Bose Connect

So I bought QC35 headphones like eight months ago. Used them daily. Never once thought about downloading any app for them. Just paired via Bluetooth and that was it.

Then my roommate saw me adjusting noise cancellation by pressing the button on the headphones. He looked at me weird.

"Why don't you just use the app?"

What app. Nobody told me about any app.

Turns out Bose has this thing called Bose Connect. Been around for years apparently. And I had no clue it existed.

Downloaded it that night. And honestly? Kinda mad at myself for not knowing sooner. Not like it changes everything but there's features in there I actually use now.

If you got Bose headphones or speakers and haven't tried this app yet – you're probably missing stuff. Here's what you need to know.

Quick Info

What Even is This App?

Okay so basically. Your Bose headphones work fine without any app. Bluetooth connects. Music plays. Noise cancellation runs. All good.

But there's extra stuff locked away that you can't access from the headphones alone.

The app unlocks those.

Battery percentage? Shows on your phone now. Noise cancellation levels? Adjust them yourself instead of using default. Two speakers playing together? App does that. Sharing music with someone else's Bose headphones? Also the app.

Not rocket science. Just a control panel for your Bose stuff.

Things You Can Actually Do

Change noise cancellation yourself

My QC35 has three levels. High, low, off. Didn't know this for months. Just used whatever it defaulted to. Now I keep it low when I'm home alone. Full blast when I'm outside or at a cafe.

See battery on phone screen

The headphones say "battery 70 percent" when you turn them on. Cool. But mid-listening I have no idea. App shows exact number whenever you want.

Connect two speakers together

Got two SoundLink speakers? Open app. Pair both. Tap party mode. Now they both play the same thing in sync. Louder obviously. Works pretty well actually.

Split into stereo

Same two speakers but left-right separated. One does left channel. Other does right. Real stereo instead of same sound twice. Sounds better for music.

Share with another person

Your friend has Bose headphones too? Both connect to your phone through the app. Both hear same audio. Good for planes when you're watching something together.

Switch devices fast

Connected to phone and laptop at same time? App shows both. Tap which one you want active. No more going into Bluetooth settings every time.

Updates happen automatically

Bose pushes firmware fixes sometimes. App downloads them quietly. Installs when you say okay.

Getting the App

Android people – Play Store. Search Bose Connect. Download. Two minutes.

iPhone people – App Store. Same thing. Search and download.

PC? – No official version exists. Bose never made one. Some sites offer workarounds using emulators but honestly just use your phone. Way easier.

First Time Setup

Open app after installing. It asks for Bluetooth permission. Say yes.

Turn on your Bose product. If it's new put it in pairing mode.

App finds it within few seconds usually. Tap to connect. Done.

Android might ask for location permission too. Sounds sketchy but Bluetooth scanning requires it for technical reasons. App doesn't track you or anything.

What Works With This App

Not every Bose product. Mainly wireless stuff from recent years.

Headphones that work:

• QC35 and QC35 II
• QuietControl 30
• SoundSport Wireless
• SoundSport Free
• Bose Frames

Speakers that work:

• SoundLink Revolve
• SoundLink Color II
• SoundLink Micro
• SoundLink Mini II

Don't see your product?

Newer stuff like QC45 or QuietComfort Earbuds use different app. Called Bose Music. Yeah Bose has two apps now. Confusing but whatever. Try that one if Connect doesn't find your device.

When Stuff Goes Wrong

App can't find headphones

Restart headphones. Toggle Bluetooth off and on. Make sure nothing else is connected to them already. Still nothing? Remove from phone's Bluetooth list completely. Forget device. Then pair fresh.

App crashes constantly

Update it first. If already updated clear cache. Or just delete and reinstall.

Party mode keeps breaking

Both speakers need latest firmware. Both need to be same model ideally. And keep them close together. Too far and connection drops.

Random disconnections

Low battery does weird things. Charge up and try again. Also check if there's interference from other Bluetooth stuff nearby.

Worth It?

Look it's a free app. Takes five minutes to setup. Gives you controls you wouldn't have otherwise.

Noise cancellation adjustment alone makes it useful for me. Battery indicator is nice. Party mode is fun when friends are over.

Not gonna change your life. But no reason not to have it if you own Bose wireless stuff.

Download it. Try it. Delete if you hate it. You lose nothing.