My JBL Xtreme 2 speaker has served me for approximately two years. I love the speaker because of its impeccable audio quality and features like Connect+, allowing me to connect it to other JBL speakers.
Recently, my daughter was fiddling with the speaker, and when I later tried turning it on, nothing would happen. The LEDs remained off, and I could not hear the power-up tone.
Resetting the speaker would not help, even though I had seen users experiencing the same problem claim it worked for them. After days of frustration, I finally found a working solution.
This article will help you get your JBL Xtreme 2 working again. Fortunately, I tried these solutions personally, so I know they work.
Key Takeaways
- Power on the JBL Xtreme 2 speaker by pressing and releasing the power button. The button is located between the Volume Down and the Connect+ buttons. When the speaker is powered on, the power button LED will light a solid white.
- Sometimes, the speaker might not power on because the battery is completely drained. In these cases, connect the speaker to a charger and give it time to charge. Try powering on the speaker after an hour or two.
- An issue with the charging system or the battery will also stop the speaker from turning on since it cannot store power in the battery.
- The speaker will likely not turn on when exposed to extreme temperatures since they affect the battery’s operation.
- The JBL Xtreme 2 speaker can also go into service mode, where it will only power on when connected to a charger. You can exit this mode by pressing the Connect+ and Volume up buttons while the speaker is connected to power.
- Other users have reported that pressing some button combinations on the speaker gets it to turn on.
- Do not attempt to open and fix the speaker, as this will void the warranty. Contact JBL instead.
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What to Do If My JBL Xtreme 2 Won’t Turn On
JBL Xtreme 2 will rarely refuse to turn on when you press the power button. However, sometimes that happens, and it can be frustrating.
Here are solutions you should try to get the speaker working as it should.
Ensure You Are Turning On the Speaker Correctly
Many issues could be wrong when troubleshooting irritating problems like the speaker not turning on. It is practical to start with the basic troubleshooting solutions as you advance to the complex ones.
In the case of the Xtreme 2 not turning on, start by ensuring you are pressing the correct button.
The power button is located between the Volume Down and the Connect+ button. It is labeled with a circle that has a line within it.
JBL Xtreme 2 Power Button
Power on the speaker by pressing and releasing this button, and if the speaker works as it should, the LED on the power button will light up solid white, and the speaker will play a power-up tone.
Sometimes, you may have to press the power button repeatedly to get it to power on. Note that this temporary solution indicates that the power button is faulty. If you do not get it repaired, the speaker will stop turning on after a while.
Give the Speaker Time to Charge
Another reason the speaker is not turning on is a drained battery. The speaker will eventually shut down when you use it for long and ignore the low battery indications.
This means the battery is drained and cannot support the speaker, and sometimes, this can affect functions like the speaker turning on.
Use the appropriate charger and leave the speaker charging for an hour or two. If the speaker still will not turn on, extend that period to twenty-four hours.
Use the appropriate charger and leave the speaker charging for an hour or two. If the speaker still will not turn on, extend that period to twenty-four hours.
The JBL Xtreme 2 uses a 19V-20V 3.42A rated charger with a connector size of 5.5mm×2.5mm.
You can also use an alternative charger with the same rating and a different power source to rule out the possibility of a defective charging system.
You can tell the speaker is charging by observing the LEDs below the JBL logo since they will start blinking in succession once you plug in the charger.
If the LEDs do not light up, you can touch the charging adapter and the area around the charging port on the speaker. If they feel warm, it means the speaker is taking in power.
There are five battery/charging LED indicators at the bottom of the front panel, below the JBL logo.
Charging JBL Xtreme 2 Explained
Disable Service Mode
Some JBL speakers have a ‘service mode’ or ‘secret mode’ that stops some buttons from working. When the speaker is in this mode, the buttons do not work except those used to get out of it.
The speaker will also only power on once it is connected to a power source. Audio will only play via the 3.5mm auxiliary cable, not Bluetooth.
This was what needed to be fixed with my speaker.
The Xtreme 2 gets into this mode when the Connect+ and Volume Up buttons are pressed simultaneously for ten seconds while the speaker is turned on.
The speaker will power off and only turn on when plugged into a charger.
You may have accidentally pressed this combination of buttons and enabled service mode. This is highly likely since the buttons used to enable this feature are close to each other.
You can get out of this mode by:
- First, connect the speaker to power using the charging adapter. The power LED on the speaker will light up.
- Then, press and hold the Connect+ and Volume Up buttons for ten seconds or until the LED powers off.
While the speaker is connected to a charger, press the CONNECT+ and VOL UP buttons simultaneously.
- You can now unplug the speaker, press the power button to turn it on, and continue using it.
Repeat this process two to three times if it does not work the first time.
How to Exit the Service Mode on JBL Xtreme 2?
Check the Speaker’s Temperature
Extreme temperatures affect how any device’s battery functions. The speaker will likely not turn on when it is too cold or hot. You must wait until the temperature stabilizes, assuming the battery is not damaged.
