The basic steps to pair Bose headphones
To connect Bose Bluetooth headphones, turn on the headphones, hold the power button until you see a blinking light (usually blue), then go to your device's Bluetooth settings and select the headphones from the list. The first time you pair them, this process takes about 30 seconds. After that, your device will remember them and connect automatically when both are turned on and in range.
The exact steps depend slightly on whether you're using an iPhone, Android phone, Windows computer, or Mac. The Bluetooth pairing process is the same across all devices — the difference is just where you find the Bluetooth settings on each one.
Key Takeaways
- Put your Bose headphones in pairing mode by holding the power button until the light blinks, usually for three to five seconds.
- On your phone or computer, open Bluetooth settings and select your headphones from the available devices list.
- Once paired, your headphones will reconnect automatically when you turn them on near the device.
- If your headphones won't pair, restart both the headphones and your device, then try again.
- You can pair one set of Bose headphones with multiple devices, but they only connect to one at a time.
Pairing Bose headphones with an iPhone or iPad
Turn on your Bose headphones and hold down the power button for about five seconds until you see a blue blinking light. This puts the headphones into pairing mode, which means they're ready to be discovered by your iPhone or iPad.
On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, and make sure Bluetooth is turned on. Your Bose headphones should appear in the list of available devices within a few seconds. Tap the headphones name to connect. Your device will show "Connected" next to the headphones name when pairing is complete. You're done — the next time you turn on the headphones near your iPhone, they'll connect without any extra steps.
Pairing Bose headphones with Android phones
Turn on your Bose headphones and hold the power button until the light blinks blue. Then on your Android phone, open Settings, go to Connected Devices or Bluetooth (the exact name varies by phone brand), and turn Bluetooth on if it's not already on.
Your Bose headphones should appear in the list of available devices. Tap the headphones name to pair. Once you see "Connected" next to the name, the pairing is complete. Like with iPhones, your Android phone will remember these headphones and reconnect them automatically the next time you turn them on.
Pairing Bose headphones with Windows computers
Turn on your Bose headphones and hold the power button until the light blinks blue. On your Windows computer, click the Windows Start button, go to Settings, then select Devices. Click Bluetooth and toggle it on if it's off.
Click "Add Bluetooth or other device" at the top of the Bluetooth section. Select Bluetooth from the popup menu. Your Bose headphones should appear in the list within a few seconds. Click the headphones name to pair. Windows will show a confirmation message when pairing is complete.
Pairing Bose headphones with Mac computers
Turn on your Bose headphones and hold the power button until the light blinks blue. On your Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, select System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs), then click Bluetooth.
Your Bose headphones should appear in the list of available devices. Click the headphones name to connect. Your Mac will show "Connected" next to the headphones name when pairing is complete. After this first pairing, your Mac will reconnect automatically whenever the headphones are turned on nearby.
What to do if your Bose headphones won't pair
If your headphones don't appear in the Bluetooth list, first make sure the light is actually blinking blue. If it's not blinking, hold the power button longer — some Bose models need five to ten seconds to enter pairing mode. Check your headphones manual if you're unsure, as different models have slightly different timing.
If the light is blinking but the headphones still don't show up, restart both your headphones and your device. Turn off the headphones completely, wait ten seconds, then turn them back on and try pairing again. Restart your phone or computer as well if the headphones still don't appear. This fixes most pairing problems because it clears out any stuck Bluetooth connections.
If you've already paired these headphones with another device, they might still be connected to that device. Bluetooth headphones can only connect to one device at a time. Go to the other device's Bluetooth settings and disconnect or "forget" the headphones, then try pairing with your current device.
Pairing multiple devices to the same Bose headphones
You can pair one set of Bose headphones with up to eight different devices. Each time you pair with a new device, follow the same steps: put the headphones in pairing mode by holding the power button, then select them in the new device's Bluetooth settings.
However, the headphones will only play audio from one device at a time. If you're listening to music on your phone and then open a video on your computer, the headphones will stay connected to whichever device you were using first. To switch, you usually need to pause audio on the first device or manually disconnect the headphones from that device's Bluetooth settings before they'll connect to the second one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Bose headphones stay in pairing mode?
Most Bose headphones stay in pairing mode for about five to ten minutes if they don't connect to a device. If nothing pairs during that time, the headphones will exit pairing mode and return to normal operation. You'll need to hold the power button again to re-enter pairing mode.
Why do my Bose headphones keep disconnecting?
Disconnections usually happen because the headphones are too far from your device (Bluetooth typically works within 30 feet), the battery is low, or another device is interfering. Move closer to your phone or computer, charge the headphones, and turn off other nearby Bluetooth devices if the problem continues.
Can I use Bose headphones with two devices at the same time?
No. Bluetooth headphones connect to only one device at a time. You can pair them with multiple devices, but audio will only come from one. To switch, pause the first device and the headphones will usually connect to the second one automatically if it's trying to play audio.
Do I have to pair my Bose headphones every time I use them?
No. After the first pairing, your device remembers the headphones. Just turn on the headphones and they'll connect automatically. You only need to go through the pairing process again if you're connecting to a completely new device or if you've reset the headphones.