I am a big fan of JBL products, and it has been like that since I came across my first JBL speaker. Their speakers and headphones have an impeccable audio quality that completely changes one’s listening experience.
For this reason, I got the JBL Charge 3 speaker to listen to music outdoors on picnics and sharpen my dancing skills. Apart from occasionally refusing to power on, the speaker worked without any hitches, but it would eventually power on after pressing random buttons.
Things took a bad turn recently when the speaker would not power on, regardless of what I tried. I almost returned the speaker but fortunately came across a rare suggestion that surprisingly worked. I also noticed several JBL Charge 3 users were experiencing the same problem without any solutions.
Here are the steps that permanently solved the problem for me. Hopefully, they will work for you, too.
Key Takeaways
- Ensure you follow the correct powering procedure and that the speaker is adequately charged.
- The power button is between the Volume Down and Connect buttons, and pressing it once should power your speaker.
- The speaker’s LED will light up, and you should hear a distinct tone from the speaker, indicating it is on.
- You can tell the speaker’s battery percentage by observing the battery LEDs below the JBL logo just above the speaker’s base. There are 5 LEDs, and each represents twenty percent battery capacity.
- If the battery is extremely drained, you will not see any signs of life until the speaker is left charging for a while
- The speaker will also not power on if the battery is defective or if it has issues with its charging system and the battery is drained.
- Exposing the speaker to extreme temperatures will also prevent it from turning on.
- JBL speakers also have a Service Mode that will prevent the buttons on the unit from functioning, including the power button.
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How to Fix My JBL Charge 3 That Won’t Turn On?
Various issues could lead to the Charge 3 not turning on even if you follow the correct powering-on procedure. These issues will be addressed, and their solutions will be provided below.
Follow the Correct Powering-On Procedure
Although it’s almost impossible that you are using the wrong procedure to power the speaker, it is important to consider all factors to get the Charge 3 working again.
Therefore, follow the correct procedure to power the speaker and use the correct buttons.
You can find the speaker’s power button between the Volume Down and the Connect buttons. The power button is labeled with a circle with a vertical line.
JBL Charge 3 – Control Button Layout
The correct powering procedure entails pressing the power button, and the power button should light solid white. The speaker will also play an audio cue to indicate it has powered on if you have not previously disabled these cues on the JBL Portable App.
If pressing the power button once does not bring the speaker to life, press it again, but this time, do it with a little more force since the issue could be the power button.
This is possible because debris can accumulate within the power button, making it difficult for the speaker to receive the power on commands.
Consider pressing the button repeatedly with intervals of two to three seconds. If this solves your issue, it indicates a problem with the speaker’s power button.
Try pressing the button multiple times
In such a case, you should contact support and request guidance since your unit is damaged, and attempting to fix it on your own will void the warranty or cause further damage to the speaker.
You can also open the speaker and clean the power button if you have the necessary knowledge.
If you feel confident enough, you could try getting to the button board and cleaning the power button. You just need to remove the speaker’s jacket and the silicone cover protecting the buttons.
Fixing a JBL Charge 3 that Won’t Turn On
Leave the Speaker Connected to the Charger
Another issue could be that the speaker’s battery is extremely drained to the point it does not have enough juice left, even to show that the battery is low.
If the battery is completely drained, your JBL Charge 3 may refuse to turn on.
Fortunately, an easy fix for this is to connect the Charge 3 speaker to a power source using the USB cable and adapter that came with the speaker.
Use the original charger and charging cable that came with the speaker to charge it.
Avoid using third-party chargers even if they have the same rating as the original charger since some underlying compatibility issues could negatively impact the speaker’s charging and battery.
Leave the speaker charging for two to three hours, even if there is no indication of charging, then come back and observe the battery LEDs as they should be blinking in succession to show the speaker is taking in power.
Leave it charging for a few hours, even if there is no indication of charging.
Before charging the speaker, ensure the charging port and the charger are clean and dry. If not, use a microfiber cloth or a soft brush to remove debris from the charger and speaker.
Also, remember to check whether the charging port and the charger are in good condition because if they do not charge the speaker, it won’t store power, resulting in it not powering on.
Ensure the charging port and the charging equipment are in good condition. If they are damaged, the speaker will not charge and, as a consequence, you won’t be able to turn it on.
You can leave the speaker charging overnight. This will not ruin the speaker’s battery since it is equipped with a feature that stops charging once the battery is full and commences once the battery drops to a certain level.
If the speaker starts charging and powers on, observe it during the next charge cycle to determine whether the charging system is defective, thus affecting the speaker’s operation.
You can also use an alternative charger to check whether the current charger is the problem.
Is the Charge 3 in Service Mode?
JBL portable speakers have a Service Mode, sometimes called a ‘secret mode’, that prevents the speaker’s buttons from working.
That means the speaker will not power on even if you use the power button since the mode disables it.
When the speaker is in this mode, it will only power on when connected to a charger and not play audio through Bluetooth.
Pressing the Connect and Volume Up buttons for ten seconds gets the speaker in this mode, and this can happen when you randomly press different button combinations and accidentally activate the service mode.
