Bose bluetooth headset connect. Bose QuietComfort 45 review

Bose QuietComfort 45 review

The Bose QuietComfort 45 has all the parts to be a great ANC headset, but it doesn’t quite have the finish. Sound quality isn’t all that great, even if the ANC is among the best in class.

Bose QuietComfort 45

The Bose QuietComfort 45 has all the parts to be a great ANC headset, but it doesn’t quite have the finish. Sound quality isn’t all that great, even if the ANC is among the best in class.

Outstanding noise canceling

Comfortable over long periods of time

Wired and wireless playback

Only way to turn off ANC is to turn on Aware mode; no true off listening mode

When most people think of active noise canceling (ANC) headphones, they think of some iteration of Bose’s cans. For a long time, its offerings were among the most popular on the market, famed for their effectiveness and relative ease of use. It’s been two years since the release of the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700, and five since the original QuietComfort 35 hit the shelves. Do we need a new headset with the Bose QuietComfort 45? We spent a week with the Bose QC 45 to learn everything you need to know before buying.

Editor’s note: this Bose QuietComfort 45 review was updated on June 30, 2023, to update verbiage to increase clarity.

About this Bose QuietComfort 45 review: We tested the Bose QuietComfort 45 for one week with firmware version 1.0.3. SoundGuys purchased the unit for this review.

What is the Bose QuietComfort 45 like to use?

Bose’s ANC headphones are a bit of an archetype, and that’s for good reason: they’re very good at providing comfort and ease of use to most people. The Bose QuietComfort 45 is no different. If there’s one major positive about the QC 45 looking almost identical to its predecessors, it’s that you’re not in for any major surprises.

The ear cups are decently large, and the headset weighs in a a reasonable 240 grams, and distributes its weight well enough to not cause much fatigue over long periods of time. The synthetic leather ear pads are dense enough to offer decent isolation, and the Band also provides a bit of padding on the top.

Inside the packaging of the Bose QuietComfort 45 is a travel case, 3.5mm-2.5mm TRS cable, a USB type A to C cable, and assorted documentation. There aren’t airplane adapters of any kind, which is either a funny nod to the state of the world, or another reminder that I’m old and should probably stop expecting these things.

One of the biggest updates to the new design of the Bose QuietComfort 45 is the jump from the outdated microUSB port to USB-C. Of course, this is mainly for charging your headphones, so it’s nice not to have to futz with microUSB anymore. It always feels like I’m trying to mash the wrong sides of LEGO together when I plug in a microUSB cable in the dark, so I appreciate the update.

Speaking of updates, the Bose QuietComfort 45 looks slightly different than the Bose QuietComfort 35 II it replaces. Gone are all the little holes in the back of the ear cups, and instead, the outer plastic is smooth. While there are still a number of microphones used for active noise canceling, they’re definitely not as noticeable as before.

What are the controls of the Bose QuietComfort 45 like?

Controlling headphones like the Bose QuietComfort 45 is pretty straightforward once you get used to it, but there are a few foibles to go over.

The buttons on the back of each earcup are fairly intuitive, but can be a bit odd to get used to in a world of touch controls. However, for those who don’t like trusting controls susceptible to failure in colder climes, buttons are reliable at least.

Playback controls live on the right side of the headphones, and voice assistant and ANC toggle live on the left. Unfortunately, you can’t turn off the ANC if the headphones are switched on; you can only toggle a mode called “aware” that allows some passthrough of your surroundings using the external mics of the Bose QuietComfort 45—an unfortunate feature we’ve seen with the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2.

Below is a complete rundown of the default Bose QC 45 controls:

How does the Bose QuietComfort 45 connect to your device?

The Bose QuietComfort 45 connects to your smartphone or source via the Bluetooth 5.1 hardware nestled inside the ear cups, or you can hardwire it via the 2.5-to-3.5mm TRS cable included in the packaging. When you go wireless, you can move up to nine meters away from your source device before connection hiccups occur.

If you were hoping for a higher-end Bluetooth codec on Bose’s latest, you’ll be disappointed: the QC 45 doesn’t support aptX or high-bitrate Bluetooth codecs. While this may be disappointing to some, the implementations of SBC and AAC have improved over the years, and aren’t necessarily something to be denigrated.

Follow these directions to connect the Bose QuietComfort 45 via the Bluetooth menu of your phone:

• Slide the power/Bluetooth switch to the right. Hold it in that position for three seconds.
• The headset will relay, “Ready to connect,” and the status light near the volume controls will blink blue.
• Open your device’s Bluetooth menu; Settings Bluetooth.
• Enable Bluetooth on your device.
• Select “QuietComfort 45” from the list of available devices.

You can also use the Bose Music app (iOS and Android) to pair your QC 45 to your phone or tablet. The app will prompt you with specific pairing instructions.

Should you download the Bose Music app?

You will need to download the Bose Music app (iOS/Android) to get the most out of your headphones; otherwise, you won’t be able to get the voice assistant or other features working.

When you open the Bose Music app, you’ll be prompted to share way too much information like location, call and message history, but it’s the price of entry for this kind of feature nowadays. Once you accept, the app will set up your profile and locate your headphones (presumably, in your hands or on your head). After this process completes you’ll be able to rename your Bose QuietComfort 45, mess with the options a bit, and that’s really about it.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 added an in-app EQ in February 2022 to the Bose Music app via a firmware update, which is quite handy to have.

In February 2022, Bose added an equalizer to the Bose Music app for the QuietComfort 45 via a firmware update (Version 2.0.4). That means you can fine-tune these headphones to your liking and deal with the wonky default sound profile (more on that below). You’ll need the latest version of the Bose Music app to see this feature

If you need to update the headphones over USB, that’s easily accomplished using the Bose Updater tool over the included USB-C cable. Bose headphones have had a habit of botched updates over Bluetooth, so if that happens with these cans: just follow these instructions to fix it and you should be fine.

