How To Reset Bose Headphones: Step-by-step Instructions

reset bose headphones

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Bose headphones are about the most reliable and trouble-free you can get, but even still you can have problems with pairing them to your device, with sound or with other functions.

If this happens, and you aren’t able to fix the problem, you may need to reset your Bose headphones. How to reset Bose wireless headphones, like pretty much everything with Bose products, is well thought out and quite simple to do, but having detailed instructions for your specific set of Bose headphones can make a huge difference.

So in this article I will offer clear, step-by-step instructions on how to reset all of the different Bose headphones, including the super-easy soft reset and the more thorough full factory reset. Don’t worry – these are both pretty simple processes, and we’ll make them even simpler here!

How To Reset Your Bose Headphones

The specific instructions on how to reset Bose Bluetooth headphones will be a bit different for each of the Bose headphone models, so the first thing you need to determine is the exact model name and number of your Bose headphones.

Then simply find them in the list below and click on that link, and it will take you to the correct instructions for resetting your Bose headphones.

How to Reset Bose 700 Noise Cancelling Headphones

These instructions apply to the Bose 700 headphones only – for Bose 700 UC headphones see just below.

It is really simple to reset your Bose 700 noise cancelling headphones, which makes your headphones forget any and all previously paired devices. Doing so might help clear up problems you are having with their operation – especially issues related to pairing with other devices.

  1. Make sure that your USB charging cable is not connected to your headphones
  2. Plug the USB charging cable into the wall socket, or into a powered USB port on your PC – but do not plug it into the headphones yet
  3. Press and hold the Power/Bluetooth button on your headphones
  4. While continuing to hold the button, plug the USB charging cable into the headphones – you should see the power light blink twice
  5. Hold the power button for two more seconds, and then release it

Your Bose 700 headphones are now reset, and should have forgotten all previously linked devices, so you can go through your normal process of connecting to your phone, PC or other devices.

Bose recommends that if this reset does not work, you should do it a second time following the exact same steps

Please note that if you have tried this reset and are still having problems, there may be a more serious issue, and your next step should be to contact your dealer or Bose Customer Support.

How to Reset Bose 700 UC Noise Cancelling Headphones

These instructions apply to the Bose 700 UC headphones only – for Bose 700 headphones (not UC) see just above.

With Bose 700 UC headphones, there are two levels of reset:

  • The Soft Reset, or Reboot, which only makes your headphones forget any and all previously paired devices – this can solve some of your issues, especially trouble with pairing to either a new or older phone, PC, music player or other device.
  • The Factory Reset, which completely resets your headphones, forgetting all previously paired devices and restoring all of your configurations and settings, like sound settings – this can solve almost any issue you may be having, but does require that you completely reconfigure your headphones.

Soft Reset – Forget Paired Devices:

  1. Make sure that your USB charging cable is not connected to your headphones
  2. Plug the USB charging cable into the wall socket, or into a powered USB port on your PC – but do not plug it into the headphones yet
  3. Press and hold the Power/Bluetooth button on your headphones
  4. While continuing to hold the button, plug the USB charging cable into the headphones – you should see the power light blink twice
  5. Hold the power button for two more seconds, and then release it

Your Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are now reset, and should have forgotten all previously linked devices, so you can go through your normal process of connecting to your phone, PC or other devices.

Bose recommends that if this reset does not work, you should do it a second time following the exact same steps

Hard Reset / Reboot – Restore Factory Settings:

  1. Press and hold the Power/Bluetooth button on the USB Link for 10 seconds – make sure you are not connected to a meeting when you do this, or it won’t work
  2. Unplug the USB Link from your computer’s USB port
  3. After 30 seconds, plug the USB link back into the USB port

Your Bose 700 UC headphones are now returned to their original out of the box factory settings, and you will need to not only pair them again to any of your devices, but also reconfigure any other settings you may have made.

Please note that if you have tried both of these resets and are still having problems, there may be a more serious issue, and your next step should be to contact your dealer or Bose Customer Support.

How to Reset Bose QuietComfort 45 Headphones

With Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones, there are two levels of reset:

  • The Soft Reset, which only makes your headphones forget any and all previously paired devices – this can solve some of your issues, especially trouble with pairing to either a new or older phone, PC, music player or other device.
  • The Factory Reset, which completely resets your headphones, forgetting all previously paired devices and restoring all of your configurations and settings, like sound settings – this can solve almost any issue you may be having, but does require that you completely reconfigure your headphones.

