How To Pair Bose Qc Headphones: Quick Setup Guide

Turn on your Bose QC headphones, enable Bluetooth on your device, then select the Bose QC from the list.

I’ve paired dozens of Bose QC headphones for friends, clients, and my own gear. This guide gives clear, tested steps on how to pair Bose QC headphones with phones, laptops, TVs, and more. Read on to get fast setup, model-specific tips, and real troubleshooting tricks I learned while testing Bose QC headphones over the years.

Step-by-step: How to pair Bose QC headphones quickly

Follow these simple steps to pair Bose QC headphones. These steps work for most QC models and are a great starting place.

1. Power on the headphones.
2. Press and hold the Bluetooth button or power switch until the Bluetooth light blinks or you hear "Ready to pair."
3. Open Bluetooth settings on your phone, tablet, or computer.
4. Choose the Bose QC device name from the list and tap to pair.
5. Wait for confirmation tone or message that pairing succeeded.

Notes and quick checks:

• If your phone asks for a PIN, enter 0000 or 1234 in rare cases.
• Make sure the headphones are charged before pairing.
• Turn off other nearby Bluetooth devices to avoid interference.

How to pair Bose QC headphones quickly often comes down to power-on + pairing mode + selecting the device. If you follow those three steps, you’ll pair in most cases.

How to pair Bose QC headphones — model-specific steps

Different Bose QC models have small differences. Here’s a short guide for common models:

QC35 / QC35 II

• Power on the headphones using the power switch.
• Slide and hold the Bluetooth switch to the Bluetooth position until the voice prompt says “Ready to pair.”
• Select “Bose QC35” on your device.

QC45

• Press the power/Bluetooth button to turn on.
• Press and hold the Bluetooth button until you hear “Ready to pair.”
• Choose “Bose QC45” from your device’s Bluetooth list.

QuietComfort Earbuds or Earbuds II

• Open the case or press and hold the earbud’s touch area to enter pairing.
• Watch for a flashing LED or voice prompt.
• Select the earbuds name that appears on your device.

QC700 or newer models (if applicable)

• Follow the power and hold Bluetooth routine on the control module.
• Look for the model name in your device’s Bluetooth list and pair.

I often pair multiple QC models in a single household. The key is to know where the pairing control lives on your model and to listen for the “Ready to pair” voice prompt. How to pair Bose QC headphones is mostly the same across models; the exact button differs.

Pairing Bose QC headphones with phones, computers, and TVs

Phones (iPhone / Android)

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth and turn Bluetooth on.
2. Put the Bose QC headphones into pairing mode.
3. Tap the Bose QC name when it appears.
4. Confirm pairing if prompted.

Windows laptop

1. Open Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices.
2. Click “Add Bluetooth or other device,” then choose Bluetooth.
3. Put the headphones into pairing mode and select them from the list.

Mac

1. Open System Settings > Bluetooth.
2. Put the headphones into pairing mode.
3. Click Connect next to the Bose QC device name.

TV and streaming devices

• Many smart TVs and streaming sticks have Bluetooth in Settings. Put the headphones into pairing mode and search for them from the TV Bluetooth menu.
• If the TV has no Bluetooth, use a small Bluetooth audio transmitter plugged into the TV’s headphone jack or optical output.

How to pair Bose QC headphones with each device type varies slightly, but the pattern is consistent: enable device Bluetooth, put headphones in pairing mode, then select the device name.

Troubleshooting: common pairing problems and fixes

If pairing fails or audio cuts out, try these fixes.

No device name appears

• Ensure headphones are in pairing mode with the voice prompt or flashing LED.
• Turn Bluetooth off and on again on your device.
• Restart both the headphones and the device.

Already connected to another device

• Turn off Bluetooth on other devices that may be connected.
• On the headphones, hold the Bluetooth button to clear or cycle connections per your model’s manual.
• Consider using the Bose Music app (if supported) to manage paired devices.

Frequent dropouts or poor audio

• Move closer to the source device and away from Wi‑Fi routers or microwave ovens.
• Remove any physical obstructions between device and headphones.
• Update your device’s Bluetooth drivers or the headphones firmware.

Pairing worked but no sound

• Check that the device is set to output audio to the Bose QC headphones.
• On computers, open sound settings and select the Bose device for both playback and communications.
• Re-pair if profile selection was incorrect.

I once spent an hour trying to pair a QC45 that wouldn’t show. A hard power cycle plus forgetting the device on the phone fixed it. When pairing fails, patience and a methodical reset are your best friends. How to pair Bose QC headphones often comes down to simple resets and checking which device owns the active connection.

Practical tips and best practices for Bluetooth performance

Small habits can make pairing and sound more reliable.

• Keep firmware updated by using the Bose app or desktop updater when available.
• Pair one device at a time to avoid conflicts during setup.
• Use the Bose Music app for model support and advanced settings if your model supports it.
• Label paired devices on your phone so you know which Bose unit you’re connecting to.
• Store headphones with power off to prevent auto-pairing to the wrong device.

From years of testing, I recommend turning off unused Bluetooth on older phones when pairing a new device. It reduces confusion and speeds up how to pair Bose QC headphones in a busy wireless space.

Frequently Asked Questions of how to pair bose qc headphones

How do I put my Bose QC headphones into pairing mode?

Press and hold the Bluetooth or power/Bluetooth combo button until the voice prompt says “Ready to pair” or until the LED flashes. Then open Bluetooth settings on your device and select the Bose QC name.

Why won’t my device find my Bose QC headphones?

The headphones may not be in pairing mode, or they could already be connected to another device. Turn off Bluetooth on other devices, restart the headphones, and try again.

Can I pair Bose QC headphones to two devices at once?

Many Bose QC models support multipoint pairing with two devices. However, behavior can vary; audio may switch between devices depending on which one is active.

What if I hear static or dropouts after pairing?

Move closer to the source device, remove interference sources, and check for firmware updates. If problems persist, forget and re-pair the headphones.

Do Bose QC headphones work with a Bluetooth transmitter for TVs?

Yes. Use a reliable Bluetooth transmitter that supports low-latency codecs or use the TV’s built-in Bluetooth if it has the right profiles. This prevents audio lag for video.

Conclusion

You can pair your Bose QC headphones with nearly any Bluetooth device by following a few clear steps: enter pairing mode, enable Bluetooth on your device, and select the Bose QC name. If pairing fails, try restarting, clearing previous connections, or updating firmware. These small steps save time and frustration and get you back to clean audio fast. Try the steps now, test with one device first, and leave a comment if you hit a snag — I’ll help troubleshoot.