Front right view of the JBL Xtreme 2 Bluetooth speaker.

JBL Xtreme 2 Firmware Update Instructions

Here, we offer JBL Xtreme 2 firmware update instructions for this revised version of the Xtreme series portable Bluetooth speaker. This update can take up to thirty minutes depending on the speed of your internet connection. Plus, you cannot easily reverse it. You won’t be able to downgrade to the earlier firmware version once you complete this software upgrade. So, be sure that you truly wish the upgrade, considering all its potential gotchas before proceeding.

Disclaimers for JBL Xtreme 2 Firmware Update

We were unable to update the firmware when we received this speaker at the time of this writing.  Why?  Because the firmware there was already at the current version.  So, we borrowed some pictures below from the firmware updates we did on our JBL Charge 3 speaker.  We used pictures of the JBL Xtreme 2 speaker where we could however.  The firmware update processes are similar for both speakers.  Finally, if or when we receive an update, we’ll revise these photos.

JBL Xtreme 2 Firmware Update Instructions: Prep Steps

Connect to the Internet

You’ll need the following:

    • An internet connection.
    • A Bluetooth enabled mobile or desktop computer device.
    • The JBL Connect Plus (Connect+) app.
    • A JBL Xtreme 2 speaker to update.

Install the Connect App

Next, install the Connect app if you haven’t already.

Plug the Speaker into Reliable Power

Connect the speaker to AC power. Why? Because we don’t want its internal battery going dead during the firmware update. This mishap could leave corrupted firmware in the speaker’s memory, and thus, render it useless and not repairable.





Pair with your Internet Connected Mobile Device

Then, pair your phone or tablet with the speaker.

After that, you are now ready to begin the firmware updating process on that JBL Bluetooth speaker.

JBL Xtreme 2 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 our Apple iPad Air, as shown next.

Screenshot of the iOS home screen, showing the JBL Connect app highlighted.
iOS home screen, showing the JBL Connect app highlighted.

2. Run the JBL Connect App

The app takes a few seconds to show you some nifty animations when you first start it. But then it finds your paired speaker and shows you its status screen, as shown next.

Note the explanation point inside the orange circle. This means that there are important messages about this speaker pending for your to act upon.

Screenshot of JBL Connect Plus app on iOS. Showing a speaker like the JBL Xtreme 2, needing a firmware update.
JBL Connect Plus app on iOS. Showing a speaker like the JBL Xtreme 2, needing a firmware update.

Now you may notice that there are no current messages or firmware updates available for this speaker. In that case, you will see no explanation point.  Also note that the above picture, while it applies to the Charge 3. But it is is close enough to what you’d see with the Xtreme 2 that it’s useful here.





3. Tap the Orange Circled Explanation Point (!)

Tapping the Important Messages (!) circle brings up the first IMPORTANT NOTICE screen about the available firmware upgrade, as shown next.

Screenshot of the first important notice about updating the firmware on the current speaker.
The first important notice about updating the firmware on the current speaker.

This screen gives details about the available firmware update. In this case, the update enables JBL Connect+ functionality. This means that the speaker will be able to join a group of up to a hundred others. Then they all all will play the same content. You would do this when you wish to blanket a large area with music for dancing for example.

4. Flick to the Left to See the Next IMPORTANT NOTICE Page

Screenshot of The 2nd important notice, warning about this firmware update being permanent and thus, not reversible.
The 2nd important notice, warning about this firmware update being permanent and thus, not reversible.

This page warns that we won’t be able to undo this firmware update. Plus, once you do this, the update will be permanent. It also says that after this upgrade, the speaker will no longer connect with certain models.  These include speakers running older firmware. E.g. The JBL Flip 3, JBL Pulse 2, JBL Boost, and Cinema 5B450.

5. Flick Once More to the Left to See the Next IMPORTANT NOTICE Page

Another left flick brings up the JBL Xtreme 2 firmware upgrade confirmation prompt screen, as shown next.

Screenshot of The app prompting for confirmation. You must tap the Install button to go ahead with the firmware update.
The app prompting for confirmation. You must tap the Install button to go ahead with the firmware update.

This prompt again warns that we won’t be able to fall back to the old firmware version. It then asks whether to install the new firmware or to cancel. We’re going ahead, as we show in the next step.





6. Tap the INSTALL Button

Touching the INSTALL button brings up the Upgrade Speaker screen as shown next.

