Bose's headphone charging article gives the routine: with the headphones off your head, connect the USB cable to the USB-C port on the left earcup and the other end to a USB-A power source; they will not charge while on your head. The status light glows solid amber while charging and solid white when full. Allow up to 3 hours for a full charge, which powers the QC Ultra Headphones for up to 24 hours with immersive audio off (18 hours with it on); when the battery is low a 15-minute charge gives up to 2.5 hours off or 2 hours on. Each time you power on, a voice prompt announces the battery level, and a low battery says Battery low.
Bluetooth is disabled while charging, so you cannot listen or pair until you unplug, though you can use the backup audio cable. Bose says plugging in overnight will not overcharge because a lithium battery stops charging when full and restarts only after it drops. For earbuds, Bose says the commonest reason they do not charge is stability bands not lined up so the earbuds sit wrong in the case: they must snap in magnetically and light the LED inside the lid, check the case's charging pins for damage, and try another USB-C cable and wall charger; then reset the case with a 40-second hold of the Bluetooth button.
Differential
Likely causes of “Bose QuietComfort headphones and earbuds will not charge”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The earbuds are not seated in the case
What separates it There is no light inside the lid because the earbuds are not seated in the case
How to confirm Line up the stability bands so the earbuds snap in magnetically
- 2
A faulty cable or charger
What separates it Charging stops or never starts because the cable or the charger is faulty
How to confirm Try another USB-C cable and a different wall charger
- 3
The headphones are on your head
What separates it There is no charging because the headphones are still on your head
How to confirm Take the headphones off your head while they charge, since they do not charge while worn
- 4
Damaged case pins
What separates it The charging is intermittent on one earbud because the case pins are damaged
How to confirm Check the pins and replace the case if damaged
- 5
A frozen headset
What separates it There is no light response because the headset has frozen
How to confirm Do the reboot with the USB cable while holding the button
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The product and generation, for example QuietComfort Ultra Headphones or Earbuds
- What the light does on the charger
- The cable and the charger that you are using
- Whether the earbud or the case is the problem
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCharge with the right cable
ReversibleCharge with the right cable, using the USB-C port on the left earcup, with the headphones off your head.
Check the light
ReversibleCheck the light, since amber means that the headphones are charging, and white means that they are full.
Seat the earbuds
ReversibleSeat the earbuds, and make sure that they snap into the case and the light comes on.
Try another cable and charger
ReversibleTry another cable and charger, by testing a second USB-C cable and a different wall charger.
Reboot the headphones
ReversibleHold Power/Bluetooth, connect the USB cable to the left earcup, wait two seconds and release.
Reset the case
ReversibleReset the case, by holding the case's Bluetooth button for forty seconds, until the light turns off.
Start a repair
ReversibleStart a repair, if nothing changes, and begin a repair or replacement with Bose, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Headphones battery
- Bose lists up to 24 hours (18 with immersive audio on) for the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, charged through USB-C on the left earcup in up to 3 hours.
- Earbuds and case
- The earbuds charge in the case, which has magnetic seating, an LED and charging pins; the case is reset by holding its Bluetooth button.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the QuietComfort Headphones, QuietComfort Earbuds II.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a known-good cable and charger show no light after a reboot, start a repair or replacement with Bose
- !If the case or a cup is hot or swollen, stop charging and contact Bose
- !If one earbud never charges, replace the case or the earbud through Bose
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
USB-C on the left earcup, lights, 3 hours, 24 and 18 hours, 15-minute charge and overnight charging.
Stability bands, magnetic snap, case pins, cable and the 40-second reset.
Bluetooth is disabled while charging and the backup cable.
The reboot that does not erase settings.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How long does the QC Ultra Headphones battery take to charge?+
Up to 3 hours, per Bose.
What does a 15-minute charge give?+
Up to 2.5 hours with immersive audio off or 2 hours on.
What do the lights mean?+
Solid amber while charging and solid white when fully charged.
Can I listen while charging?+
Bluetooth is disabled while charging; use the supplied backup audio cable.
Will overnight charging overcharge?+
No, Bose says a lithium battery has an auto-off at full charge.
Why will my earbuds not charge?+
Bose says badly aligned stability bands are the most common reason.
How do I reset the earbud case?+
Hold the Bluetooth button on the back for 40 seconds until the LED turns off.
Does the reboot erase my settings?+
No, the headphone reboot does not erase settings.
How far can I be from my phone?+
Bose recommends staying within 33 feet (10 m) of the connected device and away from interference.
How fast do the headphones charge?+
Bose says a 15-minute charge gives about 2.5 hours of playback on the QC Ultra Headphones.
Where do I update the headphones?+
On a computer at btu.bose.com, over USB, per Bose.
What is the Bose app?+
The app formerly called Bose Music; it sets modes, updates earbuds and manages Bluetooth connections.
How many custom modes can I save?+
Up to seven in the Bose app.
What is Immersion mode?+
Full noise cancellation with immersive audio.
What is Aware mode?+
A transparency mode that lets outside sound in.
What is ActiveSense?+
It turns noise cancellation on automatically for sudden loud noises while in Aware mode.
How many Bluetooth devices can the headphones remember?+
Up to eight, with two connected at once.
Can I use the headphones with a cable?+
Yes, the audio cable bypasses Bluetooth, but the headphones must be powered on.
Do I need a part number?+
No. Give Bose the product name and serial number.