How to Connect JBL Speakers

This post shows how to connect typical JBL speakers with common streaming devices such as the mobile phone, tablet, and other speakers.

How to Connect JBL Speakers, Step by Step

With the JBL speaker switched OFF (the Power button is dark), run through this procedure to connect it to your streaming device.

1. Visit the Home Screen on Said Device

Press the Home button to bring up the mobile device’s Home screen. Shown next.

2. Find the Settings App

We found ours on the second page of an iPad home screen.

Screenshot of a Home page on a common smart device, with the Settings app highlighted by an arrow. How to Connect JBL Speakers. — Typical smart device Home Screen with Settings app highlighted.

3. Bring up the Settings App

Tap the Settings app icon.

The iOS 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 to JBL Speakers

Our Bluetooth settings screen displays, similar to the following.

Note that our Bluetooth is ON here. But since our test JBL speaker is currently not running, it does not show up in the devices list. Also, we don’t see it since we’ve never connected this speaker with this device before. See this as shown in this list of previously paired Bluetooth devices, shown next.

Screenshot of the Bluetooth devices list. Note that there's no JBL speakers showing here. — The Bluetooth devices list. Note that there’s no JBL speakers showing here.

5. Turn On your JBL Speaker

Turn on this speaker by quickly pressing its Power button. See this pointed out in green, in the next picture.

Top view of the test speaker, powered OFF, showing the Power button.. — Top of the test JBL speaker, powered OFF, showing the Power button.

The speaker then boots.

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

Top view of the speaker powered ON, not paired, showing the glowing Power button highlighted. — Top view of the speaker, powered ON, not paired, showing the glowing Power button highlighted.

6. Put your JBL Speakers into Discovery Mode

Now, to see any JBL speakers on your mobile device, place them into pairing mode first. To do that, press and release the Pairing button, as we see in the next picture.

Picture of the glowing Pairing button that we find on most JBL speakers. — The glowing Pairing button.

When you press this button, the speaker makes some kind of sound to alert you that it’s advertising itself as available for connections. Also, the Pairing button begins flashing white. See this in the last picture, pointed at by the green arrow.

7. Find the Speaker on your Mobile Device to Continue with How to Connect JBL Speakers

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

Screenshot of the smart device showing what it looks like when it detects JBL speakers nearby. — JBL speakers showing as discovered on the smart device when they’re in pairing mode.

8. Next, Connect With the Speaker

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

Your source device then pairs with JBL speakers that are advertising themselves (“Tom’s Flip 5” in this demo). The mobile device’s BT Settings screen then changes to look something like the following.

Screenshot of the -Bluetooth Settings- page, showing the -Tom's Flip 5- speaker now connected. — The Bluetooth Settings- page, with the -Tom’s Flip 5- speaker now connected.

9. Done with How to Connect JBL Speakers !

We have now successfully connected a common JBL speaker. Similar routines work with connecting to media players, phones, and desktop computers as long as they support Bluetooth.

References for How to Connect JBL Speakers

1. JBL Speakers Official Product Page at JBL.com

Revision History

- 2023-02-13: First published.