JBL Flip 4 Firmware Update Instructions

Here’s our JBL Flip 4 firmware update instructions.  This routine can take up to thirty minutes to finish, depending on the speed of your WiFi connection.  Plus, you can’t reverse once done.  That is, you won’t be able to return to any prior firmware version once you complete this speaker update.  So, be sure that you indeed want the update before going ahead with it.

JBL Flip 4 Firmware Update Instructions: Preparation Steps

You’ll need and internet connection, a Bluetooth enabled mobile or desktop computer device, the JBL Connect app, and the JBL Flip 4 speaker itself.

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

Connect your speaker to household power, because we don’t want its battery going dead during the firmware update.  A dying battery could corrupt the speaker’s memory, and so, brick the speaker, rendering it useless and not repairable.

So, to be safe, plug the speaker into AC power, using the included USB cable, as shown in the next picture.

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

Then, pair your mobile device with the speaker

You are now ready to begin the firmware update process.

JBL Flip 4 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 the Apple iPad Air, 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 Flip 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, as pointed at by the green arrow.  This means that there are important actions to take pending for this speaker.

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

3. Tap the Settings Button

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

This screen gives details about the available firmware update.  In our case here, it suggests the Flip 4 upgrade to firmware version 4.0.0.0.

4. Tap the Orange Upgrade Button to Continue with the JBL Flip 4 Firmware Update 

Touching the Upgrade bar brings up the Plug Speaker In screen if you haven’t connected your speaker to a power source yet, as shown in the next picture. Otherwise, the firmware update process starts.

5. Tap the I Followed the Instructions Button

Then, touch the I Followed the Instructions button.  This is the orange bar in the last picture, pointed at by the blue arrow.

6. The Firmware Update Process on JBL Flip 4 Begins

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

6a. Firmware Update Progress, at Twenty-Five Percent Complete

6b. Firmware Update Progress at Fifty Percent Complete

We’re several minutes into the update at this point in the process.

6c. Firmware Update Progress at Seventy-Five Percent Complete

6d. JBL Flip 4 Firmware Update Progress, at Ninety-Nine Percent Complete

6e. Firmware Update File Transfer 100 Percent Complete

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

But note that the speaker is still in the process of installing the new firmware for several minutes after the Restarting screen appears. This screen warns us that our speaker will restart automatically, and it asks us not to unplug the speaker while it’s running the update. Keep your speaker close to the mobile device running the app during this time.

7. Wait for the Speaker to Shut Off and Power On Again

Watch the Power light on the speaker, as shown next.  That lamp will soon go dark, as shown next, inside the green circle.

The speaker may or may not turn itself back on again.  Ours did come back on by itself for this update.  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.

8. Power On the JBL Flip 4

Press the dark Power button to turn the speaker ON again.  The unit should again pair with your mobile device where you’re running the JBL Connect app.  The Power button glows solid blue as your speaker successfully pairs again with your tablet or phone, as shown next.

Meanwhile, back in the Connect App, the Upgrade Successful appears when the app receives confirmation from the speaker that the firmware update completed without errors, as shown next.

9. Press the OK Button

With your speaker successfully paired to the JBL Connect app again, press the orange OK button, as pointed at by the dark blue arrow in the last screenshot.

The app then displays the JBL Flip 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 4.0.0.

10. Done with JBL Flip 4 Firmware Update !

You’re now successfully updated the firmware to the current version in your JBL Flip 4 wireless speaker.  Enjoy the tunes !

Other Posts About the JBL Flip 4

1. JBL Flip 4 Reset Instructions
2. Specs, Specifications for the JBL Flip 4
3. JBL Flip 4 Low Frequency Mode, How to Turn On
4. How to Pair JBL Flip 4 with iOS Devices
5. JBL Flip 4 Picture Gallery

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2. Amazon Echo Force Firmware Update Instructions, How To Help
3. Charge 3 Firmware Update, How To, Tips, Help
4. How to Run JBL Charge 3 Firmware Check
5. JBL Xtreme Firmware Update Instructions

Suggested Reading

1. Pairing JBL Flip 2 with Alexa Echo Speakers Instructions
2. How to Pair JBL Flip 4 with Google Home Speakers
3. Telling if JBL Charge 3 is Charging
4. How to Turn Down Google Home Mini Volume
5. How to Turn Off Commentary on Netflix

References for JBL Flip 4 Firmware Update Instructions

1. JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker Product Page, on JBL.com

Revision History

• 2021-09-10: Added the Suggested Reading section.
• 2020-09-18: First published.