Why wont my iPhone pair with my JBL speaker?

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Why can’t I connect my iPhone 11 to a JBL speaker via Bluetooth? I have gone through all the steps and it picks up other items just not the speaker

Why can’t I connect my iPhone 11 to a JBL extreme via Bluetooth? I have followed all the steps and I connect to other things just not the speaker

Posted on Aug 2, 2020 11:54 AM

Posted on Aug 2, 2020 11:57 AM

Why can’t I connect my iPhone 11 to a JBL speaker via Bluetooth? I have gone through all the steps and it picks up other items just not the speaker

How-To

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to connect your iPhone to a JBL speaker without any hassle

Like most Apple users, you probably regularly use your iPhone to listen to music.

But what if you could take that listening experience to a new level by connecting your iPhone to a high-quality JBL speaker?

Not only would the sound be louder and more immersive, but it would also be richer and more nuanced.

Siri integration is another plus feature, but it is only available for the latest JBL speakers in Xtreme, Pulse, Charge, and Flip lineup.

You can ask Siri to play your favorite song, turn up the volume, or skip to the next track.

Now that you know the benefits of connecting your iPhone to a JBL speaker let’s get down to the basics of how you can do it.

Pairing a JBL Speaker With an iPhone

Why wont my iPhone pair with my JBL speaker?
Image: KnowTechie

Both JBL and Apple hate 3.5mm aux outputs.

The lightning port transmits power and audio from iPhone 7 to the latest iPhone 14.

Likewise, most JBL speakers have Bluetooth as the only option for connectivity.

The company has an app (JBL Portable) for both IOS and Android devices that covers all its speakers except for some low-end sonic boxes in JBL Go and Clip Series.

READ MORE: How do I reset my JBL speaker?

Though useful for firmware updates and setting up different modes in a multi-speaker setup, the app is not necessary for pairing JBL speakers with iPhones and, in general, any other device.

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to connect your iPhone to a JBL speaker without any hassle

Here, we’ll show you how to pair the JBL Flip 4 with the iPhone 13.

As Bluetooth technology is involved here, the steps would remain the same whether it is the old JBL Clip 2 or the latest Boombox 2.

  1. Make sure that both devices are close to each other.

  2. Press the ‘power button’ once to turn on the JBL Flip 4. A solid white light will appear on the ‘power icon’ immediately followed by an audio cue.

    Why wont my iPhone pair with my JBL speaker?

  3. Press the ‘Bluetooth Button’ for 2-3 seconds to enter pairing mode, indicated by a blinking blue light.

    Why wont my iPhone pair with my JBL speaker?

  4. On your iPhone, go to Settings and tap on ‘Bluetooth’, and toggle on the switch.

    Why wont my iPhone pair with my JBL speaker?

  5. In the ‘Other Devices’ section, the speaker’s name will appear as ‘JBL Flip 4’. Tap on the name and wait for a few seconds.

    Why wont my iPhone pair with my JBL speaker?

  6. The two devices will now pair, and you’ll be able to listen to music on your JBL speakers using your iPhone.

If these steps don’t work for you, there may be a problem.

Here are some troubleshooting questions in the FAQ section below.

FAQs


Why can’t I connect my JBL speaker to my iPhone?

If you recently connected your speaker to a device, it will automatically connect to that device when you turn it on. A stable blue light is an indicator of this.

You will have to unpair your JBL speaker first or override the previous pairing by pressing the Bluetooth button for almost 3-5 seconds.

The speaker will now enter pairing mode, and you can easily connect it to the iPhone.

READ MORE: JBL speaker won’t connect? Here’s how to fix that

If those steps don’t work, it may be because your JBL speaker is out of range or has low battery power.

And even if this is not the case, the only option you are left with is to reset the speaker to factory settings.

Is JBL compatible with the iPhone?

Yes, your JBL Bluetooth speaker is compatible with the iPhone.

Apart from playing music, you can make calls and summon Siri with the latest JBL models.

How Can I Connect Multiple JBL Portable Speakers To My iPhone?

You will start by connecting the primary JBL speaker with the iPhone.

Next, you will have to press the connect button on both the primary and secondary JBL speakers together.

You can build a chain of almost 100 speakers this way. 

READ MORE: How to connect JBL speakers to computers and laptops?

We have dedicated a separate post for those interested in pairing two or multiple JBL speakers together.  

Wrapping it all up

JBL speakers are one of the best third-party accessories to pair up with your iPhone.

These speakers are Bluetooth-enabled and have Siri capabilities to boot.

This post provides an easy step-by-step guide on connecting your JBL speakers to your iPhone.

Regardless of which model you choose, the steps remain the same.

If everything doesn’t go according to plan the first time around, we’ve provided troubleshooting steps in the FAQ section above.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

Kevin is the founder and executive editor at KnowTechie. With over 15 years of blogging experience, Kevin has transformed what was once a passion project into a full-blown tech news publication. Shoot him an email at

Why wont my iPhone pair with my JBL speaker?

How do I fix the Bluetooth pairing problem?

Step 1: Check Bluetooth basics.
Turn Bluetooth off and then on again. Learn how to turn Bluetooth on and off..
Confirm that your devices are paired and connected. Learn how to pair and connect via Bluetooth..
Restart your devices. Learn how to restart your Pixel phone or Nexus device..

Why is my pairing unsuccessful?

If your Bluetooth devices won't connect, it's likely because the devices are out of range, or aren't in pairing mode. If you're having persistent Bluetooth connection problems, try resetting your devices, or having your phone or tablet "forget" the connection.

How do I get my iPhone to recognize a Bluetooth speaker?

Pair your device with a Bluetooth accessory.
On your device, go to Settings > Bluetooth and turn on Bluetooth. ... .
Place your accessory in discovery mode and wait for it to appear on your device. ... .
To pair, tap your accessory name when it appears onscreen..