If you use Bose QuietComfort (QC) headphones with your MacYou'll probably want to make the most of its buttons, touch gestures, and customization options for comfortable work, study, or play. While the Bose Connect app is primarily designed for mobile devices, you can get a lot out of the headphone controls on a Mac, provided you know how to connect them properly and what each button does for calls, music, or voice assistants.
In this article we'll see step by step how to use and customize the controls from the Bose QC headphones when you have them connected to a Mac: from basic Bluetooth setup, to programming the action button with the Bose Connect app on your mobile, shortcuts for calls, noise cancellation control and some tricks to make everything work smoothly, both on macOS and on your iOS or Android devices.
Connect your Bose QC to your Mac without going crazy
Before we talk about controls and shortcuts, the first thing is to have a stable Bluetooth connection between the Bose QC and your Mac. Although the headphones pair very quickly with your phone thanks to the Bose Connect app, on macOS the process is different and is done from the system settings, without needing an app.
To put the Bose QC into pairing modePress and hold the power button or the dedicated Bluetooth button (depending on your model) until you hear a voice prompt such as "ready to connect" and see the LED light flashing blue. This flashing blue light indicates that the headphones are ready to pair with a new device.
On your Mac, go to the Apple menu and select System Settings > Bluetooth (or System Preferences > Bluetooth in earlier versions of macOS). Make sure Bluetooth is turned on on your Mac and wait for your Bose QC headphones to appear in the list of nearby devices. When you see them, click “Connect.”
If your Mac doesn't detect the headphones the first timeTurn Bluetooth off and on again on your Mac, turn off the headphones, and put them back into pairing mode. Keep in mind that if they're connected to your phone while you're nearby, they might "prefer" to stay connected to the phone, so it's a good idea to temporarily turn off Bluetooth on your phone while you pair them with your Mac.
Sometimes, some users report that their Mac doesn't connect even though their mobile device does.In these cases, it's best to remove the device from your Mac's Bluetooth list (using the "Forget" or "Remove" button next to the headphone name) and pair it again from scratch. Restarting your Mac also helps, especially if you have many Bluetooth connections open.
How your Mac uses Bose QC microphones and audio
Once connected, the Mac can use the Bose QC as both an audio output and a microphone For video calls, meetings, gaming, or recordings. This is key if you want to take advantage of features like muting the microphone from the headset or using noise cancellation while speaking.
On macOS, go to System Settings > Sound And make sure that, in the Output tab, you have selected the Bose QC headphones as the primary device. This ensures that all music, videos, and notifications will come out through the headphones and not the Mac speakers.
On the Sound Input tab of the MacAlso select your Bose QC headphones if you want the built-in microphone to be used for Zoom, Teams, FaceTime calls, or any other app. This is important so that the headphone mute shortcuts affect your voice and not the Mac's internal microphone.
Keep in mind that the macOS microphone indicator doesn't always reflect the muted state. Activated from the headphones. If you mute using the voice assistant button on the Bose QC, what is deactivated is the microphone of the headphones themselves, not necessarily the microphone that macOS thinks is active, so the system icon may continue to show the microphone as "on".
The action button: the heart of the Bose QC controls
On QuietComfort models like the QC35 II and others, the action button is located on the back of the left earpiece.It's a programmable button that can be used for three different things: quick access to Amazon Alexa, access to Google Assistant (Android only), or direct control of noise cancellation.
This action button is not configured directly from the MacCustomization is done using the Bose Connect app on your mobile device (iOS or Android). Once you've set it up on your phone, the changes are saved to the headphones and are also applied when you use them with your Mac, even if the app isn't open.
For many users who work with both Mac and mobile devices.The best option is usually to assign the action button to noise cancellation, as this allows you to change the isolation level immediately, both in front of the computer and when taking the headphones out into the street.
Please note that neither Google Assistant nor Alexa are available in all languages or countries.If they don't appear as an option in the Bose Connect app in your region, or if they don't work as expected, the most practical solution is to leave the button assigned to noise cancellation control, which is compatible everywhere.
Program the action button with the Bose Connect app
To customize what the action button does, you need to install the Bose Connect app on your mobile device.This app is available for both iOS and Android and allows you to choose whether the button launches Alexa, Google Assistant (Android only), or changes the noise cancellation levels.
