Here are our JBL Charge 5 software update instructions. First, this routine can take up to thirteen minutes to wrap up, depending on the speed of your WiFi connection, the speed of your tablet or phone, and other details. Moreover, you can’t reverse once you update. Thus you won’t be able to return to any prior software version once you finish this upgrade. So, be sure that you indeed want the update before proceeding.
JBL Charge 5 Software Update Instructions: Preparation Steps
You’ll need an internet connection, a mobile device that supports Bluetooth, the JBL Connect app, as well as the speaker itself.
So, connect this device to the internet and install the JBL Connect app if you haven’t already.
Connect your Charge 5 to AC power. Why? Because we don’t want its battery going dead as the speaker processes the update. In fact, a dying battery could corrupt the software in the speaker’s memory, and therefore, brick the speaker. So this could render it useless and not fixable.
So, to be safe, plug the speaker into external power, using the included USB-C cable, as shown in the next picture.
Finally, connect the other end of the USB-C cord into a strong enough AC adapter, and plug that adapter into a working AC outlet.
Then, pair your mobile device with the Charge 5.
You are now ready to begin updating the software on the speaker.
JBL Charge 5 Software Update Instructions: 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.
2. Run the JBL Connect App
The app takes a few seconds to show you some pretty animations when you first start it, as shown in the next picture.
But then it finds your paired JBL Charge 5 BT speaker and shows you its status screen, as pictured next.
Note the Update button at the bottom left center of this page, as pointed at by the green arrow. The presence of this button means that a software update is pending for this speaker.
Also, if this button does not appear, then your speaker already has the latest version of the onboard software. But since the speaker we have indeed has an update, we shall proceed.
3. Tap the Update Button
Touching the Update button brings up the screen about the available software upgrade, as shown next.
This screen gives details about the available software update. In our case here, it suggests the Charge 5 upgrade to version 0.7.4.0.
4. Tap the Orange Upgrade Button
Touching the Upgrade bar may bring up the Plug Speaker In screen if you haven’t connected your Charge 5 to AC power yet, and your speaker does not have enough power in its battery to complete the update. Otherwise, the update process starts.
If the app prompts you, then attach your speaker to power now, as described at the top of this post. Then, follow the instructions on that screen to proceed with the update.
5. The Software Update Process on JBL Charge 5 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. Software Update Progress, at Nine Percent Complete
5b. Software Update Progress at Twenty-Five Percent Complete
We’re probably about a minute into the upgrade at this point in the process.
5c. Software Update Progress at Fifty Percent Complete
5d. Software Update Progress, at Seventy-Five Percent Complete
5e. Software Update Transfer 100 Percent Complete
Once the app copies the upgrade file to the Charge 5, you get the Restarting screen, as shown next.
But note that the speaker is still in the process of installing the new firmware for a little time after this screen appears. In fact, this screen warns us that our speaker will restart. It furthermore asks us not to unplug the speaker while it’s running the upgrade. Keep your speaker close to the mobile device running the app while the speaker upgrades.
6. Wait for the Speaker to Shut Off and Come Back On
The speaker may or may not turn itself back on again. Ours did. But if yours did not, then go ahead with the next step (Step 7). But if yours did come back online though, then skip Step 7 and pick up with Step 8.
7. Power Up the JBL Charge 5
Press the Power button, shown in the last picture to turn the unit on again. The speaker should again pair with your mobile device where you’re running the JBL Connect app.
Then the Power and Bluetooth buttons turn solid white as your speaker successfully pairs again with your tablet or phone, as shown next.
Meanwhile, back in the Connect App, the Upgrade Successful appears once the app gets confirmation from the speaker that the software update completed without errors, as shown next.
8. Press the Let’s Party Button
With your speaker successfully paired to the JBL Connect app again, press the orange Let’s Party button. the green arrow points to this button in the last screenshot.
The app then displays the JBL Charge 5 status screen once again. But this time, note that there’s no longer the orange Upgrade button, as shown next. This means that the software update succeeded and that the speaker is now running the current software version.
9. Done!
You’re now successfully updated the onboard software in the speaker to the current version in your JBL Charge 5 wireless speaker. Enjoy the music!
Other Posts About the JBL Charge 5 Speaker
- How to Charge JBL Charge 5 Speaker
- JBL Charge 5 Charging Time, How Long to Fully Charge
- JBL Charge 5 Reset Instructions for this Portable Speaker
- How to Factory Reset JBL Charge 5 BT Speaker
- JBL Charge 5 Specs and Features of this Bluetooth Speaker
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References for JBL Charge 5 Firmware Update Instructions
Revision History
- 2021-08-06: First published.