There are multiple reasons why your Bose speaker keeps disconnecting, including being out of range from the source device, WiFi or Bluetooth issues, poor battery charge, a glitch, or even being faulty. There is typically a quick fix for these problems.
I’m Donovan, an avid musician and producer with years of experience working with audio in many capacities. I’ve used several Bose speakers over the years and know how to troubleshoot connection issues through first-hand experience.
This post will show you some of the most common reasons why your Bose speaker might be disconnecting. I’ll provide you with an explanation of the problem and also a quick fix to help you get things running correctly quickly.
Let’s get after it.
Key Takeaways
- One of the most common reasons for your Bose speaker to disconnect is because it’s out of range from your phone or other audio source device. Move within range to fix this.
- It’s a good idea to start troubleshooting connection problems by resetting your Bose speaker. Sometimes it’s caused by a bug or glitch, and a quick reset will fix the problem.
- Your Bose speaker might also be connecting to another Bluetooth device, which can cause it to disconnect from whatever you want it connected to. Turn off Bluetooth on devices within the range you don’t want to be connected.
- In rare instances, your connection problems might be caused by a broken or faulty speaker. This doesn’t happen often, but you might need to purchase a new speaker if it does.
7 Reasons Why Bose Speaker Keeps Disconnecting
There are several reasons why your Bose speaker can keep disconnecting, and most of these are pretty easy to address and fix. Typically, you can resolve things in a matter of minutes once you figure out what is happening.
And that’s exactly why I wrote this post – to help you identify and resolve your speaker connection issues. I’ve dealt with just about each of the reasons you’ll see on this list, so I know they work.
My first piece of advice is that you should always start with small potential fixes before moving on to anything more complex. Why? Because if you can fix things with the touch of a button rather than dealing with customer service, you should.
So I organized the reasons and fixes below with that in mind. When troubleshooting your Bose speaker issues, start with reason #1 and move your way down. If all goes well, You should resolve the problem within a few sections.
Reason #1: Speaker is Out of Range
The most likely issue causing your Bose speaker to keep disconnecting is that it’s out of range. This means your speaker is too far away from your source device (phone, computer, tablet, etc.).
Wireless speakers have a limited range. Bluetooth typically has an average working range of around 30 meters, but that’s if there are no walls, furniture, or anything else blocking the line of sight from your speaker to your source device.
If you are using a portable speaker and moved it into another room from your phone, it can quickly disconnect. Or, if you have your phone in your pocket and are walking around the house, you might also encounter connection issues.
Even if you are relatively close to the speaker, a large couch or cabinet can also potentially cause range issues.
How to Fix It:
You need to move your speaker and/or source device back within range to fix this problem. Keeping the two devices within a straight line of sight – meaning there are no big obstacles between them is a good idea.
You might need to re-pair the speaker if it disconnected out of range, or it might automatically reconnect after you get back within range. If the speaker plays as normal as you get your phone closer, you know it was out of range.
Reason #2: Bug or Glitch with Speaker or Source Device
Another common cause of connection issues is a bug or glitch with your speaker or source device. This isn’t a big deal that affects the long-term performance of your devices, but more like a minor malfunction.
Bugs and glitches happen all of the time, and there isn’t always a direct cause for them. It’s just a part of owning and using electronic devices. If you have any sort of weird malfunction that doesn’t have an explanation, a bug or glitch might be the reason.
How to Fix It:
A quick reset of your speaker and/or source device should fix any bugs. You can start by turning your speaker off and back on and then do the same for your phone. This is called a soft reset and can get things working in a hurry.
If that doesn’t work, you should attempt a hard reset. On most Bose speakers, you can do a hard reset by pressing and holding the power button for about 10 seconds until the speaker cycles through the reset process and turns back on.
The hard reset process for your phone can vary depending on what model you have, but it’s pretty easy to figure out and usually involves holding down a few buttons simultaneously. Search online or refer to your owner’s manual to get exact instructions.
If you are trying to connect your Bose speaker to a computer, reset the speaker as normal to iron out any bugs. Always be sure to reset both the speaker and the source device because a bug can appear in either device.
Reason #3: Low or Dead Battery
If you have a low or dead battery, you will also run into connection issues. Sometimes when the battery gets really low, your Bose speaker will disconnect or cut in and out. Sometimes it will disconnect altogether.
Your speaker should have a low-battery indicator that lets you know when the battery is getting low. But sometimes we miss this, or it’s not working correctly. So you might think you have plenty of battery charge when you actually don’t.
When the battery gets too low on your speaker, you can run into a number of issues, and connection problems are one of the primary ones.
How to Fix It:
This problem has a very easy and obvious fix. You just need to plug your speaker into a power source. Once it has enough battery, it should work as usual. But remember that it might take a few minutes for the speaker to charge back up enough to connect.
If your source device doesn’t remember the speaker, you might need to go through the pairing/connection process again. But there’s a good chance the speaker will automatically reconnect once it has enough charge.
Reason #4: Bluetooth or WiFi Connection Issues
Bluetooth or WiFi connection issues can also cause your speaker to disconnect. If you lose the Bluetooth signal between the speaker and your source device, it will disconnect. And if your source device is running on a WiFi signal and you lose that, the audio will disconnect.
You might have also accidentally turned off your phone or computer’s Bluetooth or WiFi feature. When that happens, the speaker will disconnect. These functions should be kept on at all times when you are using your Bose speaker.
