Choose the connection that fits your speaker
- For a Bluetooth speaker, put it in pairing mode and choose it in your phone or computer’s Bluetooth settings.
- For a smart speaker, start with its setup app. For TV audio, check whether your speaker and TV connect by HDMI ARC or optical cable.
- To play through two speakers, check their linking rules first. They vary by model.
We’d identify your speaker and what you want it to play from first, because a phone, a TV and a second speaker take different routes. If you’re unsure which model you have, find it on Bose support (opens in a new tab), then check its available connections.
| Speaker | Connection | App or cable | Two-speaker option |
|---|---|---|---|
| SoundLink Revolve II or Revolve+ II | Bluetooth | Your source device’s Bluetooth settings | Party Mode with a speaker on its compatibility list |
| SoundLink Plus | Bluetooth | Your source device’s Bluetooth settings | Stereo Mode requires a second SoundLink Plus |
| Smart Speaker 500 | App setup | Bose app and power | Check the compatible products for SimpleSync |
| Portable Smart Speaker | Bluetooth when Wi-Fi is unavailable | Your source device’s Bluetooth settings | Check the compatible products for SimpleSync |
| Smart Ultra Soundbar or Bose TV Speaker | TV audio by HDMI or optical cable | A cable that matches the TV and speaker; an optical cable comes with the Bose TV Speaker | Check the compatible products for SimpleSync |
| SoundTouch system | SoundTouch app setup | SoundTouch app | Group systems through the app |
These are model examples, so use your own speaker’s available inputs and linking options when they differ.
Connect a Bluetooth speaker to your phone or computer
Use this route when your speaker offers Bluetooth and you want audio from a phone, tablet or computer. The speaker must be in pairing mode before its name appears on the device.
- Turn on the speaker and put it in Bluetooth pairing mode using the control for your model.
- Open the device’s Bluetooth list: on iPhone, use Settings > Bluetooth; on Android, touch and hold Bluetooth, then tap Pair new device; on Windows 11, find the speaker under New devices; on Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth. If you need the Windows controls, follow Microsoft’s pairing steps (opens in a new tab).
- Choose the speaker’s name and play audio. If the name doesn’t appear, put the speaker in pairing mode again and reopen the Bluetooth list. If it connects but stays silent, check the volume on both devices and the audio output on your phone or computer.
Set up a Bose smart speaker
The Smart Speaker 500 is one app setup example. The Portable Smart Speaker also has a Bluetooth option when Wi-Fi is unavailable, so choose that route if you’re connecting it directly to a phone or computer.
- Plug in the Smart Speaker 500.
- Download the Bose app on your phone or tablet and open it.
- Follow the app’s setup prompts for the speaker. If setup doesn’t start, check that the speaker has power and open the app again.
Connect a Bose TV speaker or soundbar
For TV sound, match the connection to both products. The Bose TV Speaker accepts optical audio or HDMI ARC. The Smart Ultra Soundbar takes a single HDMI or optical connection from the TV.
- Check whether your TV has the audio output your Bose speaker uses: HDMI ARC or optical.
- Connect your other sources to the TV, then run the matching HDMI or optical cable from the TV to the speaker. The Bose TV Speaker includes an optical cable; its HDMI cable is sold separately.
- Play something on the TV and check for sound from the Bose speaker. If it stays silent, recheck that the cable is in the matching TV audio connection and that you selected the connection your speaker uses.
If your particular speaker has an AUX input, use the cable specified for that model. Check the input and your source’s output on its Bose support page before connecting them.
Play audio through two Bose speakers
First check which linking feature your models share. SoundLink Revolve II and Revolve+ II use Party Mode with speakers on their compatibility list. Stereo Mode on a SoundLink Plus requires a second SoundLink Plus. SimpleSync pairs compatible Bluetooth products with a Bose smart speaker or soundbar, while SoundTouch systems can group through their app.
Find both model names and compare their linking options in the table above. Then use the route that fits your pair:
- For two SoundLink Plus speakers, turn on both speakers. Use their shortcut buttons to link them. If the button opens another feature, set the shortcut back to linking in the Bose app, then use the button on both speakers to link them. Stereo Mode starts by default. Press the shortcut button once to switch to Party Mode, or use the toggle in the Bose app.
- For a SoundLink Revolve II or Revolve+ II and a compatible second speaker, open the Bose Connect app and use Party Mode to link them.
- For SimpleSync, check Bose’s compatible products (opens in a new tab). Open the Bose app for your smart speaker or soundbar and use it to add the compatible second product.
- For SoundTouch systems, put your phone and the systems on the same Wi-Fi network. Start streaming music to one system through Spotify Connect, Bluetooth or AUX. Open the SoundTouch app, go to that system and add the other SoundTouch system to the stream.
Check that audio plays through both speakers. If only one plays, return to the compatibility check before changing either speaker’s settings.
For more ways to share one source, check the speaker linking rules.
If the connection still fails
Turn the speaker off and on, check its charge, and bring your device closer. Turn Bluetooth off and back on at the source, or restart that device. If the speaker pairs but you hear nothing, try another audio source and check whether a second connected device is playing.
If those checks fail, contact Bose support for your exact model. Report the model, the phone, computer or TV you tried, and whether the problem happened during setup, pairing or playback. For a warranty check, have your receipt or sales invoice ready, and ask which inspection, repair or replacement options apply.
A few common connection questions
Can I connect without the Bose app?
If your speaker offers Bluetooth, pair it through your phone or computer’s Bluetooth settings. The Smart Speaker 500 setup starts in the Bose app.
Does a Bose speaker need Wi-Fi?
It depends on the model and connection. The Portable Smart Speaker can work as a Bluetooth speaker when Wi-Fi is unavailable.
Can two different Bose speakers play together?
Some can. Check the models against the Party Mode or SimpleSync compatibility list. Stereo Mode on a SoundLink Plus requires another SoundLink Plus.
Can I connect a Bose speaker to my TV?
Use the connection your TV and speaker share. The Bose TV Speaker supports optical audio and HDMI ARC; the Smart Ultra Soundbar connects to the TV by HDMI or optical cable.
How can I tell the connection worked?
Play audio from the source you connected and check that you hear it from the Bose speaker. If you’re linking two speakers, check both.
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