Bose audio products, especially their speakers and headphones, are usually top-of-the-range quality. That includes devices produced years ago yet still maintaining the audio quality and functionality.
For this reason, I got the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones since I wanted something vintage but not so old that it does not connect to other products. The headphones worked without any glitches until they would not go into pairing mode.
One of the suggested troubleshooting measures was to reset the headphones, but I could not find the correct resetting procedure. The procedure illustrated on the Bose website is just a rebooting procedure that did not solve my problem.
Fortunately, I found the correct resetting procedure and more processes I could follow to get the headphones working as intended.
Key Takeaways
- There are two methods of resetting the Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones.
- One will clear the list of paired devices that are saved on the headphones.
- The other resetting procedure will restart the headphones without clearing the paired device information on the headphones.
- Both resetting procedures will leave some settings intact, especially those updated using the Connect app.
- To soft reset the headphones, power them off, then wait for thirty seconds. Connect the headphones to a charger for five seconds, then unplug them and power them on.
- You can also hard reset the headphones by moving the power button to the Bluetooth position and leaving it there for ten seconds.
- The headphones will play a ‘Bluetooth device list cleared’ audio prompt, and the reset will be complete.
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When Should I Reset the Bose QC 35 Headphones?
Resetting electronic devices is a common practice that helps users get their devices working after encountering problems.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones are no different as they occasionally malfunction, and most of the time, a reset is what fixes them.
Some occasions that warrant you to reset the headphones include:
- When you want to sell or change ownership of the headphones from the original owner. A reset makes setting up the headphones easier for the new user.
- A reset is also used when the headphones malfunction and present weird behavior like not powering off or connecting to your device.
- The reset is also useful when you cannot see the headphones in the list of available Bluetooth devices, yet the headphones are in pairing mode.
- If you want to clear the list of previously connected devices stored in the headphone’s memory, you will have to reset them.
- A reset can also help if the headphones are not appearing on the Bose Connect app and you want to update or downgrade the firmware version.
Evidently, the most common reason to reset the headphones is to troubleshoot them in the case of a malfunction.
Reasons to Reset Bose QuietComfort 35 Headphones
Regardless of the reason for a reset, it is necessary you know the correct steps to follow. Below is a detailed procedure for resetting the Bose QC 35 headphones, whether you intend to perform a hard or soft reset.
Also included is what each type of reset will accomplish.
How to Reset QuietComfort 35 Headphones
There are two procedures that you can follow to reset the Bose QC 35:
Soft Reset
- Assuming the headphones are powered on, power them off by sliding the power/Bluetooth button to the right.
Power off the headphones.
- Then, let the headphones stay powered off for thirty seconds or a minute if you have the time.
Leave the headphones turned off for 30 seconds.
- Next, connect the Bose QC to a power source using the USB cable with the headphones. Preferably use an adapter, but if it is unavailable, you can use a USB port on a computer or laptop and ensure the computer/laptop is powered on.
- Leave the headphones connected for five to ten seconds and ensure they are charging.
Leave the headphones connected to a charger for 5 seconds.
- The battery LED on the headphones will light amber to show that they are charging. If it glows green, it means the battery is fully charged, but you should still leave it connected for five to ten seconds.
- The battery LED is on the right earcup just above the charging port.
- Disconnect the headphones from the charger, let them rest for a minute, then power them on.
This reset procedure will not erase any settings or the list of previously connected devices from your headphone.
However, it will solve fundamental problems with the headphones, like issues connecting to the headphones and them not turning off.
How to Soft-Reset Bose QC35
Hard Reset
- Slide the power button from the power position to Bluetooth and hold it there for ten seconds.
- Release it once you hear a ‘Bluetooth device list cleared’ voice prompt.
Slide the button to the Bluetooth position and hold it for 10 seconds. Release the button when you hear a voice prompt.
- At this point, the headphones have cleared the list of previously connected devices.
- Go to the Bluetooth settings of the devices paired to the Bose QC 35 and delete the headphones. This will enable you to pair the QuietComfort headphones to these devices later seamlessly.
