How to Reset a Bose Soundbar (Every Model, Step by Step)
To reset a Bose soundbar, unplug it and any bass module or surround speakers for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. If that doesn’t fix it, a factory reset uses two remote buttons held for five seconds, and which two depends on your model.
The soundbar has frozen on one input, the light bar is stuck, or the Bose app can’t find it anymore. Nothing you press seems to register.
Bose soundbars have two kinds of reset. One clears the glitch and keeps your settings, while the other erases everything and starts setup again.
That difference matters, because a factory reset means signing the bar back into your Wi-Fi, apps and voice assistant.
Below you’ll find both resets, the exact buttons for ten Bose models, what to do before and after a factory reset, and what to try when a reset won’t take.
Which Bose Soundbar Do You Have?
That list of ten models starts with knowing yours, because the buttons change between generations. The model name is printed on the label on the bottom or back of the bar, and it’s also shown in the Bose app if the bar is set up there.
Bose’s support pages list most of its bars with the years they were sold. The table below uses the same names, so you can match yours before holding anything.
| Model | Years sold | Factory reset on the remote | Hold for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bose Smart Soundbar | From 2024 | Play/Pause + Volume – | 5 seconds |
| Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar | From 2023 | Play/Pause + Volume – | 5 seconds |
| Bose Smart Soundbar 600 | 2022 to 2024 | Play/Pause + Volume – | 5 seconds |
| Bose Smart Soundbar 900 | 2021 to 2023 | Power + Skip forward | 5 seconds |
| Bose Smart Soundbar 700 | 2018 to 2023 | Power + Skip forward | 5 seconds |
| Bose Soundbar 500 | 2018 to 2020 | Power + Skip forward | 5 seconds |
| Bose Smart Soundbar 300 | – | Volume – + Play/Pause | 5 seconds |
| SoundTouch 300 | – | SoundTouch, then hold Teletext | 10 seconds |
| Bose TV Speaker | From 2020 | No factory reset listed; unplug for 30 seconds | – |
| Solo 5 and Solo Soundbar Series II | 2015 to 2021, and from 2020 | No factory reset listed; unplug for 1 minute | – |
The combinations come from Bose’s reset pages for the Smart Soundbar, Smart Ultra, 600, 900, 700, 500, SoundTouch 300, TV Speaker, Solo 5 and Solo Series II. The Smart Soundbar 300 steps come from its owner’s manual.
What’s the Difference Between a Reset and a Factory Reset?
Those two columns in the table do very different jobs. Bose describes a reset as something that corrects minor processor errors, and says product settings aren’t lost.
A factory reset, which Bose calls restoring factory settings, clears everything and returns the bar to its out-of-box state. Afterwards you set it up as if it were new.
So the order is always the same. Try the reset first, and only move to the factory reset if the problem comes back.
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That gentler reset is a power cycle, and it’s the same across Bose’s Smart soundbars.
- Turn off the soundbar.
- Unplug its power cord from the bar or the outlet.
- Unplug any bass module and both surround speaker receivers too.
- Wait 30 seconds, then plug the soundbar back in.
- Wait about 30 seconds for it to reboot, then reconnect the bass module and surrounds.
Unplugging the accessories matters. If the bass module stays powered, it can hold onto the same glitch the bar just cleared.
That applies to add-ons such as the Bose Bass Module 700, Bose’s wireless subwoofer for its soundbars.
Bose Bass Module 700
Resetting the Surround Speaker Receivers
On the Soundbar 500, Bose also lists a separate reset for the wireless rear receivers. Turn the system off, unplug both receivers for 30 seconds, plug them back in, and turn the system on.
The status LED on each receiver should come on and stay white. That tells you it has connected to the soundbar again.
If one keeps dropping out even after this reset, the Bose Surround Speakers 700 are the wireless pair Bose designs for its bars.
Bose Surround Speakers 700
The Bose TV Speaker and Solo Models
The Bose TV Speaker works the same way. Unplug the speaker and any bass module for 30 seconds, then plug them back in firmly.
A two-note rising tone and a brief glow from the two front LEDs confirm it’s back on power. For the Solo 5 and Solo Soundbar Series II, Bose says to power off and unplug for 1 minute, and notes that settings aren’t lost.
How Do You Factory Reset a Bose Smart Soundbar?
If the power cycle didn’t help, the factory reset is next. The steps depend on which family your bar belongs to.
Smart Soundbar, Smart Ultra and Smart Soundbar 600
On these three, press and hold Play/Pause and Volume – on the remote at the same time for 5 seconds. The entire light bar blinks twice and the soundbar reboots.
When it’s done, a steady amber light in the light bar means the soundbar is in setup mode. Open the Bose app to set it up again.
Smart Soundbar 900, Smart Soundbar 700 and Soundbar 500
These older bars use a different pair. Hold Power and Skip forward on the remote at the same time for 5 seconds.
The light bar blinks twice, the bar reboots, and a steady amber light again means it’s ready for setup.