How good is the battery life of the Bose QuietComfort 45?

With noise canceling on, the Bose QuietComfort 45 lasts 24 hours, 49 minutes, surpassing Bose’s official 24-hour battery life for the headset. Our battery tests are performed by subjecting a headset to a constant output of music peaking 75dB(SPL) until the batteries deplete, so if you listen at lower volumes, you’ll well surpass the 25-hour mark.

You can use the USB-C cable to fast charge the QC 45. A quick 15-minute charge yields 180 minutes of playtime.

How well does the Bose QuietComfort 45 cancel noise?

A worthy upgrade to the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, the Bose QuietComfort 45 has an outstanding ANC system.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 does an excellent job at canceling outside noise with its updated ANC system. Specifically, it does a surprisingly good job at dulling noises in the mids and highs that most headsets don’t attenuate terribly well.

That sounds amazing, but in practice, it means that airplane engine hum will sound one-eighth as loud. Not Earth-shattering, but a very noticeable improvement nonetheless. The redesign of these headphones also improved the isolation somewhat, and that pays dividends in the form of increased high-frequency attenuation.

Though we hesitate to crown the Bose QuietComfort 45 the king of ANC, Bose is definitely keeping pace with Sony and Apple after getting leapfrogged for a few years there. Bear in mind that there’s no way to disable the active noise canceling without enabling Aware mode on the QC 45. At least with the Bose QC 35 II, which lacks an Aware mode, you can turn off ANC and enjoy music.

If you owned the Bose QuietComfort 35 or Bose QuietComfort 35 II, you won’t notice a massive upgrade here. But because the newer Bose QuietComfort 45 provides better passive isolation, overall performance is measurably improved, even though the Bose QuietComfort 35 II was already pretty great.

How good does the Bose QuietComfort 45 sound?

The Bose QuietComfort 45 sticks to our target really well until 2kHz; then it adds about 5dB of extra energy in the highs.

As much as I’d love to tell you that the Bose QuietComfort 45 offers some sort of improvement over its predecessors, I can’t. It’s fine, decent even—just not great. A lot of our gripes with the headset have to do with an overemphasized high-end relative to our preference curve in its out-of-the-box tuning. This does a good job of making speech intelligible; however, it makes busy tracks with a lot of high-frequency content like punk, and some 90s-2000s pop tracks sound pretty terrible. Of course, there’s plenty of blame that falls on the producers of these tracks—but at the time, they were mixing for the “bass boost” crowd. It’s not Bose’s fault that these tracks weren’t well-mixed, but it’s much more grating with a sound like that of the QuietComfort 45.

Nowhere is this unwelcome high end emphasis more apparent than on Green Day’s Insomniac—oh, does it sound positively awful on the Bose QuietComfort 45. Not only do the vocals and drums take a backseat to the cymbals and room sounds, but turning the volume up to compensate drives these grating sounds to even more annoying levels.

You can try your hand at checking out songs that you like, but if there’s any Rob Cavallo in your library, that house sound has the same issue with any headphones that overemphasize high-frequency sound to this degree. Protip: do not play any punk with these headphones without equalizing them first.

Where the Bose QuietComfort 45 does well is in newer mixes that are much more vocal-heavy (or the much-maligned Clear Channel “stomp-clap-‘HEY’ “ genre that includes Mumford and Sons, etc). So for example, Logic’s 2020 album No Pressure and Lil Nas X’s MONTERO will sound far, far better than the aforementioned older songs. Additionally, you may find that podcasts in particular sound better than they typically do on bassier headphones, because the relative emphasis on second and higher-formant speech sounds does wonders for intelligibility. Like I said: not bad, just strange.

Using the EQ in the Bose Music app, in your music player app like Amazon Music HD, or one on the system level, drop 3-20kHz by about 5dB; your hearing will thank you. That’s not to say that these are bad headphones, it’s just that sometimes you’ll be assaulted by a song mixed for another time that doesn’t hold up. Anything with lots of cymbal shimmer will be a bit grating, and speech intelligibility suffers a bit in mixes with a lot of high-end sounds because of this emphasis.

To get the most out of the Bose QuietComfort 45, you’re going to want to apply these changes to the EQ section of your app (measured results in the thumbnail):

Are the Bose QC45 the PERFECT headphones?

How good does the Bose QuietComfort 45 microphone sound?

The microphone sounds okay enough. Bose knows its stuff, but you’re going to be able to squeeze blood from a stone. Small embedded mics do okay, but they will not replace a dedicated boom mic anytime soon. Still, take a listen and tell us what you think!

Should you buy the Bose QuietComfort 45?

If you buy the Bose QuietComfort 45, you get a competent set of noise cancellers. Adding an EQ to the Bose Music app is also good news.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 at its original price is not worth the money when you can get the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 for [apd product=”171″ style=”in-text” default=”on the product’s website” /], or the Bose QuietComfort 35 II for [apd product=”172″ style=”in-text” default=”on the product’s website” /]. However, you can easily find the QC 45 for 279 USD, which makes it an easier buy. Still, the biggest downside to grabbing the older headset is the microUSB port. Consequently, if you can’t find a good deal on the QC 45, I recommend you find the Bose QuietComfort 35 II on sale somewhere to save you some money over the new one.

When you consider that the Bose QuietComfort 45’s problems really are something that could be coded away or developed for, I’m not comfortable telling you that this isn’t a good headset, or that you should avoid it altogether. Bose is pretty good about updating their products when it needs to, and in that light this headset could fit your needs better as time goes on. Still, it’s in a crowded segment, and with credible competitors from Sony and Sennheiser: you should definitely shop around.

