The JBL Connect app, displaying the Boombox speaker and its battery status.

JBL Boombox Firmware Update Instructions

Here, we offer JBL Boombox firmware update instructions for this awesome sounding power bank BT speaker. But be aware that this upgrade can take up to fifteen minutes depending on the speed of your internet connection. Plus, you cannot easily reverse it. So you won’t be able to downgrade to the earlier version once you complete this upgrade. Thus, be sure that you truly wish the upgrade, considering all its potential gotchas before proceeding.

JBL Boombox Firmware Update Instructions: Prep Steps

Connect to the Internet

You’ll need and internet connection and a Bluetooth source device. You also need the latest version of the JBL Connect app, and the JBL Boombox itself.

Install the JBL Connect App

So, get on the internet on your mobile device. Then install the Connect app if you haven’t already.

Plug your JBL Boombox into Reliable AC or Car Power

Connect your Boombox to AC power. Why? Because we don’t want its internal battery going dead during the upgrade. Such a mishap could leave corrupted firmware in the speaker’s memory, and thus, render it useless and not repairable.

Pair your Speaker with your Internet Connected Mobile Device

Then, pair your phone or tablet with the Boombox JBL speaker.

You are now ready to begin the firmware updating process on that JBL Bluetooth speaker.

JBL Boombox Firmware Update Instructions: Step by Step

1. Find the JBL Connect App on your Mobile Device

First of all, we find ours on the fourth home page in our Apple iPad Air.

Screenshot of the iOS home screen, showing the JBL Connect app.
iOS home screen, showing the JBL Connect app.

2. Run the JBL Connect App

The app takes a few seconds to start. And while it does so, it shows you some nifty animations. It also searches for eligible connected JBL speakers during this time.

The JBL Connect app, searching for connected BT speakers page.
The JBL Connect app, searching for connected BT speakers page.

But then it finds your paired JBL Boombox speaker and shows you its status screen, as shown next.

Note the red dot at the top right edge of the speaker’s Settings gear control. The presence of this dot means that there are important messages to read.

Screenshot of the JBL Boombox Home page, with the -Settings- gear and the red dot on it.
The JBL Boombox Home page, with the -Settings- gear and the red dot on it.

Note that no read dot means that there are no current messages or firmware updates for this speaker.

3. Tap the Settings Gear Control

Tapping the Settings button New Firmware Version screen, as shown next.

Screenshot of the -New Firmware- page, showing the -What's New- link.
The -New Firmware- page, showing the -What’s New- link.

 

This screen gives version number details about the available firmware update.

4. Tap the What’s New Link to Continue with the JBL Boombox Firmware Update Instructions

Touching this link brings up a screen that gives details about the enhancements made to the new firmware version.

Screenshot of the firmware information page, showing the -Close- button.
The firmware information page, showing the -Close- button.

In our case here, it tells us that in version 2.9.0.0, there are just minor but fixes.





5. Hit the Close (X) Button

Tap the X button in the top right corner of the Firmware Details page. This then takes us back to the New Firmware Screen.

Picture of the -New Firmware- page showing the -Firmware Update- link for the JBL Boombox.
The -New Firmware- page showing the -Firmware Update- link for the JBL Boombox.

6. Tap the Upgrade Button

Find the Upgrade button, as pointed at by the green arrow in the last picture above.  Then touch it.

Now if you have not yet plugged your JBL Boombox into AC power, you will get the following screen.

Screenshot of the -Plug Boombox In- page.
The -Plug Boombox In- page.

Note that the I Followed the Instructions button is gray.  Indeed it will remain that way until you connect your speaker to AC power.

Then, once you make that connection, the screen changes to the following.

Screenshot of the -Plug Boombox In- page, with the -I Followed the Instructions- button now enabled.
The -Plug Boombox In- page, with the -I Followed the Instructions- button now enabled.

Note that the I Followed the Instructions button is no longer gray.  It has in fact, turned orange, meaning that you can tap it now to continue with the firmware update.

7. Touch the  I Followed the Instructions  Button

Find the I Followed the Instructions button, in the center of the page.

When you tap this, the firmware update begins, and the screen changes to the Upgrading… page, as shown next.

8. The JBL Boombox Firmware Update Begins

The page that shows next displays firmware update progress.

Screenshot of the -Upgrading- page, showing that the JBL Boombox firmware update process is 10 percent complete.
The -Upgrading- page, showing that the JBL Boombox firmware update process is 10 percent complete.

This screens keep showing as the percentage complete of the operation counts up to 100.





8a. JBL Boombox Firmware Update at Twenty Five Percent Complete

Now this was probably around four minutes into the firmware update at this point in the process.

Screenshot of the -Upgrading- page showing 25 percent complete.
The -Upgrading- page showing 25 percent complete.

8b. JBL Boombox Firmware Update at Fifty Percent Complete

Screenshot of the -Upgrading- page, showing that the JBL Boombox firmware update process is 50 percent complete.
The -Upgrading- page, showing that the JBL Boombox firmware update process is 50 percent complete.

8c. JBL Boombox Firmware Update at Seventy-Five Percent Done

Now at 75 percent complete.
Now at 75 percent complete.

8d. JBL Boombox Firmware Update at Ninety-Nine Percent Done

Screenshot of the -Upgrading- page, showing that the JBL Boombox firmware update process is 99 percent complete.
The -Upgrading- page, showing that the JBL Boombox firmware update process is 99 percent complete.

8e. The Speaker Restarting Screen Appears

The next screen shows that the firmware file transfer is complete (100 percent). So the speaker now restarts.

Screenshot of the -Restarting- page for the JBL Boombox just after the firmware update.
The -Restarting- page for the JBL Boombox just after the firmware update.

After some seconds, the Connect app notifies you that the JBL Boombox firmware update is now complete.

8f. Watch for the JBL Boombox Power Lamp to Shut OFF, and then Come ON Again

You should see this happen while the Restarting screen displays on your mobile device, as shown next.

Picture of the top of the JBL Boombox with power off, showing all buttons dark.
Top view of the JBL Boombox with power off, showing all buttons dark.

Watch the power light on the speaker, as shown in the last picture.

Eventually it will go dark, as shown.

Now the Boombox may or may not turn itself back on again after the upgrade. Ours did come back on. But if yours did not come back up, then press the Power button to manually turn it on.

8g. The Upgrade Successful Screen Appears

The app then copies and installs the upgrade file.  After that, the speaker comes on again and you get the Upgrade Successful screen.

Screenshot of the -Firmware Update Successful- page, showing the orange -OK- button.
The -Firmware Upgrade Successful- screen, showing the orange -OK- button.

9. Press the OK  Button

With your Boombox successfully pairing to the JBL Connect app again, press the orange OK button on the screen.

The app then displays the JBL Boombox speaker home screen once again. But this time, note that there’s no longer the red dot. So this means that the firmware update worked. Also, the speaker is now running the current firmware version.

Screenshot of the -JBL Boombox Home Page- showing the -Settings- button, with no more red dot. No pending firmware update now.
The -JBL Boombox Home Page- showing the -Settings- button, with no more red dot. No pending firmware update now.

10. Done with JBL Boombox Firmware Update Instructions !

Finally, your firmware firmware is now up to date on your JBL Boombox Bluetooth speaker.

Other Posts About the JBL Boombox

    1. JBL Boombox Low Frequency Mode
    2. Factory Reset Procedure
    3. How to Bass Boost
    4. The Volume Controls Explained
    5. The Infinity Button Explained

References

    1. JBL Boombox Official Product Page at HarmanAudio.com