Smart Soundbar 300
The Smart Soundbar 300 uses Volume – and Play/Pause, held for 5 seconds. According to its owner’s manual, the light bar pulses white twice and fades, the bar reboots, and it glows solid amber when it’s ready to set up.
SoundTouch 300
The SoundTouch 300 predates the Bose app. Press the SoundTouch button on the remote, then press and hold the Teletext button, to the right of the CC button, for 10 seconds until the lights on the soundbar blink white.
Wait for it to reboot. When the Wi-Fi light glows amber, set it up again in the SoundTouch app rather than the Bose app.
What Should You Do Before a Factory Reset?
That amber setup light means the bar has forgotten its accounts too. Bose recommends removing the soundbar from your Bose account first, so it doesn’t show up twice when you set it up again.
If you added Alexa, Bose has you remove the soundbar from Amazon before resetting. In the Amazon Alexa app, go to Devices, then Echo & Alexa, pick the Bose product and tap Deregister.
Then, under Account, Other Programs and Login with Amazon, remove any entries for Bose. If you won’t use another Bose product with that Amazon account, you can remove the Bose skill as well.
Skipping these steps won’t break the bar. It just leaves old entries behind that can confuse setup later.
Why Won’t Your Bose Soundbar Factory Reset?
When the light bar doesn’t blink after holding the buttons, the cause is usually small. Check the remote first, because weak batteries can send one button and not the other.
Press both buttons at exactly the same moment and keep holding for the full time. Letting go early, or pressing them a beat apart, just triggers the buttons’ normal functions.
Make sure you’re using the right pair for your model. Holding Power and Skip forward on a 600 won’t reset it, because that bar uses Play/Pause and Volume – instead.
If the bar still won’t respond, do the 30-second power cycle again and then retry the factory reset straight after the reboot.
Does a Factory Reset Fix Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Problems?
Often, yes, because those connections are part of what a factory reset clears. Bose says it erases all settings, so the bar forgets its Wi-Fi network and every Bluetooth device it was paired with.
That clean slate helps when the bar keeps dropping off Wi-Fi or refuses a phone it used to know. After setup, join your network again in the Bose app and pair each Bluetooth device fresh.
It won’t help if the problem is the router or the phone. If other devices also struggle with the same Wi-Fi, fix that first, or the bar will drop off again after the reset.
Can You Reset a Bose Soundbar Without the Remote?
Every factory reset in the table uses the remote, which is a problem if it’s lost. The power-cycle reset needs no remote at all, so it’s always available.
For a full factory reset, you’ll need the remote or a replacement. In the meantime, the Bose app, your TV remote over HDMI-CEC, or Optical Auto-Wake can keep the bar usable, and our guide on how to turn on a Bose soundbar without the remote explains each one.
What Happens After the Reset?
Once the amber light is steady, open the Bose app and set the soundbar up as if it were new. Expect to rejoin Wi-Fi, re-pair Bluetooth devices, and add any voice assistant again.
If sound still cuts out over HDMI after setup, the problem is often on the TV’s side, and our fix for soundbar no sound over HDMI ARC covers those settings.
When a Reset Doesn’t Fix It
Even two resets won’t fix a hardware fault. If the bar won’t power on or fails the same way after setup, Burton Acoustix’s failing-soundbar checks help you decide, and Bose’s support pages can start a repair or replacement.
Out of warranty, the Bose Smart Soundbar is Bose’s current compact bar, with Dolby Atmos and a dialogue mode.
Bose Smart Soundbar
For a larger room, the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar steps up with upward-firing speakers for height.
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
Resetting a different brand? Burton Acoustix’s soundbar reset guide covers Samsung, Vizio, Sony and others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unplugging a Bose soundbar reset it?
Yes, unplugging it and any bass module or surrounds for 30 seconds is Bose’s standard reset. It clears minor errors without erasing your settings.
How do I factory reset a Bose Smart Soundbar 600?
Hold Play/Pause and Volume – on the remote at the same time for 5 seconds. The light bar blinks twice, the bar reboots, and a steady amber light shows it’s ready for setup.
How do I factory reset a Bose Soundbar 700?
Hold Power and Skip forward on the remote at the same time for 5 seconds. The light bar blinks twice, the bar reboots, and a steady amber light shows it’s ready for setup.
How do I reset a Bose TV Speaker?
Unplug the speaker and any bass module for 30 seconds, then plug them back in firmly. A two-note rising tone and a brief glow from the two front LEDs confirm it’s back on power, and Bose doesn’t list a separate factory reset for it.
How do I reset a Bose Solo 5?
Power it off and unplug the power cord for 1 minute, then plug it back in. Bose notes that settings aren’t lost during this reset.
What does the amber light mean after a Bose reset?
A steady amber light in the light bar means the factory reset finished and the soundbar is in setup mode. Open the Bose app, or the SoundTouch app for a SoundTouch 300, to set it up again.
Will a factory reset remove my Bose soundbar from the app?
It erases the soundbar’s settings, but Bose recommends removing the product from your Bose account yourself before resetting. That keeps your account from showing an old entry when you set it up again.
