How to Connect JBL Bluetooth Speaker

This post shows how to connect a JBL Bluetooth speaker to BT source devices. This demonstrates the task on an iPad Air tablet, but it works in like fashion on other tablets and smart phones too. Then, once you connect the speaker to your device, you can stream audio content to it from any source that your source device can stream.

How to Connect JBL Bluetooth Speaker, Step by Step

With your speaker powered off (power button is dark), run through this routine to connect to it from your source BT device.

1. Bring Up the Home Screen on your Source Device

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

2. Find the Settings App

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

Picture of an iPad Home screen, with the -Settings- app highlighted by an arrow. — iPad Home Screen with the -Settings- app highlighted by an arrow.

3. Bring up the Settings App

Tap the Settings app icon.

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

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

Our Bluetooth settings screen appears as follows. Note that our Bluetooth is switched ON here. But since our speaker is currently turned OFF, it does not show up in the Bluetooth devices list. Also, you wouldn’t see it if you’ve never connected the speaker with your phone / tablet before. See this as shown in this list of previously paired Bluetooth devices, shown next.

Screenshot from an iPad Air, showing previously paired Bluetooth devices list. Note that there's no JBL Bluetooth speaker now. — An iPad Air, showing previously paired Bluetooth devices list. Note that there’s no JBL Bluetooth speaker now.

5. Turn ON your JBL Bluetooth Speaker

Power on the BT speaker by quickly pressing its Power button. See this pointed at by the green arrow in the next picture.

Picture of a typical JBL Bluetooth speaker, powered off. Showing the -Power- button highlighted. — A typical JBL Bluetooth speaker, powered off. Showing the -Power- button highlighted.

The speaker then powers up.

But since your source device does not know about this speaker, the device will not pair with the speaker automatically. The Power light then comes on, and this denotes this not-paired state in our speaker by glowing solid white, as shown next.

Picture of the speaker, powered On, not paired. Showing the glowing white power button highlighted. — The speaker, powered On, not paired. Showing the glowing white power button highlighted.

6. Put your JBL Bluetooth Speaker into Pairing Mode

Now, to see your speaker on your source device, put the speaker into Bluetooth discovery / pairing mode by pressing and releasing the Bluetooth button, as shown in the next picture.

Picture of the JBL Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker, powered On, not paired. Showing its Bluetooth discovery mode button highlighted. — The speaker, powered On, not paired. Showing its Bluetooth discovery mode button highlighted.

When you press the Bluetooth pairing 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 in our case. See this next.

Picture of the speaker in Bluetooth discovery mode. The -Power- button is flashing blue and highlighted. — The speaker in Bluetooth discovery mode. The -Power- button is flashing blue and highlighted.

7. Find your Speaker on your Source Device, to Continue with How to Connect JBL Bluetooth Speaker

See the screen shot next. We found ours, as pointed at by the blue arrow, as shown next.

Screenshot of the iPad Air Bluetooth settings screen, showing JBL Charge 3 speaker discovered but not paired. — The iPad Air Bluetooth settings screen, showing a JBL Charge 3 speaker discovered but not paired.

8. Next, Connect your Source Device with the JBL Bluetooth Speaker

Tap the listed speaker in the Other Devices section of the Bluetooth devices list, shown above.

Your source device then pairs with the speaker (“JBL Charge 3” in this scenario).

The tablet’s Bluetooth Settings screen then changes to look something like the following.

Screenshot of the iOS Bluetooth Settings page, showing the JBL Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker paired with our tablet. — The iPad Air Bluetooth Settings page, showing the JBL Bluetooth speaker paired with our tablet.

Note that the JBL Bluetooth speaker now shows as connected on your iPhone, as pointed at by the Blue arrows in the last picture.

9. Done with How to Connect JBL Bluetooth Speaker !

We have now successfully connected a JBL Bluetooth speaker with a common Bluetooth source device.

References for How to Connect JBL Bluetooth Speaker

JBL Bluetooth Speaker Official Product Page at JBL.com

Revision History

2020-12-03: First published.