Bose is one of the leading manufacturers of consumer electronics, most notable for its stereos, speakers, and headsets. If you currently have a set of Bose wireless Bluetooth headphones, you may be wondering just exactly how to connect them to your Mac computer.
Regardless of which type of Bose Bluetooth headphones you own, you will follow the same steps to connect it to your Mac computer, with the additional information listed in this guide helping you in the event of difficulty.
How to Connect Bose Headphones to Mac
Take the following steps to quickly and conveniently connect your Bose headphones to your Mac device:
- Disconnect other paired devices. Ensure that there are no other Bluetooth devices currently connected to your Mac. If your Mac has a branded Bluetooth keyboard or mouse, these items do not need to be disconnected—only outside devices that are currently connected to the computer, such as a portable speaker or karaoke system.
- Click on the Apple logo. it is located in the upper left-hand corner of the Mac screen.
- Choose “system preferences” from the dropdown menu.
- Click on the Bluetooth icon. This will be a thin, pointed “B” in a blue oval. Make sure that Bluetooth is turned on for your Mac if it is not already.
- Put your Bose headphones in pairing mode. Slide the power switch on the side of your headphones toward the Bluetooth symbol. Hold in this position until you hear “ready to connect,” or the Bluetooth indicator blinks blue. (The indicator is a small LED light near the Bluetooth symbol.)
- Pair the Bose headphones. Looking back on your Mac screen, you should see your Bose headphones listed as a Bluetooth option, with a “pair” button located beside it. Click this button for the Mac to connect to your headphones.
- Check the status. If the Bose headphones are successfully connected, you should hear “connected to <specific name of your headphones>,” or the indicator light will be solid white. You are officially ready to listen!
Disconnecting Other Devices from Mac’s Bluetooth
Some people report having difficulty getting other Bluetooth devices disconnected from their Mac, which prevents them from connecting their Bose headphones. If this is the case for you, the following steps can help you clear the Bluetooth on your Mac to make it available for pairing. The steps are very similar to pairing your Bose headphones, only in reverse:
- Power on your Mac.
- Click the Apple icon located on the upper left-hand side of the monitor.
- Choose System Preferences from the dropdown menu.
- Select the Bluetooth icon.
- Disconnect devices. A list of all discoverable Bluetooth devices will be listed, with their connection status. If there are any devices—other than the branded Bluetooth mouse or keyboard—that are connected, click the “x” next to the device name to unpair it.
- Finalize removal. A pop-up box will appear, asking for confirmation that you want to disconnect the selected device. Click the Remove button to finalize the disconnection.
Having Trouble Connecting Bose Headphones to Mac?
In some rare cases, there will be scenarios in which the user successfully disconnects other Bluetooth devices from the Mac, takes the necessary steps to connect their Bose headphones, but still cannot achieve a successful connection.
If this is the case for your headphones, use the following troubleshooting tips to help you work through the issue:
- Turn off Bluetooth on your Mac. Sometimes when the Bluetooth has been running for a long time on a device, it can forget its connection, especially when the paired device gets out of range. Try turning off the Bluetooth on your Mac and then turn it back on and try again.
- Disconnect your Bose headphones and try again. Sometimes, a Bluetooth connection needs to be reset. Use the steps listed above to remove your Bose headphones and pair them again.
- Reboot your Mac. Anytime electronic devices are acting abnormally, a reboot or power cycle is always a good idea. Perhaps it may lead to a software update needed to make Bluetooth function properly.
- Remove obstructions. Try keeping your Bose headphones as close as possible to your Mac and ensure that there are no obstructions or barriers that could be causing interference with the connection.
- Connect your Bose headphones to a different device. This is a good idea to help you determine whether the connectivity issues arise from your headphones or your Mac.
- Clear your headphone pairing list. Power off your Bose headphones. Press and hold the power/Bluetooth buttons for 10 seconds, or until you hear “Bluetooth device list cleared.”
Conclusion
Bose headphones are some of the highest quality sound products on the market, with their wireless Bluetooth options adding additional convenience to users’ lives. If you own a Mac computer and are searching for solutions to connecting your Bose headphones to your device, use the helpful guide listed above to answer all of your questions.