Picture of the JBL Boombox 2 speaker sitting behind an iPhone.

How to Pair JBL Speakers to iPhone

This post shows how to pair JBL speakers to iPhone, or other iOS or iPadOS based device. Though we use the Boombox 2 in this demo, this routine works with almost any JBL wireless speaker.  Just look for a separate pairing button, or some of the smaller speakers have the Power and Pairing buttons combined into one button. So the only difference you might see among speakers is how to get each of them into discovery mode.  But as long as you can find the Pairing button, you should have no problems here.

How to Pair JBL Speakers to iPhone, Step by Step

With your speaker switched OFF (power button is dark), run through these directions to pair it to your iPhone mobile device.

1. Go to the Home Screen on your Device

Firstly, press the Home button to bring up the smart device’s Home screen.

2. Find the Settings App

We found ours on the second page of the Home screen, as 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

Thirdly, tap the Settings app icon.

Screenshot of the -Bluetooth- option on the iPhone 12 Pro Max -Settings- page.
iPhone 12 Pro Max -Settings- page, showing the -Bluetooth- option.

The smart device then shows the first page of its settings, as we see in the last screenshot.





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

Our Bluetooth Settings screen displays as follows. Note that our Bluetooth is running here. But since our BT speaker is currently shut OFF (is not in Bluetooth pairing mode), it does not show up in the Other Devices list.

Screenshot of the -Bluetooth Settings- page on an iPhone 12 Pro Max smart phone.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max -Bluetooth Settings- page.

Also, we don’t see it since we’ve never paired this speaker with our iOS device before.

5. Turn On your JBL Speaker

Turn on the unit by quickly pressing its  Power  button. See this, pointed at by the green arrow, in the next picture.  Now just about all JBL speakers have a power button.  So find that on your particular model, and punch it.

Picture of the dark -Power- button on typical JBL speakers.
The dark -Power- button on typical JBL speakers.

The speaker then powers up, and the Power button flashes or glows blue or lights a steady white, as we see in the next picture.

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

Note that the Power or separate Bluetooth lamp may blink. This indicates that the speaker is ready to receive a Bluetooth pairing request, or that it is soliciting a connection, as we see in the next picture.

Picture of the glowing / flashing Bluetooth button.
The glowing / flashing Bluetooth button.

If it flashes slowly, then the speaker is passively waiting for a Bluetooth connection request to come in.

But if it flashes fast, then it’s broadcasting its pairing information over Bluetooth so other devices can find it. I.e. The speaker is in pairing mode in this case.

Moreover, since our test iPhone does not know about this speaker, this JBL speaker, it will not pair with it automatically.

6. Put the Speaker into Discovery Mode

Now, to see JBL speakers on your iPhone, place them into Bluetooth pairing mode if it’s not in that mode already. To do that, press the Bluetooth button, and release when the unit plays a guitar or beeping sound, and the Bluetooth lamp begins fast flashing.

Find the Pairing button as shown in the last picture, pointed at by the green arrow. Note that some JBL speakers have no separate Pairing button.  In those cases, press and hold the Power button until the unit enters discovery mode.

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

See the screen shot next. We found our speaker, as we point out with the green arrow in the next screenshot.

Picture of the Bluetooth Settings page on an iPhone, showing the speaker as discovered.
The Bluetooth Settings page on an iPhone, showing the speaker as discovered.

8. Pair with your JBL Speaker

Tap the listed speaker in the discovered devices list.

Your mobile device then pairs with it.

Picture of the Bluetooth Settings page on an iPhone, showing the JBL speaker as Connected.
The Bluetooth Settings page on an iPhone, showing the JBL speaker as Connected.

That is, the the mobile device’s Bluetooth Settings screen might then change to look something like the screenshot just before this paragraph.  Note the now-paired JBL speaker entry (“JBL Boombox 2”), as pointed at by the green arrow.

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

At last, we have now successfully paired the speaker with the test iPhone.

Related Posts to How to Pair JBL Speakers to iPhone

    1. How to Pair Wonderboom Speaker with iPhone
    2. Pairing JBL Flip 3 with iPhone
    3. How to Pair JBL Boombox 2 to iPhone
    4. Pairing the JBL Boombox 1 to iPhone
    5. How to Pair Sony SRS XG500 to iPhone

References for How to Pair JBL Speakers to iPhone

    1. JBL Speakers Official Product Page at JBL.com

Revision History

    • 2022-09-12: First published.