Here, we show how to update JBL Charge 3 speaker firmware for this popular Bluetooth model. This update can take up to thirty minutes depending on the speed of your internet connection. Plus, you cannot easily undo the update. So you won’t be able to return to the prior firmware version once you complete this software upgrade. So, be sure that you indeed want the update and have ruled out any possible problems with it before proceeding.
How to Update JBL Charge 3 Speaker Firmware: Preparation
You’ll need the following…
-
- An internet connection.
- A Bluetooth mobile device.
- The JBL Connect app.
- The speaker itself.
So, connect your mobile device to the internet. Then install the Connect app if you haven’t already.
Connect your Charge 3 speaker to AC power. Why? Because we don’t want its battery power bank going dead during the update. This mishap could leave a corrupt version of the firmware in the speaker’s memory. Then this might brick the speaker, rendering it useless and not repairable.
Then, pair your mobile device with the speaker.
You are now ready to begin the firmware update process.
How to Update JBL Charge 3 Speaker Firmware: Step by Step
1. Find the JBL Connect App on your Mobile Device
We found ours on the fourth home page on an Apple iPad Air.
2. Run the JBL Connect App
Then the app takes a few seconds to show you some pretty animations when you first start it. But then it finds your paired speaker and displays for you its status screen.
Note the explanation point inside the orange circle in the top right corner of the speaker’s picture. This means that there are important messages about this speaker pending for you to act on.
Note that if there are no messages or firmware updates, then you will see no explanation point. Note that you can’t update the speaker unless this app invites you to do so.
3. Tap the Orange Circled Explanation Point (!) to Continue with How to Update JBL Charge 3 Speaker Firmware
Tapping the Important Messages (!) circle brings up the first IMPORTANT NOTICE screen about the available firmware upgrade.
This screen gives details about the available firmware update. Here, it tells us that we need this upgrade to enable JBL Connect+ functionality on our speaker. Specifically, this update allows it to connect into a group of up to a hundred JBL Connect+ compatible speakers. So you might want this for blanketing a large area with music for dancing and partying.
4. Flick to the Left to See the Next IMPORTANT NOTICE Page
Then this page warns that you cannot undo the update. It says that once done, this software upgrade is permanent.
Furthermore, after this upgrade, our speaker will no longer connect with older models. So you will lose connectivity with JBL Flip 3, JBL Pulse 2, JBL Xtreme, JBL Boost, and Cinema 5B450.
5. Flick Once More to the Left to See the Next IMPORTANT NOTICE Page
Another left flick brings up the JBL Charge 3 speaker firmware update confirmation prompt screen.
This prompt again warns that we won’t be able to undo the update. It then asks us to decide whether to install the new firmware or bail out. So we go ahead with it in the next step.
6. Tap the INSTALL Button to Continue with How to Update JBL Charge 3 Speaker Firmware
Touching the INSTALL button brings up the Upgrade Speaker screen.
This page tells us to connect our Charge Three JBL to AC power if we’ve not done so already. Note that you would have already done this if you followed the instructions in the preps section above.
7. Connect the Speaker to AC Power
Then we connected our speaker into an AC outlet via the included power adapter and cable.
8. Tap the OK Button to Proceed with How to Update JBL Charge 3 Speaker Firmware
Next, go back to the JBL Connect app running on your mobile device, and tap the OK button. See this button in the last pic.
The firmware update then starts. The download of the firmware update file from the internet begins. It flows first through your mobile device, and then onto the speaker via the Bluetooth connection.
8a. JBL Charge 3 Speaker Firmware Update Begins
Copying the file from the internet to the speaker is the slowest part of the firmware upgrade process. But these screenshots show the progress pie-chart picture. The “pie” gradually fills in with more orange as the firmware file transfer proceeds.
8b. Firmware Update at Forty Percent Complete
We’re probably about fifteen minutes into the firmware update at this point in the process.
8c. Firmware Update at 65.7 Percent Done
The next screen shows that the firmware file transfer to the speaker has finished (100 percent done). The pie chart is completely orange now.
8d. Firmware Update File Transfer 100 Percent Complete
Once the app copies the update file to the JBL Charge 3, you get the Upgrade Successful screen.
But note that the unit is still upgrading after you first see this green and white page. This can last for up to a minute. Thus, this screen warns that our speaker will restart automatically when it installs the update. Further, the app asks us not to unplug the speaker during this time.
9. Wait for the Speaker to Shut Off
Watch the Power light on the speaker, as shown next. Eventually it goes dark.
The speaker may or may not turn itself back on again. Ours did not. If, like ours, yours did not, then go ahead with the next step (Step 10). But if yours did, then skip Step 10, and pick up with Step 11.
10. Power ON the Speaker
Press the dark Power button to turn the speaker on. It should again pair with your mobile device where you’re running the JBL Connect app. The Power button turns solid blue when your speaker has successfully paired again with your tablet or phone.
11. Back in the App, Press the Done Button
Then with your speaker successfully paired to the JBL Connect app again, press the green Done button.
The app then displays the JBL Charge 3 status screen once again. But this time, note that there’s no longer the orange circled explanation point (!). This means that the firmware update succeeded. So now, the speaker is running the current version.
12. Done with How to Update JBL Charge 3 Speaker Firmware !
At last the firmware update to your JBL Charge 3 is complete.