How to Use Bose QuietComfort Headphones
Most of what these can do lives in the app, not on the cup. Here are the controls by generation and the six settings worth changing on day one.
Almost everything worth knowing about QuietComfort headphones lives in the app rather than on the headphone itself. The physical controls handle power, volume, playback and calls. Noise cancellation levels, custom modes, EQ, auto-off and the button assignments are all set in the Bose app, and owners who never install it use a fraction of what they bought.
The controls differ across generations, so identify which pair you have before hunting for a button that does not exist on yours.
Which generation you have
QuietComfort 35 and 35 II use physical buttons on the right cup and a slider switch for power, with the II adding a dedicated action button on the left cup.
QuietComfort 45 and QuietComfort Headphones use a power button that doubles as the Bluetooth control, plus three buttons on the right cup and an action button on the left.
QuietComfort Ultra Headphones replace the volume buttons with a touch strip on the right cup, which is the change that surprises upgraders most.
QuietComfort Earbuds and Earbuds II are touch controlled on the bud surface, with no physical buttons at all.
Power and pairing
Slide or hold the power button until you hear the tone. On the over-ear models the tone tells you the battery percentage, and it is easy to talk over and miss.
For pairing, hold the power button toward the Bluetooth symbol, or hold it for several seconds past power-on, until you hear the pairing prompt. Then add the headphones from your phone or laptop.
QuietComfort models remember multiple devices and support two connections at once, which is the feature worth setting up on day one. With a laptop and a phone both connected, a call rings through immediately without repairing.
Manage which devices are connected in the app rather than on the headphone, since the button cycling method is slow and unclear.
Noise cancellation and modes
The action button on the left cup cycles between modes, and what those modes are depends entirely on how you have configured them.
By default you get Quiet, which is full cancellation, and Aware, which passes outside sound through. On models supporting it you can create custom modes at any cancellation level between the two and choose which ones the button cycles through.
This is the setting most owners never touch. Cutting the cycle down to two modes you actually use makes the button useful rather than a lottery.
On the Ultra models, Immersive Audio is a separate setting that widens the sound stage. It costs battery life noticeably, roughly a quarter on Bose’s own figures, so leave it off unless you are actively enjoying it.
Aware mode is the one to use near traffic, since cancellation removes exactly the low frequency engine noise you need to hear. Our piece on how noise canceling headphones work explains why that frequency range disappears first.
Playing and calls
The middle button on the right cup is the multifunction control, and the press counts are consistent across generations.
| Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Play or pause | One press |
| Next track | Two presses |
| Previous track | Three presses |
| Answer or end a call | One press |
| Reject a call | Hold for one second |
| Voice assistant | Hold the multifunction button |
On the Ultra, swipe up and down the touch strip for volume, and hold on the strip to trigger a shortcut you assign in the app.
Self Voice is the setting to know about for calls. It controls how much of your own voice you hear, and turning it up stops the shouting that people on cancelling headphones do without realizing.
Battery and charging
Expect around 24 hours with cancellation on for the over-ear models, less with Immersive Audio enabled.
Charge over USB-C on QuietComfort 45 and later, and micro USB on the 35 series. A short charge gives hours of use on the newer models.
Auto-off is configurable in the app, and the default is generous. If you keep finding them flat, set it shorter.
The over-ear models also work wired with the included 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm cable, and the 35 series keeps working with a flat battery when wired. Later models need power for cancellation and EQ even over the cable.
Settings worth changing on day one
Trim the mode cycle to the two or three you use, so the action button becomes predictable.
Set the EQ, since the app offers bass, mid and treble sliders and the default tuning is not the only option.
Set the auto-off timer to match how you actually use them.
Turn on multipoint if you use both a phone and a computer.
Turn off spoken notifications if the voice prompts interrupt more than they help.
Register the headphones in the app, which is how the Bose finder feature works if you lose them later.
Wearing and looking after them
Cancellation depends on the seal, so the pads need to sit flat with no gap. Glasses arms break that seal and cost you low frequency performance, which is a real effect rather than a perception.
The pads are replaceable and are the part that wears. They usually last one to two years of daily use before the foam compresses and the isolation drops.
Wipe them with a barely damp cloth and let them dry fully, and keep alcohol away from the protein leather surface.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change noise cancellation on Bose QuietComfort headphones?
Press the action button on the left cup to cycle through modes. Which modes it cycles through is set in the Bose app, where you can also create custom levels between full cancellation and full transparency. Cutting the cycle down to the two you actually use makes the button far more usable.
How do I skip tracks on QuietComfort headphones?
Press the middle button on the right cup twice for the next track and three times for the previous one, with a single press for play and pause. On QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, swipe the touch strip for volume and use the same multifunction button for track control.
Do I need the Bose app?
The headphones work without it, but noise cancellation modes, EQ, auto-off timing, multipoint management, self voice level and the shortcut button assignment are all app only. Owners who skip it use a fraction of what the headphones can do, so it is worth installing once even if you then ignore it.
Can I use QuietComfort headphones wired?
Yes, with the included 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm cable. On the QuietComfort 35 series they still play with a flat battery when wired, which is useful on long flights. Later models need charge for cancellation and EQ processing even over the cable, so the wired connection is not a full battery bypass.