How does the Bose QuietComfort 45 compare to the Sony WH-1000XM5?

The Sony WH-1000XM5 reigns as the best pair of Sony headphones you can buy, and it outperforms the Bose QC 45. Even with this win for Sony, there are some reasons to buy the QC 45 like price, default sound, and portability. Let’s start with price: the XM5 retails for less than 400 USD, while you can find the Bose QC 45 for less than 279 USD throughout the year. Even at its original price, the QC 45 is 60 USD cheaper than Sony’s headphones.

Both headsets will do well to block out background noise, but only Sony let’s you disable ANC and use the XM5 as a standard set of Bluetooth headphones.

That said, you can fully disable ANC on the WH-1000XM5 without the need to enable transparency mode. In other words, you can use Sony’s headset like a pair of standard, non-ANC headphones which can’t be said of the QC 45. When you do enable noise canceling you’ll notice that it’s pretty tight between the two headsets but Sony more consistently blocks out frequencies higher than 1kHz.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 has less bass emphasis, but a lack of higher-quality codecs may frustrate you.

Neither headset is perfect for the default frequency responses, but you get a bit more granularity from the Sony Headphones Connect app EQ module than the one in the Bose Music app.

We encourage you to read our complete Sony WH-1000XM5 vs Bose QuietComfort 45 article to learn which is right for you. You may even find yourself in another hard position: choosing between the Sony WH-1000XM5 and WH-1000XM4 or between the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and WH-1000XM5. If you know you want the Sony WH-1000XM5 now, you can buy it for [apd product=”2094″ style=”in-text” default=”on the product’s website” /].

What are some alternatives to the Bose QuietComfort 45?

If you don’t want to spend the hefty sum of 329 USD, you may want to look into a few other models of headphones to ensure you’re not overspending. For example, the Sennheiser PXC 550-II and the Sony WH-1000XM4 both offer quite a bit more bang for the buck, and include creature comforts like in-app EQ and more audio quality-focused Bluetooth codecs like aptX and LDAC, respectively.

If you’re still considering the Bose QuietComfort 45, definitely take a good, hard look at its predecessor, the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. While it doesn’t have a USB-C port, it costs 80 USD less, and it performs about on par with the newer headset—minus the strange high-end emphasis.

While that may sound harsh, let’s look at some comparisons here. The high-end emphasis is very apparent when you compare the QuietComfort 45 with the other headsets in Bose’s stable. Both the Noise Canceling Headphones 700 and the QuietComfort 35 II align with our targets better than the newer headphones. You can get a full comparison of the NCH 700 and QC 45 here.

We expected a very similar sound with the Bose QuietComfort 45, but it seems to have a bit more of a boost in the highs when compared to the Bose QuietComfort 35 II.

While the responses look very similar, you’re much more likely to enjoy the sound of the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700.

Of course, when you get down to cost, some may find the Sony WH-1000XM4 to be much more their speed—the sticker price is [apd product=”180″ style=”in-text” default=”on the product’s website” /], and the Sony cans offer more features and flexibility. If you have no set budget, both the Airpods Max and the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 will provide a measurable step up both in performance and features. The Airpods Max is about as pricey as it gets at [apd product=”313″ style=”in-text” default=”on the product’s website” /].

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless has less emphasis in the highs, adhering to the SoundGuys consumer curve better than the Bose QuietComfort 45 does.

The Bose QuietComfort 45 attenuates outside noise in the low end measurably better than the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless.

If the treble-heavy sound of Bose isn’t for you, it’s wise to check out the Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless instead. This headset will run you [apd product=”2607″ style=”in-text” default=”on the product’s website” /] and offers better sound quality than both Bose headphones without blasting the bass all that much. While it’s not quite as good at ANC as either the Bose headphones or Sony competitors, it’s good enough to quiet the worst sounds you encounter on a commute. It also offers almost double the battery life, at over 50 hours of runtime per charge.

Should you get earbuds instead of the Bose QuietComfort 45?

If you want a more portable alternative to the Bose QuietComfort 45, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is probably the first product that comes to mind. This is about as expensive as wireless earbuds get ([apd product=”2963″ style=”in-text” default=”on the product’s website” /]), and frankly, it’s not as good of an all around package as the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. Yes, the QC Earbuds II is more compact than the Bose QC Earbuds, but the older model has ear wings to keep the buds in place. You also get wireless charging in the older, albeit bulkier, case. Unlike the first-gen Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, you can’t disable ANC on the newer Bose QC Earbuds II. Instead, you run into the same issue as the QC 45: the only way to “disable” ANC is to enable transparency mode. If you’re between the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the Airpods Pro (2nd generation), it becomes more about which OS your phone runs.

We can’t talk about the Bose QC Earbuds without discussing the Sony WF-1000XM4, sibling to the famed Sony WH-1000XM4. Sony’s flagship true wireless earbuds have an IPX4 rating and slightly better ANC than the QC Earbuds. The default sound quality is a bit wonky but, like the QC Earbuds in its mobile app, you can EQ the sound in the Sony Headphones Connect app. Learn more about the earbuds in our WF-1000XM4 video review.

The very strong case magnet hampers single-handed operation, but this also means the MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 case stays closed in your bag.

We also like the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 for its sleek design, IPX4 rating, excellent ANC, and optional wing tips. Alternatively, the CX Plus True Wireless is a great value-packed pair of ANC earbuds with a solid mobile app. The blocky shape may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the aptX, AAC, and SBC support surely make up for it.

Frequently asked questions about the Bose QuietComfort 45?

Yes, the QC 45 supports both wireless and wired playback. You can use the provided cable that can be plugged into the left ear cup of the Bose QuietComfort 45. While smartphones with headphone jacks are becoming an endangered species, this headset will allow you to listen with wired equipment.

