Lower back view of the JBL Xtreme 2 speaker, showing the closed USB ports door.

JBL Xtreme 2 Buttons

The JBL Xtreme 2 Bluetooth speaker has several buttons and lights across its top. It also has battery charge status lamps across the front bottom. There’s also a port access panel on the back bottom. A semi flexible door covers it.  This area houses a USB charging port to recharge your mobile devices from. It also contains a service port, the auxiliary (AUX) input, and power input ports.  Here we offer our JBL Xtreme 2 button codes guide.  We show where the controls are. Also, we explain the meaning of each button and what any button combination presses do. Finally we discuss when to press them, and how to use the buttons in general.

JBL Xtreme 2 Buttons, Codes, Functions, Combinations, and Meanings

There is one row of buttons on this Xtreme 2 JBL speaker.  Most buttons there have a unique shape.

The Bluetooth Discovery Mode Button

We begin with the Bluetooth Discovery mode button. Find it near the left side of the speaker top. See it in the next picture. Note its squiggly Bluetooth logo shape.

How to Use the Bluetooth Discovery (Pairing Mode) Button

You press this button anytime you pair the JBL Xtreme 2 with a never-before-paired Bluetooth source device.  It works like this.  With the speaker running, press and release the  Bluetooth Discovery  button. This starts up discovery mode, often referred to as Bluetooth pairing mode. When in this mode, the speaker sends out its connection info over Bluetooth. This allows nearby BT devices to connect to it.

Picture of the -Bluetooth- button on the JBL Xtreme 2.
The -Bluetooth- button on the JBL Xtreme 2.

The Volume Down and Volume Up Buttons

The JBL Xtreme 2 also sports volume controls. Now look at the center of the speaker. Find the volume buttons in minus and plus symbol shapes.

These buttons lower and raise the output volume respectively. And they do so by reducing or increasing the volume setting on the paired source device. See the Volume Down and  Volume Up  buttons that we point out in the next picture.

How to Raise (Turn Up) and Lower (Turn Down) JBL Xtreme 2 Volume

With the speaker paired and playing, press the minus shaped Volume Down button to decrease its audio output level. Press the plus shaped Volume Up button to increase audio output.

Note that these loudness controls have no effect when the speaker has no connection. Also, the volume setting may change from paired device to paired device. That is, each paired device remembers its own volume setting. So you might need to re set the sound output when you pair the JBL Xtreme 2 to another device.

Picture of the Volume buttons on the JBL Xtreme 2.
The Volume buttons on the JBL Xtreme 2.

The Play-Pause, Voice Assistant Button

The Play / Pause button looks like a right-pointing arrow / triangle.  We find it near the right side of the speaker. See the green arrow we drew in, in the next picture.

Picture of the -Play / Pause- button.
The -Play / Pause- button.

How to Stop and Start Audio Playback

Press and release the  Play / Pause  button quickly to pause audio play. Rapidly press it again to reverse the pause action, and resume playback.

Note that the Play / Pause button is not a mute button. That is, pausing play in this way stops playback on the source Bluetooth device. It does not merely just cut the speaker volume while the stream continues going.  If streaming, the streaming stops.  So, you won’t miss any content when you pause the speaker. Why?  Because the source device (your phone, tablet, or computer) remembers where to resume play. Then it picks up playback where it left off, when you again press the play pause button.





How to Raise a Voice Assistant

The voice assistant feature works with an Apple device once set up. Then you may press and hold the Play / Pause button to get Siri’s attention. Note that you must enable Siri on the source device (phone, tablet) first. Further, you must set this button’s function in the JBL Connect+ app to Voice Assistant. Do this on the speaker’s Settings page in that app, as we show next.

Screenshot of the Connect app on iPadOS, showing the JBL Xtreme 2 Settings page, with the Voice Assistance button highlighted.
The Connect app on iPadOS, showing the JBL Xtreme 2 Settings page, with the Voice Assistance button highlighted.

In the previous screenshot, the button we are calling Play / Pause defaults to performing the Play / Pause function.  Note the orange colored setting near the bottom of that screenshot.

