Use the Bose app for complete control: connect your powered-on QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, open the product page, tap Modes, and choose Quiet, Aware, Immersion, or a custom mode. You can also press and hold the multifunction button on the right earcup to cycle through modes you have marked as favorites. Equalizer controls are separate under the app’s EQ shortcut or Settings > Equalization.
These instructions apply to the original QuietComfort Ultra Headphones sold from 2023. Bose also sells a second-generation model from 2025, so confirm the product selected in the Bose app before following the labels below.
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Confirm which QuietComfort Ultra generation you own
Bose lists the original QuietComfort Ultra Headphones as a 2023 product and also lists second-generation QuietComfort Ultra Headphones sold from 2025. The app’s product page determines which controls and labels you see. Select the headphones that are actually connected, rather than assuming that every “Ultra” model uses the same menus. Bose’s product-support page identifies the first-generation listing and can help distinguish the products: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones product support.
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The mode and EQ steps in this guide follow Bose’s owner documentation for the original generation. If your app presents different controls, use the instructions shown for the selected generation instead of forcing these labels onto another model.
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- BREAKTHROUGH SPATIALIZED AUDIO: Super immersive sound spatializes everything, taking the music out of your head and placing it in front of you to push the boundaries of listening.
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Enjoy Bose’s best noise cancellation for headphones with Quiet Mode, turn on Aware Mode to hear more of your surroundings, or combine noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio with Immersion Mode.
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- ENHANCED LONG-LASTING BATTERY: Up to 30 hours of play time (23 with Immersive Audio)* keeps the music playing through even the longest listening sessions. Charge your headphones with the included USB-C cord and listen to music at the same time.
Before changing a setting
- Install and open the Bose app on your phone or tablet.
- Turn on the headphones and keep them close to the device.
- Connect the headphones in the app and wait until their product page appears.
- Check that the selected product is the original QuietComfort Ultra Headphones if you are following the menus in this guide.
Mode changes and EQ adjustments are stored in the headphones’ app-controlled settings. You do not need an accessory, cable, repair part, or separate tool to make these changes.
How do I change modes?
Change a mode in the Bose app
- Power on the headphones.
- Open the Bose app and connect to the headphones.
- Open the headphones’ product page.
- Tap Modes.
- Tap the mode you want to use.
The selected mode takes effect immediately. Bose’s owner’s guide describes the standard choices as Quiet, Aware, Immersion, and Custom. A mode is a bundle of listening settings, so changing modes can alter both noise control and Immersive Audio.
Cycle modes with the right-earcup button
- Press and hold the multifunction button on the right earcup.
- Listen for the voice prompt announcing the selected mode.
- Continue holding the button to move through the available modes.
- Release the button when the desired mode is announced.
This button does not cycle through every mode you have created. It cycles only through modes marked as favorites in the Bose app. Add or remove favorites in the app if the button’s sequence does not contain the mode you need. The headphones default to Quiet mode; Bose also provides an app option to power on in the last-used mode.
What Quiet, Aware, Immersion, and Custom mean
| Mode | Noise control and audio behavior | Useful when |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet | Full noise cancellation with Bose-optimized stereo audio. | You want the least outside sound while listening. |
| Aware | Full transparency, allowing surrounding sound through while you listen in stereo. | You need to hear people, announcements, traffic, or other surroundings. |
| Immersion | Full noise cancellation with Immersive Audio set to Motion. | You want immersive processing while moving rather than a stationary presentation. |
| Custom | A combination of noise-control and immersive-audio choices that you define. | You need a specific balance that the standard modes do not provide. |
These descriptions are Bose’s feature definitions, not independent measurements of isolation or sound quality. Your practical choice comes down to how much outside sound you want, whether you want Immersive Audio, and whether you are still or moving.
Match the mode to the situation
Choose Quiet when reducing outside sound is the main goal, such as on an airplane, train, or in a loud office. Choose Aware when hearing announcements, conversation, traffic, or other environmental sounds matters more than maximum isolation. Choose Immersion when you want the documented combination of full noise cancellation and Immersive Audio set to Motion. If you are sitting still and want a different Immersive Audio behavior, create a custom mode and select the available setting suited to staying stationary.