Yes. In fact the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 got better ANC through a firmware update. Just because their headphones have some sort of shortcoming right now doesn’t mean it won’t get fixed in the future.

Yes, in February 2022, Bose added an EQ to the Bose Music app via a firmware update. Make sure you’ve got the latest firmware installed, and you should find the EQ there in the app.

At this point, if the connector is an issue for you, you may want to get the newer headphones. That isn’t something that can be easily fixed.

Sometimes! In fact the Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 got better ANC through a firmware update. Just because their headphones have some sort of shortcoming right now doesn’t mean it won’t get fixed in the future.

Yes, the Bose QC 45 supports multipoint connectivity, so you can connect it to two source devices at simultaneously.

No, the QC 45 does not have a proximity sensor for auto play/pause like the Sony WH-1000XM4 and WH-1000XM5. The Bose NCH 700 lacks a proximity sensor too.

Define “best.” The Focal Bathys are the best-sounding ANC headphones we’ve tested, though some might argue that honor belongs to the Marc Levinson No. 5909. The best ANC is offered by the Sony WH-1000XM5, though the gap between it and the Bose headphones is not very much.

How to Connect Bose Earbuds to PC, Mac, Android, or iOS Devices

Learn how to connect Bose earbuds to any device with these easy steps.

Bose earbuds are designed to be flexible. They can work with any device and seamlessly switch between them using their multipoint connection.

But the steps to connect Bose earbuds vary depending on the device you’re connecting to and the specific model you’re using. This can be frustrating if you’re not familiar with the process.

Don’t worry, you actually have two options to connect your Bose earbuds: via app or manual Bluetooth connection. And this article will guide you through all that with some tips in case you run into any issues. Let’s dive in!

How to Put Bose Earbuds Into Pairing Mode

If it’s your first time using the earbuds, they should automatically be in pairing mode when you turn them on. If not, you’ll have to activate the pairing mode manually, before you attempt connecting them with another device.

Here’s how to do this for different models:

• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Press and hold the button on the case until the Bluetooth light slowly blinks.
• Bose Sport Earbuds: Same as Bose QuietComfort.
• Bose Sport Open Earbuds: Press and hold the button on the right earbud for five seconds until you hear “ready to connect.”
• Bose Soundsport wireless: Press and hold the power button on the right earbud until the light turns blue.

How to Connect Bose Earbuds via Bose App

Bose has two companion apps: Bose Connect and Bose Music, both available for iOS and Android devices. The main difference between these apps is that each is only compatible with specific devices.

Bose Connect is an older app that is mostly used with Bose Bluetooth speakers and older headphone models. Bose Music is newer and supports most of Bose’s more recent products, allowing users to have better control over their music.

Let’s go through each app below:

Connecting using the Bose Music app

The Bose Music App can be downloaded on Google Play or the App Store. This app is compatible with the following earbuds:

Here’s how to pair Bose wireless earbuds using the Bose Music App:

• Open the Bose Music App. If prompted, click to allow Bluetooth permissions.
• Tap Sign in or Create an account. If you don’t have a Bose account, create one. Otherwise, sign in to your existing account.
• On the My Bose screen, select your device. If your device doesn’t appear, tap the button to add your earbuds.
• When prompted, select Headphones and wait for the app to find your earbuds. While the app is searching, make sure your Bose earbuds are into pairing mode.
• The app will tell you when connecting your device has been successful. From now on, a pop-up will appear to connect automatically whenever you turn on your earbuds.

Connecting using the Bose Connect app

Like the Bose Music App, you can download the Bose Connect App on Google Play or the Apple App Store. The difference is, it’s compatible with the following earbuds:

Here’s how to pair Bose QuietComfort Earbuds or other compatible products through the Bose Connect App:

• Open the Bose Connect App. If prompted, click Allow Bluetooth permissions.
• Turn your earbuds into discoverable mode.
• Bring them close to your device. They should appear on the list of available devices. If not, click Headphones and Frames.
• Once your headphones appear in the list of available devices, click on them to connect.

After you connect your Bose earbuds the first time, a pop-up will appear to automatically connect whenever you turn your earbuds on.

Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones review: Time to ditch Sony?

How to Manually Connect Bose Earbuds to Android Devices

If you don’t want to use a companion app, you can still connect your Bose earbuds to your mobile device manually through the Bluetooth settings.

To connect your Bose earbuds to your Android device, you’ll need to follow these steps:

• Put your Bose earbuds in pairing mode.
• On your Android device, open the Settings app and go to Bluetooth.
• Make sure Bluetooth is toggled on, then select your Bose earbuds from the list of available devices.
• You should see a message that says Connected when the pairing is successful.

How to Manually Connect Bose Earbuds to iOS Devices

Need to connect Bose earbuds to an iPhone? Follow these steps:

• Put your Bose earbuds in pairing mode.
• On your iOS device, open the Settings app and tap on Bluetooth.
• Make sure Bluetooth is toggled on, then select your Bose earbuds from the “My Devices” drop-down list.
• Wait for the message to say Connected to know that the pairing is successful.

How to Connect Bose Earbuds to Windows PC

While there is no Bose app available for PC, Bose earbuds can be connected to a Windows PC using Bluetooth. You’ll have to put your earbuds into pairing mode and connect them manually.

Here’s how to connect Bose earbuds to a PC or laptop:

• Open the Start Menu by clicking on the square icon at the corner of your taskbar.
• Turn on your Bluetooth by clicking the Bluetooth symbol.
• Right-click on the Bluetooth menu and select Go to Settings.
• Select Add Bluetooth other devices. Click on Bluetooth.
• Turn on your Bose earbuds and make them discoverable.
• Once your earbuds appear in the list of available devices, click on them to start pairing. Windows will tell you when you’re paired and ready to go.