So, if you suspect temperature could be the issue, relocate the speaker and give it time to stabilize. The ideal operating temperature range for the speaker is 0º and 35ºC (32º to 95ºF), so ensure the speaker is in an environment with this range.
If the temperatures are higher or lower than optimal, your JBL Xtreme 2 may refuse to turn on.
If it is too hot, relocate the speaker to a cooler environment and give it time to cool down. And remember, do not put it in the fridge to hasten the cooling process.
If it is too cold, move the speaker to a warmer place and give it time for its temperatures to rise. Do not use a blow dryer or microwave to heat the speaker, as these will cause more damage.
Power on the speaker and see if it works. Connect it to a charger if it does not work, and power it on again.
Attempt a Factory Reset
System bugs can cause devices to behave abnormally. The bugs present themselves with problems like the speaker not turning on or charging.
A factory reset is one way to sort out such issues; however, the speaker needs to be on for the JBL Xtreme 2 to reset.
This poses a problem because our issue is that the speaker is not turned on.
But do not let that hold you back; you should still try the factory reset procedure, as it might help get the speaker powered on.
Follow the steps below to reset the JBL Xtreme 2:
- Forget the speaker from the Bluetooth settings of devices it previously connected to.
Forget JBL Xtreme 2. If you skip this step, you may experience issues connecting when you turn it back on.
- Connect it to a working charger since it will not turn on.
- Then press the power button and check if its LED lights up. It is a good sign if the LED lights up, and the reset will likely go through.
- Continue with the procedure even if the LED remains off.
- Next, press and hold the Play/Pause and Volume Up buttons for five to ten seconds.
Pressing the VOL UP and PLAY buttons for 5-10 seconds should reset your JBL Xtreme 2.
- The speaker should power off under normal circumstances, but in our case, check for any change in the behavior of the power LED.
- If the LED flickers, you are on the right path. If there is no change in the LED, restart the procedure or proceed to check the next troubleshooting solution.
- Press the power button and check whether the speaker powers on.
The Battery Could Be Faulty
If the speaker still misbehaves, the issue could be a worn-out battery. The battery should be replaced when this is the case.
However, JBL states that the Xtreme 2 battery is not replaceable and does not sell replacements.
The reason is that if you attempt to change the battery, you will void the warranty. However, if the warranty expires, they acknowledge you can replace it at a nearby service center.
The speaker can continue working even when the battery is damaged, provided you connect it to a power source. Therefore, you can remove the battery, connect the speaker to a power source and continue using it, but this would make the speaker stationary instead of a mobile.
You should contact JBL before you DIY the battery replacement to avoid breaking the warranty terms.
Only replace the battery on your own if you have the basic technical knowledge to do it to avoid causing further damage.
The original battery inside JBL Xtreme 2 – Look for the battery with the same power ratings and capacity.
JBL Xtreme 2 – Battery Replacement
Contact JBL’s Customer Support
Other components in the speaker, apart from the battery, could also be damaged, preventing it from turning on. It is difficult to determine which component is damaged in such cases, so you should take the speaker to a technician.
However, using third-party technicians to repair the speaker will void the warranty, so the best option is to contact JBL and notify them of your issue and the solutions you have already tried.
JBL will likely offer a new unit if the damage caused to your current one falls under the warranty terms. Alternatively, they might ask you to send them the defective unit and then offer you a new one at a discount.
Consider the cost of their suggestions and compare it to the price and ease of getting a new, better JBL speaker before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: What to do if your JBL Xtreme 2 won’t turn on?
- Answer: Various issues could be causing the speaker not to turn on. Here are the causes and solutions:
- The battery could be drained, so connect it to the charger and leave it charging for two to three hours. Also, check that the charger, charging port, and power outlet are in good condition.
- The speaker could be in service mode, which makes it unresponsive unless connected to the charger. Connect the speaker to the charger and press the Connect+ and Volume up buttons simultaneously until the speaker powers off. Then press the power button to turn it on.
- High or low temperatures will also stop the speaker from turning on and charging. So, relocate the speaker and try again.
- Question: Can you overcharge JBL Xtreme 2?
- Answer: There is no issue if you leave the speaker charging for extended periods since the speaker is designed to stop charging immediately after the battery is full.
- However, disconnect it from the charger whenever possible.
- Question: How do I reset a JBL Xtreme 2?
- Answer: Reset the speaker by following these steps:
- Forget the speaker from all devices it has been connected to.
- Press the power button to turn it on.
- Press and hold the Play/Pause and Volume up buttons until the speaker powers off.
- The speaker has been reset, and you can power it back on.
Conclusion
JBL speakers last relatively long, but some units are defective and can randomly stop working. That is why there is a warranty, and you should always get your speaker from certified sellers and avoid purchasing second-hand units.
Always take care of your speaker to prevent easily avoidable damage. This includes respecting the speaker’s IP rating and always covering the ports firmly whenever the speaker is not in use.
