How to Reset JBL Charge 3

JBL Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker and power bank, original box, side 3.

How to reset JBL Charge 3 details how to restore the speaker to its default settings. Resetting restores this speaker to factory default state. It also erases any earlier paired Bluetooth devices from its memory. Clearing these stops the Charge 3 from pairing to any nearby Bluetooth devices after the reset. Also, you might reset to get it ready for sale or re-gifting. Or maybe you want to stop auto pairing with devices of no current interest.

How to Reset JBL Charge 3: Step by Step

1. Turn on the Speaker

Press and release the Power button. It should immediately light up.

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 paired the speaker with Bluetooth devices before this, it does not enter Bluetooth discovery mode. We know that because the Power button glows solid gray, rather than blinking blue.

The speaker, powered ON but 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 powers up. The Charge 3 is ready for resetting after this sound finishes.

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

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

The -Volume Up- and -Play Pause- buttons.

The JBL Charge 3 then enters reset, as shown in the next picture. Note that both the Power and Connect buttons light up for a couple seconds as the 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.

The speaker during reset. Showing the glowing -Power- and -Connect- buttons lighted.

Then after a short pause, the unit 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.

The control panel buttons on the top of the JBL Charge 3.

4. Check that your JBL Charge 3 Did Reset

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

Now this time, after reset, our speaker immediately comes up in Bluetooth discovery mode, as shown next. We did not have to press the Bluetooth button first. Why? Because after a reset, the speaker automatically enters Bluetooth pairing mode. Note that the Power button blinks blue to denote Bluetooth discovery mode. When this button blinks blue or shows as solid white, the Charge 3 has no current pairing session. Indeed we expect it not to pair to anything after a reset.

The -Power- button glows blue when JBL Charge 3 is paired.

5. Done with How to Reset JBL Charge 3 !

The reset is now finished. You may now pack the speaker up for sale, or pair it again with your favorite Bluetooth devices.

The Charge 3 will no longer automatically pair with any previously paired, in range Bluetooth device. So, to restore automatic pairing, you’ll need to forget the previously paired Charge 3 entry. Then once you do that, manually pair the Charge 3 with that device again if so desired. Then after that, auto pairing will again happen.