How to Fix It:
The first thing you should do is check that your Bluetooth is turned on. If it’s off, turn it back on, and you should be able to reconnect to the speaker. Then check your WiFi signal to ensure you have enough service to connect.
You might need to reset your router if you suspect it’s the WiFi. This is similar to resetting your speaker or phone when you are dealing with a bug. It will take a few minutes for the reset to cycle, but then you can attempt to connect again.
If both your Bluetooth connection and WiFi signal seem normal, try resetting your speaker and/or phone as described in Reason #2. Sometimes a bug can also cause Bluetooth/WiFi connection issues.
Reason #5: Multiple Bluetooth Connections
Another relatively common reason for a wireless speaker to keep disconnecting is multiple Bluetooth connections at the same time. If your Bose speaker recognizes multiple Bluetooth devices within range, it can connect to one instead of the other.
The speaker also might bounce from one Bluetooth device to another, which will seem like it’s disconnecting when it’s really just pairing with another device. This can be a confusing issue, but it’s pretty simple to get straightened out.
How to Fix It:
Turn off the Bluetooth feature on any enabled devices within range of your Bose speaker that you don’t want to connect. This could be another phone or computer in the room you don’t realize is there.
You can either turn those devices off or just turn the Bluetooth features on in the settings menu. You can also manage your connections in the settings menus to choose which one connects to the speaker.
But turning the feature off altogether is a more effective fix because this will keep Bluetooth off and prevent the speaker from bouncing on and off.
Reason #6: Auto-Off Feature Malfunction
Most Bose speakers have an Auto-Off feature that is designed to help save battery when the speaker isn’t being used. The speaker will turn off automatically after about 30 minutes of no use.
Sometimes this feature can malfunction, which can cause the speaker to turn off randomly when you don’t want it to and disconnect from your device. This is a pretty rare situation, but I have seen it happen on one Bose speaker I owned.
How to Fix It:
Try resetting your speaker to iron out this problem first. Sometimes the Auto-Off feature experiences a glitch, and a quick reset will do the trick.
If that doesn’t work, you can turn the Auto-Off feature off. On most Bose speaker models, you can do this by pressing the power and volume-up buttons simultaneously until you hear a tone indicating that the feature is turned off.
This malfunction might not be fixable on rare occasions, and you’ll need to get a new speaker—more on that in the last section below.
Reason #7: Damaged or Faulty Speaker
If you’ve read this far and still haven’t figured out the issue, you might be dealing with a bad or faulty speaker. This doesn’t happen too often – Bose speakers are pretty reliable. But it is possible.
If you recently dropped your speaker or it got damaged some other way and now isn’t connecting, it’s safe to assume it might be broken. But internal components can also go bad with no real indication.
How to Fix It:
There isn’t much you can do to directly fix this problem because you can’t really repair a broken or faulty speaker. Your best bet is to contact Bose customer service to see if they can help you troubleshoot or find out if your speaker is under warranty.
If your speaker is under warranty, you might be able to get a replacement for free. If it’s not, you’ll likely need to purchase a new one. This isn’t great news, but it does occur.
FAQs
Here are a few quick answers to some of the most commonly asked questions related to the reasons why a Bose speaker keeps disconnecting.
Why does my Bluetooth keep disconnecting from my speaker?
There are multiple reasons why your Bluetooth device can disconnect from your speaker. Being out of range is one of the most common causes. But you also might be dealing with a low battery, interference issues, or a bug or glitch.
How do I stop my speaker from automatically turning off?
Turning off the Auto-Off feature on your Bose speaker can be slightly different for each model, but typically you just need to hold the power and volume up buttons simultaneously until you hear a tone. The speaker should stay on continuously after that.
How do I reset my Bose speaker?
You can reset most Bose speaker models by pressing and holding the power button for about 10 seconds until the speaker cycles through a reset and turns back on. A reset can fix many random issues that don’t seem to have an obvious explanation.
Why does my speaker automatically turn off?
Your Bose speaker will automatically turn off because it is equipped with an Auto-Off feature that powers down the speaker after about 30 minutes when it’s not in use. You can disable this feature if you want to, but there is no real reason to do so.
Final Thoughts
If your Bose speaker keeps disconnecting, try the troubleshooting tips in this post to get things figured out. Typically, this isn’t a big deal, and you can get your speaker working properly in a matter of minutes.
Remember to start with minor fixes before attempting anything too drastic, like calling customer service or assuming your speaker is broken. A quick reset or turning off other Bluetooth devices are far more common reasons for connection issues.
What type of Bose speaker do you have? What was the cause of your connection issues? Let me know in the comments below.
Beth
I’m having issues to get alexa to work on my bose portable speaker again she says u have to go to the alexa app to connect or some thing but it all shoes it is so I’ve tried every thing to make it work but can’t ur my last hope she won’t do any thing for me like it used to sorry to ask or bother u ty
Donovan
Have you gone through everything in this post to try to figure out your problem? I’d start with a quick reset of your speaker, Alexa device, and phone or whatever you are controlling the audio from. If that doesn’t work, double-check that everything is updated. This sort of problem sounds like a minor tech issue to me, although I know it’s frustrating when you’re in the middle of it. Usually, it’s pretty easy to figure out by going through all the steps I mentioned here. If none of those work, let me know, and I’ll see if I can help more.