Depending on which version of Windows you have, the interface may vary slightly. However, the process should be similar regardless of which Windows operating system you’re using.

How to Connect Bose Earbuds to Mac

Like with a Windows PC, there is no app available for Mac, so you’ll have to connect your Bose earbuds manually through Bluetooth.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Click on the Apple icon on the top left of your screen and select System Settings.
• Select Bluetooth icon and toggle it on.
• Put your Bose earbuds in discoverable mode.
• Your earbuds should appear in the list of available devices in the My Devices box. Select your earbuds and click Connect, then wait for the label on the screen to say Connected.

What to Do When Bose Earbuds Won’t Connect

If your earbuds won’t connect to your devices, the first thing you’d want to do is try resetting them.

Resetting your Bose earbuds will restore them to their original state, free of any errors or bugs. It also helps clear up the earbuds’ pairing list, which may be overloaded as Bose earbuds can only remember eight devices at a time.

However, how to reset your Bose earbuds depends on the model you have. Let’s get through each of them below:

How to reset Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

If you have QuietComfort Earbuds, you can reset them by doing the following:

• Connect the charging case to a power source and place your earbuds in the case.
• Close the charging case lid for five seconds, then open the lid.
• Press and hold the Bluetooth button in the case for 30 seconds. The LEDs on the earbuds should blink, glow solid white, then blink blue.
• Go to your device’s Bluetooth settings and select Remove or Forget to erase your earbuds from your device’s memory.
• Reconnect your earbuds to your device.

This reset method clears your earbuds’ memory of previously connected devices but doesn’t restore factory settings— which means you will keep the settings you have set on your earbuds.

How to reset Bose Sport Open Earbuds

For Bose Sport Open Earbuds, here’s how to reset them:

• Place both earbuds on their charging base, with the in-ear portion of the earbuds pointing away from each other. The earbuds should magnetically snap into place, and the status lights will blink to indicate a good connection with the base.
• Press and hold the Bluetooth button on the right earbud for ten seconds. The status light will blink twice.
• Repeat step 2 for the left earbud.
• Wait ten seconds, then remove the earbuds from the charging base. The earbuds are now reset to their factory settings.

How to reset Bose SoundSport Earbuds

Bose SoundSport Earbuds can be reset with the following steps:

• Turn off your earbuds and wait 30 seconds.
• Connect your earbuds to a wall outlet with a USB charger.
• Wait five seconds before disconnecting the USB cable from the earbuds.
• Wait one minute before powering on your earbuds.

How to reset Bose Sport Earbuds

Are you wondering how to connect your Bose Sport Earbuds or struggling to get them to work? Hopefully, it will be easy after a simple reset.

• Connect the charging case to a power source and place the earbuds inside the case.
• Close the lid of the case for five seconds, then open it.
• In the charging case, press and hold the Bluetooth button for 30 seconds before releasing it. The earbud LEDs will blink, glow white, and then blink blue.
• Go to Device Settings on your previously-connected device and Remove or Forget the Bose earbuds from the list of devices.
• Reconnect your earbuds to your device.

Conclusion

While Bose products are usually pretty easy to use, you might need a little help connecting your Bose earbuds to your devices every once in a while.

But after reading this article, you should be an expert on connecting Bose earbuds to PC, Mac, Android, or iOS devices. You can now enjoy your music to the fullest, no matter what earbud model you’re using!

Did you find this article helpful? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below!

How to Connect Bose Headphones to an iPhone?

Bose headphones are known for their wide range of in-ear and over-ear models, high-quality performance, comfort, and features, all of which add to our favorites. That said, different models make connecting them with an iPhone or other Apple devices quite tricky.

This article is all you need to connect your Bose headphones to your iPhone. We have designed this step-by-step guide to help you get the most out of your Bose headphones regardless of their model. No more pulling hair and spending hours reading user manuals to get your Bose headphones functioning or troubleshooting problems. Read this guide and follow the steps to pair your iPhone with Bose headphones in no time.

• Can You Use Bose Headphones With an iPhone?
• Why Won’t My Bose Headphones Connect to My iPhone?

• 1. Authentic Headphones
• 2. Enable Bluetooth Permissions
• 3. Updated Software
• 4. Restart the App
• 5. Location Access
• 6. Clear Cache
• 7. Clear Your Pairing List
• 8. Contact Bose Customer Support

• 1. Connecting Bose Headphones Using Bose Connect App
• 2. Connect Your Bose Headphones with Your iPhone Through Bluetooth
• 3. Reset Bose Headphones
• 4. How to Unpair Bose Headphones From an iPhone?

• Method 1:
• Method 2:

Can You Use Bose Headphones With an iPhone?

Yes, you can use your Bose headphones with your iPhone. Go to your iPhone Settings Bluetooth Enable Bluetooth select your Bose device and connect. If it’s connected, it will say, “Connected to [Bose product name] headphones.”

The steps mentioned above can vary depending on your Bose headphone model. So it’s ideal to go through your headphones user manual to see what steps to miss or add. Most Bose headphone products are wireless, so you can use either your device’s Bluetooth or Bose Connect app to pair your product with your iPhone.

Why Won’t My Bose Headphones Connect to My iPhone?

Probably the most common problem that any of us might have encountered at least once while using Bose headphones is: why are my Bose headphones not connecting to my iPhone? The reason could be as simple as having forgotten to turn on your Bluetooth or as intricate as your headphones being fake.