- The QC 35 headphones are now ready to pair with other devices.
There is no way to reset the headphones so that even the settings on the app are reset. The only option to achieve this is to clear the app’s data.
How to Hard-Reset Bose QC35
Other Troubleshooting Measures You Can Take
Apart from resetting the headphones, you can take other troubleshooting measures whenever the headphones malfunction.
These measures are meant to get the headphones working regularly but are not guaranteed to work.
But you can take solace in the fact that they have worked for other users who have experienced problems with their Bose QuietComfort 35 headphones.
They are:
Check for Firmware Updates
Most headphone problems occur because of a firmware misconfiguration from the manufacturer’s end.
When users complain to the manufacturer about these bugs, the manufacturer solves them and rolls out firmware updates.
It is then up to the user to update their headphone’s firmware and possibly fix these problems.
Below is how you can check for a firmware update and download it in case you find one.
- Go to the App Store or Google Play and download the Connect app if you do not have it already installed.
- Next, ensure the headphones are connected to your phone via Bluetooth or NFC.
- Open the Connect app, create an account, or sign in if you already have one. Then, agree to the Privacy policy and terms of use.
- Grant the Connect app the permissions it will ask for and follow the prompts the app will present to set it up.
- The app will present a download icon on the headphone’s image if there is an update. It is a downward-facing arrow.
Tap on the downward-pointing arrow.
- The update will download with a white circle showing the downloading progress.
- Once the download is complete, click on the Update option.
Tap on UPDATE.
- Give the headsets a few minutes to install the update, and you will see a checkmark once it is done.
Wait for the update to finish.
Alternatively, you can visit btu.bose.com on your laptop or desktop to download the Bose updater, and it will take you through the updating procedure.
You can update your Bose QC35 headphones using your PC and the Bose updater webpage.
Follow these troubleshooting measures if the update is not successful. You can also check your firmware’s version by following these steps to know if you have the latest version.
How to Update Bose QC35 Headphones Using the Bose Updater?
Clean the Power Button
Other users have fixed the problem of the headphones not powering on or off by cleaning the power button.
However, this procedure involves removing the headphone’s protective cover on the right earcup, which might cause further damage if you do not follow the correct procedure.
Ensure the headphone’s battery is completely drained before removing the protective cover from the earcup.
Once the battery is drained, remove the ear cushion on the right earcup to reveal the screws holding the outer protective cover.
You need to remove these three screws.
Unscrew the said screws, then flip the headphones to get to the power switch.
Remove the earcup cover.
Next, gently remove the switch and use a cotton swab doused in a bit of isopropyl alcohol.
Gently remove the switch and clean the power button.
Ensure a small amount of the alcohol gets into the switch and flip it to ensure it is evenly spread. Wait for the alcohol to dry, then screw the protective cover back on and charge the headphones, then check if they work.
Below is a video description of the whole process.
Cleaning the Bose QC 35 Power Switch
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How do I clear the pairing list on my Bose QuietComfort 35?
- Answer:
- Slide the power button to the Bluetooth position and hold it there for ten seconds.
- The QC 35 headphones will notify you that the ‘Bluetooth device list cleared.’
- Go to the devices connected to the headphones before and forget the headphones from the Bluetooth-paired list.
- Question: How do I clear Bose qc35 II memory?
- Answer:
- Hold the power button to the Bluetooth pairing position for ten seconds.
- The headphones will announce that the “Bluetooth device list is cleared. Ready to connect.”
- Question: How do you soft reset a Bose?
- Answer: Power off the Bose product and wait for ten to thirty seconds, then power it on. You can connect the device to a working power source before powering it back on.
Conclusion
The suggestions above will help you solve the most common and stubborn issues with your Bose QC 35 headphones. However, they are not guaranteed to work, but if they do not, you can try the guided troubleshooting procedure provided on the Bose website.
Alternatively, you can contact Bose’s customer support, who will guide you through additional troubleshooting measures. Remember to notify them of your procedures to get the headphones working.
