Bose wireless headphones are awesome to use on smartphones because of the Bose Connect app. Pairing them with both Android and iOS devices is a breeze. Plus, you also get nifty features like adjustable noise-canceling and automatic off-timer. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for when you try to connect your Bose headphones to your laptop or PC. This is especially because, unfortunately, there is no Bose Connect app for Windows devices. It’s even more frustrating when you have a meeting in a few minutes, and your headphones won’t pair to your PC no matter what you do. In this article, we’ll show you the step-by-step guide on connecting Bose headphones to a Windows PC. Let’s dive right in.
First, Reset Your Bose Headphones
When your headphones wouldn’t connect to your PC, it’s likely because of a software issue instead of hardware. Fortunately, resetting your headphones could quickly solve your connectivity problems. A reset sequence can return your headphones to a blank-slate condition, free of bugs and glitches. That’s why if your perfectly functioning Bose headphones suddenly won’t connect, resetting them before trying out other steps can help solve the issue.
How to reset your Bose Headphones
You can reset Bose headphones by following these steps:
How to clear Bose Headphones’ pairing list
Unlike other wireless headphones, resetting your Bose headphones will NOT remove any of your previously paired devices, or software updates. So if you’re still having trouble connecting them even after resetting them twice, you can try manually clearing the pairing list from your headphones. To do so, simply turn off your headphones and slide the power button to the right for 10 seconds. You should hear “Bluetooth device list cleared” from your headphones. Alternatively, you can use the Bose Connect app to clear your pairing list using your mobile device:
How to Connect Bose Headphones to PC
Connecting a pair of Bose headphones to a PC is relatively easy. If your headphones are brand new or you just reset them, the process should take only a few minutes. Here’s a quick guide on how you can do so:
What to Do if the Bose Headphones Won’t Connect to PC
Here are some precautions you can do to prevent any trouble when pairing your headphones with your PC:
Connect with the right Bose headphones icon
Your wireless headphones may show up twice in the Windows 10 Bluetooth device list, one with a headset icon and another one with LE- on its name. Use the headset/speaker icon to tell Windows that you are pairing with a sound output device.
Check if your Windows support audio via Bluetooth
Older computers running Windows may only support mice or keyboards over Bluetooth, but no audio. If this is the case, you might need to get an external Bluetooth audio adapter before using your wireless headphones. You can read our guide on connecting Bluetooth headphones to a PC to learn more.
Check the audio output device setting
If your PC has multiple audio output devices (e.g., wired speakers and wireless headphones), ensure that the default output device is your wireless headphones. Follow this guide for step-by-step instructions on switching default audio output on Windows.
Is There a Bose Connect App for Windows 10?
The Bose Connect app is only available on Android and iOS devices. But you can still connect your headphones from a Windows device using Bluetooth connectivity. Bose headphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) have the feature turned on out of the box. However, the unavailability of Bose Connect app means you won’t get access to app-exclusive features such as: Moreover, the Bose Connect app also allows you to update your headphones’ firmware, but you can do the same with Windows PC. Here’s how you can update your Bose wireless headphones’ firmware using your PC:
How to Switch Between Paired Devices
Bose headphones can pair with up to eight devices. However, you can only have two active connections at a time. Your headphones should connect to two of the most recently used devices when you turn them on. However, Bose wireless headphones can connect to two devices simultaneously but only play audio from one source. Bose headphones have automatic audio stream detection. This feature allows them to switch between two devices more easily. To switch between two active devices, you can simply pause the first device’s audio and start playing the audio on the second device. If you’re unsure which devices connect to your headphones, move the slider button to Bluetooth (right side) and release it. Your headphones should mention which device they’re actively connected to. Moreover, if you want to connect to other paired Bluetooth devices, you can follow these steps: You can also use the Bose Connect app on iOS or Android to manage your headphones’ paired devices and access several exclusive features.
Conclusion
Whether you’re using a laptop or desktop PC, a smooth connection can help you get the best sound quality from your Bose headphones. Since you can’t use the Bose Connect app on Windows, there may be other workarounds to access the exclusive features we didn’t cover in this guide. If you know some of those workarounds, let us know in the comments!
