JBL Charge 5 Software Update

Here is our JBL Charge 5 software update directions. First, this routine can take up to thirteen minutes to wrap up. How long it will take depends on several factors. These include the speed of your WiFi connection and media device, and other details.  Moreover, you can’t reverse once you update.  Thus you won’t be able to return to the prior software once you finish this upgrade.  So, be sure that you indeed want the update before proceeding.

JBL Charge 5 Software Update: Preparation Steps

You’ll need the following…

• • An internet connection.
  • A mobile device that supports Bluetooth.
  • The JBL Connect app.
  • And 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. Use the included USB-C cable, as we see  in the next picture.

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

Next, 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: 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.

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 to Continue with JBL Charge 5 Update Instructions

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 to Continue with JBL Charge 5 Software Update

Touching the Upgrade bar may bring up the Plug Speaker In screen. This could happen if you haven’t connected your speaker to AC power yet. It might also happen if the Charge 5 does not have enough power to complete the upgrade. 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. Progress, at Nine Percent Complete

5b. Progress at Twenty-Five Percent Complete

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

5c. 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 installing the new software 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.

Meanwhile, back in the Connect App, the Upgrade Successful appears. This happens once the app gets confirmation from the speaker, as we show 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 with JBL Charge 5 Software Update !

You’ve now successfully updated the onboard software in the JBL Charge 5 to the current version.

Other JBL Charge 5 Posts

1. 1. How to Hard Reset
   2. Charger Type and Replacement
   3. How to Pair
   4. How Long Does JBL Charge 5 Take to Charge
   5. Reading the Battery Indicator

References for JBL Charge 5 Software Update

1. 1. Official JBL Charge 5 Support Page
   2. Where to Buy the JBL Charge 5