I know the glow you had on your face when you received your premium pair of JBL earbuds. It was legendary. Wasn’t it? After all, JBL is a household name as far as earphones and headsets are concerned. The company produces high-end earbuds with quality sound and incredible battery life.
When I don my JBL earbuds, I don’t worry about background noises thanks to their adaptive noise-canceling features. I can enjoy my favorite tunes anywhere I go, including public spaces. However, since they are wireless, you must charge your earbuds regularly when they run out of power.
My earbuds haven’t had any issues until when they shockingly declined to charge about six months after purchasing them. I’m sure you’ve also experienced the same at some point. Fortunately, I have some tips for those with JBL earbuds not charging problems.
Here’s what you can do to fix the issue.
Key Takeaways
- If you’re stuck with JBL earbuds not charging, align them in their corresponding slots in the charging case. Improper placement or misalignment can cause your earbuds not to charge.
- Using a defective or incompatible charging cable can cause your earbuds not to charge. The charging case draws power from an external source and might not charge your earbuds if the cable is defective.
- A dirty charging case or unclean earbuds can cause charging issues. Clean the charging case and earbuds regularly to avoid charging problems.
- If your JBL earbuds are not charging, their batteries might be over-discharged or dead. Charge the earbuds overnight to see if this resolves the problem.
- JBL earbuds not charging issues can result from hardware failure. Check to ensure your earbuds are not damaged.
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Why Are My JBL Earbuds Not Charging?
JBL earbuds not charging is not an isolated problem. It is almost inevitable to deal with charging problems in wireless earpieces.
Fortunately, there are many ways to fix these issues. Understanding the root causes can help you troubleshoot the problem swiftly without breaking a sweat.
Here are the top reasons your JBL earbuds might not be charging and how to fix them:
Improper Placement (Misalignment)
Your JBL earbuds might not charge because of improper placement in their charging case. When you first bought your JBL earbuds, they came in a sleek-looking case.
If you’ve never had earbuds, perhaps you were wondering about this case. Well, that case right there is the charging case. Sorry to say, but your earbuds are nothing without it. The charging case protects your earbuds and keeps them charged.
Each earbud has a corresponding slot in the charging case. Any misalignment can cause charging issues. The earbuds must align with the charging contacts or pins in the case to recharge.
Earbuds must align with the charging contacts or pins. Otherwise, the earbuds won’t charge. You will usually find R/L markings on the earbuds and on the case.
Defective or Incompatible USB Cable
JBL earbuds might not charge because of a defective or incompatible USB cable. Your JBL earbuds package probably included a USB Type-C charging cable. The purpose of this cable is to recharge the charging case. After all, it has a separate battery that also requires frequent charging.
Make sure that you are using a compatible charging cable and a charger. Also, do not use damaged cables/chargers to charge your earbuds and case.
Like all USB charging cables, your charging case cable is vulnerable to damage. It can wear down over time for different reasons. If the charging cable is worn-out, the charging case won’t have sufficient power to recharge your earbuds, leading to charging issues.
The most practical way to solve this problem is to replace the charging cable. Try a different cable to determine if the supplied one has issues.
How to Charge JBL Earbuds
Low Battery on Charging Case
If you’re stuck with JBL earbuds not charging, check the battery level of the charging case. The JBL charging case has a separate battery that requires frequent charging. If the battery is critically low, your earbuds won’t charge.
Fixing this problem is straightforward. Charge the charging case with the supplied USB cable by connecting it to your computer or external power outlet. The good news is that you can charge the charging case and the earbuds simultaneously. Place the earbuds in their corresponding slots and connect the USB charger to the charging case to recharge your earbuds.
If the charging case’s battery is low, the earbuds won’t charge (image credit – JBL TUNE120TWS user manual)
Inadequate Power Supply
Sometimes your JBL earbuds might not charge because of low current. Your earbuds have specific power requirements for optimal charging performance. Connecting the charging case to your computer’s USB port might not cut it since a PC only supplies 0.5A of current, while JBL earbuds require 1-1.5A of current.
Always check the user manual for recommended power supply specs (image credit – JBL TUNE120TWS user manual)
When you plug your charging case into your PC, and your earbuds won’t charge, consider switching to an external power outlet. After all, charging from a socket is faster than a computer. However, you may require an ac adapter to connect the USB cable to a wall outlet and the charging case.
Battery Failure
Your JBL earbuds might fail to charge because of battery failure. Your earbuds have rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries that can hold a charge for a given period. If you stored your earbuds for a while and haven’t used the earbuds, the batteries might be over-discharged. Fortunately, you can solve this issue by charging your earbuds overnight. Place them in their charging case and leave them to recharge for over 8 hours to fix the problem.
If the earbuds haven’t been used for some time, the battery may be over-discharged. Charge them for at least 8 hours and see if this fixes the issue.