But if we want that button to get Siri’s attention, we could tap the  Voice Assistant  screen item.  This changes the Play / Pause button into a Voice Assistant Action button.  In this mode, pressing this button alerts the voice assistant. It signals to the source device that you wish to ask something of it.

Move Ahead in a Playlist with the Play / Pause Button

Finally, you can skip forward to the next song in a playlist with the Play-Pause button on the Xtreme 2. As the song plays, do the following…

      • To advance to the next song, quickly press and release the Play-Pause button twice.  Upon doing that, your source device advances to the next song in the current playlist.

JBL Xtreme 2 Power Button

The Power button not only switches the Xtreme 2 ON and OFF. But it also contains a multi-color light to display speaker status.

How to Read and Use the Power Button Signals

Quickly press and release the Power button to switch the speaker ON or OFF.

Also, the Power button glows in various ways to signal a few speaker states.  First, it flashes blue when the speaker is in Bluetooth discovery mode. It glows solid blue when the unit pairs with a source device. See this blue glow in the next picture.

Picture of the -Power- button glowing blue, meaning that the JBL Xtreme 2 is ON and paired.
The -Power- button glowing blue, meaning that the JBL Xtreme 2 is ON and paired.

The Power button glows solid white when the speaker powered on but not currently paired.  This means that it is awaiting a pairing request from a source Bluetooth device. But it is not in Bluetooth discovery mode.  So while waiting for pairing, the speaker is not broadcasting it connection data for nearby Bluetooth devices to discover.  See this button glowing white in the next picture.

Picture of the JBL Xtreme 2 powered ON, but not paired, showing its white glowing -Power- button.
The JBL Xtreme 2 powered ON, but not paired, showing its white glowing -Power- button.

Finally, the Power button glows a pale blue-white while the speaker is resetting to factory default settings.





The Connect+ Button

The Connect Plus button links two or more JBL Connect+ compatible speakers together, in “party mode”. This way they all play the same audio content. Similar to speakers in Amazon’s multi room music groups.  All participating speakers via Connect+ play the same audio at the same time.

How to Use the Connect Plus Button

You press this button on each Bluetooth speaker you wish to add to the Connect+ group.

Picture of the -Connect- button.
The -Connect- button.

The picture above shows the JBL Xtreme 2 not joined in a Connect+ group, because the Connect+ button is dark. But this button lights when you join this speaker to a Connect+ group.

JBL Xtreme 2 Buttons: Combinations and, Codes

All Lights On Test Mode

Entering the All Lights ON mode briefly lights all lamps on the speaker’s control panel. Then powers down the unit after two seconds.  Note though that here, the speaker makes no falling guitar sound when it shuts off.  See this in the next picture.

Picture of the -Power- and -Connect- buttons glowing.
The -Power- and -Connect- buttons glowing.

Note that all battery gauge lamps also come on during this test, as we show next.

Picture of all battery gauge lights glowing on the JBL Xtreme 2.
All battery gauge lights glowing on the JBL Xtreme 2.

How to Turn All Lights On

To enter this mode, press and hold the Volume Down and Play-Pause buttons together (see these in the next picture). Hold for around ten seconds. Then release when the lights all come on, as we see in the previous picture.

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

Once you enter All Lights ON, the lights remain lit for a short period before they all shut off.  Then, the speaker returns to normal working condition once the lamps return to their pretest state.

Firmware Version Button Combination Code

Press the Volume DOWN and Connect+ buttons together. Then hold for at least two seconds. This makes the Xtreme 2 say its current firmware version.  It says  two or more numbers in a female voice.

Picture of the -Volume Down- and -Connect- buttons on the JBL Xtreme 2.
The -Volume Down- and -Connect- buttons on the JBL Xtreme 2.

Low Frequency Mode Button Code Combination

You can change how loud the bass is on the JBL Xtreme 2. For that, turn on its low frequency mode. When ON, this super bass mode makes the passive bass radiators vibrate much more. This adds a low rumble quality to the playing program.





How to Turn Off Low Frequency Mode

By default, the JBL Xtreme 2 has this extra bass mode turned ON.  This adds some treble and lots of deep bass to the audio output.

