Picture of the JBL Charge 4 splashproof speaker, front view, powered On, and showing the lighted battery gauge.

JBL Charge 4 Firmware Update

Gives JBL Charge 4 firmware update directions.  This routine can take up to thirty minutes to finish. The length of time depends on the speed of your WiFi connection and source device, and so on.  Plus, you can’t reverse once this finishes.  That is, you won’t be able to return to the prior firmware version.  So, be sure that you indeed want the update before proceeding.

JBL Charge 4 Firmware Update: Preparation Steps

You’ll need the following…

    1. An internet connection.
    2. A Bluetooth mobile or desktop source device.
    3. The JBL Connect app.
    4. And of course, he speaker itself.

So, connect your mobile device to the internet. Then install the JBL Connect app if you haven’t already.

Connect your Charge 4 to household power. Why? Because we don’t want its battery going dead during the update. Indeed a dying battery could corrupt the firmware in the speaker’s memory. And this might brick the speaker rendering it useless and not repairable.

So, to be safe, plug the speaker into AC power, using the included USB-C cable.

Picture of the JBL Charge 4 Bluetooth speaker, back view. Showing the port door open and the USB-C cord in the power input port.
The JBL Charge 4 Bluetooth speaker, back view. Showing the port door open and the USB-C cord in the power input port.

 

Finally, connect the other end of the USB-C cord into an AC adapter. And plug that adapter into a working AC outlet.

Then, pair your mobile device with the Charge 4.

You are now ready to begin the update process.





JBL Charge 4 Firmware Update: Step by Step

1. Find the JBL Connect App on your Mobile Device

We found ours on the fourth home page in the Apple iPad Air 2, as shown next.

Screenshot of the iOS Home page, with the JBL Connect app highlighted.
iOS Home screen, with the JBL Connect app highlighted.

2. Run the JBL Connect App

The app takes a few seconds to show you some pretty animations when you first start it.

Picture of the JBL Connect app, showing its -Start Up, Searching for Products- screen.
JBL Connect app, showing its -Start Up, Searching for Products- screen.

But then it finds your paired JBL Charge 4 BT speaker and shows you its status screen, as pictured next.

Note the red dot on the Settings button in the bottom center of the speaker’s picture. This means that there are important actions to take pending for this speaker.

Screenshot of the JBL Connect app Home page for the JBL Charge 4, displaying the red dot on the -Settings- button.
JBL Connect app Home page for the JBL Charge 4, displaying the red dot on the -Settings- button.

Also note that if there are no current messages or firmware updates available, then you will see no red dot.  In that case, your speaker already has the latest firmware.

3. Tap the Settings Button

Touching the Settings button brings up the screen about the available firmware upgrade, as shown next.

Screenshot of the -New Firmware- page, showing the orange -Upgrade- button.
The -New Firmware- page, showing the orange -Upgrade- button.

This screen gives details about the available firmware update.  In our case here, it suggests the Charge 4 upgrade to firmware version 3.0.0.0.  It also tells us that the current firmware version is 2.7.





4. Tap the Orange Upgrade Button

Touching the Upgrade bar brings up the Plug Speaker In screen. Otherwise, the firmware update process starts.

Screenshot of the JBL Charge 4 -Plug Speaker In- Prompt, showing the -I Followed the Instructions- button.
The JBL Charge 4 -Plug Speaker In- Prompt, showing the -I Followed the Instructions- button.

If this screen comes up, then attach the charger. Then, tap the I Followed the Instructions button.  This is the gray bar in the last picture.

5. The Firmware Update Process on JBL Charge 4 Begins

The update then starts.  The Connect app displays a progress screen as shown next, to let you know how far along the upgrade is.

5a. Firmware Update Progress, at Fourteen Percent Complete

Screenshot of the firmware upgrade progress, at 14 percent complete.
The firmware upgrade progress, at 14 percent complete.

5b. Firmware Update Progress at Twenty-Eight Percent Complete

We’re probably about a minute into the upgrade at this point in the process.

Screenshot of the firmware update progress, at 28 percent complete.
The firmware update progress, at 28 percent complete.

5c. Firmware Update Progress at Forty-Five Percent Complete

Screenshot of the firmware update progress, at 45 percent complete.
45 percent complete.

5d. Firmware Update Progress, at Seventy-Five Percent Complete

Screenshot of the update progress, now at 75 percent complete.
Now at 75 percent complete.

5e. Firmware Update File Transfer 100 Percent Complete

Once the app copies the upgrade file to the Charge 4, you get the  Restarting  screen, as shown next.





But note that the speaker is still installing the new firmware. That continues for several minutes after the Restarting screen appears. In fact, this screen warns us that our speaker will restart automatically.  Plus it asks us not to unplug the speaker while it’s running the upgrade. Furthermore, keep the speaker close to the mobile device running the app.

Screenshot of the JBL Charge 4 firmware update process now restarting the speaker.
The JBL Charge 4 firmware update process now restarting the speaker.

6. Wait for the JBL Charge 4 to Shut Off

Watch the Power light on the speaker, as shown next.  That lamp will soon go dark, as shown next, pointed at by the green arrow.

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

The speaker may or may not turn itself back on again.  Ours did not.  If, like ours, yours did not come back up, then proceed with the next step (Step 7).  But if yours did come ON again though, then skip Step 7 and pick up with Step 8.

7. Power On the JBL Charge 4

Press the dark Power button to turn this wireless speaker on again.  The unit should again pair with your mobile device where you’re running the JBL Connect app.  The Power and Bluetooth buttons turn solid white as the speaker successfully pairs again with your device.

Picture of the -Power- and -Bluetooth- buttons glowing on the JBL Charge 4.
The -Power- and -Bluetooth- buttons glowing on the JBL Charge 4.

Meanwhile, back in the Connect App, the Upgrade Successful appears when the app hears from the speaker. The JBL Charge 4 tells the app that the firmware update completed without errors. Then the app displays that confirmation to us.

Screenshot of the -JBL Charge 4 Firmware Update Successful- page, showing the orange -OK- button.
The -JBL Charge 4 Firmware Update Successful- page, showing the orange -OK- button.

8. Press the OK Button

With your speaker successfully connecting now to the Connect app again, press the orange OK button.

The app then displays the JBL Charge 4 status screen once again.  However, this time, note that there’s no longer the red dot on the Settings button, as shown next.  This means that the firmware update succeeded and that the speaker is now running the current firmware version. In this case, it’s version 3.0.0.0.

Screenshot of the  -Home- page once again, showing the -Settings- button, that has no red dot now.
Back to the  -Home- page, showing the -Settings- button, that has no red dot now.

9. Done !

Finally  the firmware to the current version in your JBL Charge 4.  So enjoy the tunes !

Other Posts About the JBL Charge 4

    1. JBL Charge 4 Review
    2. Finding JBL Charge 4 Firmware Version
    3. JBL Charge 4 Low Frequency Mode, How to Turn On
    4. How to Put JBL Charge 4 in Pairing Mode
    5. JBL Charge 4 Reset Routine

References for JBL Charge 4 Firmware Update

    1. JBL Charge 4 Official Product Page