Picture of the JBL Charge 3 portable waterproof speaker, top view, showing its control panel buttons.

How to Factory Reset JBL Charge 3

Here we show how to factory reset the JBL Charge 3 to return it to its factory default settings. Factory resetting restores this speaker to factory default, fresh-out-of-the-box state. Plus, it erases any earlier paired Bluetooth devices from its memory. Clearing these stops the speaker from pairing to any nearby Bluetooth devices automatically, until you add new connections. Also, you might factory reset your speaker to get it ready for sale or re-gifting.

How to Factory Reset JBL Charge 3, Step by Step

1. Turn on the JBL Charge 3

Press and release the Power button.  It should light up right away.

Picture of the JBL Charge 3, powered off. Showing the -Power- button.
The JBL Charge 3, powered off. Showing the -Power- button.

Find the Power button, as shown in the last picture above.

Then, the Power button comes on, as shown next. In our case, since we’ve connected the speaker with Bluetooth devices before this, it does not enter Bluetooth discovery mode. We know that because the Power button is glows solid gray, rather than blinking blue.

Picture of the JBL Charge 3, powered ON and not paired. Showing the glowing white power button.
The JBL Charge 3, powered ON and not paired. Showing the glowing white power button.

2. Wait for the Power Up Sound

The speaker makes a rising electric guitar strum sound when it boots. The JBL Charge 3 is then ready for factory resetting after this sound finishes.





3. Press the Volume UP and Play-Pause Buttons Together to Continue with How to Factory Reset JBL Charge 3

See the next picture to find the Pause Play and UP Volume buttons.

Picture of the -Volume Up- and -Play Pause- buttons.
The -Volume Up- and -Play Pause- buttons.

The speaker then enters factory reset mode, as shown in the next picture. Note that both the Power and Connect buttons light up for a couple seconds as the factory reset progresses. The Power button glows a pale blue, and the Connect button glows gray-white.  We circled these buttons in green, as shown next.

Picture of the JBL Charge 3 during factory reset. Showing the glowing -Power- and -Connect- buttons.
JBL Charge 3 during factory reset. Showing the glowing -Power- and -Connect- buttons.

Then after a short pause, the speaker turns off. All the lights go off, and it makes the power-down guitar sound.

The next picture shows the speaker, powered down.  All buttons are dark.

Picture of the control panel buttons.
The control panel buttons.

4. Check that your JBL Charge 3 Did Indeed Factory Reset

Next, power on the speaker again, as detailed in step 1 above.  In short, press and release the Power button, as shown next.

Now this time, after factory reset, our speaker almost instantly comes up in Bluetooth discovery mode, as shown next. We did not have to press the Bluetooth button first. Why not? Because after a factory reset, the speaker automatically enters pairing mode.

Note that the Power button blinks blue to show that it is in Bluetooth discovery mode. When this button blinks blue or shows as solid white, the speaker is not in a pairing. Indeed we expect it not to pair to anything after a factory reset.

Picture of the JBL Charge 3, powered on and paired. The -Power- button is glowing blue.
The JBL Charge 3, powered on and paired. The -Power- button is glowing blue.

5. Done with How to Factory Reset JBL Charge 3 !

The JBL Charge 3 factory reset is now complete. So you may now pack it up for sale, or pair it again with your favorite Bluetooth devices.

The speaker will no longer automatically pair with any prior paired, in range Bluetooth device. So, to restore auto Bluetooth pairing, forget the previously paired speaker in the Bluetooth devices section of your source device.  Once you do that, you can manually pair the speaker with that device again if you wish. Then whenever both speaker and that device are in range, auto pairing takes place once more.

Other Posts About the JBL Charge 3 

    1. JBL Charge 3 Specifications
    2. Pairing Victor Reader Trek with JBL Charge 3
    3. Pairing with Amazon Alexa Echo Dot
    4. The Change Bluetooth Name Procedure
    5. The Buttons Details Guide

References

    1. JBL Charge 3 Official Product Page
    2. Where to Buy the JBL Charge 3