Screenshot of the app prompting to plug in the speaker to AC power to continue.
The app prompting to plug in the speaker to AC power to continue.

This page tells us to connect our speaker to AC power. You would have already done this if you followed the instructions.

7. Connect to AC Power if Not Done Already to Continue with JBL Xtreme 2 Firmware Update

We connected our JBL to an AC outlet in the preliminary firmware update steps above.

Picture of the top of the JBL Xtreme 2, connected to power, and charging.
Top view of the JBL Xtreme 2, connected to power, and charging.

8. Tap the OK Button on the Upgrade Speaker Screen

Next, go back to the JBL Connect app running on your mobile device, and tap the OK button. See this button in the last screenshot picture above.

The update then begins. First of all, the download of the upgrade file from the internet completes. See this in the next screenshots.

Screenshot of the -Transferring Firmware Update File- page as the system copies the new firmware file to the speaker.
The -Transferring Firmware Update File- page as the system copies the new firmware file to the speaker.

8a. The JBL Xtreme 2 Firmware Update Process Begins

Now copying the file from the internet to the speaker is the slowest part of the firmware upgrade process. But as we see in these screenshots, the JBL Connect app shows you a progress pie-chart picture.  This gradually becomes more orange as the file transfer proceeds.





8b. The Firmware Update at Forty Percent Complete

This was probably around fourteen minutes into the firmware update at this point in the process.

Screenshot of the JBL Connect app on iOS, transferring update firmware file to q JBL speaker, 40 percent done.
JBL Connect app on iOS, paired with a JBL speaker. Transferring update firmware file to that speaker, 40 percent done.

8c. 65.7 Percent Done

The next screenshot shows the upgrade file transfer at 65.7 percent complete.

Screenshot of the app transferring the new firmware file, 65 percent complete.
Transferring the new firmware file, 65 percent complete.

8d. 100 Percent Complete

The next screen shows that the firmware file transfer to the speaker has finished (100 percent done). The pie chart is completely orange now.

Screenshot of transferring the new firmware file at 100 percent done.
Transferring the new firmware file at 100 percent done.

8e. The Upgrade Successful Screen Appears

Once the app copies the upgrade file to the speaker, you get the Upgrade Successful screen, as shown next.





However, note that update is still happening. Plus, this continues for nearly a minute after you first see this green and white screen. Thus, this screen warns that our speaker will restart automatically after the update finishes.

It then asks us not to unplug the speaker while it’s running the update process.

Screenshot of the app, showing that the new firmware update to the speaker is successful. Done button highlighted.
The app, showing the new firmware update to the speaker is successful. Done button highlighted.

9. Wait for the Speaker to Shut Off to Continue with JBL Xtreme Firmware Update

Watch the power light on the speaker, as shown next.

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

Eventually it will go dark, as shown next, pointed at by the green arrow.

Picture of the dark -Power- button (OFF).
The dark -Power- button (OFF).

The speaker may or may not turn itself back on again after the upgrade. Ours did not. So if, like ours, yours did not come back up, then go ahead with the next step (Step 10). But if yours did come back online though, then skip Step 10 and pick up with Step 11.

10. Power On the Speaker

Press the dark Power button to turn this unit on again. Then it should again pair with your mobile device where you’re running the JBL Connect app. The Power button turns solid blue when your speaker has successfully paired again with your device. See this next.

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

11. Press the Done Button

Successful pairing of your speaker to the Connect app is complete. So press the green Done button in the app, as we show in the last screenshot above.

The app then displays the speaker status screen once again. However, this time, note that there’s no longer the orange circled explanation point (!), as shown next. Thus, this means that the firmware update succeeded and that the speaker is now running the current version.

Picture of the JBL Connect app, showing our speaker's Home screen.
The JBL Connect app, showing our speaker’s Home screen.

12. Done with JBL Xtreme 2 Firmware Update !

Finally, the firmware update to the current version is now complete. So enjoy the new multi speaker connectivity features.

Other Posts About the JBL Xtreme 2

    1. JBL Xtreme 2 Low Frequency Mode, Switch ON and OFF
    2. Hard Reset Instructions
    3. How Long the Battery Should Last
    4. How to Rename
    5. How to Connect 2 to an iPhone

References

    1. JBL Xtreme 2 Official Product Page at JBL.com