How to Pair Bose Soundlink

Press/hold the Bluetooth icon until the light blinks to put the speaker in pairing mode, then pair as usual

By
Tyler Hayes
Tyler Hayes
Tyler Hayes
Writer
Tyler Hayes is a former Lifewire writer covering Apple, Google, Spotify, and more. Tyler has written for Fast Company, Digital Trends, and Paste, and others.
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Updated on May 24, 2023

What to Know

  • When powered on for the first time, Soundlink goes into pairing mode.
  • Pair with your phone using the usual pairing procedure for any device.
  • To pair factory-reset or second speaker, press/hold Bluetooth icon until the light blinks, then pair as usual.

This article shows how to connect a Bose Soundlink Bluetooth speaker to an iPhone or Android device. The instructions apply to all Bose Soundlink speakers including the Soundlink Mini and Soundlink Color.

How to Pair a Bose Soundlink Speaker

With a brand new Soundlink speaker, start by plugging it into the wall using a wall charger.

  1. On the speaker, press the power icon. If the power light is red, it needs charging; if it's orange the battery is half full; green means the battery is full.

  2. The Bluetooth speaker should go into connecting mode when turned on for the first time.

  3. If you need to change the language, tap the Plus (+) and Minus (-) icons to scroll through the options.

  4. Enable and pair your phone's Bluetooth settings:

    • On iOS devices: Go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the Bluetooth toggle switch on/green. Under My Devices, select Bose Soundlink.
    • On Android devices: Go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > tap the Bluetooth toggle switch on/green. Tap Pair New Device > select Bose Soundlink.

  5. The Bluetooth light on the speaker will blink blue when it's ready to connect. It will blink white when it's in the process of connecting, and it will appear a solid white when it's connected to a device.

Soundlink Color speaker
Bose

How to Pair Bose Soundlink Speaker to a Second Device

To pair a factory reset speaker, or to pair a second device to the Bluetooth speaker:

  1. Press and hold the Bluetooth icon on the speaker until the indicator light blinks blue. The speaker is now in pairing mode.

    The placement of the Bluetooth icon varies from device to device, but the icon is the same.

  2. Enable and pair your phone or tablet's Bluetooth settings:

    • On iOS devices: Go to Settings > Bluetooth and ensure the Bluetooth toggle switch is on/green. Under My Devices, select Bose Soundlink.
    • On Android devices: Go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > ensure the Bluetooth toggle switch is on/green. Tap Pair New Device > select Bose Soundlink.

  3. The Bluetooth light on the speaker will blink blue when it's ready to connect. It will blink white when it's in the process of connecting and will appear a solid white when it's connected to a device.

FAQ
  • How do I reset my Bose Soundlink?

    To reset a Bose Soundlink, press and hold the Power button for 10 seconds with the speaker on. After it turns off, turn it back on to begin setup. For the Soundlink Mini, hold Mute for 10 seconds. For the Soundlink Color, hold Aux and Volume Down for 15 seconds.

  • How do I turn off my Bose Soundlink?

    Press (don't hold) the Power button on the far left to turn off your Bose Soundlink. It will turn off automatically after 20 minutes if no audio is being played.

  • Why won't my Bose Soundlink connect?

    Make sure Bluetooth is enabled for both devices and move them closer together. Restart both devices. If you still have trouble, reset your Bose Soundlink.

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