Picture of the -Bluetooth- and -Volume Down- buttons.
The -Bluetooth- and -Volume Down- buttons.

Turn low frequency mode OFF by depressing the Volume Down (-) and Bluetooth buttons together.  Hold them in for about ten seconds. Then release when the Power and Connect buttons light up white briefly.

Find all these buttons on the top of the speaker. We show them in the picture above, and point them out with the green arrows.

How to Turn On Low Frequency Mode

To turn low frequency mode back on, again, press the Volume Down (-) and Bluetooth buttons together.  Hold in until the Power and Connect+ buttons light white.  Then release.  When the buttons inside the oval light white, the low frequency mode is active once again.

Warning

The speakers inside this unit really thump when you switch on the low frequency mode.  So use caution in how loudly you play this speaker, to avoid damaging  the drivers. If the bass is crackling, tapping, or otherwise distorting, turn it down !

Reset Button Code Combination

You may reset to factory default settings as follows.  Press the  Volume UP  and   Play / Pause  buttons at the same time. Then hold them in until the unit shuts down. See these buttons in the next picture.

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

Reset the speaker to correct any weird behaviors such as the following.  Failing to pair. Sound distortion. Failure to power off, Etc. Note that resetting invalidates any saved connection info about this speaker on your source devices. So you’ll have to forget those connections on these devices. Then to get them back,  re pair the speaker after a reset.

Service Mode Button Combination

When in this (often called ‘weird’) mode, the JBL Xtreme 2 does not power ON without connecting external power. Thus, it will not run on the internal battery while in Service mode.  And then, it powers up without you pressing the Power button.  I.e. It comes on as soon as you apply outside power.  Further, you cannot turn it off in Service mode unless you disconnect the external power source. And then, it powers off without pressing the Power button.

Also, none of the buttons seem to work in Service mode.  So the speaker won’t pair with any devices. Plus as mentioned, the Power button does not switch it off either.

How to Turn On Service Mode

To turn on this Service mode, power up the speaker firs. Then press the Connect and Volume UP buttons at the same time. Hold these in until the speaker powers OFF. This usually takes ten seconds or so.

Find these buttons that we point out in the next picture. Note that you can enter this mode as long as the speaker is ON.  Also, it doesn’t matter whether you connect external power or not.

Picture of the -Connect- and -Volume Up- buttons on the JBL Xtreme 2.
The -Connect- and -Volume Up- buttons on the JBL Xtreme 2.

How to Turn Off Service Mode

But once you activate this Service mode, then to switch it back off , you must connect external power again. Why?  Because the speaker won’t come on without outside power, and you can’t change modes without powering UP the unit.

So, with the speaker Power button glowing, press the Connect and Volume UP button combination.  Then hold in for ten seconds or so.  Finally, release when the unit powers off.  Then, normal speaker operation returns.





The JBL Xtreme 2 Battery Status Meter Gauge Indicator

Finally, to round out this guide, the JBL Xtreme 2 also has five lights on the front.  These form a battery meter.  They show the amount of charge remaining in the battery.

How to Read the Battery Meter

When the internal battery is full, all five battery charge level LEDs glow white.  Then as it runs down, fewer lamps glow. In the next picture, we show the speaker at eighty percent charge. Note that four of the five lamps glow in this case.

Picture of the battery gauge lights.
The battery gauge lamps.

As the battery further discharges, more battery level lights go out. This continues until the charge amount reaches between 0 and 20 percent. In this case, only one lamp, the one on the far left, glows.

Finally, when the battery discharges to critically low levels, the far left battery light blinks red. Speaker shutdown happens soon after this occurs.  So, recharge it immediately for continued musical enjoyment.

To save power, this meter shuts off after a bit, even though the speaker continues to run.  So to see the battery level again, quickly press and release one of the volume buttons.

Other Posts About the JBL Xtreme 2

    1. How to Rename It
    2. JBL Xtreme 2 Bluetooth Pairing Instructions
    3. How to Hard Reset
    4. Charge Time
    5. How to Restart

References for JBL Xtreme 2 Buttons

    1. JBL Xtreme 2 Official Product Page, on JBL.com