Bose Speaker Not Turning Off/On

Portable Bluetooth Speakers are a great way to bring your music with you. Whether out at the poolside or for a day at the beach, they are light and convenient. However, sometimes they don’t always work how you want them to.

If your Bose speaker is not turning on or not turning off, you should check the outlet and the cable to ensure it is getting a proper charge. In some cases, you may need to replace the cable or charging cradle. In other cases, you may need to reset the device or reboot to factory settings.

In this article, we will explore the various ways you can check your device, looking for potential damage or issues that could be preventing your speaker from working correctly. If you try all of the above and the speaker is not working, you will likely need a replacement.

Bose Speaker Not Turning On

If your Bose speaker will not turn on, it is most likely to be an internal bug that can be fixed with a simple reset. However, there are several things you can check yourself.

Check the Outlet

You may notice that your speaker is not showing any lights or signs that it has charge. If this is the case, unplug your unit and try another device in the same wall outlet. If this device turns on or charges, then you can be sure that the wall outlet is in working order.

Check the Cable and Plug

Once you are sure that the wall outlet is working and while your speaker is still unplugged, check over the plug and cable. Look for any signs of damages, including cracks in the plastic case or gaps in the cable.

A damaged cable can prevent proper charging and be the reason behind crackling in the speaker sound. Although the unit can accommodate similar cables, it is advised to use the Bose brand cable and plug for the best results.

Try a Different Charger

Although it isn’t recommended to use another brand’s charging cable, try charging with a different line to determine if the problem lies within your cord or plug. If the unit powers on, you should replace the cable with a Bose cable and plug for the best results.

Bypass the Charging Cradle

Unplug the Cradle and check the unit for damage. Check the pins on the Cradle and where they attach to the speaker to ensure nothing is out of place. Also, try unplugging and plugging the charger back in.

If you exclusively use the Charging Cradle with your Bose speaker, try charging with the given cable directly in the wall outlet instead. If this works and the speaker turns on, you will probably need to replace the Charging Cradle.

Remove the Surge Protector

A surge protector is a device used to prevent power surges or voltage strikes from damaging your appliances. It fits into the wall outlet, and then you plug your device into it.

In some cases, this can be faulty and will not allow your device to charge. Remove the surge protector and try charging straight into the wall outlet.

Test the App

If you have tried turning the speaker on via buttons on top, try controlling it using the Bose speaker app. It may be that the control panel has stopped working, but you can use the speaker through the app.

In this case, try a reset to fix the buttons, but if the problem persists, you will need a service or replacement unit.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on December 5, 2020.

Reset the Unit

In some situations, the problem is a small bug in the internal program stopping your speaker from working property. Much like with your smartphone, you can often reset your speaker to break the bad internal cycle.

For a simple reset, push and hold the Play/Pause button down for a full ten seconds. You should then see a white ring of light pulsing on the top. Wait for the unit to reboot and reconnect. If no light appears, you will need to try a total reboot to factory settings.

Restore to Factory Settings

Before you can reboot your device completely, you will need to disconnect from any voice activation or app connections. Be aware that this will erase all settings on your speaker and return it to the box state. You will need to re-program settings and connect devices again.

No Voice Assist

If you have no assistance added to your device, follow the steps below to restore to factory settings:

Delete any account settings you have in the Bose speaker app.
Remove user settings in Bose Music.
Connect your speaker to the wall outlet and wait for the pulsing white light ring.
Hold down the Bluetooth and Volume buttons together and wait for ten full seconds.
The light ring should fill with white light, and your device should reboot.

Alexa Assist

If you have your Bose speaker connected to your Alexa app, you will need to disconnect the two before rebooting:

Open the Alexa app and remove the Bose product that you have connected.
Open the Bose app and remove the Alexa link.
Delete any account settings you have in the Bose speaker app.
Remove user settings in Bose Music.
Connect your speaker to the wall outlet and wait for the pulsing white light ring.
Hold down the Bluetooth and Volume buttons together and wait for ten full seconds.
The light ring should fill with white light, and your device should reboot.

Google Assist

If you have your Bose speaker connected to a Google hub, you will need to remove the settings before you can reboot your unit:

In the Bose app, remove the Google Assistant link.
Delete any account settings you have in the Bose speaker app.
Remove user settings in Bose Music.
Connect your speaker to the wall outlet and wait for the pulsing white light ring.
Hold down the Bluetooth and Volume buttons together and wait for ten full seconds.
The light ring should fill with white light, and your device should reboot.

Update the Firmware

It is not uncommon for the firmware in the unit to need a manual update. This lack of update can often cause issues if you let your Bose speaker lose its charge completely.

In the video below, you can see step by step how to update the firmware on your Bose speaker:

Try Ship Mode

If all of the above has failed, try putting your device into ship mode. This is where you shut the unit down completely and reboot the internal processor.

Make sure the device is plugged into a wall outlet.
Push and hold the Multi-function button.
With the button still pressed, unplug the device from the power source.
Once the power is totally off, release the button.
Leave the device totally off for at least an hour before plugging back in to charge.
Allow to charge for at least an hour before trying to use.

Bose Speaker Not Turning Off

If your Bose speaker does not turn off, many of the above fixes can be applied to try and fix the problem. These fixes will also help you find that your speaker keeps turning off and on without you doing anything.

Along with the below, there are a couple of other things you can try before looking at getting the unit service:

Unplug the unit and check the outlet for power. An uneven power source may be affecting the power supply to the device.
Look at the cable and plug for any damage. A faulty connection could be preventing the device from shutting down.
Unplug and leave off for a few minutes. This should allow the device to power down completely before you plug it back in.
Try a reset. As mentioned above, internal bugs can cause issues.
Update the firmware. Follow the steps above to update the system and fix any potential problems with the programming.

Perform a Power Cycle

If you can control the device still and have tried a reset but still cannot turn the device off, try running a power cycle to jog the internal system back to proper working order:

Allow the unit to completely deplete itself of battery life by unplugging from the wall and using it until the battery is at zero.
Plug the unit back in and allow it to charge fully without any use.
Try to use it as normal.

Remove Bluetooth Devices

Having a Bluetooth connection could be the reason the device will not shut down. It can also be the reason your device may be turning off and on sporadically. The device may be connecting and disconnecting to specific devices without you knowing.

Turn the Bluetooth off of every device you know to be connected, and then try to use the speaker as usual.

Final Thoughts

If your Bose speaker is not turning on, not turning off, or sporadically turning on and off, you should check the power connection and cable for issues or damage. You may find a loose wire or a problem with the wall outlet is preventing proper charging.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on December 5, 2020.

Performing a reset or simply unplugging the unit entirely before plugging back in will usually fix many simple bugs. However, you may need to check for any firmware updates or restore the unit to factory settings.