My JBL Charge 5 Speaker Won’t Turn OFF

When my JBL Charge 5 speaker won’t turn OFF, we find that this likely means one or more things. And we offer below a couple solutions for the most likely cause.

My JBL Charge 5 Speaker Won’t Turn Off: Causes

Now in this model, one or more of the following may cause this speaker to fail to shut down.

1. 1. The button mechanisms may have sand, dirt, or other debris in them. To repair this, take the speaker apart if so inclined. Then blow, brush, or polish switch contacts if you can reach them.
   2. The battery is providing SOME but not ENOUGH power. Verify this by connecting a charger. If the problem goes away immediately, then it could be that the battery was almost dead.  Further verify by fully charging.  Then remove the charger and power up the 5 on batteries.  Then see if it will turn off.  If not, then the battery may be defective.
   3. The speaker is defective. In this case, get a replacement unit.
   4. The Charge 5 has both a Service Mode, and a Lock Mode. Now either of these  you may have switched on by accident.

Now we assume here that all the hardware and software in the 5 is working correctly. So we cover below the possibilities in the last item; Service Mode and Lock Mode. Thus, we describe below how to get out of these modes, and turn your speaker OFF once again.

My JBL Charge 5 Speaker Won’t Turn Off: How to Fix

Exit Service Mode

Now you can restore normal operation by deactivating this mode. But note that when active, you must connect external power to switch it OFF. Why?  Because when in Service mode, the 5 won’t power up without outside power. But you can’t change modes without switching on the unit first.  Thus, you need the AC adapter to make this fix.

1. 1. So, connect the speaker to AC power and turn on the unit.
   2. Then, with the speaker Power button glowing, press the Pairing and Play-Pause button combo. Then hold for ten seconds or so. Release when  the unit powers off.
   3. Then, normal speaker operation should return.
   4. Verify this by powering ON the 5.

Exit Lock Mode

Again, you can restore correct operation by cancelling this mode. But note that when Lock mode is active, you can switch it back OFF without the charger. But you can do that only if the battery is not dead.

1. 1. Connect the 5 to AC power.
   2. Then, press and hold the Power button for ten seconds. If the button lamps are glowing, then they’ll go dark at this point.  When you see that thus, then release the Power button.
   3. Wait two seconds.
   4. Finally, press and release the Power button.  The speaker should then boot up normally, with proper operation returning after that.

Now you may not know battery status.  So to be sure that you can power up the 5 after exiting Lock, just connect external power.

Other JBL Charge 5 Speaker Posts

1. 1. Speaker Specs
   2. Charger Wattage
   3. Battery Indicator
   4. How to Check Battery
   5. The Controls

References for My JBL Charge 5 Speaker Won’t Turn OFF

1. 1. Official JBL Charge 5 Speaker Product Page
   2. Where to Buy the JBL Charge 5 Speaker