Let me guess. Your JLab earbuds are not charging. So, you’ve just encountered your first problem with your JLab earbuds and now feel like yelling from the rooftops. Guess what? You are not alone. Thousands of JLab earbud owners, myself included, often experience this same issue.
JLab earbuds are arguably the best budget earbuds on the market. However, as with all other budget wireless earbuds, they have their fair share of issues. Your JLab earbuds might unexpectedly stop charging, leaving you frustrated. Fortunately, I’ve been with my earbuds long enough to know how to troubleshoot them.
This guide explains how to fix JLab earbuds that won’t charge. Follow along as I address why your earbuds are not charging and how to fix them.
Key Takeaways
- JLab earbuds might not charge because of a loose connection. The earbuds must align with the metal pins or connectors in the charging case to recharge appropriately.
- Over-discharged batteries can cause your JLab earbuds not to charge. Leave the earbuds to charge overnight or for an extended period to see if this resolves the problem.
- JLab earbuds might not charge because of outdated firmware. Check for and install the latest updates to fix charging issues.
- Custom configurations can cause your JLab earbuds to malfunction and stop charging. Resetting the earbuds to factory defaults can help resolve the problem.
- Your JLab earbuds might not charge because of hardware issues. Since the earbuds don’t have user-serviceable parts, consult JLab support for further assistance.
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Why Are My JLab Earbuds Not Charging?
As with any other earbuds, your JLab earbuds might malfunction and fail to charge. Knowing the cause behind this issue can help you solve the problem quickly. The following reasons explain why your JLab earbuds are not charging and how to fix them.
Loose Connection
Your JLab earbuds come with a charging case used to keep the earbuds safe and charged. The case has two slots, one for each earbud. Each slot has tiny metal pins or contacts that supply power to the earbuds when charging.
The only way to recharge your earbuds is through the charging case. You must align the earbuds with the corresponding slot and ensure they sit appropriately in the available space, touching the metal pins. Any loose connection or improper placement will cause your earbuds not to charge as required.
Each earbud must be placed in its corresponding slot. Also, make sure the charging contacts on the earbuds are touching the metal charging pins.
Faulty Charging Cable
If the charging cable has issues, your JLab earbuds won’t charge due to a lack of power. To solve this problem, inspect your charging cable and adapter for possible malfunctions. You can try a different USB cable to determine if the first one has a problem. Ensure the ac adapter has the correct rating to meet your charging case power requirements.
If you have one of those JLab earbuds with an undetachable charging cable, dealing with a damaged cable will be trickier. You will either have to open the case, remove the cable, and then solder a new one or buy a replacement charging case.
If the charging cable on your JLab charging case is not detachable, using a replacement cable to charge them will be a problem. Your best option, if the charging cable is damaged, will be to buy a new case.
Over-Discharged Batteries
This mostly happens if you do not use your batteries for a while. To solve this issue, simply insert the drained earbuds into their corresponding slots in the JLab charging dock and leave them to recharge for at least eight hours.
If you don’t use the earbuds for a while, the batteries inside them could over-discharge. Leave them charging for at least 8 hours, and see if that fixes the problem.
If the batteries inside the earbuds are over-discharged, you could also try to kick-start them by using a AA 1.5V battery and two copper wires. Watch the video below for instructions.
How to Kick-Start the Battery Inside a JLab Earbud?
Outdated Firmware
Most JLab earbuds do not require firmware updates. However, the Jbuds Air Pro, Epic Air Sport ANC, Jbuds Air ANC, and Epic Air ANC need frequent software updates to fix bugs and correct minor issues. Failure to update your earbuds’ firmware can cause problems with pairing, sound, and charging.
Check for and install the latest updates to fix charging issues in your JLab earbuds. Since JLab earbuds do not use one universal app for all models, you may have to refer to your user manual to determine the appropriate app for your earbuds. For instance, the JLab Jbuds Air Pro uses the JLab Sound app, while the Epic Air Sport, Epic Air ANC, and Jbuds Air ANC work with the JLab Air ANC app.
Follow these steps to update your JLab earbuds:
- Download and install the JLab app on your smartphone.
- Pair your earbuds with your mobile device.
- Launch the app on your phone.
- Go to My Devices.
- Select your JLab earbuds.
- Go to Updates.
- The app will notify you when a new update is available.
Once you open the app, go to the Updates section and check for updates. If there are no available updates, you will see a message “Your earbuds are up to date”.
- Tap the software update and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.
Dirty Charging Case or Earbuds
Your JLab earbuds might stop charging correctly because of dirt, gunk, or wax buildup in the earbuds and charging case. Cleaning both earbuds and the charging case can fix charging issues.
