Bose QuietComfort Headphones F36 Fix: Error Code Guide

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What This Error Means

On Bose QuietComfort headphones, F36 means the headphones have tripped a power/firmware protection fault.

In plain terms: the electronics think there is a problem with the battery or charging circuit, so they lock up, refuse to charge, or will not power on normally.

Bose does not document F-codes in the paper manual, but this one usually shows up in the app or updater when the battery or power controller glitches or fails.

Official Fix

Bose’s official routine is boring but you have to try it: reset, update, new cable, then warranty or paid service.

Run through these in order:

  • 1. Do a full reset.
    Power the headphones off. Wait 30 seconds. Plug them into a wall USB charger for 5 seconds, then unplug and wait another minute. Power them back on. On many newer QuietComfort models, you can also press and hold the Power/Bluetooth button and Volume Down together for about 10 seconds until the lights flash. If your model behaves differently, follow the reset combo in your user manual.
  • 2. Try a known-good charger and cable.
    Use a short, decent USB cable and a 5 V phone charger (not a laptop port). F36 sometimes pops up when the battery controller sees unstable power from a sketchy cable or USB brick.
  • 3. Update the firmware.
    Connect the headphones to your phone and open the Bose Music or Bose Connect app. If it offers a firmware update, let it run, even if it takes a while. If you have a computer handy, you can also plug the headphones in by USB and use Bose’s desktop updater to reload the firmware.
  • 4. Reboot the app and forget/re-add the headphones.
    Close the Bose app, reopen it, and remove the headphones from the device list. Forget them in your phone’s Bluetooth menu too, then pair them again from scratch.
  • 5. Check for obvious damage.
    Look for a bent or loose USB port, crushed cable, or signs of liquid damage around the earcups. Bose will call any of that physical damage and may not cover it under warranty.

If F36 is still showing after a clean reset, fresh cable, stable charger, and firmware update, Bose’s official answer is service: either an in-warranty swap or a paid out-of-warranty replacement at a flat rate.

The Technician’s Trick

This is the kind of thing you will not see in the Bose manual, but bench techs do it all the time on F36 units.

  • 1. Force a deep power controller reset.
    Unplug any USB cable. Hold the Power/Bluetooth button down for a full 30 seconds, even if nothing lights up. Let go, wait 10 seconds, then do it again. After that, plug straight into a wall USB charger and leave the headphones alone for at least 3 hours, no matter what the LEDs do. This can wake up a locked battery management chip.
  • 2. Battery connector pull (advanced, out of warranty only).
    If you are comfortable opening things: pop off the ear cushion on the side with the USB port, remove the retaining ring, and undo the small screws to open the earcup. Inside you will see the battery plug going into the main board. Carefully unplug that connector, wait 60 seconds, then plug it back in firmly. Do not pry on the battery pack itself and do not puncture it.
  • 3. Swap the battery if F36 keeps coming back.
    On older QuietComfort sets, F36 plus short run time almost always means a tired battery. A compatible replacement pack is cheap compared to a new pair. Move the old pack out gently, stick the new one in the same spot, route the cable the same way, and reconnect the plug. Reassemble, then give it a long first charge on a wall charger.
  • 4. Know when to stop.
    If a known-good battery and a hard reset still leave you with F36 or dead headphones, the main board is likely toast. At that point, most techs do not chase component-level repair unless they have a donor board, because the labor blows past the value of the headphones.

Is It Worth Fixing? (The Financial Verdict)

  • ✅ Fix: Headphones under about 5 years old, no cracks or water damage, and F36 appears only during charging or after a firmware update. A reset or battery swap is cheap and usually worth it.
  • ⚠️ Debatable: Older QuietComfort with worn pads, weak battery life, and F36 showing up randomly while in use. If a paid Bose exchange or board-level repair costs more than about half the price of a new pair, think hard.
  • ❌ Replace: Cracked headband, trashed cushions, signs of liquid damage, and F36 still there after trying a new battery. Paying for a main board or official exchange is usually throwing good money after bad.

Parts You Might Need

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See also

Chasing other F-series or gadget error codes? These quick guides might save you more time: