Not all portable speakers can deliver up to twelve hours of uninterrupted top-notch audio. That is why I love my JBL Flip 4 speaker, which is a couple of months old. Apart from the 3,000 mAh battery, the speaker also has a built-in noise cancellation feature that improves audio quality when you are on phone calls.
Although the speaker has some commendable features, it also has its drawbacks. The most recent that I encountered is the speaker not turning on despite being fully charged.
The speaker would not turn on despite me trying multiple troubleshooting measures. I finally found a working solution and would love to share it with other Flip 4 users.
In this article, you will find all the solutions to get that Flip 4 speaker working and ease the urge to toss it away because it will not turn on.
Key Takeaways
- The power button of the JBL Flip 4 is next to the battery LEDs and the Connect+ button.
- When pressed, the power button lights white to show the speaker has powered on.
- The speaker might refuse to power on for multiple reasons, including a defective power button.
- The issue could also be that the speaker’s battery is drained, and it needs time to recharge.
- JBL speakers also have a service/demo/secret mode that disables the power button, and the speaker will only power on when connected to a charger. That is usually the main reason the speaker won’t turn on.
- Extreme temperatures can also affect the speaker, causing it not to turn on. You can solve this by relocating the speaker.
- You can also try factory resetting the speaker and see if the rest works and the speaker powers on.
- If the proposed solutions do not work, the Flip 4 may be damaged.
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Why Won’t My Flip 4 Turn On?
There are various reasons why the Flip 4 won’t turn on. They include:
- The power button could be the problem.
- The speaker’s battery is overly discharged, prompting the speaker to require more charging time before it powers on.
- The speaker’s charging system could also prevent it from taking up power, which is necessary for the speaker to turn on.
- Another issue could be that the speaker is in demo mode, a feature that prevents buttons on the speaker from working. When the speaker is in this mode, only the buttons to get out of the mode work.
- The Flip 4 battery is sensitive to extreme temperatures, hot or cold, and this can result in the speaker not powering on.
- The speaker’s battery or the speaker itself could be damaged.
JBL Flip 4 Not Turning On – Common Causes
What to Do
Here is what you can do to get your JBL Flip 4 working again:
Check the Power Button
Whenever your Flip 4 or any other electronic device does not power on, the power button should be checked first.
If the power button is stuck or has dirt, it may not work as expected. So, before you proceed, observe the power button on your Flip 4 and check for any damage or dirt and debris since these are the common aspects that can stop it from working.
The power button is next to the speaker’s battery LED and the Connect+ buttons.
Flip 4 – POWER BUTTON
On normal occasions, pressing this button powers on the speaker, and you should hear a power-on tone. The LED in the power button should turn white and then flash to blue to show that the Flip 4 is in pairing mode.
Should you notice that the power button is defective, do not attempt to fix it, especially if you do not know about fixing electronic gadgets. If you attempt to fix it, you might damage the speaker further and void the warranty if the speaker is still covered.
Instead, find a JBL service center near you or a credible technician and tell them the speaker’s power button is defective.
If you recently purchased the speaker, contact JBL or the seller to inquire if they can replace the defective unit.
In extreme circumstances, you can follow online tutorials on taking the Flip 4 apart and try to fix the power button independently.
If your speaker is not under warranty, you could try to open it, get to the POWER board, and check the power button. You could try cleaning the power button with isopropyl alcohol, detaching and reattaching the flex cable that connects the power board to the PCB, or replacing the entire power board if you notice that the POWER button or some other part is damaged.
JBL Flip 4 – How to Disassemble the Speaker and Get to the POWER Button (Flex Cable Fix)
Exit Demo Mode
The most common reason why most JBL speakers, not only the Flip 4, stop turning on is because they go into a service/weird/demo/secret mode.
When the speaker is in this mode, it will not power on unless you connect it to a charger, and it does not even require you to press the power button to turn it on. The speaker powers on itself when you connect it to an external power source.
