How to Fix Bose Speaker Not Charging

There are numerous reasons why your Bose speaker might not be charging, including a bad charger or cable, a dirty charging port, a glitch in the speaker, or even a power outlet that isn’t working. There is an easy fix for most of these issues. 

I’m Donovan, a lifelong musician and producer who loves everything about home audio. I’ve worked with many different types of speakers over the years and have first-hand experience troubleshooting Bose models. 

This post will explain many of the most common reasons why your Bose speaker is not charging. I’ll also provide a quick fix for each of these issues to help you troubleshoot the problem and get things working properly in a hurry. 

Let’s get started. 

Key Takeaways

• A broken charger or cable is one of the most common reasons for a Bose speaker not to charge. Try replacing either or both of these to fix the issue. 
• Charging issues can also be caused by a bug or glitch within the speaker. These are not a big deal and can be fixed by resetting the speaker. 
• Another reason why the speaker might not charge is a dirty charging port. Gunk and grime can build up in the port after heavy use but can be cleaned out pretty easily. 
• If your speaker runs out of battery, it can take 5-10 minutes or more for it to charge up enough to work. This can seem like it’s not charging when it actually is. 

7 Reasons Why Bose Speaker Not Charging

Your Bose speaker might not be charging for a handful of reasons. And if you have a portable speaker, you need it to charge to keep using it. Luckily most of these problems have a quick and easy fix. 

Before diving into the details here, it’s important to know that most Bose speakers don’t come with replaceable batteries. If you are dealing with a battery issue, you’ll likely need to buy a new speaker. That’s not great news, but it’s good to know, just in case. 

That said, most of the time charging issues with your Bose speaker aren’t a big deal. It can be as simple as getting a new charger or resetting your speaker. That’s why it’s good to troubleshoot the problem starting with the small fixes first. 

I’ve used multiple Bose speakers over the years and have only encountered issues with charging on three occasions. Two of these were very easy to deal with, and one ended up being a bad battery. 

But the speaker with a bad battery was one that I had already used for years, so even though I was bummed that it was broken, it felt that I still got plenty of use from it in the long run. 

Go through all the reasons and fixes here to help you best troubleshoot the problem. Rather than jumping around, I wrote these sections to start with the easy fixes and most common reasons. 

If #1 doesn’t work, move on to #2. If #2 doesn’t work, move on to #3. You get the idea. Let’s get into it and get your speaker working as it should. 

Reason #1: Bad Charger or Charging Cable

The most common reason your Bose speaker isn’t charging is a bad charger or charging cable. Your speaker probably came with both of these and after regular use, they can wear out and not work properly. 

It’s important to keep in mind that the cable or the charger can go bad. The charging block might be the source or the cable itself, so you’ll probably need to check for both. And when one goes bad, the other one won’t work. 

Sometimes you can see physical signs of damage on the charger or cable. Look for any obvious breaking or tearing in the cable or cracked and broken parts on the charger. But you may not see anything at all, and it can still be bad. 

How to Fix It: 

Luckily, this one has an easy fix. You just need to replace the cable or charger. There’s probably a good chance you have a replacement lying around your house from another device, as Bose speakers use pretty standard cables and chargers. 

Swap out the suspected cable or charger for a new one to see if that fixes the issue. If you switch the cable and that doesn’t work, switch the charger. If you need to buy a new one, bring the old one with you for a quick comparison so you don’t pick up the wrong one.  

Reason #2: Battery Completely Dead

Another very common reason people think their Bose speaker is not working is when the battery goes completely dead. When you let the battery charge go out entirely, the speaker won’t work at all, even when you plug it in. 

The first time I ran into this issue, I was confused. When I plugged it back in, the speaker didn’t work immediately, so I thought it was broken. But after it charged up for a while, everything worked as it was supposed to. 

How to Fix It: 

After your battery dies, you need to plug it into the charger and wait. It can take 10 to 15 minutes or more for it to charge up enough to work. This might seem odd, but it’s just the way these speakers work. 

You should see a charging light when you first plug it in, but even that might take a few minutes to light up. There isn’t an exact time that it takes for the speaker to start working correctly again, but it’s longer than you would think. 

Reason #3: Bug or Glitch with Speaker

A bug or glitch in your speaker can also result in charging problems. These bugs happen all the time with many of our modern electronic devices, and there isn’t always an obvious explanation or reason for them. 

This can be frustrating because there won’t be any other signs that something is wrong other than something not working correctly. But don’t get too frustrated because there is an easy fix for this one. 

How to Fix It: 

Resetting your speaker is a quick and easy fix for dealing with glitches. Most Bose speakers can be reset by pressing the power button and holding it for about 10 seconds until it cycles through the reset process and comes back on. 

Refer to your owner’s model for exact resetting instructions if that doesn’t work. There can be slightly different ways to reset various models of Bose speakers. They are all easy to do, and it’s good to know How to reset yours if any random issues appear. 

Reason #4: Dirty Charging Port

Another reason why your speaker might not be charging is because of a dirty charging port. The little input hole where you plug in the charging cable can get filled up with dust, dirt, grime, or just about anything else. 

This happens more commonly on speakers that are used outside often, but it can also happen to older speakers because they have been used for longer. Even if your speaker is only used inside, it can still happen. 

