Bose's 2nd-generation headphone article gives two routes. From the Bose app, tap Source, select Bluetooth and tap Add New to make the headphones discoverable. From the device's Bluetooth menu, with the headphones on your head, press and hold the Bluetooth/Power button: you hear a power-off tone and the light blinks white twice, and you keep holding until you hear the Discoverable tone and the light blinks blue; then choose the headphones from the device list. They can store up to eight devices and be connected to two at once, playing audio from one. A Connected tone and a solid blue light for 10 seconds mean success.
On Windows the headphones appear twice, once with an LE label and once with a headphones icon; choose the headphones icon, not the LE listing. If they will not pair, reboot them by holding Power/Bluetooth while connecting the USB cable, clear the headphone pairing list, and remove the headphones from the device's Bluetooth list, including LE duplicates. For the earbuds, reboot in the case, clear the list by holding the case button until the light blinks white twice, and factory reset by holding it up to 30 seconds with the case on a wall charger.
Differential
Likely causes of “Bose QuietComfort headphones and earbuds will not pair or connect”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Not in pairing mode
What separates it The headphones are missing from the list because they are not in pairing mode
How to confirm Hold Bluetooth/Power until the Discoverable tone and blue blink
- 2
The wrong listing on Windows
What separates it The headphones connect but there is no sound because of the wrong listing on Windows
How to confirm Choose the headphones icon, not the LE entry
- 3
A full or corrupt device memory
What separates it Pairing fails because the device memory is full or corrupt
How to confirm Clear the pairing list on the headphones, and pair them again
- 4
A stale entry on the device
What separates it The headphones will not reconnect because of a stale entry on the device
How to confirm Remove the headphones from the device's Bluetooth list, and pair them again
- 5
The headphones are charging
What separates it Bluetooth is switched off because the headphones are on the charger
How to confirm Unplug the headphones from the charger, and try pairing again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The tones and light colors you see
- The device and operating system you pair with
- Whether it was reset or is paired to two devices already
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedUnplug them
ReversibleUnplug them from the charger, since Bluetooth is disabled while the headphones are charging, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Enter pairing mode
ReversibleEnter pairing mode, by holding Bluetooth and Power until the light blinks blue and you hear Discoverable.
Pair
ReversiblePair by selecting the headphones in the device's Bluetooth list, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Choose the right entry
ReversibleChoose the right entry, and on Windows pick the headphones icon, and not the one marked LE.
Clear the list
ReversibleClear the list, by removing old devices from the headphones and from the device, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reboot
ReversibleReboot the headphones, by holding Power and Bluetooth while connecting the USB cable, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reset earbuds if needed
ReversibleReset the earbuds if needed, using the case button reset, after removing them from your account.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Pairing by product
- The headphones pair by holding Bluetooth/Power or through the Bose app; the earbuds pair from the case button and clear or reset by holding it for different times.
- Bluetooth range
- Bose says keep the headphones within 33 feet (10 m) of the device.
- Pairing the QC Ultra Headphones
- Hold the power button until the light flashes blue for pairing, then pick the headphones in your phone's Bluetooth list. If they connected to another device earlier, switch that device's Bluetooth off or forget the headphones there. Keep them close to the phone during pairing.
- When pairing keeps failing
- Forget the headphones on the phone, restart both and pair again. If it still fails, reset the headphones as the Bose app describes, update the firmware and try a different device to check the headphones. Charge them, since a low battery can stop pairing.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the QuietComfort Earbuds II.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it never enters pairing mode after a reboot and reset, start a repair or replacement with Bose
- !If only one device fails, check that device
- !If it connects but drops, use the dropped-connection page
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
App and button pairing, eight remembered devices and the Windows LE listing.
Reboot, clear the pairing list and factory reset.
Clearing memory and removing the LE listing.
Bluetooth is disabled while charging.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How do I put the QC Ultra Headphones in pairing mode?+
Hold the Bluetooth/Power button until you hear the Discoverable tone and the light blinks blue, or use the Bose app's Source, Bluetooth, Add New.
How many devices can they remember?+
Up to eight, with two connected at once.
Why do they appear twice on Windows?+
One is an LE listing; choose the headphones icon.
What does the light mean?+
Blinking blue means discoverable; solid blue for 10 seconds means connected.
How do I clear the pairing list on earbuds?+
Hold the case button until the light blinks white twice and returns to blue.
How do I factory reset earbuds?+
Hold the case button up to 30 seconds with the case on a wall charger until the light cycles and blinks white five times.
Should I remove them from my Bose account?+
Yes, remove them from your Bose account before any factory reset.
Does the reboot delete pairings?+
No, it does not erase settings.
Can I pair two devices?+
Yes, you can pair two devices, since they support a multi point connection.
What phone volume does Bose suggest?+
Set the source volume to 90 to 100 percent and adjust on the product.
How do I see the firmware version on earbuds?+
Open the product in the Bose app, tap the gear icon and choose Technical Info.
How long can an earbud update take?+
Up to 45 minutes, though usually much less.
How do I enter pairing mode?+
Hold the power button until the light flashes blue.
Why do they pair with the wrong phone?+
They remember several devices; forget the old ones.