Also, the buttons on the speaker will not work except those used to get out of the service mode. Additionally, pressing the power button does not switch off the speaker when it is on; instead, you must disconnect it from the charger, making it seem like the power button is defective.
Another issue with the service mode is that the speaker will not connect to Bluetooth devices and will only play audio when a device is connected through the aux port.
You could have accidentally enabled service mode when the speaker was on, and you pressed the Connect+ and Volume Up buttons for ten or more seconds until it powered off.
Fortunately, getting out of service mode is also easy; you only have to connect the speaker to a working external power source to turn it on.
Then press and hold the Volume up and Connect+ buttons for ten seconds until the speaker powers off.
Press the VOL UP and Connect+ buttons simultaneously while the speaker is connected to a power source to exit the service mode.
From here, you can easily power the speaker on by following the standard procedure of pressing the power button.
The Connect+ button is located between the battery LEDs and the rubber covering of the charging port, while the Volume up button is the plus button.
Connect the Flip 4 to a Charger
If the speaker is not in service mode and the power button is working as usual, but the speaker will still not power on, the issue could be that the battery does not have power.
If the battery is overly discharged, the speaker will refuse to turn on. It may not even have enough power to indicate that the battery is empty.
You can remedy this by connecting the speaker to a power source with a quality USB cable and observing the battery LEDs between the power and Connect+ buttons.
Charging the speaker will solve the issue with an overly discharged battery. Even if the LEDs don’t turn on immediately when you connect the charger, leave it charging for some time.
When the speaker is connected to a charger and is taking in power, you should see these LEDs flashing successively to show it is charging. Each LED represents a twenty percent battery charge, so if one LED is solid white and the others are flashing, the battery percentage is below twenty.
Observe the battery LEDs between the POWER and CONNECT+ buttons. They will tell you your speaker’s charging/battery status.
It might take a while before the speaker starts charging, mainly if the speaker has stayed without being charged.
Therefore, connect it to a power source, preferably using the USB cable it came with, and leave it connected for a maximum of two hours to check if it powers up.
If the speaker is still not powering up, check the USB cable and charging port to ensure they are in good condition. The port and charger should be clean and dry without any damage for them to work.
Check the charging cable for dirt and damage. If the charging cable is damaged, use a different cable. If the port is dirty, try cleaning it. If the port is damaged or corroded, you may have to replace it or replace the entire charging board.
You can also use a different cable and power source to see whether that gets the speaker to charge and consecutively turn on.
If these tips and tricks do not work, connect the speaker to a charger, leave it for twelve hours or more, and check for any changes. That has worked for some users and could work for you too.
Leaving the speaker charging overnight will not damage the Flip 4’s battery since the battery has a management system that stops charging once the battery is full and resumes when the battery drops to a certain level.
Also, note that some users have gotten their speakers to work by leaving them idle for months and then using them. The method can be time-consuming but worth the try if you want your Flip 4 to start working.
Check the Speaker’s Temperature
The battery in the Flip 4 is sensitive to extreme temperature changes, which can affect how the speaker works.
The ideal temperature operation range of the battery in Flip 4 is between 0º and 35ºC; if this limit is exceeded, the battery will stop functioning until the temperature stabilizes.
If the temperature limits are exceeded, the speaker may misbehave. It may even refuse to turn on.
You can check if this is your situation by observing whether the Flip 4 is in an extremely hot or cold place. If this is the case, move the speaker to a place with the ideal temperature range, then give it time to stabilize.
Do not use artificial means like a fridge or a heater to cool or warm the speaker since this will damage the speaker.
Once the speaker’s temperature has stabilized, you can try powering it on, and if it does not work, connect it to a charger and try again.
If the speaker does not work and you feel it is because it was exposed to extreme temperature, the speaker could be damaged, and you should contact JBL.
Attempt a Factory Reset of the Flip 4
You should note that for the speaker to reset successfully, it needs to be powered on, but this is the problem you are currently facing. Do not let that discourage you; follow the reset procedure and see if the Flip 4 turns on.
