How To Pair Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones

To pair Bose noise cancelling headphones, put them into pairing mode, enable Bluetooth on your phone, tablet, or computer, and select your Bose headphones from the device's Bluetooth settings. Most Bose over-ear models use the same quick-start method: slide the Power/Bluetooth switch to the Bluetooth icon and hold for 3 seconds until you hear "Ready to connect" and see a blinking blue light. If you are setting up a different brand, you can similarly turn on noise cancelling on JBL earbuds once connected.

Pair Bose noise cancelling headphones: the quick-start method

For most Bose over-ear headphones (like QuietComfort and QuietComfort SC models), the universal pairing process takes less than 30 seconds. Follow these steps:

1. Make sure your headphones are powered on. If they're off, slide the Power/Bluetooth switch away from the Bluetooth icon and release.
2. Slide the Power/Bluetooth switch all the way to the right (towards the Bluetooth® icon) and hold it there for 3 seconds.
3. Release the switch when you hear the voice prompt "Ready to connect" (or "Ready to connect another device") and the Bluetooth light blinks blue.
4. On your phone, tablet, or computer, open the Bluetooth settings menu.
5. Wait for your Bose headphones to appear under available devices, then tap or click their name (e.g., "Bose QC45" or "Bose QuietComfort").
6. Once connected, you'll hear a "Connected" tone, and the status light will glow solid blue for about 10 seconds.

If you don't hear the voice prompt, repeat step 2 and hold the switch a bit longer. Pairing mode stays active for a few minutes, so keep your device nearby.

Model-specific pairing steps for your Bose headphones

Different Bose models have slightly different buttons and indicators. Use the instructions below for your specific product.

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

1. Press and hold the Bluetooth pairing button on the right earphone. This button is marked with the Bluetooth icon.
2. Keep holding until the Bluetooth indicator flashes (typically blue).
3. Open Bluetooth settings on your device and select "Bose NC 700" from the list.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

1. With the headphones on, press and hold the Bluetooth/Power button (located on the right ear cup).
2. Continue holding until you hear the "Discoverable" tone and the light blinks blue.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

1. Place both earbuds securely in the charging case.
2. Press and hold the button on the back of the case.
3. Keep holding until the case's light flashes blue (this indicates pairing mode).

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (original)

1. Take the earbuds out of the charging case.
2. Touch and hold either earbud for 4 seconds.
3. Release when you hear "Ready to pair."

Pair using the Bose Music or Bose Connect app

Using the official Bose app is the easiest way to set up your headphones, access full features, and get firmware updates. The Bose Music app works with newer models (NC 700, QC Ultra, QC Earbuds II), while the Bose Connect app is for older models.

1. Put your headphones or earbuds into pairing mode using the steps above.
2. Download and open the Bose Music app (or Bose Connect app) from your device's app store.
3. Tap "Set Up New Product" or the plus (+) icon in the top corner.
4. Select your Bose product from the list of discovered devices.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete setup.
6. When prompted, allow Location Service and Bluetooth permissions for the app. These permissions are required for the app to detect and control your product.

Once paired through the app, you can adjust noise cancellation levels, customize EQ, and check battery status.

Connect to Apple, Android, and Windows devices

The Bluetooth settings menu looks different on each platform, but the process is similar. Here's where to find your Bose headphones:

Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch)

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Make sure Bluetooth is toggled on.
3. Tap the name of your Bose product to connect.

Android devices (Samsung, Google Pixel, etc.)

1. Open Settings > Connections (or Connected Devices on some models).
2. Tap Bluetooth and make sure it's enabled.
3. Look under "Available Devices" for your Bose headphones.
4. Tap the name of your Bose product to pair.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers

1. Click the Start button and open Settings (gear icon).
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices (Windows 11) or Devices > Bluetooth & other devices (Windows 10).
3. Click Add Bluetooth or other device.
4. Select Bluetooth from the options.
5. From the list, choose your Bose headphones. Important: Ignore any entries with "LE-" in the name, those are low-energy advertising signals, not your actual headphones.

Managing multiple devices and clearing the pairing list

Bose headphones can store up to eight paired devices in their memory. They can also maintain an active connection with two devices simultaneously (multi-point connection), but audio will only play from one device at a time.

If you need to clear the pairing list (for example, when selling your headphones or troubleshooting persistent connection issues):

1. Power on your headphones.
2. Slide the Power/Bluetooth switch to the right (towards the Bluetooth icon).
3. Hold it for 15 seconds.
4. Release when you hear "Bluetooth device list cleared. Ready to connect."

This resets the memory so your headphones will appear as a new device on your phone or computer.

Troubleshooting: what to do when pairing fails

If your Bose headphones won't pair, try these verified fixes in order:

1. Restart both devices. Power off your headphones completely, then turn them back on. Also restart your phone, tablet, or computer.
2. Check earbud seating. For earbuds (QC Earbuds II and original QC Earbuds), make sure both earbuds are securely seated in the charging case and the case's light is blinking blue. If not, remove and reinsert them.
3. Disconnect other Bluetooth devices. Your phone or tablet may be connected to other devices (like smartwatches or speakers). Disconnect them temporarily, then try pairing your Bose headphones again.
4. Verify the connection light. After pairing, the status light should glow solid blue for about 10 seconds. If it blinks red or stays off, the connection wasn't successful.
5. Move closer. Keep your headphones within 30 feet (9 meters) of your device, with no walls or large objects between them.
6. Clear the pairing list. If you've paired many devices before, clear the memory using the 15-second hold method described above, then try again.

If none of these steps work, check your specific model's user manual or contact Bose customer support for further assistance.

For the wider topic, see turn noise cancelling on.