Soft Reset – Forget Paired Devices:

  1. Connect your USB charging cable to the right earcup of your QuietComfort 45 headphones
  2. Slide the Bluetooth/Power switch right, and hold it in that position while you plug the other end of the USB charging cable into the wall
  3. Once the charging cable is plugged in, release the Bluetooth/Power switch

Your Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are now reset, and should have forgotten all previously linked devices, so you can go through your normal process of connecting to your phone, PC or other devices.

Bose recommends that if this reset does not work, you should do it a second time following the exact same steps

Hard Reset – Restore Factory Settings:

  1. Remove your headphones from the Bluetooth settings on your phone, PC or other devices
  2. Remove your headphones from your Bose account through the Bose Music App
  3. Slide the Bluetooth/Power switch right, and hold it in that position while you press and hold the Action button
  4. Hold these buttons for 30 seconds – you will see the LED light first blink white, then red, then blue, which means the reset is complete

Your Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones are now returned to their original out of the box factory settings, and you will need to not only pair them again to any of your devices, but also reconfigure any other settings you may have made.

Please note that if you have tried both of these resets and are still having problems, there may be a more serious issue, and your next step should be to contact your dealer or Bose Customer Support.

How to Reset Bose QuietComfort 35 Headphones

These instructions apply to all Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones, including:

  • Bose QuietComfort 35 (1st generation)
  • Bose QuietComfort 35 II
  • Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming
  • Bose QuietComfort 35 SE

It is really simple to reset your Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones, which makes your headphones forget any and all previously paired devices. Doing so might help clear up problems you are having with their operation – especially issues related to pairing with other devices.

  1. Turn your headphones off, and leave them powered off for 30 seconds
  2. Connect your USB charging cable to your headphones and to the wall outlet, and wait 5 seconds
  3. Disconnect the USB charging cable from your headphones, and wait 5 seconds
  4. Power on your headphones

Your Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones are now reset, and should have forgotten all previously linked devices, so you can go through your normal process of connecting to your phone, PC or other devices.

Bose recommends that if this reset does not work, you should do it a second time following the exact same steps

Please note that if you have tried this reset and are still having problems, there may be a more serious issue, and your next step should be to contact your dealer or Bose Customer Support.

These instructions apply to all Bose SoundLink headphones, including:

  • Bose SoundLink Around-Ear
  • Bose SoundLink Around-Ear II
  • Bose SoundLink On-Ear
  • Bose QuietComfort 35 SE

It is really simple to reset your Bose SoundLink headphones, which makes your headphones forget any and all previously paired devices. Doing so might help clear up problems you are having with their operation – especially issues related to pairing with other devices.

  1. Turn your headphones off, and leave them powered off for 30 seconds
  2. Connect your USB charging cable to your headphones and to the wall outlet, and wait 5 seconds
  3. Disconnect the USB charging cable from your headphones, and wait 5 seconds
  4. Power on your headphones

Your Bose SoundLink headphones are now reset, and should have forgotten all previously linked devices, so you can go through your normal process of connecting to your phone, PC or other devices.

Bose recommends that if this reset does not work, you should do it a second time following the exact same steps

Please note that if you have tried this reset and are still having problems, there may be a more serious issue, and your next step should be to contact your dealer or Bose Customer Support.

How to Reset Bose On-Ear Wireless Headphones

It is really simple to reset your Bose On-Ear Wireless headphones, which makes your headphones forget any and all previously paired devices. Doing so might help clear up problems you are having with their operation – especially issues related to pairing with other devices.

  1. Turn your headphones off, and leave them powered off for 30 seconds
  2. Connect your USB charging cable to your headphones and to the wall outlet, and wait 5 seconds
  3. Disconnect the USB charging cable from your headphones, and wait 5 seconds
  4. Power on your headphones

Your Bose On-Ear Wireless headphones are now reset, and should have forgotten all previously linked devices, so you can go through your normal process of connecting to your phone, PC or other devices.

Bose recommends that if this reset does not work, you should do it a second time following the exact same steps

Please note that if you have tried this reset and are still having problems, there may be a more serious issue, and your next step should be to contact your dealer or Bose Customer Support.


1 thought on “How To Reset Bose Headphones: Step-by-step Instructions”

  1. If you have the Bose AE2 Soundlink headphones, none of these methods work to clear the bluetooth settings from the headphones. If you want to reset them, you need to turn on the power and then continue to push the power button up past the on position (you’ll see it has room to move up slightly) and hold it there for about 10 seconds. If you do this with them on your head, they will give you a voice prompt to let you know it’s worked.

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