In this article I will offer very simple but complete step-by-step instructions for how to pair a Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth wireless speaker to any device – an Apple PC or iPhone, a Windows PC or Android phone.
First we’ll cover the most basic steps, which should help you get your Bose SoundLink Color connected quickly and easily, and then we’ll go over some basic troubleshooting points if it doesn’t work.
Then at the end of the article I will offer more detailed instructions for finding and using the Bluetooth page on any phone or computer – Apple, Android or Windows.
How To Connect a Bose SoundLink Color Speaker: A Step by Step Guide
Step 1
Turn on your Bose SoundLink Color and put it in pairing mode
- Make sure your Bose SoundLink Color speaker is either sufficiently charged or plugged in
- Press the power button – located at the left end of the control panel on the top of the speaker
- Now press and hold the Bluetooth button until the LED indicator light slowly flashes – the Bluetooth button located on the same control panel, just to the right of the power button
Step 2
Go to the Bluetooth page on your PC, phone or tablet, and turn Bluetooth on.
Step 3
Find your Bose speaker on this Bluetooth page and select it
- If your SoundLink Color is powered on and in pairing mode, it should appear on the Bluetooth Page. If not, go back to the first step – and make certain the Bose speaker is charged and is close enough to your device
- Also, If you don’t see your Bose SoundLink Color listed, you can refresh the list, or turn Bluetooth off and on
- For more specific instructions on how to find and use the Bluetooth page on various computers and phones, please see the sections below for Windows PC, Apple Macintosh, Android phones and Apple phones
Your Bose SoundLink Color wireless speaker should now be paired and connected to your device. The Bluetooth LED indicator light will be glowing steadily, you will hear the voice prompt “connected to >>device name<<,” and if you are playing music, a movie or any other audio you should be able to hear it.
Please note that you only have to go through this manual pairing process one time – after that, your Bose SoundLink Color and your phone, PC or other Bluetooth gadget will automatically find each other and pair every time they are turned on and in range
How to Connect a Bose SoundLink Color Speaker: Basic Troubleshooting
- Make sure your Bose speaker is not just on and pairing, but is sufficiently charged or plugged in
- Remember that your speaker and device have to be in range of each other – this can be several hundred feet, but when pairing I always have them right next to each other
- Make sure you are actually playing something – music, a movie, an audiobook or any other audio
- Check the volume controls on your speaker, your gadget and your media player, making sure they are all turned up at least a bit
- If you have been using the aux input (any device plugged in using a wire), press the Bluetooth button to switch from aux to Bluetooth
- Make sure your PC, phone, tablet or other device is not locked or in airplane mode
- Power down your speaker and restart your PC or phone, and try the process again
- If this doesn’t work, you can factory reset your speaker by connecting it to a power source and then pressing and holding the aux and volume down (-) buttons at the same time for 10 seconds until the Soundlink Color powers down. Then turn it back on and start over.
If all else fails, you can always contact the Bose Online Support Page
How To Find and Use the Bluetooth Page
How to Find and Connect Your Bose speaker on an Apple iPhone
- On your iPhone go to Settings, and then to Bluetooth
- Turn Bluetooth on
- Make sure your Bose speaker is in Pairing Mode (see sections above)
- Tap on the name of your Bose SoundLink Color speaker
- Enter any required passwords or pin codes (if you’re not sure, enter 0000)
- Click Yes or Confirm for any ensuing pop-ups
How to Find and Connect Your Bose speaker on Apple MacBook PC
- Go to Apple menu, then System Preferences, and then Bluetooth
- Make sure your Bose speaker is in Pairing Mode (see sections above)
- Select your Bose SoundLink Color speaker and click on Connect
- Enter any required passwords or pin codes (if you’re not sure, enter 0000)
- Click Yes or Confirm for any ensuing pop-ups
How to Find and Connect Your Bose speaker on an Android Phone/Tablet
- Swipe down from the top of your screen
- Find the Bluetooth icon and press and hold it until the Bluetooth page opens
- Make sure Bluetooth is turned on
- Make sure your Bose speaker is in Pairing Mode (see sections above)
- Tap on the name of your Bose SoundLink Color speaker
- If you do not see your Bose speaker listed, you may have to press one of the following (depending on your device):
- Connect New Device
- Refresh
- Enter any required passwords or pin codes (if you’re not sure, enter 0000)
- Click Yes or Confirm for any ensuing pop-ups
How to Find and Connect Your Bose speaker on a Windows PC
- Go to Settings, and then to Devices
- Turn Bluetooth on
- Make sure your Bose speaker is in Pairing Mode (see sections above)
- Click on “Add Bluetooth or other device”
- Select your Bose SoundLink Color speaker from the pop-up list and click on Connect
- Enter any required passwords or pin codes (if you’re not sure, enter 0000)
- Click Yes or Confirm for any ensuing pop-ups