To put the original Bose QuietComfort 35 (QC35) into pairing mode, slide the Power/Bluetooth switch toward the Bluetooth symbol and keep holding it until you hear “Ready to pair” or the Bluetooth light blinks blue. Then open Bluetooth settings on your phone, tablet, or computer, select the Bose QuietComfort headphones, and wait for “Connected to <device name>” or a solid white light.
Confirm that you have the original QC35
This procedure is for the first-generation Bose QuietComfort 35. Bose also sells the QuietComfort 35 II, with separate product and manual materials. The model name matters because instructions for newer QuietComfort headphones or the QC35 II should not be assumed to match every control or voice prompt on the original QC35.
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The pairing control is the physical Power/Bluetooth switch on the headphones. You do not begin pairing from a button inside a phone app; the headset must first be placed in discovery mode with that switch.
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Put the Bose QC35 into pairing mode
- Locate the Power/Bluetooth switch. Find the switch on the headphones and identify the end marked with the Bluetooth symbol.
- Slide and hold the switch at the Bluetooth symbol. Keep it in that position instead of releasing it immediately. Continue holding until the headset gives an audio prompt or shows the pairing indicator.
- Look or listen for confirmation. Pairing mode is active when the headphones announce “Ready to pair” or the Bluetooth indicator begins blinking blue.
- Open Bluetooth settings on the device you want to use. Turn Bluetooth on in the phone, tablet, or computer’s system settings and display the available-device list.
- Select the headset. Choose the Bose QuietComfort headphones entry shown in the list. If several Bluetooth products are nearby, verify that you select the QC35 rather than another headset or speaker.
- Verify the connection. The QC35 should announce “Connected to <device name>,” or its Bluetooth indicator should glow solid white. At that point, start audio on the connected device.
If the headset leaves pairing mode before you select it, repeat the switch-and-hold step and keep the device’s Bluetooth screen open while you search.
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What the indicators and prompts mean
| Signal from the QC35 | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| “Ready to pair” | The headset is waiting for a Bluetooth device to choose it. | Keep the Bluetooth settings screen open and select the Bose QuietComfort entry. |
| Bluetooth light blinking blue | The headset is in Bluetooth discovery or pairing mode. | Choose the headphones from the device’s available-device list. |
| “Connected to <device name>” | The selected device has completed the connection. | Play audio from that device. |
| Bluetooth light solid white | The QC35 has an active Bluetooth connection. | Use the connected device for playback or continue troubleshooting if audio is silent. |
A visible device name by itself is not proof that pairing finished. Confirm with the spoken connection message or the solid white indicator before testing music, a call, or another sound.
Pairing versus reconnecting
Pairing is the first exchange that saves the QC35 on a phone, tablet, or computer. After that exchange, the headset can usually reconnect when it is powered on and the device’s Bluetooth is enabled. If the QC35 is already saved on your device but is not connected, first select it from the device’s known or saved Bluetooth devices rather than repeatedly clearing the headset’s memory.
Do not confuse a saved pairing with simultaneous audio. The original QC35 can remember up to eight paired Bluetooth devices and can maintain active connections with two at once. It plays audio from only one connected device at a time.
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Connect a second device without deleting the first
The QC35’s two-connection capability is useful when, for example, it is connected to a computer and a phone. The headset can keep both Bluetooth connections active, but playback remains single-source.
- Pair the first device using the standard switch-and-hold procedure.
- Put the QC35 into pairing mode again by sliding and holding the Power/Bluetooth switch at the Bluetooth symbol until “Ready to pair” or a blinking blue light appears.
- Open Bluetooth settings on the second device and select the Bose QuietComfort headphones.
- After the second connection is confirmed, pause audio on the first device before starting audio on the second.
To switch playback, pause the currently playing device and start audio on the other connected device. If both devices try to play at once, the headset does not mix their audio into a two-source stream; one device must be paused.
Use NFC pairing when your device supports it
NFC is an alternative to selecting the headset from a Bluetooth list. It requires a phone or other device with NFC hardware and NFC enabled, in addition to Bluetooth.
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- COMFORTABLE HEADPHONES: Plush over-ear cushions softly hug your ears, while a secure and comfortable padded band gently keeps your studio headphones in place for those extra-long listening sessions
- 2 LISTENING MODES: These wireless Bluetooth headphones feature Quiet and Aware Modes that let you toggle between full noise cancelling or full awareness of your surroundings for seamless sound control
- HIGH-FIDELITY AUDIO/EQ CONTROL: Supercharge your favorite tracks with high-fidelity audio and Adjustable EQ that puts you in control of the bass, mid-range, and treble for unmatched bold sound
- ALL DAY BATTERY LIFE: Bose QuietComfort wireless headphones provide up to 24 hours of battery on a single charge, plus a 15-minute charge via USB-C gives you up to 2.5 hours of additional play time
- Power on the QC35.