Whatever gunk is built up in the port can prevent the charging cable from touching the connection points, which enables it to charge. Think of it like a dirt sheath over the charger – it won’t work until it gets cleaned up. 

How to Fix It: 

Cleaning out the charging port is the way to deal with this issue. I’ve had good luck using a toothpick or cotton swab, but you can use just about anything that will fit inside the port and allow you to gently scrape the grime away. 

Be careful not to scratch at things too hard, or you might damage the internal components of the port. And you don’t want to use any water or other cleaning products because this can cause potential damage even if you have a waterproof speaker. 

If you shine a flashlight down into the port, you should be able to check on your cleaning work. You want to see metal instead of gunk. That will indicate that the port is clean enough for the charging connection to be made. 

Reason #5: Bad Power Outlet

A bad power outlet is another potential cause for your speaker not to charge. If the outlet isn’t working, you won’t be able to charge your speaker even when it’s plugged in, and everything else seems normal. 

You may not realize that the outlet is bad or that the power is out, so this reason can be mysterious. But if you are sure that your charger and cable are good and have tried everything else on the list so far, there’s a good chance it’s the outlet. 

How to Fix It: 

Unplug your speaker and try charging it in another outlet around your house. I recommend going to another room, just in case all the outlets on the breaker are out. You can also check your breaker to see if it flipped, which would be the reason why it’s turned off. 

You can also try to plug another device into the outlet to see if that works. If that device doesn’t charge or work either, then you know it’s the outlet. If that device works, you know it’s something with your speaker. 

Reason #6: Software Issues

Software issues are a less common reason for your speaker not to be charging, but it is possible. Just like some of your other everyday electronics, including your phone, your speaker might need an update occasionally to work correctly. 

Not every Bose speaker requires software updates, but some of them do. Your owner’s manual should instruct you whether or not this is the case, but you can also do a quick online search to find out. 

How to Fix It: 

You’ll need to plug your speaker into a computer to complete the update if it’s not charging. Once you have them connected, go to the Bose website and navigate to your speaker to see if an update is available. 

If the speaker is powered on, you might be able to complete the update in the Bose app. But if you are having charging issues, there’s a good chance your speaker isn’t even turned on at the moment. 

If you don’t see an update available, you can also contact Bose customer service to see if they can direct you to the proper website or tell you if that’s the issue you are dealing with.  

Reason #7: Broken or Faulty Speaker

The last reason on this list is the worst one. If you’ve attempted all the other fixes and nothing has worked, you might be dealing with a broken or faulty speaker. This is a worst-case scenario, but it does happen from time to time. 

I’ve only had one Bose speaker go bad, and I’ve probably used over a dozen. That’s a pretty good track record, but it is still possible for your speaker to stop working altogether. 

If you recently dropped your speaker or it got wet, that can be why it’s not working. But even if there aren’t signs of any damage, the speaker may have just worn out because of regular use or a manufacturer’s defect. 

How to Fix It: 

There isn’t much you can do to fix a broken speaker. Your best bet is to contact Bose customer service because your speaker might be under warranty. If it is, you can possibly get a replacement for free – but you might need to pay for shipping. 

If your speaker isn’t under warranty, then you might be out of luck. If you like the speaker and want a new one, you’ll need to pay for it yourself. You can’t really take a Bose speaker apart and repair it unless you are a small electronics repairs specialist. 

FAQs

Here are a few quick answers to some of the most commonly asked questions related to the reasons why a Bose speaker is not charging. 

How do I fix my Bose speaker not charging? 

Many Bose speaker charging issues are caused by a broken charger or charging cable. Try to replace these to see if that fixes the problem. You can also try to clean out the charging port if it is dirty or reset the speaker to rule out the possibility of a bug or glitch. 

How do I get my Bose speaker to charge? 

Most Bose portable and wireless speakers can be charged by connecting the power cord to a charger and plugging that into a wall outlet. If your speaker is completely dead, know that it can take up to 10-15 minutes to charge enough to work correctly. 

How do I reset my Bose battery? 

You can reset most Bose speaker models by pressing and holding the power button for about 10 seconds until it cycles through a restart. This doesn’t technically reset the battery, but it should iron out any potential bugs or glitches affecting the battery. 

Can you replace the battery in a Bose speaker? 

You cannot replace the battery in most Bose speakers. While it is possible to get the battery out on some models, the speakers aren’t designed for this, and you will void the warranty. If the battery goes bad, you’ll likely need to get a new speaker. 

How long does a Bose speaker last? 

Different models of Bose portable speakers have different battery lives. But you can expect anywhere from 6 to 12 hours of use on a full charge from most models. The overall battery life depends on multiple factors, such as the temperature when played. 

Final Thoughts

If your Bose speaker isn’t charging, go through the list in this post to help you troubleshoot the issue. It’s most likely a common problem with a simple fix – like a bad charging cable or a dirty charging port. Usually, charging issues aren’t that big of a deal. 

In some rare cases, your speaker might be broken. Since Bose speakers aren’t designed to be repaired, you’ll likely need to get a new one in this instance. But always contact customer service to see if you can get a warranty replacement before buying a new one. 

Have you ever had any issues with your Bose speaker? What model was it? Let me know in the comments below.