Bose SoundLink Mini 1 and 2 are undoubtedly great portable Bluetooth speakers, but even the best speakers are susceptible to occasional blips. Luckily, many issues, especially those caused by firmware glitches, can be fixed by resetting the speaker to factory default settings.
In this post, I will give you step-by-step instructions on how to reset your Bose SoundLink Mini 1 and 2. In addition, I will list and analyze the issues that can be fixed by resetting the speaker and offer you some alternative fixes in case resetting the speaker doesn’t help.
Key Takeaways
- Resetting the speaker is a viable solution for numerous issues caused by firmware bugs and glitches. If your speaker won’t charge, if the buttons are unresponsive, if the speaker won’t turn off, or if it won’t connect or keeps disconnecting, resetting the speaker to factory default settings might fix the issue.
- Resetting your Bose SoundLink Mini won’t help if the issue is caused by hardware malfunction. Things like battery failure, PCB failure, damaged speaker driver, or broken buttons can’t be fixed by resetting the speaker.
- To reset Bose SoundLink Mini 1, press and hold the MUTE button for about 10 seconds. Release it when LEDs start blinking and the speaker turns off.
- To reset Bose SoundLink Mini 2, long-press the POWER button for about 10 seconds. Release it when all three LEDs start blinking and the speaker turns off.
- If resetting your Bose SoundLink Mini 1 or 2 doesn’t fix the issue for you, or if you can’t perform the reset, updating the speaker might fix the issue.
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Bose SoundLink Mini Controls
While the SoundLink Mini 1 and SoundLink Mini 2 look similar, there are some noticeable differences between them. Their control schemes, for example, are slightly different. SoundLink Mini 1 has 6 control buttons, while SoundLink Mini 2 has 5.
Differences between SoundLink Mini 1 and 2
| Bose SoundLink Mini 1 | Bose SoundLInk Mini 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of control buttons | 6 | 5 |
| MULTIFUNCTION button | No | Yes |
| Dedicated Mute button | Yes | No |
| Built-in mic for calls | No | Yes |
| Multipoint pairing | No | Yes (2 devices) |
SoundLink Mini 1 Controls
SoundLink Mini 1 has a straightforward control scheme. There are 6 control buttons. The buttons are:
POWER button – Used to turn the speaker on/off. It can also be used to check the speaker’s battery level. Press and hold the button and observe the battery LED behavior. Green LED means you have more than 70% battery left. Yellow LED means you have between 20 and 70%. Red LED means your battery is below 20%.
MUTE button – Used to instantly mute the speaker (short press) or reset the speaker (press and hold).
VOL UP/DOWN buttons – Used to increase/decrease the volume level.
BLUETOOTH button – Used to put the speaker in pairing mode. It can also be used to clear the speaker’s Bluetooth memory (erase saved Bluetooth devices).
AUX button – Used to select 3.5mm AUX input as a playback source.
SoundLink Mini 1 Control Buttons
SoundLink Mini 2 has three LED indicators – Battery LED (above the POWER button), Bluetooth LED (above the BLUETOOTH button), and AUX LED (above the AUX button).
SoundLink Mini 2 Controls
Bose SoundLink Mini 2 has 5 control buttons. The buttons are:
POWER button – Used to turn the speaker on/off. It can also be used to check the battery level (press and hold for 1-2 seconds) and reset the speaker.
VOL UP/DOWN buttons – Used to increase and decrease the playback volume. While on a call, you can press both buttons simultaneously to mute the call. When not on a call, you can press them simultaneously to scroll through supported languages. Also, you can press and hold both buttons simultaneously for a few seconds to disable voice prompts.
MULTIFUNCTION button – Used to PLAY/PAUSE (single press), skip forward (double-press), and skip backward (triple-press). In AUX mode, pressing the MULTIFUNCTION button will mute the music. It’s also used to answer/end calls (single press), decline incoming calls (press and hold), switch between two calls (double-press), switch a call to a mobile device (press and hold while on a call), or access voice control to make a phone call (press and hold while not on a call).
BLUETOOTH button – Used to put the speaker in Bluetooth pairing mode or clear the speaker’s Bluetooth memory.
SoundLink Mini 2 – Control Buttons
Like the Mini 1, SoundLink Mini 2 has three LED indicators – the Battery LED (above the POWER button), Bluetooth LED (above the Bluetooth button), and AUX LED (next to the Bluetooth LED).
Reasons to Reset Bose SoundLink Mini 1 & 2
Numerous Bose SoundLink Mini issues can be fixed by resetting the speaker to factory default settings.
The most common issues you can fix by resetting your SoundLink Mini 1 or 2 include:
- Bose SoundLink Mini Won’t Charge
- Unresponsive Control Buttons
- Bose SoundLink Mini Won’t Turn OFF
- Bose SoundLink Mini Keeps Turning OFF
- Bose SoundLink Mini 1/2 Won’t Connect
- Bose SoundLink Mini 1/2 Keeps Disconnecting
- Bose SoundLink Mini 1/2 flashing red light
Note that resetting your speaker cannot fix just any issue. It can’t even fix the issues listed above if they were not caused by firmware glitches and bugs.
For example, if your SoundLink Mini 2 won’t charge because the battery is dead/damaged, resetting won’t do anything. The only thing that can fix the issue is replacing the battery.
Remember – resetting your speaker will help if the issues are firmware-related.
How to Reset Bose SoundLink Mini 1 and 2?
The reset process is simple and takes about 15 seconds, but it’s not the same for both speakers.
Resetting Bose SoundLink Mini 1
On Bose SoundLink Mini, press and hold the MUTE button for about 10 seconds to reset it. Release the buttons when all three LEDs blink and the speaker goes off.
