Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones usually work perfectly, and are known to be very reliable, but sometimes they can get stuck or have issues with sound, with power or charging or with connections.
If this happens you might want to reset them – a super-easy and trouble-free process that can solve a lot of problems you may be experiencing.
In this article I will offer very simple but complete step-by-step instructions for how to reset a pair of Bose QuietComfort 45 wireless headphones.
First we’ll cover the basic steps for resetting, then we’ll discuss some reasons why you might want to reset your QuietComfort 45 headphones, and finally go over some basic troubleshooting steps in case you are still having problems.
How To Reset Bose QC45 Headphones: Step by Step Instructions
Just follow these 3 basic steps to successfully reset your Bose QC45 Bluetooth wireless headphones.
Step 1:
Connect a USB charging cable to the QC45 headphones’ right earcup
Step 2:
Slide the power/Bluetooth switch – also located on the right earcup – to the right and hold it there while you connect the other end of the charging cable to a USB wall charger or powered USB outlet
Step 3:
Once the USB cable has been connected, release the power/Bluetooth switch and your headphones will reset
Unlike many other reset processes, with a QuietComfort 45 headphones reset you don’t need to re-enter any settings or eve re-pair your headphones with your phone, PC or other Bluetooth device – your QC45 will remember all previous settings.
Why Reset Bose Wireless Headphones?
Resetting Bose QuietComfort 45 Bluetooth wireless headphones can solve a lot of problems you might be having, and so it is recommended to reset yours if:
- You can’t get them to connect to your PC, phone, tablet or other device. You may also want to check out our guide on How To Pair Bose Headphones
- Your headphones will pair with your device, but you keep losing the connection
- You are having problems charging your headphones, or even powering them on
- There are problems with sound – stuttering, delays (like between sound and video), gaps or stoppages, any distortion or strange sounds, or no sound at all
A reset is highly recommended if you are having recurring problems that you can’t quite figure out how to fix, and since the headphones will remember all their previous settings, and don’t need to be reconfigured after the reset, it is a very easy and trouble-free process.
Basic Troubleshooting of Bose QuietComfort 45 Headphones
- If the reset of your Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones seems to have worked, and you’re still having the same problems with power and/or charging, with connection or with sound, you might want to do a little basic troubleshooting.
- Make sure your headphones and device are turned on and sufficiently charged
- Make sure the device’s Buetooth is turned on, and that it is not locked or in Flight mode
- Remember that your QuietComfort 45 headphones and device have to be in range of each other – this can be several hundred feet, but physical obstructions and interference can significantly reduce the range
- Make sure you are actually playing something – music, a movie, an audiobook or any other audio
- Check the volume controls on your speaker, your device and also its media player, making sure they are all turned up at least a bit
- Make sure your Bose QC45 headphones are not actively paired to another device, or your device is not actively paired to other headphones, speakers or anything else
- Try un-pairing and then re-pairing your headphones and device
- Restart your PC or phone
Restore Factory Settings
You can also try to completely restore factory settings, and here’s how to restore factory settings on Bose QC45 wireless headphones:
Step 1
Remove the headphones from your device’s Bluetooth list and from your Bose account using the Bose Music app (if applicable)
Step 2
Slide the power/Bluetooth switch to the right and hold it there
Step 3
At the same time, press and hold the action button – located on the left earcup – for 30 seconds
Step 4
The LED indicator should go from blinking white to blinking red and then to blinking blue, at which point the full factory settings have been restored, and you can release both buttons
Step 5
You will now need to re-pair your headphones with any Bluetooth devices you are using, as well as re-enter all settings on your Bose Music app
If all else fails, including the reset and restoring factory settings, you may need to contact the Bose Online Support Page
And finally, if you’ve arrived at this article, but you actually have different Bose Bluetooth wireless headphones – that is, not QuietComfort 45, but a different model – you can go to our more general article: How To Reset Bose Headphones: Step-By-Step Instructions.