Here are some basic tips: Before trying other mentioned methods in this article to troubleshoot your Bose headphones connecting problems, give thought to the following:

• Are your headphones charged? If not, then consider charging them before trying anything else to fix the connectivity issue.
• If your headphones are fully charged and still not connecting to your iPhone, your device may not be within the range of your Bose headphones. Consider putting the iPhone and Bose headphones close enough, within 30 feet (10 meters) range, so no obstacle hinders them from connecting.
• Sometimes other electronic devices such as wireless speakers, microwave ovens, or cordless phones are hidden obstacles in your room that cause interference, making it difficult for your Bluetooth Bose headphones to connect to your iPhone. If that’s the case, move devices that could cause interference from the area where you are trying to connect your headphones with your iPhone and try connecting again.
• If these methods do not work, see if you put your Bluetooth headphones in pairing mode. If not, then doing it will instantly connect your Bose headphones to your iPhone. Here’s how you can enable pairing mode on your Bose headphones:

• Press the Power button on your headphones and wait for a few minutes until the light blinks blue.
• Now, navigate to your iPhone’s Settings section and tap on Bluetooth.
• Tap on the slider to turn on your phone’s Bluetooth.
• Next, select your Bose headphones name on your iPhone Bluetooth settings page.
• Once you select your device name, a prompt will appear. You can enter your Password or PIN code to pair your Bose headphones with your iPhone.

However, sometimes the problem is other than occasional connectivity errors; if that’s the case with you, don’t worry! In our next section, we have highlighted other possible causes and solutions that might be why you cannot connect your Bose headphones to your iPhone. Let’s look at them one by one to find out yours.

Authentic Headphones

It’s imperative to buy authentic Bose headphones. Otherwise, you might not be able to get them connected to your iPhone, or even after connecting, they may not function properly. To verify whether your Bose headphones are authentic, cross-check your headphone’s serial number by visiting the Bose website. Enter your model name and match the given serial number with yours. If it’s different, then unfortunately, you bought a fake product, and that’s why your headphones are not connecting to your iPhone.

Enable Bluetooth Permissions

If you have authentic Bose headphones but are still unable to connect your Bose headphones to your iPhone, it might be that you have enabled “limit other devices connections” in your phone’s security section. If so, then your phone needs to grant permission to your Bose headphones to connect with them.

Here’s how to enable Bluetooth permissions on your iPhone:

• Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Select Privacy.
• Turn on your Bluetooth.
• Scroll down and locate your Bose headphones name on the requested Bluetooth devices list.
• Move the slider beside the Allow Bluetooth Access button to connect your iPhone to your Bose headphones.

Updated Software

Sometimes the outdated software of your Bose headphones or iPhone can cause connectivity issues. So it’s vital to ensure that both your devices are updated to their latest versions. To update your Bose headphones software, follow these steps:

• Attach your headphone to your PC with a USB cable.
• Once connected, visit the Bose website to see if any latest software updates are available for your headphones model. If so, hit the download button to update your Bose headphones software.

After updating your Bose headphone software, if the problem persists, see if your iPhone’s software needs updating. Here are the steps to update your iPhone software:

• Open your iPhone’s Settings app and select General.
• Scroll down to Software Update. If any update is available, tap Download to install.

Restart the App

Restarting the Bose Connect app is another solution to fix the connectivity errors your Bose headphones might face while connecting to your iPhone.To restart your app follow the steps below:

• Double-press the Home button to get your iPhone’s list of running apps.
• Swipe left or right on your phone’s screen to find the Bose app.
• Select the Bose Connect app and swipe it up to close it.
• Reopen your Bose Connect app and try to connect your Bose headphones to your iPhone again.

Location Access

Another potential cause for your Bose headphones not connecting to your iPhone could be your Bose Connect app not having location access to your iPhone. some apps require location access in order to function properly. If your Bose app also requires access to your location to establish a stable connection between your iPhone and headphones, then enabling access will resolve the issue.

Here are steps on how to grant location access to your Bose Connect app:

• Open the Settings app.
• Select Privacy.
• Tap on Location Services and turn it on.
• Now go to your Bose Connect app and tap the While Using the App button to allow access to your iPhone’s location.

Clear Cache

If granting location access does not fix the problem, try clearing your iPhone’s Bluetooth cache. The Bluetooth cache file has saved data containing information like the device names that your phone has previously connected to, so next time you can connect to those devices instantly.

Check to see if your device’s Bluetooth cache is outdated. If it is, clearing it can solve your connectivity issue. To do so, follow these steps.

• Open the Settings app and tap General.
• Tap iPhone Storage.
• Locate the Bose app and tap on it.
• Hit the Offload switch to clear all the app cache from your iPhone.

Clear Your Pairing List

Despite clearing the Bose app cache, if your headphones are still not connecting to your iPhone, then another solution is to clear your pairing list from your headphones. To do so, follow these steps:

• Power up your Bose headphones.
• Press and hold the Bluetooth icon on your headphones for 10 seconds until you hear a voice prompt “Bluetooth device list cleared.”

Remember that the method to clear the Bose headphones pairing list may vary from model to model. So read your model manual guide and follow the mentioned steps to clear your headphones pairing list.

Contact Bose Customer Support

After trying all the methods mentioned above, if you’re still unable to pair your Bose headphones to your iPhone, seek help from Bose customer support. You can visit the Bose customer service page or send an email explaining your problem.

How to Connect Bose Wireless Headphones to iPhone?

Since most of the Bose headphones are wireless and can be connected through Bluetooth, you can pair them with your iPhone in two ways.

Connecting Bose Headphones Using Bose Connect App

Let’s pair your Bose headphones to your iPhone via Bose Connect App with these easy steps:

• Press the Power button on your Bose headphones to turn them on.
• Next, turn on the pairing mode by pressing the Bluetooth icon on your headphones until it a light glows or you hear a prompt. Now, you are in pairing mode.
• Go to your iPhone’s App Store and install the Bose Connect app.
• After downloading the app, log in to your Bose Connect account.
• Once logged in, your headphone’s name will appear on the screen in available devices. Select your Bose headphones and swipe from the top of the screen to the bottom to connect your Bose headphones to your iPhone.
• A text saying Connecting will appear on the screen.
• Now at the bottom of your screen, you will see a Ready to Play button. Tap on this option.

