How to Connect iPhone to JBL Speaker

iPhone 12 Pro Max front view.

This post shows How to connect an iPhone to a typical JBL speaker.

How to Connect iPhone to JBL Speaker

We do this scenario with a JBL Flip 4 speaker. We also use an iPad Air tablet for this demo, since we’re still learning how to take screenshots from an iPhone but haven’t mastered that skill yet. But the setup pages are about the same. So, the routine is almost identical.

So, with your JBL speaker powered off (power button is dark), run through this routine to connect it to your iPhone.

1. Bring Up the Home Screen on your iPhone

Press the Home button to reveal the iPhone’s Home screen.

2. Find the Settings App

We found ours on the second page of the iOS home screen as shown next.

iOS Home screen with the -Settings- app highlighted.

3. Bring up the Settings App

Tap the Settings app icon.

The iPhone then displays the first page of its settings, as shown in the next step.

4. Go to the Bluetooth Settings Page to Continue with How to Connect iPhone to JBL Speaker

Our Bluetooth settings screen displays as follows. Note that our Bluetooth is enabled here. But since speaker is currently turned OFF, it does not show up in the devices list. Also, we don’t see it since we’ve never connected this speaker with this iOS device before. See this as shown in this list of previously paired Bluetooth devices, shown next.

The previously paired Bluetooth devices list on an iPhone. Note that the JBL speaker we’re going to connect does not appear here yet.

5. Turn On your JBL Speaker

You turn on most JBL speakers by quickly pressing the Power button. See this circled in green for our example, in the next picture.

A JBL speaker turned OFF, with its -Power- button circled.

The speaker then powers up.

But since the iPhone would not know about this speaker, the connecting will not happen automatically. The light that comes on in the Power switch denotes this not-paired state by glowing solid white on this speaker, as shown next.

A common JBL speaker, top view, powered ON.

6. Put your JBL Speaker into Pairing Mode

Now, to see your JBL speaker on your iPhone, place the speaker into Bluetooth discovery mode (a.k.a. Pairing Mode). To do that, press and release the Bluetooth button, as shown in the next picture.

A typical JBL speaker, showing its Bluetooth button highlighted.

When you press the Bluetooth Discovery Mode button, the speaker makes a repeating single pluck guitar note sound several times. Also, the Power button changes from a solid white glow to flashing blue on this particular speaker. E.g. See this next.

The speaker in Bluetooth discovery mode. Showing the Power button, flashing blue, highlighted with the yellow arrow.

7. Find your JBL Speaker on your Phone to Continue with How to Connect iPhone to JBL Speaker

See the screen shot next. We found our speaker, as pointed at by the purple arrow.

iPhone like Bluetooth Settings screen, showing -Tom’s Flip 4- JBL speaker discovered but not paired yet highlighted.

8. Next, Connect with your JBL Speaker

Tap the listed speaker in the Other Devices section of the Bluetooth Devices list.

Your iPhone then connects with the speaker (“Tom’s Flip 4” in this example). The iPhone’s Bluetooth Settings screen then changes to look something like the following.

iOS Bluetooth Settings screen on iPad Air, showing the -Tom’s Flip 4- Bluetooth speaker connected and highlighted.

9. Done with How to Connect iPhone to JBL Speaker !

Finally, you have now successfully connected your iPhone to a JBL speaker. Thus, you can now play music through the speaker. And on some models including the Flip 4, you can also make calls on your phone, and hear them all through this speaker.