How to Connect JBL Speakers to a Phone, Computer or Each Other

Pair first, then link

Pairing your phone, linking a second speaker and getting true left and right stereo are separate jobs, and they go in that order. We'd get one speaker playing on its own before you touch the second, because once it plays, you know the phone side works and can focus on the link between the speakers.

If both speakers end up playing but you hear the same thing from each, that's shared playback. Stereo needs a pair that supports it, with stereo mode switched on.

Everything here is for JBL's portable Bluetooth speakers. Two JBLs can look alike and still use different linking systems, so read both full model names before you try to link them.

Pair the JBL with your phone or computer

Turn the speaker on, put it in pairing mode and pick it on your phone or computer. On a Charge 5, that's one press of the Bluetooth button, and a Charge 6 pairs from its Bluetooth button too. Other JBL models can use a different press or a hold, so check JBL's pairing guide (opens in a new tab) and your own model's instructions.

Once it shows as connected, play something and check the volume on both the source and the speaker. If the JBL isn't in the list, make sure it's still in pairing mode and bring it closer. Connected to a computer but hearing nothing? Check the output setting in the next section.

Connected to a computer, but no sound

A computer can be connected to the JBL and still send its sound somewhere else, because the Bluetooth connection and the sound output are separate settings. On Windows, open Settings > System > Sound and pick the JBL under Output (opens in a new tab).

On a Mac, choose the connected JBL as the sound output in System Settings. Then play something again and check the volume on the computer and the speaker.

If one speaker plays from your computer but a second PartyBoost speaker stays silent, play from your phone instead. PartyBoost isn't available while the speaker is connected to a computer over Bluetooth (opens in a new tab), and that includes the Charge 5 and Flip 5/6.

No Bluetooth on your computer? A USB Bluetooth adapter adds it. That handles the connection from the computer to a speaker, but linking a second one still takes a compatible pair.

Check that your two models can link

JBL has used several linking systems, and they don't all mix. PartyBoost won't connect with Connect or Connect+ (opens in a new tab), for example. Find both of your models in the table, then check the two exceptions below it before you give up on a pair.

The Charge 3 is the first exception. It started out on Connect, but a firmware upgrade switches it to Connect+ (opens in a new tab), and after that it won't connect with Connect models anymore. Whether yours has had the upgrade decides which speakers it can join.

The Xtreme 4 is the other one. It supports Auracast, and it can also join PartyBoost speakers through the app. JBL lists those as separate options (opens in a new tab), so pick the route that matches your other speaker.

If your two models don't share a system and aren't one of these exceptions, we'd stop pairing and resetting, since neither one changes which linking system a speaker has. Use the speaker that works, or pick a partner from its own linking system.

Find the right JBL app for your model

You don't need an app just to pair, because your phone's Bluetooth settings handle that. For stereo, firmware updates and linking that runs through an app, check which JBL app supports your model. JBL is moving supported speakers to JBL ONE (opens in a new tab), including the Charge 6, Flip 7 and Xtreme 4.

If JBL Portable or PartyBox shows a migration notice, follow it. JBL Portable stays around for older speakers that JBL ONE can't support, but migrated speakers get their new features and firmware updates through JBL ONE.

An older quick-start guide might still point you to JBL Portable. If a menu from those instructions is missing, check which app supports your speaker now before you decide something's wrong with a speaker that plays fine over Bluetooth.

Get compatible speakers playing together

Here's JBL's PartyBoost grouping sequence (opens in a new tab) for two regular PartyBoost speakers. Keep the first one playing while you add the second.

1. Connect your phone to the first speaker and start some music. Let it play for more than 20 seconds before you go on.
2. Press the PartyBoost button on the playing speaker.
3. Turn on the second PartyBoost speaker and press its PartyBoost button. Give them a few seconds to join up and play together.
4. To add more, turn on another compatible PartyBoost speaker and press its PartyBoost button.

With Connect+ speakers, get music playing from one speaker, then press the Connect button on each speaker you want in the group. JBL's Connect+ steps (opens in a new tab) give them up to 30 seconds to join, and pressing that button again takes a speaker back out of the group.

If the second speaker stays quiet, check the exact pair, the source and the linking system again. The group forms through those linking buttons, even when both speakers are already saved in your phone's Bluetooth list.

Link an Auracast group with a Charge 6

On a Charge 6, linking uses the multi-speaker connection button, shown enlarged in the picture below. Pair your phone with one Charge 6 and start some music, press that button on the playing speaker, then press it on the compatible speaker you're adding. The Xtreme 4's PartyBoost connection is different and goes through the app.

Set up separate left and right channels

PartyBoost stereo needs two of the same model. A Flip 5 and a Flip 6 can play together with PartyBoost, but they can't make a stereo pair (opens in a new tab).

1. Turn on your two matching PartyBoost speakers. Connect your phone to one and play music for more than 20 seconds.
2. Open JBL Portable and let it find the playing speaker.
3. Press PartyBoost on both speakers and wait for the app to show both.
4. Open the PartyBoost control in the app and choose Stereo instead of Party.

Put one speaker on each side of where you sit. We'd test it with a track that calls out left and right, so you can hear whether each side is coming from the speaker you expect.

For Auracast speakers, look up your exact pair instead of reusing the PartyBoost menu steps. JBL confirms stereo for two Charge 6 speakers (opens in a new tab) and for two Xtreme 4 speakers (opens in a new tab), so check any other combination before you count on stereo.

Reconnect a speaker that used to work

First, check whether another phone nearby has connected to the speaker. Disconnect the JBL on that phone, or turn its Bluetooth off, then pick the saved JBL on the phone you want to use.

Keep the saved pairing for this first try. Reconnecting (opens in a new tab) is a different step from pairing all over again, and a factory reset erases the speaker's pairings with every phone, so you'd have to pair each one again.

If the saved entry still won't connect, forget the JBL on your phone or computer and pair it again. On Windows, remove it in Bluetooth & devices, then use Add device to pair it. On Android, open the speaker's settings, choose Forget and pair again. Save this for when reconnecting fails, since it isn't something to do every time you listen.

If the sound breaks up after it connects, clear the space between the speaker and your phone or computer. JBL's interference tips (opens in a new tab) help when moving either one changes how the sound behaves.

Still not working? Contact JBL Support and give them both full model names, the phone or computer you're playing from, the app you use and the last step that worked. Ask for the reset steps for your exact model before you try a button combination from another JBL guide.