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Not Pairing

Bose Headphones

Severity: Moderate

What Does This Error Mean?

Bose headphones that won't pair need pairing mode activated manually. Slide the power switch to the Bluetooth symbol, clear old pairings from both sides, and pair fresh.

How to Fix It

  1. Enter pairing mode on the headphones

  2. Forget the headphones on your device

  3. Clear the Bose device list

  4. Use the Bose Music app

  5. Factory reset the headphones

Frequently Asked Questions

Why won't my Bose headphones show up in my phone's Bluetooth list?

The headphones must be in active pairing mode to appear in a Bluetooth scan. If not in pairing mode, they will only auto-connect to previously paired devices and won't appear to new devices.

How do I pair Bose headphones to a new phone?

Put the headphones in pairing mode (hold Bluetooth switch for 3 seconds on QC series). If they auto-connect to the old phone, clear the device list first using the 10-second hold method.

Can Bose headphones pair to multiple devices?

Yes — most Bose headphones support two active connections simultaneously through Bose SimpleSync or multipoint pairing. Manage connections in the Bose Music app.