- Enable both Bluetooth and NFC on the compatible device.
- Touch the device’s NFC point to the NFC point on the headphones.
- Accept the pairing prompt if the device displays one.
NFC does not replace Bluetooth for the resulting audio connection; it is a different way to initiate the pairing exchange. If your device has no NFC function or does not prompt after contact, use the standard Bluetooth-menu method instead.
When the QC35 does not appear in Bluetooth settings
Work through the least disruptive checks before erasing the headset’s stored device list. Clearing the list removes every saved Bluetooth device, so it should not be the first response to a single failed connection.
1. Remove cables that can interfere with the attempt
Disconnect the backup audio cable from the headphones and unplug the USB charging cable. Then repeat the pairing-mode procedure with the QC35 powered on and free of those wired connections.
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2. Restart Bluetooth on the device
Turn Bluetooth off on the phone, tablet, or computer, wait briefly, and turn it on again. Reopen the available-device list and place the QC35 back into pairing mode by holding the Power/Bluetooth switch at the Bluetooth symbol.
3. Remove the old QC35 entry and pair again
If the headset is already listed as a saved device but will not connect, remove or forget the QC35 in that device’s Bluetooth list. Then repeat the complete process: hold the headset switch until “Ready to pair” or a blinking blue light, search again, and select the Bose QuietComfort headphones.
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Move the source device closer to the headphones and away from physical obstructions or other sources of wireless interference. Keep the two devices together during discovery, then try the connection again.
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5. Try another Bluetooth device
Pair the QC35 with a different phone, tablet, or computer. This separates a headset-side problem from a problem with the original source device’s Bluetooth settings. If the second device finds the headphones, repair or reset the Bluetooth relationship on the first device rather than immediately clearing the headset’s entire list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Clear every stored Bluetooth pairing
Use this reset when ordinary reconnect steps fail or when the QC35’s saved-device history appears confused. The operation deletes the headset’s complete stored Bluetooth list, not just one selected phone or computer.
- Slide the Power/Bluetooth switch toward the Bluetooth symbol.
- Hold it there for 10 seconds.
- Release it only after the headphones announce “Bluetooth device list cleared.”
- On each phone, tablet, or computer that previously stored the QC35, delete or forget the Bose QuietComfort entry from its Bluetooth list.
- Start over with a clean pairing: hold the switch at the Bluetooth symbol until “Ready to pair” or a blinking blue indicator appears, then select the headphones on the source device.
Because this reset removes all remembered devices, you will need to pair every device again. It is different from simply turning Bluetooth off and on, and it is more disruptive than forgetting the QC35 on one source device.
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| Route | Requirements | Best use | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth settings | Any compatible phone, tablet, or computer with Bluetooth enabled | The normal method and the fallback for most devices | Requires selecting the headset from the available-device list |
| NFC touch pairing | A device with NFC, with both NFC and Bluetooth enabled | Quick initiation by touching the device to the QC35’s NFC point | Unavailable on devices without NFC and may require accepting an on-screen prompt |
| Pairing-list reset | No special accessory; the QC35’s Power/Bluetooth switch | Recovery after ordinary reconnect and device-side steps fail | Erases all saved Bluetooth devices and requires fresh pairing |
Common mistakes that prevent pairing
- Releasing the switch too soon: A brief movement toward the Bluetooth symbol is not the pairing command. Hold it until the voice prompt or blue blinking light appears.
- Searching before discovery mode is active: Bluetooth settings may not show the QC35 until the headset is announcing readiness or blinking blue.
- Selecting the wrong saved entry: If several headphones are listed, choose the Bose QuietComfort headphones entry associated with the QC35.
- Leaving a cable connected: Remove the backup audio cable and USB charging cable while troubleshooting Bluetooth discovery.
- Clearing the list too early: A full reset deletes up to eight remembered pairings. Try Bluetooth restart, forgetting the device on the source, proximity, and another-device testing first.
- Expecting two audio streams: Two active Bluetooth connections are supported, but audio comes from one device at a time. Pause one source before starting the other.
- Assuming a saved device is currently connected: A name in the remembered list is not the same as an active connection. Look for “Connected to <device name>” or a solid white indicator.
A quick recovery sequence
When you need the shortest reliable checklist, use this order:
- Disconnect the audio and USB cables.
- Turn Bluetooth off and on on the source device.
- Hold the QC35’s Power/Bluetooth switch at the Bluetooth symbol until “Ready to pair” or a blinking blue light.
- Select the Bose QuietComfort headphones in the source device’s Bluetooth list.
- Confirm “Connected to <device name>” or a solid white light.
- If the QC35 still does not appear, move the device closer, reduce obstructions or interference, and try another Bluetooth device.
- Only then clear the QC35’s list with a 10-second switch hold, forget the headset on the source device, and pair again.
This sequence preserves your saved pairings unless the final reset is necessary, while checking the most common causes of a missing or failed connection.
Quick Recap
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