How to Pair iPhone with JBL Speaker

This post shows how to pair an iPhone to a common JBL speaker.

How to Pair iPhone with JBL Speaker, Step by Step

We do this scenario with a JBL Flip 4 speaker. Moreover, we 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 pair 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.

Picture of an iOS Home screen, showing the -Settings- app. — iOS Home screen showing the -Settings- app.

3. Bring up the Settings App

Tap the Settings app icon.

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

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

Our Bluetooth settings screen displays as follows. Note that Bluetooth is ON 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 pair with does not appear here yet. — The previously paired Bluetooth devices list on an iPhone. Note that the JBL speaker we’re going to pair with 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.

Picture of a common JBL speaker turned OFF, with its dark -Power- button. — A JBL speaker turned OFF, showing the dark -Power- button.

The speaker then powers up.

But since the iPhone would not know about this speaker, the connecting will not take place 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.

Picture of a typical JBL speaker, top view, powered ON. — 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.

Picture of the -Bluetooth- button. — The -Bluetooth- button.

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.

Picture of a JBL speaker in Bluetooth discovery mode. Showing the -Power- button blinking. — The JBL speaker in Bluetooth discovery mode. Showing the -Power- button flashing.

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

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

Screenshot of an iPhone like Bluetooth Settings screen, showing the -Tom's Flip 4- JBL speaker discovered but not paired yet. — iPhone like Bluetooth Settings screen, showing -Tom’s Flip 4- JBL speaker discovered but not paired yet.

8. Next, Pair 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.

Screenshot of an iOS Bluetooth Settings screen on iPad Air, showing the -Tom's Flip 4- JBL speaker as connected. — iOS Bluetooth Settings screen on iPad Air, showing the -Tom’s Flip 4- JBL speaker as connected.

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

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

References for How to Pair iPhone with JBL Speaker

1. How do I Connect my iPhone to the JBL Speaker? from Apple Support

Revision History

- 2021-08-26: First published.