How to Fix JBL Speaker Not Charging

There are several reasons why a JBL speaker might not charge, including a broken charging cable, a damaged charging port, a dirty charging port, or a bad battery. Not all of these charging issues can be easily fixed, but many can. 

I’m Donovan, a long-time musician, audio engineer, and producer. I’m a big fan of wireless speakers and have had several JBL models over the years. I know how to deal with charging issues through first-hand experience. 

This post will provide a handful of reasons why your JBL speaker isn’t charging. For each of these issues, I’ll also highlight a way to fix things so your speaker will get charged up and you can listen to it as usual. 

Let’s dig in. 

Key Takeaways

• A damaged or broken charging cable is one of the most common reasons a JBL speaker won’t charge, and it can be easily fixed by replacing the cable. 
• A dirty or damaged charging port can also cause this issue. You can clean out a dirty port, but a damaged one might require you to get a new speaker. 
• A JBL speaker can also experience a damaged or faulty battery, which will cause it not to charge. This will also require a new speaker since most batteries on JBL speakers cannot be replaced. 
• Always start with the simple fixes to this problem, such as changing the power outlet or charging cords, before assuming your speaker has a bad battery or port. 

Reasons Why JBL Speaker Not Charging

Wireless speakers are convenient and easy to use as long as they work correctly. If your JBL speaker isn’t charging, you won’t be able to listen to music or anything else after the battery dies. That can be a pretty big problem for anyone. 

There are several different reasons why a JBL speaker isn’t charging. Many of these are easy to troubleshoot and solve, while a few are more severe issues that require purchasing a new speaker. 

Look at all the potential reasons below before you attempt to resolve the problems with your speaker. This will give you a good assessment of what’s happening to help you diagnose and solve the problem as quickly as possible. 

Reason #1: Bad Charging Cable/Block

The most likely reason why your JBL speaker is not charging is that you are using a bad charging cable. Cables can wear out easily under normal use, and these are much more fragile than the speaker itself. 

If you see any visible damage to the cable, like a broken and damaged sheath or exposed wiring, and it’s not charging, the cable is typically the problem. But a cable can be bad and still look normal without any outward indications. 

And if the cable doesn’t fit properly into the charging port on the speaker or the charging block, it might have bent or broken inputs. 

How to Fix It: 

Luckily, this common problem also has a very simple solution. You just need to replace the charging cable to get your speaker up and running again. You might even have a replacement cable sitting around since most JBL speakers use standard USB-type cables. 

Charging blocks are also easy to replace. Just make sure you use another one with the same input port as the one you suspect might be broken.  

Reason #2: Bad Wall Outlet

A bad wall outlet will also cause your JBL speaker not to charge. You won’t get a charge without electricity even if the charger is plugged into an outlet. It isn’t that common for a wall outlet to randomly go bad, but it does happen. 

More likely, the outlet just doesn’t work, and you don’t know about it. If you are at a location other than your home and can’t charge your speaker, the wall outlet is probably bad. But they can short out, or the power can also go out. 

How to Fix It: 

Try plugging your speaker into a different wall outlet. If it starts to charge once you do this, then you know that the power outlet was the problem. Use an outlet in a different area of your home or wherever you are, not one right next to the potentially bad one. 

Wall outlets on the same wall, or even in the same room, can be connected to the same breaker. So if this breaker goes out, all those outlets in the room might not work. That’s why you should check in a different room altogether. 

If the wall outlet is bad and you want to fix it, you might need to call an electrician. You don’t want to mess with the power if you don’t know what you’re doing. 

Reason #3: Dirty Charging Port

A dirty charging port is another possible cause for your speaker not to charge. Dirt, dust, and all sorts of other debris can gunk up a charging port on a speaker or any other small electronic device pretty easily. 

This is another problem that might not be easy to diagnose. The port won’t be blocked entirely, and the charging cable will still fit into it. But the contact points can get covered with dirt and prevent the points from touching, which will prevent charging. 

If you use your JBL speaker outdoors often, it’s more likely to get a dirty charging port since there is dust and dirt where you use it. But it can still happen over time, even if you only use it indoors. 

How to Fix It: 

It’s pretty easy to clean a dirty charging port on a speaker. You can use a toothpick or some type of other small item that fits into the port to loosen up the debris so you can remove it. Gently scrape all around the port to get started. 

Once you have loosened up the dirt and gunk, you can shake the speaker to get rid of it or blow into the port. You can also use compressed air to give you more pressure than you can blow with your lungs. 

Reason #4: Broken Charging Port

A broken charging port is a more serious problem than a dirty one. If you’ve cleaned out the port and are still having issues with charging your speaker after checking the outlets and cables, your charging port might be broken. 