Pressing the JBL Connect and VOL UP buttons activates the Service Mode.
When the Service Mode is activated, the speaker powers off and only powers on when connected to a power source.
A sign that the Charge 3 is in this mode is that the LEDs only light up when the speaker is connected to a charger.
You can get the speaker working regularly by following the steps below:
- Connect the Charge 3 speaker to a power source using the charging adapter.
- You should observe the power LED on the Charge 3 lighting up.
- Press the JBL Connect and Volume up buttons until the power LED on the speaker goes off.
- Then disconnect the speaker from the charger and power it on as usual.
- Consider trying this procedure a few more times if it does not work the first time.
Relocate the Speaker
The speaker location could also be why it will not turn on. The batteries on the Charge 3 speakers are sensitive when exposed to extreme temperatures (hot or cold), and they will not work until the temperature is in a normal range.
The operating temperature for the Charge 3 is between 0º and 35ºC, and if it is exceeded, the battery will temporarily stop working, assuming it has not already been damaged.
If the ambient temperature exceeds the recommended limits, your JBL Charge 3 may refuse to turn on.
Therefore, if you suspect the above limits have been exceeded, relocate the speaker to a different place and wait for the temperature to reach normal levels.
That is, move the speaker to a warmer place if the current location is too cold and to a cooler place if it is too hot.
Once the speaker’s temperature has stabilized, try powering it on to see if it works.
Try Factory Resetting the Charge 3
A factory reset solves various issues that could be affecting the JBL speaker, but it requires the speaker to be powered on.
Do not let that discourage you from attempting a reset when the speaker won’t power on, as it could be that it is on, and the issue is that the LEDs are off because of a system malfunction.
Follow the steps below to reset the speaker and check whether it starts working afterward.
- Go to the Bluetooth settings of all nearby devices the speaker has ever connected to and forget the Charge 3 from the list of paired devices.
- Then, connect the speaker to a power source using the charger that came with it.
- Try turning the speaker on; if the LED lights up, the reset has a better chance of working. Do not worry if there is no sign of life from the speaker; proceed with the reset procedure.
- Simultaneously press and hold the Play/Pause and Volume Up buttons for ten to fifteen seconds or until the speaker’s LED goes off if it is on.
Try pressing the VOL UP and PLAY buttons for 10-15 seconds to reset your Charge 3. Do this even if the speaker won’t turn on.
- Finally, press the power button and see if the speaker powers on this time.
- Try the reset process two or three more times if there is no change.
Remember, the goal is to get the speaker working, and we should be open to all available solutions since the problem could result from various aspects.
How to reset JBL Charge 3 – Step-by-Step Instructions
The Charge 3 Battery Could Be Damaged
If the Charge 3 has not powered on up to this point, the problem could be that the battery is damaged and should be replaced.
It could also be that an internal component on the speaker is defective and should be looked into.
If you believe the problem is the battery, you can get a replacement battery from various online vendors since JBL does not sell replacements.
Once you have the replacement, multiple online tutorials describe replacing the old battery.
To replace the battery, you need to remove the speaker’s jacket, detach the bass radiator (the hardest part), disconnect the battery, and open the battery compartment.
Alternatively, you can remove the battery and continue using the speaker while connected to a charger; however, that will change the speaker from being a portable product.
You should contact JBL before opening the speaker, removing parts, and placing new ones. Also, do not replace the battery if you don’t have any relevant experience. If you have doubts, get a technician to help you do it.
Replacing the JBL Charge 3 Battery (post-2016 models)
Replacing the JBL Charge 3 Battery (pre-2016 models)
Contact Support
Contacting customer support is your best bet, as they will diagnose the speaker conclusively and provide working solutions.
Support will validate your warranty if it is still active, greatly reducing your repair cost. However, weigh the option of using JBL’s support and going to a technician near your home to make an informed decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: What do you do if your JBL speaker doesn’t turn on?
- Answer:
- Ensure you are following the correct powering-on procedure.
- Check that the speaker has adequate power.
- Check if the speaker is in service mode.
- Check the charger and the speaker’s USB port.
- Question: Why is my JBL Charge 3 not turning on or charging?
- Answer:
- The charger could be damaged.
- The charger could be incompatible with your speaker.
- Your speaker’s battery or charging system could be damaged.
- The ambient temperature could be extreme, affecting the speaker’s operation.
- Question: How do I reset JBL Charge 3?
- Answer:
- Power on the speaker.
- Press and hold the Volume + and Play/Pause buttons until the speaker goes off.
- Press the power button to turn the speaker back on.
- Question: How do I turn on my JBL Charge 3?
- Answer: Press the power button located between the Volume Down and Connect buttons. The power LED should light solid white, and the speaker should play a tone indicating it is on.
Conclusion
Your JBL Charge 3 speaker will last long if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to care for and use the speaker. However, sometimes malfunctioning is inevitable, and that is where the above solutions come in handy.
Remember to follow the proper procedures when troubleshooting your malfunctioning speaker; this is also a way of taking care of your device.
