JBL Flip 5 Update Firmware Instructions

JBL Connect app on iPadOS, showing the -Firmware Upgrade Progress- page, at 25 percent done.

This post provides JBL Flip 5 update firmware instructions. This procedure may take up to thirty minutes to complete, based on the speed of your WiFi link. Further, you can’t reverse this once done. That is, you won’t be able to restore your speaker to any earlier firmware version once you complete this firmware update. So, be sure that you indeed want the upgrade before proceeding.

JBL Flip 5 Update Firmware 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 5 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 mains power, because you don’t want the battery dying during the update firmware process. A low-charge battery could corrupt the speaker’s memory, and so, brick the speaker, leaving it non repairable.

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

JBL Flip 5 speaker front Panel with charge cord plugged in.

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

Then, sync your mobile device with the speaker

You are now ready to begin the update firmware directions.

JBL Flip 5 Update Firmware 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.

iPadOS Home screen, with the JBL Connect app highlighted.

2. Run the JBL Connect App

The app takes a few seconds to show you some cute animations when you first run it, as shown in the next picture.

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

But then it finds your paired JBL Flip 5 BT speaker and shows you its status screen, as pictured next.

Note the presence of the Update firmware button near the bottom left of the speaker’s home page, as pointed at by the blue arrow. This means that an update is available for this speaker. If no newer firmware version is out, this button does not appear.

The app displaying the JBL Flip 5 Home page, with the -Update- button highlighted.

3. Tap the Update Firmware Button

Touching this button brings up an information page about the available update, as shown next. It describes what’s new in the latest firmware version.

The -JBL Flip 5 Firmware Update-What’s New- page, with the -Upgrade- button highlighted.

Now this screen gives details about the available update. In our case here, it suggests the Flip 5 upgrade to firmware version 4.0.0.0.

4. Tap the Orange Upgrade Button to Continue with these JBL Flip 5 Update Firmware Instructions

If your speaker battery has enough charge, and / or you connected it to an external power source as instructed to above, then the update firmware process begins. But if your battery is low and you’ve not yet connected your JBL Flip 5 to power, the app will prompt you to do so at this time. Then if asked, plug in the speaker, and follow any screen prompts to begin the update.

5. The Update Firmware Process on JBL Flip 5 Begins

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

5a. The Latest Firmware Then Downloads to your Mobile Device

Your mobile device downloads the new firmware to its memory first, as shown next.

The -Update Firmware-Downloading- page, at 10 percent done.

5b. Update Firmware Progress, at Twenty-Five Percent Complete

Once the download to your mobile device finishes, the Connect app then verifies and uploads the firmware image to your speaker.

The -Firmware Update-Transferring- page, at 25 percent done.

5c. Update Firmware Progress at Fifty Percent Complete

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

The -Transferring- page, at 50 percent done.

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

The -Transferring- page, at 75 percent done.

5e. JBL Flip 5 Update Firmware Progress, at Ninety-Nine Percent Complete

The -Transferring- page, at 99 percent done.

5f. Update Firmware File Transfer 100 Percent Complete

Once the app copies the upgrade file to the Flip 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 several minutes after the Restarting screen appears. This screen warns us that our speaker will restart automatically, and it warns us not to unplug the speaker while it’s updating.

During this part of the operation, be sure to keep your speaker close to the mobile device running the app, to avoid any dropped connections and the resulting corrupted firmware.

The JBL Connect app, displaying the -Restarting- page.

6. Wait for the Speaker to Shut Off and then Turn On Again

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

Top view of the JBL Flip 5 speaker, powered OFF, with the -Power- button highlighted.

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.

7. Power On the JBL Flip 5

Next, press the dark Power button to turn the speaker ON again. The unit should again connect 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.

Top view of the speaker, showing the glowing Bluetooth button highlighted.

Then meanwhile, back in the Connect app, the Upgrade Successful appears when the app receives confirmation from the speaker that the update firmware program completed with no errors, as shown next.

The app displaying the -Upgrade Successful- page, with the -Let’s Party- button highlighted.

8. Press the Let’s Party Button

With your speaker successfully paired to the Connect app again, press the orange Let’s Party button, as pointed at by the blue arrow in the last screenshot.

The app then displays the JBL Flip 5 status screen once again. But now, notice that the Update button is gone, as shown next. So this means that the firmware update succeeded and that the speaker is now running the current firmware version.

The app showing the -JBL Flip 5 Home- page.

9. Done with JBL Flip 5 Update Firmware Instructions !

Finally, you’ve now successfully updated the firmware to the current version in your JBL Flip 5 portable party speaker. So enjoy the more reliable music play !