Remember that a mode is not just a noise-cancellation slider. It can carry an Immersive Audio choice as well. If a change sounds different after switching modes, first check whether the new mode changed Immersive Audio before assuming that EQ changed.
How to adjust noise cancellation with a custom mode
Create or edit a custom mode
- Connect the headphones in the Bose app.
- Open the product page and tap Modes.
- Choose the option to create a custom mode, or select an existing custom mode to edit it.
- Set the noise-cancellation level you want.
- Choose the mode’s other available preferences, such as Wind Block and Immersive Audio.
- Save the mode and select it when you want to use those settings.
Bose’s owner’s guide says the app supports up to seven custom modes. Give each one a clear purpose, such as “office,” “walking,” or “quiet room,” so you can recognize it quickly in the mode list. A named custom mode is easier to identify than repeatedly adjusting an unnamed setting whenever your surroundings change.
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- BREAKTHROUGH SPATIALIZED AUDIO: Super immersive sound spatializes everything, taking the music out of your head and placing it in front of you to push the boundaries of listening.
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Enjoy Bose’s best noise cancellation for headphones with Quiet Mode, turn on Aware Mode to hear more of your surroundings, or combine noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio with Immersion Mode.
- NEW CINEMA MODE: Bring video content to life like never before with Cinema Mode; spatialize and balance background sound and sound effects for movie-like immersion wherever you go.
- USB VOICE: Use the built-in mic to enjoy high-quality two-way communication for phone calls and video conferencing while connected via USB-C.
- ENHANCED LONG-LASTING BATTERY: Up to 30 hours of play time (23 with Immersive Audio)* keeps the music playing through even the longest listening sessions. Charge your headphones with the included USB-C cord and listen to music at the same time.
Understand the cancellation control
A lower noise-cancellation level allows more sound to enter through the external microphones. Turning noise cancellation off disables both cancellation and those external microphones. That means an “off” setting is different from a low-cancellation setting: low still uses the microphones with less cancellation, while off disables the noise-control system.
Noise cancellation is part of a mode rather than a completely independent global switch. If you select another mode, its stored noise-control and immersive-audio choices can replace the settings you just used. Save a preferred combination as a custom mode when you want it available without rebuilding the settings each time.
Use Wind Block and Immersive Audio deliberately
When you edit a custom mode, Bose also exposes Wind Block and Immersive Audio preferences. These are saved with that mode, so a “walking” mode can have different choices from an “office” mode. Compare the modes by changing one element at a time: first choose the cancellation level, then decide whether Wind Block is appropriate, and finally select the Immersive Audio behavior you want. This makes it clear which setting produced a change.
How to use Aware mode and ActiveSense
Aware mode is the transparency setting. It lets surrounding sound pass through while you continue listening in stereo. It is appropriate when you need environmental awareness, but the amount of cancellation inside Aware can be adjusted with ActiveSense.
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Turn ActiveSense on or off
- Connect the headphones in the Bose app.
- Open Modes.
- Choose Aware.
- Open the Aware settings control.
- Toggle ActiveSense.
Bose describes ActiveSense as dynamic noise cancellation for Aware mode. It increases cancellation when a sudden or loud sound occurs, then returns to the previous setting after that sound stops. It is therefore useful when you generally want transparency but do not want an abrupt noise to pass through at full level.
ActiveSense is specifically an Aware-mode option. Do not expect its toggle to change Quiet or Immersion; those modes use their own stored settings. If you switch away from Aware and later return, check the Aware settings if the behavior is not what you expect.
How do I use the Equalizer settings?
Open the EQ controls
- Open the Bose app while the headphones are connected.
- From the home screen, tap the EQ shortcut, or open Settings > Equalization.
- Choose a preset or select Custom EQ.
The equalizer is separate from the Modes page. You can change EQ without changing whether the headphones are in Quiet, Aware, Immersion, or a custom mode.
