Updating Firmware on JBL Charge 4

Here, we demonstrate updating firmware on JBL Charge 4 Bluetooth speaker.  The process can take up to thirty minutes depending on the speed of your Wi-Fi internet connection.  Plus, you can’t take it back once done.  So you won’t be able to return to the earlier firmware version afterwards.  So, be sure that you indeed want the upgrade first.

Updating Firmware on JBL Charge 4: Prep Steps

You’ll need the following…

• • An internet connection.
  • A Bluetooth mobile device.
  • The JBL Connect app.
  • And the speaker itself.

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

Connect your Charge 4 to AC power.  Why?  Because we don’t want its battery power bank going dead during the update.  This sort of mishap could leave a corrupted version of the firmware in the speaker’s memory, and brick the speaker.  This could render it useless and not repairable.

Plug the speaker into AC power, using the included USB-C cable, as shown in the next picture.

Finally, connect the other end of the USB-C cord to the adapter. Then plug that adapter into an AC outlet.

Then, pair your mobile device with the JBL Charge 4.

You are now ready to begin the updating firmware process.

Updating Firmware on JBL Charge 4: 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.

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 locates your paired JBL Charge 4 Bluetooth speaker and shows you its status screen, as pictured next.

Note the red dot on the Settings button in the bottom center of the speaker’s picture.  This means that there are important actions to take.

Now there may no messages or firmware updates available about this speaker. If not then you will see no red dot.  In this case, your speaker already has the latest version of the firmware.

3. Tap the Settings Button

Touching the Settings button brings up the screen about the available firmware upgrade.

This screen gives details about the available firmware update.  In our case here, it suggests the Charge 4 upgrade to firmware version 3.0.0.0.  It also tells us that the current firmware version is 2.7.

4. Tap the Orange Upgrade Button

Touching the Upgrade bar may bring up the Plug Speaker In screen. This page shows if you haven’t connected your Charge 4 to AC power yet. Otherwise, the update firmware process starts.

If this screen comes up, then attach your speaker to power. Then, tap the I Followed the Instructions button.  This is the grey bar in the last picture.

5. The Updating Firmware Process on JBL Charge 4 Begins

The firmware update then begins.  The Connect app displays a progress screen. This tells how far along the update is.

5a. Updating Firmware Progress, at Fourteen Percent Complete

5b. Updating Firmware Progress at Twenty-Eight Percent Complete

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

5c. Updating Firmware Progress at Forty-Five Percent Complete

5d. Updating Firmware Progress, at Seventy-Five Percent Complete

8e. Updating Firmware File Transfer 100 Percent Complete

Once the app copies the upgrade file to the speaker, you get the  Restarting  screen.  But the speaker is still in the process of installing the firmware for several minutes after that screen appears. Indeed this screen warns that our speaker will restart automatically. And it asks us not to unplug the speaker while upgrading. Keep your speaker close to the mobile device running the app during this time.

6. Wait for the Speaker to Shut Off

Then watch the Power light on the Charge 4. Eventually it will go dark.

The speaker may or may not turn itself back on again. In fact, ours did not.  If, like ours, yours did not come back up, then run the next step (Step 7).  But if yours did come ON again, then skip Step 7 and work Step 8.

7. Power On the JBL Charge 4

Press the dark Power button to turn this BT speaker on again.  It should again pair with your device that’s running the JBL Connect app.  The Power and Bluetooth buttons turn solid white  as your speaker pairs again.

Meanwhile, back in the Connect App, the Upgrade Successful page appears. This pops up when the app receives confirmation that the updating process is complete.

8. Press the OK Button

Then with your speaker now successfully pairing to the JBL Connect app again, press the orange OK button.

The app then displays the JBL Charge 4 status screen once again.  However, this time, there’s no longer the red dot on the Settings button. So this means that the firmware update succeeded and that the speaker is now running the current firmware version. In this case, it’s version 3.0.0.0.

9. Done with Updating Firmware on JBL Charge 4 !

At last, your speaker is now up to date.

Other Posts About the JBL Charge 4

1. 1. Updating Firmware on JBL Charge 4, How To
   2. JBL Charge 4 Review, Specs and Features
   3. How to Pair JBL Charge 4 with Alexa Echo Speakers
   4. JBL Charge 4 Buttons Guide, What Each Button Does
   5. Hard Reset JBL Charge 4 Instructions

References

1. 1. JBL Charge 4 Speaker Product Page