You can use a toothpick or pin to gently remove dirt and wax from the ear tips and prevent future buildup. While cleaning the charging case, focus on the metal pins that supply current to the earbuds during charging.
Cleaning Wireless Earbuds – Detailed Instructions
Although JLab earbuds are budget earbuds, some of them are waterproof or water-resistant. You can wash the ear tips separately under running water and leave them to dry naturally.
Damaged Charging Case
The charging case is an integral component that you can’t do without. Its primary role is to keep your earbuds charged while protecting them from external elements. If the charging dock is defective, your JLab earbuds won’t charge.
Unfortunately, your JLab charging case has no user-serviceable parts. Even if the issue is repairable, you may spend more on repairs than buying a new one. The only practical solution is to replace the damaged charging case. Visit the JLab website to purchase a genuine replacement dock for your JLab earbuds.
Only for Serious DIYers – How to Charge JLab Earbuds Without the Charging Case
Bugs and Glitches
JLab earbuds are popular because they are affordable and customizable. They allow you to configure audio settings to your preferences. However, personalized settings can sometimes lead to technical glitches, causing your earbuds not to charge.
Since it is hard to tell what setting is causing the problem, the only solution is to reset your earbuds to factory defaults.
Follow these steps to reset your JLab earbuds:
- Unpair (forget) your earbuds from connected devices.
Unpair and forget your earbuds before resetting them.
- Insert the earbuds into their charging case.
- While in the charging case, quickly tap the touch sensor on the left earbud seven times (or 4 times, depending on the model).
- The LED on the earbud will flash blue four times and then turn off.
While both buds are inside the case, tap one bud four or seven times (depending on the model) and you should see the LED flashing blue four times. Do the same with the other earbud. This will reset your JLab buds.
- Repeat step 3 with the other earbud.
- Take both earbuds out of the charging case.
- Thereafter, wait for one earbud to blink blue and white and the other to turn solid white.
When you take the earbuds out (after resetting), one earbud will start blinking blue/white and the other will be solid white, indicating they are in pairing mode.
Damaged Earbuds
Your JLab earbuds might not charge because of hardware issues. After all, the earbuds have delicate components that might wear down with time. Since the earbuds don’t have user-serviceable parts, consult JLab support for further assistance.
If they are still under warranty, you may receive a new pair of earbuds without paying a dime. However, the issue must emanate from manufacturing defects for a free replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: Why won’t my JLab earbuds charge?
- Answer: Your JLab earbuds might not charge because of a loose connection. The earbuds must align with the metal pins or connectors in the charging case to recharge appropriately. They might also fail to charge because dirt and wax block the connection between the earbuds and the charging case. Battery failure can also cause your JLab earbuds not to charge.
- Question: Will JLab earbuds charge while the case is charging?
- Answer: Yes. You can charge your JLab earbuds while the case is charging. The charging case recharges using an external cable connected to a power outlet or USB port while the earbuds charge in the charging case. Insert the earbuds into the charging case and plug the case into an ac adapter to charge them both simultaneously.
- Question: What do I do if my JLab earbuds won’t charge?
- Answer: The first step to fixing JLab earbuds that won’t charge is to check the connection between the earbuds and the metal pins in the charging case. The earbuds must correctly align with the connectors in the charging case to charge. Remove any debris blocking the charging port to ensure no loose connections. Next, check that the charging case has adequate charge and that the charging cable is not damaged. If the earbuds are still not charging, reset them to factory defaults.
- Question: How do I know if JLab earbuds are charging?
- Answer: The JLab charging case has an LED indicator that displays its current battery level and charge status. You will know that your earbuds are charging by checking the LED indicator on the charging case. When you insert the earbuds into the charging case and close the lid, the LED indicator will blink white (or red) while charging. The LED indicator light will turn solid white when the earbuds are 100% charged. When charging in a charging dock, the JLab earbuds pulse blue, and the LEDs turn off when fully charged.
- Question: How to reset JLab Earbuds so they can charge?
- Answer: Resetting your JLab earbuds is straightforward. Place both earbuds in their charging case. Rapidly tap the touch sensor on one earbud seven times (or four times, depending on the model). The LED indicator will flash blue four times and then turn off. Repeat this step with the other earbud. Remove the earbuds from the charging case. Wait for one earbud to blink blue and white and the other to turn solid white.
Take Away
There you have it. As you can see, fixing JLab earbuds that won’t charge is not complex. You only need to check your connections, clean your charging case, or update the firmware. You can also reset the earbuds to factory defaults to erase custom configurations that might be causing the problem. If the earbuds are faulty, consider visiting a JLab service center to redeem your warranty.
