The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen have touch controls on both sides. Here's what you can actually do with them.
The Basic Moves
Tap once — Play/pause. Also answers or ends calls.
Tap twice — Skip to the next song.
Tap three times — Go back to the previous song.
Swipe up — Volume up.
Swipe down — Volume down.
Press and hold — Configurable, but by default cycles through listening modes (Quiet, Aware, Immersion).
Making Them Work Reliably
A few tips from experience:
- Tap the flat part — The touch-sensitive area is on the outside face where the Bose logo is, not the edge or tip.
- Be deliberate — Light, tentative taps don't always register. A firm tap works better.
- Keep them clean — Sweat and grime can mess with touch sensitivity.
Customizing What They Do
The Bose app lets you change what press-and-hold does for each earbud. You could set:
- Left earbud: Toggle voice assistant
- Right earbud: Cycle listening modes
Options include voice assistant, listening modes, Immersive Audio modes, play/pause, and skip track.
Turning Them Off Entirely
Accidentally triggering controls all the time? Disable touch controls completely through the app (Settings → Product Control → Toggle off).
You'll lose the convenience, but no more random pauses when adjusting your earbuds.
During Calls
Same basic controls work:
- Tap to answer/end
- Hold to reject incoming call
- Swipe for volume
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