If charging overnight doesn’t help, the batteries might be dead. Regrettably, wireless earbuds use non-replaceable batteries, meaning you may have to buy new earbuds.
Dirty Charging Case or Earbuds
The earbuds and charging case might be dirty, causing the charging contacts not to establish a connection.
If the charging contacts on the earbuds or the case are not clean, the earbuds may refuse to charge.
The earbuds must sit on the metal pins in the charging case to receive the appropriate current. For this reason, JBL recommends cleaning the charging case and earbuds every few weeks to avoid charging issues.
Cleaning the Charging Contacts on JBL Earbuds
Clean the charging pins with a dry, soft cotton swab and remove wax or dirt from the ear tips to ensure optimal charging performance. Do not use aerosols or liquids to clean your earbuds, as these agents can damage your premium earbuds. Ensure the charging case is dry and clean before inserting the earbuds.
JBL Earbuds Not Charging – WD40 Fix
Software Glitches
JBL earbuds employ the latest wireless technology for the best audio performance. However, modern technology is still vulnerable to bugs and glitches. Your JBL earbuds might fail to charge because of these anomalies. Fortunately, a factory reset can help restore your earbuds to standard functionality. It will erase custom configurations and firmware updates that might cause your earbuds not to charge.
Resetting your JBL earbuds could restore them to normal operation and fix the charging issue.
Here are the steps to reset your JBL earbuds:
- Open the charging case lid.
- Remove the earbuds from the case.
- Double-tap the touch sensors and press and hold with the third tap for 5 seconds.
- The LED indicators will flash blue twice on both earbuds.
- Release the touch sensors when the earbuds go off.
- Return the earbuds to the charging case and close the lid.
- Wait for a few seconds before opening the lid.
- Remove the earbuds from the charging case to turn them on.
Extreme Temperatures
Exposing your earbuds and charging case to extreme temperatures can cause your earbuds not to recharge. Although most JBL earbuds are waterproof and durable, they are vulnerable when exposed to too high or too low temperatures.
Don’t expose your JBL earbuds to too high or too low temperatures. This could cause charging issues (among other things).
If you want your JBL earbuds and charging case to serve you for a long time, place them in a cool, dry place away from extreme conditions. Fluctuating temperatures can damage your earbuds and charging case. The ideal ambient temperature should not be lower than 59°F or higher than 95°F.
Hardware Issues
Hardware failure can cause your JBL earbuds not to charge. As much as JBL earbuds are tiny, they have numerous components that facilitate their functionality. If one component malfunctions, the entire earbud will fail to charge or even work.
The charging case can also malfunction because of hardware issues, causing your earbuds not to charge. Since it can be hard to tell if the earbuds or charging case is defective, the only viable solution is to contact JBL support for further assistance. If your earbuds are still under warranty, you can take them to a JBL service center for repairs or replacements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: Why are my JBL earbuds flashing red while charging?
- Answer: JBL earbuds and charging case have LED indicators that display the current battery status. If the indicator blinks red, the battery level is critically low. If the earbuds keep flashing red while charging, their rechargeable batteries are dead or extremely low. You can try recharging the earbuds overnight and see if that fixes your issues.
- Question: Why are my JBL earbuds not charging?
- Answer: Your JBL earbuds might not charge for several reasons. You may have incorrectly placed the earbuds in their charging case slots, missing the charging contacts. The earbuds and charging case might be dirty, causing the charging contacts not to establish a connection. Sometimes, battery failure can cause your earbuds not to charge appropriately. Hardware problems can also cause your JBL earbuds to malfunction.
- Question: Can I charge JBL earbuds without a case?
- Answer: No. There’s no way you can charge JBL earbuds without a charging case. The earbuds are so tiny and do not have a separate charging port. You must insert them in the charging case to recharge them. If your charging case is defective or has a low battery level, the only solution is to replace it or charge the charging case with the supplied charging equipment.
- Question: How do I fix JBL earbuds that won’t charge?
- Answer: The first step to fixing JBL earbuds that won’t charge is to check their placement in the charging case. The charging case and earbuds have metal contacts that must align for the earbuds to charge. The earbuds must sit on the metal pins in the charging case to receive the appropriate current. Also, ensure the charging case and earbuds are clean to avoid charging issues. You can also try to reset the earbuds to see if it can help resolve the issue.
- Question: How do I know if my JBL earbuds are charging?
- Answer: Knowing if your JBL earbuds are charging is easy. The charging case has a LED indicator that displays the current battery level and charging status. Depending on the model, the indicator lights should blink during charging and stop flashing when the earbuds are 100% charged.
Conclusion
I know dealing with JBL earbuds that won’t charge can be frustrating, considering the amount of cash you had to part with. I’ve been through that very same experience.
However, you must know that even premium earbuds are not flawless. Fortunately, you don’t have to fret if your earbuds won’t charge. Follow the above tips to fix the problem and continue enjoying your earbuds as when they were new.