Sometimes, although rarely, the speaker is on, but the LEDs are not working due to a system bug or damage to the speaker. Additionally, the speaker could be unresponsive because of a system bug but can pick some commands, like the factory reset command.
You can factor reset the Flip 4 using the following steps:
- Ensure the speaker is turned on, but this is impossible in our case, so you can skip this step.
- Press and hold the Volume Up and the Play buttons until the speaker powers off. This will take approximately ten seconds.
Holding the PLAY and VOL UP buttons until the speaker turns off will reset your Flip 4 to factory default settings.
- While the speaker is off, go to the Bluetooth setting of all the devices it has connected to before and forget the Flip 4.
- Press the power button to power on the speaker, and if the reset is successful, it should go into pairing mode after powering on.
How to Factory Reset the JBL Flip 4
Try Different Button Combinations
At this point, you may have noticed that your speaker’s issue is more complicated than expected, but there is still hope.
Several other JBL users have experienced their speakers not turning on, and they have been sharing what has worked for them on different social platforms.
These solutions involve pressing different button combinations or the same button multiple times.
Although some of these methods were prescribed for other Flip models, they might work for the Flip 4, and it will not hurt to try.
One solution is to press the power button repeatedly eight times, then hold it for thirty seconds on the ninth time. Then, hold the power button for ten seconds to see if the speaker turns on.
If that does not work, press the power button five consecutive times and hold it the fifth time for ten seconds.
Another solution is to press all the speaker’s six buttons, then press the power button, and the speaker powers on.
Remember that these solutions do not work for all users but work for some, and that is all that matters. Be ready to experiment to save time and money by contacting JBL support before it is necessary.
Battery Could be the Problem
Should the speaker not power on up to this point, it might indicate the speaker’s battery has a problem.
This can result from physical damage or normal wear and tear, but you can only determine it by opening up the speaker.
If you suspect this is the case, you can replace the battery, but that is not recommended since you risk causing further damage, such as removing the speaker’s waterproof seal.
Instead, you should contact JBL or a qualified technician and have them help you.
Replacing the battery on your Flip 4 is not too complicated, but it will take some time. Removing some parts and pulling out the battery requires lots of patience.
If you want to replace it yourself, you can get a replacement battery from various online vendors, but read the reviews to gauge their credibility and their product’s quality.
Look for a battery with the same power ratings.
JBL Flip 4 – How to Replace the Battery
Contact JBL’s Support
If the speaker still hasn’t turned on and the issue persists, it could be more advanced than anticipated. Therefore, you should contact JBL, inform them of the troubleshooting you have already conducted, and ask if they have further suggestions.
They will also help you check if the speaker is still under warranty and if you can get a replacement.
In the meantime, you can post your problem on social media platforms like Reddit or go through older posts describing the same problem and check if you can find more solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How do you fix a JBL Flip 4 that won’t turn on?
- Answer: You can do the following to get the speaker to turn on:
- Check that the power button is in good condition
- Connect the speaker to a charger, then press and hold the Connect+ and Volume + buttons to get the speaker out of service/weird mode.
- Leave the speaker charging for two to three hours
- Use a different power source and charger to charge the speaker
- Question: Why isn’t my JBL Flip 4 speaker charging?
- Answer: The Flip 4 can stop charging because of the following reasons:
- The charger or power source is defective.
- The speaker’s charging port is defective, dirty, or wet.
- The battery could also be damaged.
- Question: How do I factory reset my Flip 4?
- Answer: You can reset the Flip 4 by following these steps:
- Power on the speaker.
- Hold the Play and Volume + buttons simultaneously until the speaker powers off.
- Then forget the Flip 4 from devices it has previously connected to.
- Press the power button to power the speaker on, and the reset is complete.
Conclusion
The Flip 4 is a great speaker that can be a trusted companion when you need better audio quality. Unfortunately, it is also prone to malfunction sometimes, which can be a great deal breaker for many users.
The common issue is the speaker not turning on, which is usually easily solved by getting the speaker out of demo mode alongside the other troubleshooting measures discussed above.
