bluetooth bose

Question

bluetooth bose

I have a new pair of Bose QC35 headphones with bluetooth, and it is a terrible chore to pair them with my MacBook Pro Retina running Sierra. They will work fine one or two times, and then stop. The headphones will tell me to select them in the Bluetooth device list as though a handshake has taken place, but they will never appear. There are all sorts of suggestions to get around this involving resetting the computer and removing preference plist files, clearing the device list on both the computer and the headphones and on and on. Frankly, it's much easier to give up on Bluetooth. But there is no problem pairing with an iPhone, nor is there any problem pairing a trackpad or mouse or keyboard with the MacBook Pro. Why is the Bose/Macbook interface so $#*(#$ terrible? When will it be fixed?

iPhone 4S, iOS 6.1

Posted on Feb 12, 2017 11:20 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 13, 2017 5:00 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

No, they're not paired with anything else. In fact, when the problem is "solved" by clearing lists and restarting the computer, they eventually pair. Then, the headphones do appear in the BT device list, and they will pair quickly each time for a few times. Eventually, they stop pairing, even though the device still appears in the list. The headphones repeatedly go through "connecting to <computer name>", but never connecting. Even selecting the device from the list and selecting "connect to" in the pull-down menu does nothing but spin the pinwheel icon. Headphones and computer are both in ample power mode and between 2 and 6 feet apart. Keyboard and trackpads and mouse all pair fine. Bose QC35, no. Various permutations of clearing the bluetooth device menu in the headphones, as reported by the voice prompts. Even "ready to pair", when pairing is selected on the headphones eventually will become "select Bose headphones on your bluetooth device" and the list had been cleared, even though that device is no longer on the list

in the computer, and won't appear for a long while.

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Answer 2

Feb 13, 2017 9:53 PM in response to g.Mark Stewart

Your post is very thorough and complete. You have done virtually everything I might have suggested. Does Bose have any tech support...they might have ideas.

If you are near an Apple store and have time, you might visit the Genius Bar - they have tools that might address the problem. FWIW, I have read a number of posts here that describe Bose problems. Bose makes great equipment- I am not suggesting they have poor equipment.

Barry

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Answer 3

Feb 13, 2017 4:50 PM in response to g.Mark Stewart

Are the headphones paired with another device? Bluetooth devices may only be paired with one thing at a time.

Barry

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Answer 4

Feb 13, 2017 9:54 PM in response to Barry Hemphill

I agree. I hope it can be solved by software. I'm not sure if the headphones are programmable, but perhaps Apple can work with them. Thanks!

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Answer 5

Aug 14, 2017 1:39 PM in response to g.Mark Stewart

Restarting my MBPro (to connect with the Bose QC35) did the trick for me too. It's a nuisance but that's life.

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