Screenshot of the JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, paired with a JBL Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker and power bank. The new firmware update to the speaker is successful. Done button highlighted.

JBL Charge 3 Firmware Update Instructions

Here, we demonstrate the Charge 3 Firmware Update on the JBL Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker. This upgrade can take up to thirty minutes depending on the speed of your internet connection. Plus, it cannot easily be undone. You won’t be able to return to the previous firmware version once you complete this software upgrade. So, be sure that you indeed wish the upgrade and have considered all of its ramifications before proceeding.

Prepare for JBL Charge 3 Firmware Update

You’ll need and internet connection, a Bluetooth enabled mobile or desktop computer device, and the JBL Connect Plus (Connect+) app, as well as the Charge 3 speaker itself.

So, get your mobile device connected to the internet and install the Connect+ app if you haven’t already.

Connect your Charge 3 to AC power. Why? Because we don’t want its battery power bank going dead during the update. This mishap could leave a corrupted version of the firmware in the speaker’s memory, and brick the speaker, rendering it useless and not repairable.

Then, pair your mobile device with the Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker.

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





Charge 3 Firmware Update Instructions, Step by Step

1. Find the JBL Connect+ App on your Mobile Device

We found ours on the fourth home page in our Apple iPad Air, as shown next.

Screenshot of the iOS 11 home screen, showing the JBL Connect app highlighted.
iOS Home screen, showing the JBL Connect app highlighted.

2. Run the JBL Connect+ (JBL Connect Plus) App

The app takes a few seconds to show you some pretty animations when you first start it. But then it finds your paired JBL speaker and displays for you its status screen, as shown next.

Note the explanation point inside the orange circle in the top right corner of the speaker’s picture, as pointed at by the dark green arrow. This means that there are important messages about this speaker pending for your to read and act upon.

Screenshot of the JBL Connect Plus app on iOS. Showing the Charge 3 speaker, needing a firmware update. Notification symbol for that is highlighted.
The JBL Connect Plus app on iOS. Showing the Charge 3 speaker, needing a firmware update. Notification symbol for that is highlighted.

Note that if there are no current messages or firmware updates available for this particular speaker, then you will see no explanation point.

3. Tap the Orange Circled Explanation Point (!)

Tapping the Important Messages (!) circle brings up the first IMPORTANT NOTICE screen about the available firmware upgrade, as shown next.

Screenshot of the JBL Connect Plus app on iOS. Connected to a Charge 3 speaker. Displaying first important notice about upgrading the firmware on this connected Bluetooth speaker.
The JBL Connect Plus app on iOS. Connected to a Charge 3 speaker. Displaying first important notice about upgrading the firmware on this connected Bluetooth speaker.

This screen gives details about the available firmware update. In our case here, it tells us that we need this upgrade to enable JBL Connect+ functionality on our Charge III speaker. Specifically, this software upgrade enhances the speaker operation by allowing it to connect into a group of up to a hundred JBL Connect+ compatible wireless speakers, such that they all stream the same content, in synchronization with each other. E.g. You would do this to blanket a large area with music for dancing and partying.

4. Flick to the Left to See the Next IMPORTANT NOTICE Page to Continue with JBL Charge 3 Firmware Update

Screenshot of the JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, paired with a Charge 3 speaker. Displaying the 2nd important notice, warning about this firmware update being permanent and thus, not reversible.
The JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, paired with a Charge 3 speaker. Displaying the 2nd important notice, warning about this firmware update being permanent and thus, not reversible.

This page warns that you cannot undo the update.  It says that once done, this software upgrade is permanent. Furthermore, it says that after this upgrade, our speaker will no longer connect with other Charge 3 Bluetooth speakers that are running older firmware versions. You will also lose connectivity with older speakers such as the 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 firmware upgrade confirmation prompt screen, as shown next.

Screenshot of the JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, paired with a Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker. Prompting for firmware update confirmation. You must tap the Install button to go ahead with the firmware installation.
The JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, paired with a Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker. Prompting for firmware update confirmation. You must tap the Install button to go ahead with the firmware installation.

This prompt again warns us that we won’t be able to fall back to the old firmware version after the update. It then asks us to decide whether to install the new firmware or bail out. We go ahead with the update in the next step.

6. Tap the INSTALL Button

Touching the INSTALL button brings up the   Upgrade Speaker   screen as shown next.

Screenshot of the JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, connected with a Charge 3 speaker. Prompting to plug in the speaker to AC power to update its firmware.
The JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, connected with a Charge 3 speaker. Prompting to plug in the speaker to AC power to update its firmware.

This page tells us to connect our Charge Three 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 preliminaries section above.

7. Connect the Charge 3 JBL to AC Power to Continue with JBL Charge 3 Firmware Update

We connected our speaker into an AC outlet via the included power adapter and cable, as shown in the next picture.