You can now control your Bose headphones using your iPhone.

Connect Your Bose Headphones with Your iPhone Through Bluetooth

• Firstly, ensure your Bose wireless headphones are turned on and in pairing mode. Read the steps above to put your Bose headphones in pairing mode with your iPhone.
• Go to your iPhone’s Settings app.
• Locate the Bluetooth option in the list and tap on it.
• Turn on the Bluetooth by moving the slider beside the Bluetooth option towards your right.
• Enabling Bluetooth will show the list of available devices. Select your Bose headphones from the list. Tapping on your headphone’s name will initiate the connection.
• Once connected, your phone will receive a confirmation message, and your Bose headphones name will now appear under the Paired Devices section.

Can’t find your Bose headphones in the list of other devices? If yes, read the next heading of this article to know why it is so and how to fix this issue.

Reset Bose Headphones

If your Bose headphones name is not listed among other devices available on your iPhone, then it’s either a Bluetooth connection error or disabled pairing mode that is causing the problem. Whatever the reason, you can always have a reset option to remove all the data from your headphones and pair them all over again with your iPhone to resolve the issue. Here are the steps to reset your Bose headphones.

• Power off your Bose headphones and wait for at least three minutes.
• Use your headphone’s USB cable to connect them to your PC.
• Then disconnect your headphones from your PC and wait one minute.
• After waiting for one minute, turn on your Bose headphones. Now they are in reset mode, and any Bluetooth connectivity issues have been resolved.

Note: Resetting your Bose headphones will clear all the previously saved data from them, and you have to set all your settings or preferences again. Additionally, if resetting the headphones does not fix the issue, then your iPhone might be causing problems.

How to Unpair Bose Headphones From an iPhone?

Now that you know how to pair your Bose headphones with your iPhone, unpairing them will be a breeze. There are different methods that you can use to unpair your Bose headphones. The first and the easiest of these is to press the Power button on your headphone until the LED blinks red or turn off the Bluetooth on your iPhone to disconnect it from your Bose headphones. Let’s look at the other two methods in detail.

Method 1:

Here are the steps on how to unpair your Bose headphones using your iPhone:

• Go to your iPhones Settings app and locate Bluetooth.
• Under the Bluetooth section, find your Bose headphone name and tap the (i) icon next to it.
• Tapping the (i) icon will show a prompt with Forget this Device option. Tap on it.
• Finally, hit Forget Device to unpair your Bose headphones from your iPhone.

Now your Bose headphones are successfully disconnected from your iPhone.

Method 2:

Follow the steps below to unpair your Bose headphones from your iPhone using Bose Connect app.

• Now open the Bose Connect app on your iPhone a prompt with different options appears on your screen.
• Select Disconnect from the menu.

After tapping Disconnect, your Bose headphones will be unpaired from your iPhone.

Check our article on Is JBL Better than Bose?

Conclusion

This step-by-step guide is designed to tell how you can connect your Bose headphones to your iPhone effortlessly. To do so, turn on your iPhone’s Bluetooth and pair your Bose headphones with your iPhone by selecting your Bose product name from the list of available devices.

If you have difficulty connecting your iPhone to your headphones, go back to our causes and solutions section to set up a connection between your Bose headphones and iPhone.

Lastly, we have covered everything in this article, from pairing to unpairing your Bose headphones from your iPhone to make it easier for you to get them connected from one iPhone to another Apple device instantly.

Don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family who own a pair of Bose headphones because this guide is all that you’ll ever need to connect your headphones to your iPhone.

Since the time I got my first pair of headphones in 2012, I’ve been fascinated by these little gadgets that have the power to change our moods through our favorite music. Whether it was the cheap 5 earphones or the premium JBL headphones, I have played my favorite music on tons of different audio devices for all these years.

At AudioReputation, I test and review headphones of all kinds. From popular earbuds like the Airpods pro to the expensive HIFIMAN Susvara, I always perform a deep test and present my honest and unbiased opinion to my readers.

How to Connect Bose Headphones to iPhone?

Over the previous half-century, Bose has maintained its good reputation among consumers. The headphones produced by this company are well-known for their exceptional qualities, including noise cancellation and unparalleled comfort.

Since these headphones aren’t inexpensive, you hope for a high-quality sound. over, if your iPhone has a standard headphone socket, you will be able to utilize Bose headphones with it.

Because the most recent iPhone models do not have a headphone jack, you won’t be able to connect it directly. Because of this, to connect the headset to the iPhone, you will need to make use of Bluetooth. In addition, you will want the Bose Connect app to be installed on your iPhone for this to function properly.

However, Bluetooth headphone pairing issues may occur anytime, with any device, and to anybody. Bose, a high-end commercial headphone company, isn’t immune to these problems. It can be a frustrating experience when your headphones don’t connect with your iOS or Android device.

In this article, we will guide you on how you can connect your Bose headphones to your iPhone.

You may follow these steps on any model of the Apple smartphone, including the newer iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, and iPhone 13.

Can You Use Bose Headphones With iPhone?

Although all Bose wired headsets are compatible with iPhones with a standard audio port, more current iPhones do not have audio jacks, and the vast majority of headphones are wireless.

The Bose Connect app is available for Apple iPhones and other iOS mobile devices, and you can use it in conjunction with the Bluetooth option to connect Bose headphones to an iPhone.

Why Won’t My Bose Headphones Connect to My iPhone?

Please verify that the Wi-Fi setting on your iPhone is on. The switch is there on your headphones’ right earpiece.

If you’re still unable to connect Bose headphones, try the following methods,

Location Access

The Bose Connect app requires knowing your location to establish a connection properly. To achieve this, go to the Settings menu, choose Apps, Bose Connect, Permissions, and select Allow location access.

