’s Bluetooth button to make it available for pairing.
- Open the TV’s Bluetooth or audio-device settings and select Bose SoundLink Max, if the TV offers Bluetooth audio output.
TV menus and support for Bluetooth speakers depend on the make and model. Check the TV manual for Bluetooth audio-output instructions; Bose’s general TV guidance is not a compatibility guarantee for every television. Bose TV and Bluetooth guidance.
Wired AUX connection
If the TV does not offer Bluetooth audio output, wired audio may work if it has a compatible analog audio output. Connect a 3.5 mm audio cable from that output to the AUX port on the back of the SoundLink Max. Bose says the cable is not included. When connected, the AUX indicator lights. To return to Bluetooth, press and hold the speaker’s Bluetooth button. Bose SoundLink Max setup information.
| TV connection | What the TV needs | What to connect |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth audio output | No audio cable; pair through the TV’s Bluetooth or audio-device settings. |
| Wired AUX | Compatible analog audio output | A 3.5 mm audio cable, sold separately according to Bose. |
The available Bose information does not establish which connection will have less audio delay for a particular TV and speaker setup.
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- DEEP BASS, BIG SOUND: Whether you're the crew's go-to DJ or a music lover with the best playlists, the Bose SoundLink Max Bluetooth Speaker delivers deep, rich bass for a sound that will truly wow the party
- VIBE WHEREVER YOU GO: Easily bring your Bose portable speaker to any hangout, the soft removable climbing rope handle makes it easy to pick up the party speaker so the music travels wherever you go
- WATERPROOF AND DUSTPROOF: Worry less about accidental drops or getting caught in the rain, this dustproof and waterproof speaker is IP67 rated and is also shock and rust resistant
- 20 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE*: This large portable speaker gives you up to 20 hours of battery life*, so you can listen to your favorite tunes all day and night so the party never stops. USB-C cable included
- POWER UP WHILE LISTENING: The USB-C port on the back lets you charge any device using the speaker’s built-in battery which means if the SoundLink Max Bluetooth Speaker has power, so does your device
Understand device connections and playback
The SoundLink Max can be actively connected to two devices at once, but it plays audio from only one source at a time. To switch sources, pause audio on the first device and start playback on the second. The Bose app can manage or disable multipoint. Bose SoundLink Max Owner’s Guide.
Bose says the speaker stores up to six paired devices. To clear the paired-device list, turn on the speaker and hold the Bluetooth button for 15 seconds. You will need to pair stored devices again afterward. Bose SoundLink Max product page.
If pairing does not work
- Check that the speaker is on and in pairing mode before selecting it in the source device’s Bluetooth settings.
- If you are using Android Fast Pair, enable both Bluetooth and location services; otherwise, pair from Bluetooth settings.
- If the speaker is connected to two devices, pause playback on the first before starting audio on the second.
- If you want to start fresh, clear the speaker’s paired-device list by holding the Bluetooth button for 15 seconds while it is on, then pair the needed devices again.
- For a TV, confirm in its manual that it supports Bluetooth audio output, or check for a compatible analog audio output before trying AUX.
Can you use the SoundLink Max for phone calls?
No. Bose says the SoundLink Max has no microphone and cannot be used for phone calls. Pairing a phone lets the speaker play its audio, but it does not turn the speaker into a speakerphone. Bose SoundLink Max product page.
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