Press and hold the MUTE button for 10 seconds to reset SoundLink Mini 1.
Resetting Bose SoundLink Mini 1
Resetting Bose SoundLink Mini 2
On Bose SoundLink Mini 2, long-press the POWER button for about 10 seconds to reset it. Release the button when all three LEDs blink once. The speaker will turn off after it has been reset. Turn it back on. The speaker should go to pairing mode, but it won’t connect to your phone automatically because the speaker’s Bluetooth memory has been erased. Pair it afresh with your phone.
Press and hold the POWER button for 10 seconds to reset your SoundLink Mini 2.
Other Ways to Fix Your Malfunctioning Bose SoundLink Mini
Resetting your Bose SoundLink Mini is not a universal solution that fixes all the problems. It can help with many firmware-related issues, but it’s not an efficient solution for hardware issues. And it won’t even help with all firmware-related issues.
Updating Bose SoundLink Mini
Manufacturing firmware defects can only be fixed through firmware updates. So, if the issue is caused by the manufacturer’s mistake, resetting the speaker won’t make any difference.
Since there’s no way to know what caused the issue with your speaker, you could try resetting it. If resetting doesn’t help, try updating the speaker. Here’s how to update your Bose SoundLink Mini 1 or 2.
Connect the speaker to your PC using a USB cable.
Open up your web browser and type in this address: https://btu.bose.com.
If this is your first time trying to update your Bose speaker, you will have to download the Bose Updater. After that, when you launch the updater, it will send you to the same page.
The Bose Updater web page will automatically recognize your speaker. It will recognize your speaker’s current firmware version and inform you about the available updates.
If there is an update available, click on Apply Changes.
Bose Updater will install the available updates. Do not unplug the speaker while it’s being updated.
Once the update is finished, you can disconnect the speaker.
Updating Bose SoundLink Mini 2
Dealing with Connection Issues
When your SoundLink Mini 1 or 2 can’t connect to your phone or if it keeps disconnecting, you could try clearing its Bluetooth memory instead of resetting it. The procedure is the same for both models.
You have to press and hold the Bluetooth button for 10 seconds until you hear a tone.
Clearing your Bose speaker’s Bluetooth memory may fix some Bluetooth connection issues.
Fixing Bose SoundLink Mini 2 that Won’t Turn ON
If your SoundLink Mini 2 won’t turn on and resetting it doesn’t help, try this:
Connect the speaker to the charger.
Press and hold the MULTIFUNCTION button for 10 seconds.
After 10 seconds, disconnect the charging cable while still holding the button. Release the button after disconnecting the cable. Wait for 1 minute.
Then, reconnect the cable and let the speaker charge for an hour. After an hour, press the power button to turn the speaker on.
Fixing Bose SoundLink Mini 2 that Keeps Turning OFF
If your Bose SoundLink Mini 2 keeps turning off and resetting it doesn’t help, try disabling the Auto-OFF feature.
You can do this by pressing and holding the VOL UP and Bluetooth buttons simultaneously until you hear a tone.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How to perform a reset on my Bose Soundlink Mini 1?
- Answer: Long-press the MUTE button for 10 seconds. Release it when all three LEDs blink and the speaker turns off.
- Question: How to perform a reset on my Bose Soundlink Mini 2 speaker?
- Answer: Press and hold the POWER button for 10 seconds. Release it when all three LEDs blink and the speaker turns off.
- Question: How do I exit the battery protection mode on my Bose Soundlink Mini 2?
- Answer: The purpose of battery protection mode is to save battery power. Your Bose speaker will automatically go to battery protection mode if it was unplugged/unused for 24 days or if the battery is below 10% for three days.
- To exit the battery protection mode, connect your Bose SoundLink Mini 2 to an AC outlet.
- Question: How do I update my Bose SoundLink Mini 2?
- Answer: You have to connect the speaker to your PC, visit Bose’s updater website (https://btu.bose.com), and download the Bose Updater. Then, when you launch it, the same page will open and recognize your speaker’s current firmware version. If there’s an update available, click on Apply Changes and wait for the update to finish.
- Question: Why is my Bose Soundlink Mini not turning on?
- Answer: This issue can be caused by both firmware and hardware issues. If it’s a firmware issue, you could try resetting or updating your speaker. If it’s a hardware issue, you have to isolate the problem first and then try to fix it. Potential culprits are a dead battery, damaged power button, and faulty PCB.
- Question: How do I pair my Bose SoundLink Mini 2?
- Answer: Turn on the speaker. If this is a brand-new speaker, it should go to pairing mode automatically. If it doesn’t, press the Bluetooth button until the Bluetooth LED (above the Bluetooth button) starts blinking blue.
- Open the Bluetooth settings on your phone and enable Bluetooth. Your SoundLink Mini 2 should appear in the list of available devices. Tap on it. Confirm that you want to connect by tapping on Pair.
- When the speaker connects to your phone, the Bluetooth LED on it will be solid white.
- Question: How do you fix a Bose speaker that is not charging?
- Answer: It depends on why your Bose speaker is not charging. If it’s because of a firmware glitch, try resetting or updating your speaker. If the charging issue is caused by a faulty battery, you will have to replace the battery.
Conclusion
It’s always useful to know how to reset your audio equipment, even if it’s high-end gear made by a reputable brand. Electronic devices are susceptible to firmware and hardware issues, regardless of their quality or price.
I hope this short guide helped you understand what issues can be fixed by resetting your Bose SoundLink Mini 1 and 2 and how to perform the reset procedure.
Remember, resetting is not a universal solution for all speaker problems. If it doesn’t fix your issue, try other fixes suggested in this guide.