The general steps for programming the action button are simple.First, pair your headphones with your phone using the Bose Connect app, instead of just through your phone's Bluetooth settings. This way, the app will recognize your specific Bose QC model and be able to access all its features.
Within Bose Connect, tap the settings icon in the upper right cornerIn the settings menu, you'll see a section called something like "Action Button" or similar. Go there to choose between the three available functions: noise cancellation, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant (the latter is only available on Android).
If you want to use Alexa, you must have the Amazon Alexa app installed on your mobile phone.The assistant will launch from Bose Connect, but account setup, skills, and other options are managed through the Alexa app. Once everything is linked, simply press and hold the action button and speak for Alexa to respond.
In the case of Google Assistant, the integration is designed for Android.This means you can receive notifications, request information, send messages, manage your calendar, and much more, directly with a tap of the action button. For details on all the features supported by Google Assistant on headphones, Bose refers you to the official Google documentation at support.google.com/headphones.
Important for iOS users: Changes to Google Assistant integration
If you use an iPhone or iPad along with QC35 II or other QuietComfort headphones with an action buttonHowever, there is an important nuance: since December 7, 2021, Google stopped offering compatibility with Google Assistant as a built-in feature on the QC35 II when connected to Apple devices.
This means that if you have an iPhone or an iPad, you won't be able to use the action button. To directly launch Google Assistant as the built-in assistant, you'll need to choose one of the other two options: program the button for Amazon Alexa or for noise cancellation.
The Bose Connect app itself will recommend that you choose a different function for the action button. On iOS devices, Google Assistant will continue to function with full integration only when the headphones are connected to a compatible Android phone. On macOS, this integration is not managed by the system, but rather by your phone's settings.
In short, if you're an Apple user and want a voice assistant integrated into the Bose QC, then this is for you.Today, Alexa is the realistic option. If you prefer not to use assistants, or if you work more with your Mac than your phone, you might find it much more convenient to dedicate that button exclusively to controlling noise cancellation.
Configure the action button for Amazon Alexa
When you assign the action button to Amazon Alexa, your Bose QC headphones become a shortcut to Amazon's assistant.You can ask it to play music, check the weather, read the news, manage reminders, control smart home devices, and much more, with just one tap.
Alexa lives in the cloud, so she gets smarter over time.New features and skills are added every day, and all these improvements are automatically applied to your headphones without you having to do anything. The only important thing is that your phone has an internet connection and the Alexa app is properly configured with your account.
Using Alexa with your Bose QC is very easyTypically, you just need to press and hold the action button, speak the command aloud, and release the button. Alexa will process your request and respond through your headphones. This works the same whether you're using your iPhone, your Android device, or even when you later connect to your Mac, because the logic is on your mobile device.
If you notice that Alexa is not responding from the headphonesCheck that the Alexa app is installed, that you're signed in, and that microphone and Bluetooth permissions are granted. You can also use the Bose Connect app to verify that the action button is still set to Alexa mode and hasn't been accidentally switched to noise cancellation.
Configure the action button for Google Assistant (Android only)
On Android devices, the action button can be used to directly call Google Assistant.allowing you to access information, entertainment, and everyday tools without touching your phone. It's especially useful if you're out and about, working remotely on your Mac, and have your phone out of reach.
With Google Assistant you can send messages, check your calendar, open apps, and request translations.Control smart devices, ask quick questions, or manage your daily routine. The idea is that you can do all of this without taking your eyes off your Mac screen or taking your phone out of your pocket.
The basic setup involves linking the headphones to your Google account. From your Android device, follow the system and Bose Connect instructions. Once paired, press and hold the action button to speak to the assistant and release it to process your query.
If you want to delve deeper into what Google Assistant can do specifically with headphones (notifications, message reading, playback control, etc.), Bose recommends checking Google's official help for audio devices at support.google.com/headphones, where features and limitations are detailed according to region and language.
Use the action button for noise cancellation
Another very powerful option is to dedicate the action button to changing the noise cancellation levels.The Bose QC allows you to quickly move between three different levels of noise reduction, which you can adapt to your environment: quiet office, noisy coworking space, cafe, public transport, etc.