Picture of the Charge 3 wireless speaker, charging. Showing all connections for recharging this power bank speaker. The AC adapter is plugged Into wall, and connected to the speaker via the USB A to micro USB male charge cable.
The Charge 3 JBL wireless speaker, charging. Showing all connections for recharging this power bank speaker. The AC adapter is plugged Into wall, and connected to the speaker via the USB A to micro USB male charge cable.

8. Tap the OK Button

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, as shown in the next screenshots.

Screenshot of the JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, connected with a Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker. Displaying the -Transferring Firmware Update File- page as the new firmware file is copied from the mobile device to the speaker.
The JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, connected with a Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker. Displaying the -Transferring Firmware Update File- page as the new firmware file is copied from the mobile device to the speaker.

8a. JBL Charge 3 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.

Screenshot of the JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, paired with a Charge 3 waterproof speaker. Transferring update firmware file to that speaker, 40 percent done.
JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, paired with a Charge 3 waterproof speaker. Transferring update firmware file to that speaker, 40 percent done.

8b. Firmware Update at Forty Percent Complete

We’re probably about fifteen minutes into the firmware update at this point in the process.

Screenshot of the JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, linked via Bluetooth with a Charge 3 splashproof speaker. Transferring new firmware file, 65 percent complete.
The JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, linked via Bluetooth with a Charge 3 splash proof speaker. Transferring new firmware file, 65 percent complete.

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.

Charge 3 Firmware Update: Screenshot of the JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, paired with a Charge 3 portable speaker. Transferring new firmware update file to that speaker, 100 percent done.
The JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, paired with a Charge 3 portable speaker. Transferring new firmware update file to that speaker, 100 percent done.




8d. Firmware Upgrade File Transfer 100 Percent Complete

Once the app copies the upgrade file to the JBL Charge 3, you get the   Upgrade Successful  screen, as shown next. However, note that the Charge 3 is still upgrading to the new firmware for nearly a minute after you first see this green and white page. Thus, this screen warns us that our speaker will restart automatically. Further, it asks us not to unplug the 3 while it runs the update.

Screenshot of the JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, paired with a Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker and power bank. The new firmware update to the speaker is successful. Done button highlighted.
JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, paired with a Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker and power bank. The new firmware update to the speaker is successful. Done button highlighted.

9. Wait for the JBL Charge 3 to Shut Off to Continue with JBL Charge 3 Firmware Update

Watch the power light on the speaker, as shown next. Eventually it goes dark, as shown next, pointed at by the green arrow.

Picture of the Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker, powered off. Showing the Power button highlighted.
Our JBL Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker, powered off. Showing the Power button highlighted.

The speaker may or may not turn itself back on again. Ours did not. If, like ours, yours did not come back up after the firmware upgrade, then go ahead with the next step (Step 10). But if yours did come back online though, then skip Step 10 and pick up with Step 11.

10. Power On the BT 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 Plus app. The  Power  button turns solid blue when your speaker has successfully paired again with your tablet or phone, as shown next.

Picture of the Charge 3 IPX7 certified portable Bluetooth speaker, powered on and paired. Power button is glowing blue and highlighted.
The Charge 3 IPX7 certified JBL portable Bluetooth speaker, powered on and paired. Power button is glowing blue and highlighted.

11. Press the Done Button

With your speaker successfully paired to the JBL Connect+ app again, press the green  Done  button, as shown in the last screenshot.

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 (!), as shown next. This means that the firmware update succeeded and that the speaker is now running the current software version.

Screenshot of the JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, linked with a Charge 3 splashproof speaker. The firmware update to that Bluetooth speaker is done. No newer firmware version available.
The JBL Connect Plus app on iOS, linked with a Charge 3 splash proof speaker. The firmware update to that Bluetooth speaker is done. No newer firmware version available.

12. Done with JBL Charge 3 Firmware Update !

You’re now successfully updated the firmware to the current version in your JBL Charge 3 BT speaker. Enjoy the new multi speaker party function.

Related Posts to JBL Charge 3 Firmware Update Instructions

    1. Sony SRS XP500 Firmware Update Instructions
    2. JBL Flip 3 Firmware Update Instructions
    3. JBL Xtreme Firmware Update Instructions
    4. Amazon Echo Force Firmware Update Instructions, How To Help
    5. JBL Charge 4 Firmware Update Instructions

Other Posts About the JBL Charge 3 Power Bank BT Speaker

    1. How to Adjust Volume on JBL Charge 3 Speaker
    2. JBL Charge 3 Buttons Guide, What Each Button Does
    3. Specs for the JBL Charge 3 Power Bank Speaker
    4. JBL Charge 3 Google Home Pairing Instructions
    5. Charge 3 JBL Speaker Factory Reset Instructions

References for JBL Charge 3 Firmware Update Instructions

    1. Charge 3 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker Product Page, on JBL.com

Change Log

    • 2022-12-02: Updated links.
    • 2020-04-21: Added tags.
    • 2019-03-04: First posted.