How to Pair JBL Flip 3

This post shows how to pair a JBL Flip 3 Bluetooth speaker with common mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch devices.

How to Pair JBL Flip 3: Step by Step

With your JBL Flip 3 powered OFF (power button is dark), run through this routine to pair it to your mobile device.

1. Navigate to the Home Screen on your Mobile Device

Press the Home button to reveal the mobile iOS device’s Home screen. Shown next.

2. Find the Settings App

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

Picture of an iPad Home screen, with the Settings app highlighted by an arrow. — iOS 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 Pair JBL Flip 3

Our Bluetooth settings screen displays, similar to the following.

Note that our Bluetooth is enabled here. But since JBL Flip 3 speaker is currently powered OFF, it does not show up in the Bluetooth devices list. Also, we don’t see it since we’ve never paired this speaker with the iPad Air before. See this as shown in this list of previously paired Bluetooth devices, shown next.

Screenshot of an iPad Air, showing its previously paired Bluetooth devices list. Note that there's no JBL Flip 3 speaker now. — An iPad Air, showing its previously paired Bluetooth devices list. Note that there’s no JBL Flip 3 speaker now.

5. Turn On your JBL Flip 3

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

Picture of the JBL Flip 3 splashproof Bluetooth speaker, top view, showing power button highlighted. Speaker is OFF. — JBL Flip 3 splashproof Bluetooth speaker, top view, showing power button highlighted. Speaker is OFF.

The speaker then powers up.

But since the iPad does not know about this speaker, the JBL Flip 3 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, showing the Power button glowing white, highlighted.

6. Put your JBL Flip 3 into Bluetooth Pairing Mode

Now, to see your JBL Flip 3 speaker on your mobile device, place the speaker into pairing mode. To do that, press and release the Bluetooth button, as shown in the next picture.

Picture of the JBL Flip 3 wireless speaker. Showing its Bluetooth pairing button highlighted. — JBL Flip 3 wireless speaker. Showing its Bluetooth pairing button highlighted.

When you press the Bluetooth button, the speaker makes a repeating single pluck guitar note sound several times. Also, the power button changes from a white glow to flashing blue. See this next.

Picture of the speaker's Power button glowing blue. — Showing the speaker’s Power button glowing blue.

7. Find your JBL Flip 3 on your Mobile Device to Continue with How to Pair JBL Flip 3

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

Screenshot from a tablet running iOS, showing its Bluetooth Settings screen, with the JBL Flip 3 speaker discovered and highlighted. Not connected. — iOS tablet screenshot, showing its Bluetooth Settings screen, with the JBL Flip 3 speaker discovered and highlighted. Not connected.

8. Next, Pair with the JBL Flip 3

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

Your source device then pairs with the JBL Flip 3 (“Tom’s Flip 3” in this demo). The mobile device’s Bluetooth Settings screen then changes to look something like the following.

Screenshot of an iOS tablet, showing its Bluetooth Settings page, with the JBL Flip 3 speaker connected and highlighted. — iOS tablet, showing its Bluetooth Settings screen, with the JBL Flip 3 speaker connected and highlighted.

9. Done with How to Pair JBL Flip 3 !

We have now successfully paired our JBL Flip 3 portable speaker. Similar routines work with pairing iPod Touch players, iPad Pros, and any iPhones as well so long as they support Bluetooth. Pairing with Android devices works in similar fashion as well.

References for How to Pair JBL Flip 3

1. JBL Flip 3 Official Product Page at JBL.com

Revision History

- 2020-06-27: First published.