How to Hard Reset JBL Charge 5

Here, we show how to hard reset the JBL Charge 5 portable power bank speaker. Hard resetting puts the unit back into its default state. Plus, it deletes any earlier paired Bluetooth devices from memory. Thus, hard resetting stops the speaker from connecting to any nearby Bluetooth devices afterwards. Also, you should reset the speaker in this way, to get it ready for sale or re gifting.

How to Hard Reset the JBL Charge 5

1. Turn on the Speaker

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

Top view of the JBL Charge 5 power bank speaker, showing the -Power- button when the speaker is OFF. — The JBL Charge 5 power bank speaker, top view, showing the -Power- button when the speaker is OFF.

The green arrow points out the Power button in the last picture above.

Then, that button comes on, as shown next.

Picture of the -Power- button glowing. — The -Power- button glowing.

Now since we’ve paired the speaker with Bluetooth devices before this, it does not enter Bluetooth pairing mode by itself. We know that because the Bluetooth button remains OFF, rather than blinking white.

Picture of the dark Bluetooth Pairing button on the JBL Charge 5 speaker. — The dark Bluetooth Pairing button on the JBL Charge 5 speaker.

Note the dark Bluetooth button, to the right of the glowing Power button in the last picture.

2. Wait for the Power Up Sound

The speaker makes a rising electric guitar strum sound when it powers up, and is ready for hard resetting once this sound finishes.

3. Press the Volume UP and Play-Pause Buttons Together

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

Top view of the JBL Charge 5 speaker, showing the -Volume Up- and -Play-Pause- buttons. — JBL Charge 5 speaker, top view, showing the -Volume Up- and -Play-Pause- buttons.

The speaker then enters hard reset, as shown in the next photo. Note that both the Power and Bluetooth buttons and the egg shaped ring around them. All of these light up for a couple seconds during reset. I.e. The ring and both buttons glow gray-white.

Picture of all lights lit on the speaker. — All lights lit on the speaker.

Then after a short pause, the JBL Charge 5 turns off. All lights go off, and it makes the power-down guitar sound.

The next picture shows the JBL Charge 5, powered down. All buttons are dark.

Top front view of the JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth speaker.

4. Check that your JBL Charge 5 Did Hard Reset

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

Now this time, after hard reset, our speaker instantly comes up in Bluetooth discovery mode, as shown next. We did not need to press the Bluetooth button first. Note that the Bluetooth button blinks to let you know that the speaker has entered pairing mode. When this button blinks or is dark, the speaker is not currently paired. Indeed, we expect it not to pair to anything after a reset.

Picture of the -Power- and -Bluetooth- buttons lit. — The -Power- and -Bluetooth- buttons lit.

5. Done with How to Hard Reset the JBL Charge 5 !

Hard reset is now done. Thus you may now pack the speaker up for sale, or pair it again with your favorite BT devices.

Since, as noted earlier, this speaker will no longer automatically pair with any previously paired, in range Bluetooth device in pairing mode, you’ll need to forget the previously paired JBL Charge 5 listed in the Bluetooth devices section of your source device settings. Once you do that, then you may manually pair the 5 with that device again if you so desire. Then, any time that both speaker and that device have Bluetooth turned on, pairing with automatically take place once more.

References for How to Reset the JBL Charge 5 Speaker

1. JBL Charge 5 Wireless Speaker Official Home Page at JBL.com

Revision History

- 2022-09-20: First published.