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Choose an EQ preset
| EQ choice | Effect described by Bose | Starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Flat EQ | No added equalization. | Use when you want no bass or treble emphasis. |
| Bass Boost | Increases bass. | Use when low frequencies sound too light for your preference. |
| Bass Reducer | Decreases bass. | Use when low frequencies feel too prominent. |
| Treble Boost | Increases treble. | Use when you prefer more high-frequency emphasis. |
| Treble Reducer | Decreases treble. | Use when high frequencies sound too strong. |
| Custom EQ | Lets you set a personal equalization curve. | Use after comparing the presets and deciding that a more specific balance is needed. |
Bose’s support article lists the available choices but does not state numeric frequency bands or adjustment ranges. Do not treat an undocumented number as a specification. If the sound is unpleasant, Bose recommends checking that bass and treble are not set too high or too low for your preference. A practical way to compare changes is to move settings gradually and listen to the same passage at a consistent volume; that is listening advice, not a Bose laboratory result.
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Separate EQ problems from mode changes
When comparing sound, keep the mode fixed while testing EQ. Quiet, Aware, Immersion, and Custom can carry different noise-control and Immersive Audio settings, so changing modes at the same time can make the result difficult to identify. Start with Flat EQ, listen to a familiar passage, and make one small bass or treble change. Return to Flat before testing another preset.
Choose a setting for common situations
| Situation | Mode approach | Additional adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Airplane, train, or loud office | Start with Quiet for full cancellation. | Use Flat EQ or your preferred bass/treble preset. |
| Walking where you must hear surroundings | Use Aware. | Enable ActiveSense if sudden loud sounds are a concern. |
| Quiet room and immersive listening | Use Immersion if you want Immersive Audio set to Motion, or create a custom mode if Motion is not appropriate. | Choose EQ independently. |
| Mixed environments | Create a custom mode with the cancellation level you actually need. | Add Wind Block or Immersive Audio preferences in that custom mode. |
| Stationary immersive listening | Create a custom mode and choose the available Immersive Audio setting suited to staying still. | Save it as a favorite if you want button access. |
The table helps you choose among documented controls; it does not claim that one setting sounds objectively better. Comfort, microphone leakage, fit, the recording itself, and your hearing all affect the result.
How favorites make physical controls useful
The right-earcup shortcut is fastest when your favorite modes represent distinct situations. In the app, mark the modes you use most often as favorites, then press and hold the multifunction button to cycle through only that shorter list. The voice prompt confirms each selection, so you do not need to remove the headphones or open the phone just to identify the active mode.
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Troubleshoot mode and EQ changes
The app does not show Modes or EQ
- Confirm that the headphones are powered on and connected to the Bose app, not merely paired in the phone’s Bluetooth settings.
- Open the product page for the connected headphones rather than another saved Bose product.
- Check whether the app selected a second-generation QuietComfort Ultra product; generation-specific menus may differ.
- Close and reopen the app after the connection is established.
If the product page is still unavailable, power the headphones on again and reconnect before attempting to change a setting. The controls described here are app controls, so a phone that only shows a generic Bluetooth connection may not expose Modes or Equalization.
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- BREAKTHROUGH SPATIALIZED AUDIO: Super immersive sound spatializes everything, taking the music out of your head and placing it in front of you to push the boundaries of listening.
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Enjoy Bose’s best noise cancellation for headphones with Quiet Mode, turn on Aware Mode to hear more of your surroundings, or combine noise cancellation and Bose Immersive Audio with Immersion Mode.
- NEW CINEMA MODE: Bring video content to life like never before with Cinema Mode; spatialize and balance background sound and sound effects for movie-like immersion wherever you go.
- USB VOICE: Use the built-in mic to enjoy high-quality two-way communication for phone calls and video conferencing while connected via USB-C.
- ENHANCED LONG-LASTING BATTERY: Up to 30 hours of play time (23 with Immersive Audio)* keeps the music playing through even the longest listening sessions. Charge your headphones with the included USB-C cord and listen to music at the same time.
The earcup button skips the mode I want
The button cycles only through favorited modes. Return to Modes in the app and mark the desired modes as favorites. Then press and hold the multifunction button again and wait for the voice prompt. If the desired mode still does not appear, select it directly in the app and review which modes are currently favorited.