Clear Cache

Go to Settings General iPhone Storage choose Bose Connect, and then tap the Offload app button to clear the app cache on your iPhone for the Bose Connect app.

Authentic Headphones

Please verify that your headphones are authentic so that the Bose Connect app can identify them as authentic headphones.

Updated Software

Check to see whether the software on your iPhone is updated. If your device has difficulties that need resolution, the headphones will not connect to it.

Enable Bluetooth Permissions

If you are using iOS 13 or later, Apple will ask you to activate Bluetooth permissions when you install the Bose Connect app on your smartphone for the first time. This prompt will appear if you are using iOS 13 or later. If you go ahead and choose “Don’t Allow,” the installation process will not be able to be finished. To finish the setup process, please allow the Bluetooth permissions:

• In the settings of your smartphone, scroll down until you reach your list of applications.
• Choose the Bose Connect option.
• You need to enable the Bluetooth by going to the “Allow Bose To Access” section

Restart the App

You’ll need to quit out of the Bose app and start it back up again.

• When using an iOS device, double-tap the Home button or slide up from the bottom center of the screen to get the list of currently running applications.
• Swipe in either direction across the screen to locate the application you want to close.
• Close the app by swiping up on it.

Clear Your Pairing List

You can pair up to eight separate devices with some Bose headphones. This capability enables you to connect a Bluetooth device with your headphones.

You can connect with your iPhone while you are working, your home computer when you are unwinding on the weekend, and even an iPad so that you may stream content while you are on the go.

When you’re attempting to connect to an iPhone, the headphones start sifting through various alternatives before recognizing that you’ve got your favorite thing right there with you.

You may need to erase your pairing list from the Bluetooth menu to reestablish contact between an iPhone and your Bose headphones when this occurs.

• Turn on your Bose headphones’ power.
• Move the switch to point in the direction of the Bluetooth symbol on the device.
• Keep it there for at least 10 seconds.
• Listen to your headphones to confirm that you clear the list of devices; you’ll hear “Bluetooth device list cleared.”
• If you do not maintain the switch in the Bluetooth position for a sufficient time, the procedure will need to be restarted by turning the headphones off and then back on again.

Check your device’s Bluetooth settings if these methods don’t work. For example, there might be a transmission problem that causes the discovery procedure to fail.

How to Connect Bose Wireless Headphones to iPhone?

The following methods will help you in pairing Bose headphones with your iPhone.

Connecting Bose Headphones Using Bose Connect App

• To get started, check whether the Bluetooth feature on your iPhone is on.
• Alter the switch on the right earpiece of the Bose headset so that it reads green instead of red
• Open the Bose Connect app.
• The app would instantly recognize the Bose headphones. A picture of your headphones and the phrase “Drag to Connect” will appear on your screen when it happens. Swipe down from the top of the screen to begin connecting your iPhone to your Bose headphone. If your headphones are not recognized, a screen will pop up with a screen that provides you with several suggestions for assisting your iPhone in locating them.
• The word “Connecting” will appear on your device’s screen when the app successfully establishes a connection with your headset.
• Tap the Ready to Play button that you may locate at the very bottom of the app’s screen.
• You may now make use of the headset that comes with your iPhone.
• You may get the Bose Connect app for your iPhone by going to the App Store and downloading it.

Getting Your Bose Headphones to Work with Your iPhone Using Settings

• To turn the headphones on or pair them with a device, press the power/Bluetooth button. On the right ear cup is where you’ll find the button with the power symbol on it and the Bluetooth icon just above it.
• When you have completed this step, you will either hear the phrase “Ready to connect” from the headphones or see the blue Bluetooth light flashing.
• Start the Settings program on your iPhone, and after that, go to the Bluetooth section of the menu. Tap the slider next to “Bluetooth” on the Bluetooth screen to adjust its position. You may skip this step if the switch is already lit up in green and turned on.
• Change your Bose headphones’ green setting on the right earpiece and switch to red.
• Choose the Bose headphones in the Other Devices section.
• When the headphones are correctly connected, they will show up in the “My Devices” field with the status “Connected.”

Note: If the headphones are not showing up in the list of Other Devices, you may reset them by following these instructions.

• Please turn off the Bose headphones. While you wait for approximately a minute and a half.
• Using the chord that came with the headphones, connect them to a power source that accepts USB connections. If that particular choice is unavailable, a different cable that is suitable will do the trick.
• Connect the other end to a receptacle. If one is not accessible, it may be possible to use another energy source, provided sufficient battery power.
• Remove the USB wire from the Bose headphones.
• Be sure to let the product rest for at least one minute.
• Turn on the Bose headphones to begin establishing a Bluetooth connection all over again.

How to Unpair Bose Headphones From an iPhone?

Disconnecting your Bose headphones is a quick and easy process. Please take the following actions to disconnect Bose headphones from your iPhone.

• To disconnect your headphones, you need to flip the green light on the right earpiece to the red one.
• Launch the Bose Connect app by tapping the picture of the headphones on the home screen.
• In the last step, pick Disconnect from the submenu that appears.
• Disabling the Bluetooth feature on the iPhone is another option for turning it off.
• To remove the headphone from your iPhone, go to Settings Bluetooth tap i symbol that you will find beside the headset Forget This Device.

Final Words

We hope you will not have any more difficulties using your Bose headset now that there are no pairing problems. You will realize that these headphones are now worth every penny you’ve spent on them!

We hope that this guide helped you connect your Bose headphones with your iPhone so that as you wind down for the day, you’ll have these headphones to help you unwind, thanks to their superior music quality and noise cancellation capabilities.

Also, if you are one of those that are still wondering which Bose headphones to get, here are our top recommendations for the best Bose headphones!