Bose's noise reduction technology is designed to minimize external sounds.This results in cleaner, more realistic audio. On a Mac, this is a huge plus for concentrating while writing, editing video, or attending a meeting with a lot of background noise.
With the action button set to noise cancellation modeEach press will allow you to quickly switch between the three levels you've configured (for example: high, medium, and off). This way, you don't need to open any apps on your Mac or navigate through menus: a single press on the earpiece is all it takes.
This mode is usually the most universalBecause it doesn't depend on any specific assistant or whether you're using iOS, Android, or macOS. Once you set it up through Bose Connect, it will be saved in the headphones and will work exactly the same whether you're using your Mac laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
Answer, hang up, and mute calls from Bose QC
In addition to the action button, the Bose QC includes dedicated controls for callsAlthough the exact location may vary depending on the model, you usually have a multifunction button that allows you to answer, hang up and reject calls using only the headphones.
To answer or end a call, you usually double-tap the call button.When a call comes in, two quick taps answer; once you're on a call, those same two taps usually hang up. When using a Mac, video conferencing apps will recognize these commands as if you were interacting with the software's own call button.
If what you want is to reject an incoming callPress and hold the corresponding button for about a second while the phone is ringing. This way you decline the call without having to touch your Mac keyboard or phone. It's especially convenient when you're working in full-screen mode.
To mute the headset microphone during a callYou can use the button normally used for the voice assistant. On many models, simply pressing and releasing that button during a call will mute the microphone on the Bose QC, whether you're on a regular call or an internet video call (Zoom, Teams, and others).
It is highly recommended to keep the voice prompts on your headphones enabled.Because they'll explicitly notify you when the headset is muted. This prevents you from talking into thin air for several minutes thinking you're being heard in the meeting, when in reality the headset microphone is muted.
Relationship between headphone muting and the Mac microphone
When you mute the microphone from the Bose QC controlsWhat you're actually doing is disabling the headphones' built-in microphone. This means that if the connected device (the Mac or mobile phone) has another microphone available, that other microphone isn't necessarily muted.
In the specific case of the Mac, if you have the Bose QC microphone selected in Sound SettingsMuting your headset will be effective for your calls. However, the operating system's mute icon or controls may not reflect this change, because macOS itself doesn't know you've muted the microphone "from outside."
This explains why in some video conferencing apps you see the microphone icon as activeBut no one can hear you when you speak after pressing the assistant button on the headset. This isn't a software bug; it's normal behavior when the headset's microphone is muted at the hardware level.
The practical solution is to always listen to the voice prompts on the Bose QC headphones. And, if needed, you can combine the physical mute function of the headphones with the mute button in the video call app itself. This gives you dual control: one on the headphones and another in the software, whichever is more convenient for you.
Tips and tricks for using Bose QC headphones with your Mac
If you're going to use the Bose QC headphones almost daily with your MacThere are several small habits that can make a big difference in comfort and stability. They aren't essential, but they are highly recommended to avoid disconnections, device conflicts, and other headaches.
First, try to avoid having your headphones actively paired with too many devices at once.Although the Bose QC supports multipoint connections, in practice having a mobile phone, tablet, and Mac competing for the same Bluetooth profile can lead to strange behavior, audio dropouts, or unexpected source changes.
Secondly, when you're going to make an important video call from your MacTemporarily disable Bluetooth on your phone, or at least avoid using your phone with headphones already connected to your computer. This will ensure that the audio and microphone remain stable throughout the meeting.
It's also a good idea to occasionally check macOS's sound options.especially after a system update. New versions of macOS sometimes change the default input or output device, and you might find that your Mac has reverted to using its own internal microphone instead of the Bose QC.
Finally, if you notice sound delays or audio/video desynchronization When using streaming platforms on your Mac, try closing other audio apps, restarting your computer's Bluetooth, and, as a last resort, turning your headphones off and on again. A quick restart usually fixes most minor wireless connection issues.
Master the controls and customization of your Bose QC on your Mac It lets you get so much more out of them: from changing the noise cancellation level in a second to managing calls and voice assistants without touching the keyboard. By combining the Bose Connect app on your phone with a good sound setup on macOS, you'll have headphones perfectly integrated into your daily life, whether you're working or relaxing with your favorite music. compare them with other models.