Noise cancellation seems weaker than expected
- Check which mode is active; Aware and low-cancellation custom settings intentionally admit more sound than Quiet.
- Review the custom mode’s cancellation level.
- Remember that turning cancellation off also disables the external microphones.
- If the issue occurs only during sudden sounds in Aware, review the ActiveSense toggle.
Also check whether Immersion or a custom mode is being used instead of Quiet. A mode change can alter more than cancellation, and the headphones do not treat every mode as a copy of the previous one.
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Return to Flat EQ, then compare a small bass or treble change rather than moving directly to an extreme adjustment. Bose does not publish numeric ranges in the cited support material, so judge the result by listening and by your own preference. If a recording sounds harsh, reducing treble may help; if it sounds congested, reducing bass may be a better first test.
The headphones start in the wrong mode
Bose says the headphones default to Quiet mode. If you prefer the previous mode, use the app setting that powers the headphones on in the last-used mode. Verify the setting after selecting the product page for the correct generation. Selecting a custom mode once does not necessarily change the documented default behavior.
Why does the sound change when I switch modes?
Modes group settings. Quiet uses Bose-optimized stereo audio, Aware uses transparency, and Immersion combines full cancellation with Immersive Audio set to Motion. A custom mode can include its own cancellation, Wind Block, and Immersive Audio choices. The difference may therefore come from noise control or immersive processing rather than EQ.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A reliable setup sequence
- Identify the generation in the Bose app.
- Connect the powered-on headphones.
- Set the everyday mode under Modes.
- Create a custom mode when a standard mode does not provide the right cancellation or Immersive Audio combination.
- Mark frequently used modes as favorites for right-earcup access.
- Configure Aware and ActiveSense separately if you need transparency with protection from sudden loud sounds.
- Open EQ or Settings > Equalization and choose Flat, a bass/treble preset, or Custom EQ.
- Test one change at a time so you know whether the difference came from noise control, Immersive Audio, or EQ.
For the complete mode behavior and custom-mode controls, consult Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Owner’s Guide. Bose’s menu-specific EQ explanations are in Using the Equalizer settings | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change modes on Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones?
Connect the powered-on headphones in the Bose app, open the product page, tap Modes, and choose Quiet, Aware, Immersion, or a custom mode. You can also press and hold the right-earcup multifunction button to cycle through modes marked as favorites.
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How do I adjust noise cancellation?
Open Modes in the Bose app and create or edit a custom mode. Choose the desired cancellation level, then save the mode. Lower cancellation admits more sound; turning cancellation off also disables the external microphones.
How do I use Aware mode?
Select Aware under Modes. Aware provides transparency while you listen in stereo. In the Aware settings, toggle ActiveSense if you want dynamic cancellation during sudden or loud sounds.
What is ActiveSense on Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones?
ActiveSense is an Aware-mode option that increases cancellation when a sudden or loud sound occurs and returns to the previous setting after the sound stops.
How do I use the Equalizer settings?
In the Bose app, tap the EQ shortcut on the home screen or open Settings > Equalization. Choose Flat EQ, Bass Boost, Bass Reducer, Treble Boost, Treble Reducer, or Custom EQ.
How many custom modes can I create?
Bose’s owner’s guide says the app supports up to seven custom modes.
Why does the right-earcup button not show my custom mode?
The button cycles only through modes marked as favorites. Add the custom mode to your favorites in the Bose app, then press and hold the multifunction button again.
Does changing EQ change noise cancellation?
No. EQ is controlled separately from Modes. Changing EQ does not by itself switch Quiet, Aware, Immersion, or a custom mode.
Which generation do these instructions cover?
They cover the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones sold from 2023. Bose also lists a second-generation model sold from 2025, so confirm the selected product in the Bose app first.
The Bottom Line
For the original Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, use the Bose app’s Modes page for Quiet, Aware, Immersion, and custom noise-control combinations. Use the right-earcup multifunction button for favorited modes, ActiveSense inside Aware when sudden sounds are a concern, and the separate EQ or Settings > Equalization controls for bass and treble preferences. Confirm the headphone generation before following the menu names.
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