Update JBL Charge 5 — How to Do It

Here is our update JBL Charge 5 routine. First, this procedure can take up to thirteen minutes to finish. How long depends on the speeds of your WiFi connection, mobile device, and other factors.  Furthermore you can’t reverse once you update.  Thus you won’t be able to return to any prior firmware version once you complete this upgrade.  So, be sure that you indeed want the update before going ahead with it.

Update JBL Charge 5: Preparation Steps

You’ll need the following.

1. 1. An internet connection.
   2. A mobile device that supports Bluetooth.
   3. The JBL Connect app.
   4. The speaker itself.

So, connect this device to the internet and install the JBL Connect app if you haven’t already.

Connect your Charge 5 to household power, because we don’t want its battery going dead during this update.  In fact, a dying battery could corrupt the software in the speaker’s memory, and therefore, brick the speaker.  So this could render it useless and not repairable.

So, to be safe, plug the speaker into AC power, using the included USB-C cable.

Finally, connect the other end of the USB-C cord into the charger. Then plug that adapter into a working AC outlet.

Then, pair your mobile device with the Charge 5.

You are now ready to begin the updating firmware process.

Update JBL Charge 5: 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/

2. Run the JBL Connect App

The app takes a few seconds to show you some pretty animations when you first start it.

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

Note the Update button at the bottom left center of this page, as pointed at by the green arrow.  The presence of this button means that a Update is available for this speaker.

Also, if this button does not appear, then your speaker already has the latest version of the firmware.  But since the speaker we have indeed has an update, we shall proceed.

3. Tap the Update Button

Touching the Update button brings up the screen about the available software update.

This screen gives details about the available update.  In our case here, it suggests the Charge 5 upgrade to firmware version 0.7.4.0.

4. Tap the Orange Upgrade Button to Continue with JBL Charge 5 Update

Touching the Upgrade bar may bring up the Plug Speaker In screen. This can occur if either of the following is true.

1. 1. You haven’t yet connected your Charge 5 to AC power.
   2. Your Charge 5 does not have enough power in its battery to complete the update.

Otherwise, the update process starts.

If the app prompts you, then attach your speaker to power now, as described at the top of this post.  Then, follow the instructions on that screen.

5. The Update JBL Charge 5 Process Begins

The Connect app displays a progress screen as shown next, to let you know how far along the upgrade is.

5a. Update Progress, at Nine Percent Complete

5b. Progress at Twenty-Five Percent Complete

We’re probably about a minute into the upgrade at this point in the process.

5c. Progress at Fifty Percent Complete

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

5e. Update JBL Charge 5: Transfer 100 Percent Complete

Once the app copies the upgrade file to the Charge 5, you get the  Restarting  screen, as shown next.

But note that the speaker is still in the process of installing the new software for a bit of time. In fact, this screen warns us that the Charge 5 will restart automatically. Then it asks us not to unplug the speaker while it’s running the upgrade. So during that time, keep your speaker close to the mobile device running the app while the update proceeds.

6. Wait for the Charge 5 to Shut Off and Come Back On

The speaker may or may not turn itself back on again.  Ours did.  But if yours did not come back up, then go ahead with the next step (Step 7).  But if yours did come ON again, then skip Step 7 and pick up with Step 8.

7. Power On the JBL Charge 5

Press the Power button, shown in the last picture to turn this wireless speaker on again.  The unit should again pair with your mobile device where you’re running the JBL Connect app.

Then the Power and Bluetooth buttons turn solid white  as your speaker successfully pairs again with your tablet or phone.

Meanwhile, back in the Connect App, the Upgrade Successful appears. This happens once the the speaker confirms to the app that the update completed successfully.

8. Press the Let’s Party Button

With your speaker successfully paired again, press the orange Let’s Party button.

The app then displays the JBL Charge 5 status screen once again.  But this time, note that there’s no longer the orange Upgrade button.  This means that the update worked and that the speaker is now running the current firmware version.

9. Done with Update JBL Charge 5 !

At last, the Charge 5 now has the current version of the firmware.

Other JBL Charge 5 Posts

1. 1. JBL Charge 5 How to Connect
   2. Reset Directions
   3. Bass Mode Explained
   4. How to Tell if JBL Charge 5 is Charging
   5. Solving the Not Turning ON Issue

References

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