This can happen if you drop your speaker or trip over the charging cable when it’s plugged in. You might notice that the port is bent, or it could be slightly sticking out of the speaker in a way that it shouldn’t. 

But the charging port can break without any visible signs as well. Sometimes the electronics within a speaker get damaged during regular use, or this can also occur if you drop the speaker or something falls on it. 

How to Fix It: 

Unfortunately, there really isn’t a way to fix a broken charging port besides getting a new speaker. It is technically possible to take the speaker apart or install a new port in some cases, but you’ll need small electronics repair experience and the necessary parts. 

If you suspect the charging port is broken, I suggest contacting JBL to see if your speaker is under warranty. They might send you a new one for free. But they also might tell you you need to buy a new speaker. 

Reason #5: Outdated Firmware

Outdated firmware can cause all sorts of problems with your speaker. Just like with other devices you use, this firmware needs to be updated occasionally to avoid problems and keep everything functioning normally. 

If you’ve had your speaker for a while and are unsure whether the firmware is current, it’s a good idea to look into it. If you are using an older JBL speaker that isn’t wireless, it likely won’t have firmware to update, so you can skip this step. 

How to Fix It: 

Updating the firmware is the easy fix for this problem. You can connect your speaker to a computer and download the update from the JBL website. Or you can use the JBL app to do this wirelessly on some speaker models. 

Reason #6: Glitch or Bug

A glitch or bug in your speaker or phone can also cause problems. This sort of thing can happen from time to time without much explanation, so it’s always good to keep that in mind. Bugs can be frustrating, especially if you don’t realize what’s happening. 

There isn’t always a direct reason why bugs and glitches occur. They sometimes just happen and can occur with newer or older speaker models. 

How to Fix It: 

Resetting your speaker and/or phone is the best way to deal with bugs and glitches. You can reset your JBL speaker by holding down the play and volume-up buttons simultaneously for around 5 seconds until it powers down. Then turn it back on and see if it charges. 

Reason #7: Bad Battery

Last on the list of reasons for your JBL speaker not charging is a bad battery. Sometimes the battery will just fail, and there isn’t much you can do about it. This is more common with older speakers, but it can also happen with newer models as well. 

If you’ve gone through every other potential reason and fix on this list, and nothing has worked, you are likely dealing with a bad battery. It’s bad news, but at least you know what’s going on. 

How to Fix It: 

Most JBL speakers don’t have replaceable batteries, making it very difficult or impossible altogether to change the battery simply. You’ll likely need to purchase a new speaker to resolve the issue. 

Before you purchase anything, be sure to reach out to JBL to find out if your speaker is under warranty. They might send you a new one at no cost if it is. Or they might be able to direct you to some more troubleshooting tips.

FAQs

Here are a few short answers to some of the most commonly asked questions related to a JBL speaker not charging and how to fix it. 

How do I reset my JBL speaker battery? 

Most JBL speakers can be reset by pressing the play and volume-up buttons simultaneously for about five seconds. The speaker will power down, and then you can turn it back on using the power button. This can fix some glitches, bugs, and other problems. 

How do I get my JBL speaker to charge? 

You need to have a charging cable that fits into the charging port on your JBL speaker to get it to charge. These are typically standard USB or micro-USB cables, but it can vary depending on which model JBL speaker you have. 

Why is my JBL 4 speaker not charging? 

Check to ensure that your charging cable and wall outlet are working if your JBL 4 speaker is not charging. These are the two most common reasons for a speaker not to charge, and they are both very easy to fix. It is also possible that you have a faulty battery. 

Why is my JBL Xtreme speaker not charging? 

There can be several reasons why your JBL Xtreme speaker is not charging, most likely because you have a broken charging cable or the outlet you are plugged into isn’t working. It can also be because of outdated firmware that requires an update to fix. 

Is there another way to charge a JBL speaker? 

You don’t necessarily need to use the charger included with your JBL speaker. As long as you have a cable that fits into the charging port on your speaker and a charging block that works with it, you can also charge things up that way. 

Why is my JBL speaker blinking red and not charging? 

A blinking red indicator light on your JBL speaker means the battery is low. If you plug in the speaker and the light still blinks red after it should be fully charged, it means that you likely have a bad battery and might need to replace the speaker. 

Final Thoughts

You need to keep your JBL speaker charged up and ready for action to take advantage of its wireless capabilities. If the speaker isn’t charging, be sure to check the charging cable and wall outlet before doing anything else or assuming the worst. 

It’s typically pretty easy to fix this issue, but sometimes there isn’t a fix if you are dealing with a bad battery or broken charging port. JBL speakers are not indestructible, so treat them carefully to get the most use from them. 

Have you ever dealt with a JBL speaker not charging? What model was it, and how did you resolve the issue? Let me know in the comments below.