Picture of the Play-Pause and Volume-UP buttons highlighted on the JBL Flip 5 speaker.

JBL Flip 5 Hard Reset Instructions

Gives JBL Flip 5 hard reset instructions to restore the 5 to default settings.  Hard resetting erases any earlier paired Bluetooth devices from its memory.  Clearing these stops the 5 from pairing to any nearby Bluetooth devices after the reset.  Also, you might hard reset to get the Flip 5 ready for sale or re gifting. Or, simply reset to stop it from auto pairing with devices you no longer have interest in.

JBL Flip 5 Hard Reset Instructions: Step by Step

1. Turn on the JBL Flip 5 

Press and hold the Power button until it lights up.

Picture of the top of the JBL Flip 5, powered OFF. Showing the -Power- button.
Top view of the JBL Flip 5, powered OFF. Showing the -Power- button.

Then, the Power button lights up along with the battery power scale.  Here, since we’ve paired the speaker with Bluetooth devices before this, it does not enter Bluetooth discovery mode.  We know that because the Power button is glows solid gray, rather than blinking blue.

Top view of the unit, powered ON, not paired, showing the glowing Power button highlighted.
Top view of the unit, powered ON, not paired, showing the glowing Power button highlighted.

2. Wait for the Power Up Sound

The JBL Flip 5 plays a rising rock guitar strum sound when it comes on.  Then it  is ready for use.

3. Press the Volume UP and Play-Pause Buttons Together to Start the Hard Reset

See the next picture to find the Play-Pause and UP Volume buttons.

Picture of the -Play-Pause- and -Volume UP- buttons.
The -Play-Pause- and -Volume UP- buttons.

The Flip 5 then enters hard reset. Note that both the Bluetooth and Power buttons light up gray white for a couple seconds.

Top view of the speaker during reset, showing all panel lights glowing.
Top view of the speaker during reset, showing all panel lights glowing.

Then after a short pause, the Flip 5 turns off.  All the lights go off, and it plays the power-down guitar sound.





4. Check that the Hard Reset Worked

Next, power on the device again, as detailed in step 1 above.

Now this time, after hard reset, the Flip 5 comes up in discovery mode.  Note that the Bluetooth button blinks white to indicate this.  When this button blinks, this means that the unit does not have a current pairing.  Indeed, we expect it not to auto pair to anything after a hard reset.

Picture of the flashing -Bluetooth- button.
The blinking -Bluetooth- button.

5. Done with JBL Flip 5 Hard Reset Instructions !

Hard resetting is now complete.  You may now pack up the Flip 5 for sale, or pair it again with your favorite devices.  So the unit will no longer automatically connect with any device.  So to restore auto pairing, manually pair the Flip 5 with a tablet or phone.  Then, any time that both the Flip 5 and that device are in range, auto pairing occurs once more.

Other Posts About the JBL Flip 5

    1. How to Restart JBL Flip 5
    2. JBL Flip 5 Battery Life
    3. How to Pair JBL Flip 5
    4. JBL Flip 5 Bass Boost
    5. JBL Flip 5 Buttons

References for JBL Flip 5 Hard Reset Instructions

    1. JBL Flip 5 Product Page