Where Is the Pairing Button on JBL Headphones?
Here is the part nobody tells you: on most models there is no separate pairing button on JBL headphones. The power button on the right ear cup does the job.
Press and hold that power button until the light flashes blue. The headphones are now discoverable.
A few JBL models do add a separate Bluetooth button. It also lives on the right ear cup, so that is the only place worth searching.
How to put JBL headphones into pairing mode
The first time you ever power on a new pair, they enter pairing mode by themselves.
- Pick up the headphones and find the buttons on the right ear cup.
- Press and hold the power button. On most models it is the round button, and on some it is a slider you push and hold.
- Keep holding until the light starts flashing. JBL says it alternates blue and white while it searches.
- Let go of the button.
Then connect from your phone.
- Open the Settings app on your phone (the gray gear icon).
- Tap Bluetooth near the top of the list.
- Make sure the Bluetooth switch at the top is green.
- Wait for your headphones to appear under Other Devices. JBL says this takes 3 to 5 seconds.
- Tap the name of your headphones.
The light stops flashing and goes solid once the connection is made. Most models also say “connected” in your ear.
Pairing to a second device, or a different one
Already paired to your phone and now you want your laptop? The steps change slightly.
JBL’s own instruction for its Live series is to press and hold the power button until the blue light flashes again, even though the headphones are already on.
- Turn the headphones on.
- Press and hold the power button until the light flashes blue again.
- Open Bluetooth settings on the new device and tap the headphones.
If your model has a separate Bluetooth button on the right ear cup, hold that button instead.
Where the button actually sits, by model family
| JBL family | What to hold | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Tune series | Power button | Right ear cup |
| Live series | Power button | Right ear cup |
| JR and Junior series | Power button | Right ear cup |
| Models with a separate Bluetooth button | Bluetooth button | Right ear cup, near the power button |
| True wireless earbuds | No button on the buds | Open the case, hold both buds |
JBL sells dozens of headphone models and moves controls between them. The right ear cup is the constant.
The light is not flashing
No flashing light means the headphones are not in pairing mode, and your phone will never see them.
Charge them first
A nearly empty battery will power the headphones on but refuse to enter pairing mode. Plug them in for 20 minutes and try again.
Hold the button longer
Two seconds is not enough on most models. Hold for a full 5 seconds and watch the light the entire time.
Clear the old connection
Headphones that are already connected to another device will not advertise themselves to a new one.
- Turn off Bluetooth on every other phone, tablet, and laptop in the room.
- On the phone you want to use, tap the small blue circle with the letter i next to the headphones, then tap Forget This Device.
- Put the headphones back in pairing mode and connect again.
Our guide on JBL headphones that will not connect to an iPhone walks through the stubborn cases.
If nothing worked
Reset the headphones. The button combination changes by model, so look yours up in JBL’s reset guide first.
A reset wipes every saved device, so you will pair everything again from scratch.
If the light never flashes even on a full charge and after a reset, the fault is in the button or the board. Check the warranty before opening anything, and look up your serial number first using our guide on where the serial number sits on JBL headphones.
Frequently asked questions
Do all JBL headphones have a pairing button?
No. Most use the power button on the right ear cup for pairing. Only some models add a separate Bluetooth button, and it sits on that same right ear cup.
What color should the light be during pairing?
JBL describes the light alternating between blue and white while the headphones search. Once they connect, the flashing stops.
How long do I hold the button?
Hold for about 5 seconds and keep watching the light. Let go the moment it starts flashing, or you may power the headphones off instead.
Can JBL headphones pair with two devices at once?
Some models support two connections at the same time, a feature JBL calls multipoint. Check your model’s page on JBL’s support site, because it is not on every pair.
Why do they connect but sound terrible?
That is usually a codec or a blocked speaker grille, not a pairing problem. Our guide on JBL headphones that sound muffled covers it, and JBL headphones that are too quiet covers the volume side.