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Use Aware when you want to hear more of the store around you while listening to audio; use Quiet when you want stronger noise cancellation and fewer distractions. For shopping, Aware is a sensible starting point when nearby activity or conversation matters. Neither mode guarantees that every sound will be heard or blocked, so pause audio or remove your headphones when you need full attention.
Choose the mode that fits the moment
| Mode | Bose’s intended function | When it may suit a shopping trip |
|---|---|---|
| Aware | Transparency: lets you hear your surroundings while enjoying audio. Bose’s QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) guide and Bose’s QuietComfort product page describe the modes. | Use it when hearing nearby people or store activity is useful. It does not ensure that you will notice every sound. |
| Quiet | Stronger noise cancellation, intended to reduce distractions. Bose’s guide describes its available modes. | Choose it when you want less background noise, while staying attentive to what is happening around you. |
| Aware with ActiveSense | On supported products, automatically applies noise cancellation around sudden or loud sounds, then reduces it after the sound stops. Bose documents this as an Aware-mode feature for the cited headphones. Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra guide also covers modes. | Consider it if your model supports it and sudden loud sounds are a concern. It is not a promise to detect every important sound. |
These are Bose’s descriptions of mode functions, not measured results in stores or a guarantee of safety. For full attention, pause playback or take off the headphones rather than relying on a mode.
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Change modes on your Bose model
Controls differ by product and generation. Check the model name and its guide rather than assuming one button sequence applies to every Bose headphone.
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QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
- Open the Bose app and connect your headphones.
- In Modes, make sure the modes you want to use from the headphone controls are set as favorites. Bose says favorites are required for control cycling; Quiet, Aware, and Immersion are favorites by default in this model’s cited guide.
- Press and hold the multifunction button to cycle through modes. Release it when the voice prompt announces the mode you want. You can also select a mode in the Bose app. Bose’s QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) instructions
- To configure ActiveSense, open Modes in the app, select Aware, then open its settings.
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Bose documents changing modes either in the app or by holding the multifunction button to cycle through available favorite modes. Presets can differ by generation: the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) guide lists Quiet, Aware, Immersion, and Cinema. Confirm the guide for your exact model before expecting a particular preset.
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Bose QuietComfort Headphones - Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Active Over Ear Noise Cancelling and Mic, USB-C Charging, Deep Bass, Up to 24 Hours of Playtime, Black
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Effortlessly combines noise cancellation technology with passive features so you can shut off the outside world, quiet distractions, and take music beyond the beat
- 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
QuietComfort Earbuds (the cited owner’s guide)
- Touch and hold either earbud for one second, until you hear a tone.
- Repeat until the voice prompt announces the mode you want.
- Alternatively, open the product control screen in the Bose QCE app and choose Noise Control. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Owner’s Guide
This touch-and-hold sequence applies to the earbuds covered by that guide, not to other earbud models or over-ear headphones.
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Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Headphones, Wireless Headphones with Active Over Ear Noise Cancelling and Mic, Deep Bass, Up to 24 Hours of Playtime, Cypress Green - Limited Edition
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Effortlessly combines noise cancellation technology with passive features so you can shut off the outside world, quiet distractions, and take music beyond the beat
- COMFORTABLE HEADPHONES: Plush earcup cushions softly hug your ears, while a secure and comfortable padded band gently keeps your over ear 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 gives you up to 2.5 hours of additional play time
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Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones (Black) (Renewed)
- LEGENDARY NOISE CANCELLATION: Effortlessly combines noise cancelling headphones technology with passive features so you can shut off the outside world, quiet distractions, and take music beyond the beat
- PREMIUM COMFORT: Plush earcup cushions softly hug your ears, while a secure and comfortable padded band gently keeps your over ear 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 gives you up to 2.5 hours of additional play time
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Bose QuietComfort Headphones - Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Active Over Ear Noise Cancelling and Mic, USB-C Charging, Deep Bass, Up to 24 Hours of Playtime, Sandstone
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Effortlessly combines noise cancellation technology with passive features so you can shut off the outside world, quiet distractions, and take music beyond the beat
- 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
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Bose QuietComfort Headphones - Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Active Over Ear Noise Cancelling and Mic, USB-C Charging, Deep Bass, Up to 24 Hours of Playtime, White Smoke
- NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES: Effortlessly combines noise cancellation technology with passive features so you can shut off the outside world, quiet distractions, and take music beyond the beat
- 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
What to check if you cannot switch modes
- The mode does not appear during button cycling: On QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), check that it is set as a favorite in the app’s Modes screen.
- The physical steps do not match your device: Confirm the product and generation, then follow its own guide. Headphones and earbuds use different controls, and available presets vary.
- You want to change a setting rather than the mode: Use the Bose app. For the cited QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen), ActiveSense settings are under Modes → Aware → settings.
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