Why is My JBL Flip 3 Not Connecting?

If you ever needed a portable speaker that brings out that much-desired pop to audio experience played from a connected Bluetooth device, the JBL Flip 3 will not disappoint. It is available in a litany of colors and it extends an ability to make and receive phone calls from your smartphone. However, it has a few common problems, and one of them is failure to connect.

If you are experiencing this lack of responsiveness and pairing issues, you are in luck. This article explores all that as well as how to troubleshoot and restore that connection.

Why is My JBL Flip 3 Not Connecting?

There are various reasons why your JBL Flip 3 speaker is not connecting to the Bluetooth network. Usually, if it doesn’t connect, this could mean that the sending device (your smartphone or music device) is out of range, or there is another paired device blocking the connection, it doesn’t have enough charge, your device’s Bluetooth is off, or it could be that the devices are not paired.

A JBL Flip 3 speaker can be paired with several devices, including Android phones, iPhone, iPad, among others. But even after many years of engineering, it is not uncommon to have issues such as Bluetooth connections.

Before we delve into details on how to solve this problem, first ensure that the problem isn’t with pairing. How do you do that? Follow these steps:

Pairing Your JBL Flip 3

Just like the other JBL wireless speakers, JBL’s wireless headphones, or its soundbars, Bluetooth pairing is mandatory and pretty much follows the same process. In a nutshell, the steps to follow are as easy as follows:

• Check if Bluetooth is turned on for both devices

• Turn on pairing mode on JBL Flip 3 to make it discoverable

• Locate your JBL Flip 3 speaker on your smartphone or connecting device and pair them

• Check for successful pairing

1. Confirm if Bluetooth is Turned On for Both Devices

Depending on the device you want to connect to your JBL Flip 3, double-check from the settings whether Bluetooth is turned on. If not turned on, this will prevent any connections from occurring.

2. Turn on JBL Flip 3 Pairing Mode

If your JBL Flip 3 speaker is new and hasn’t been paired with any Bluetooth device before, then it will automatically start up in pairing mode when you switch it on. This is indicated by a blinking LED light. However, if you had already established a connection before, you can manually turn on the pairing mode by pressing and holding the Bluetooth button for a few seconds until the LED flashes.

NOTE: JBL speakers usually come with a dedicated Bluetooth key.

3. Find JBL Flip 3 on Your Device and Pair Them

If you have an android device, turn on Bluetooth from the Settings. Search for a new device if the JBL speaker isn’t already on the list and click on it to pair. Follow any screen prompts and your phone and Flip 3 speaker will be paired.

For iPhone users, navigate to the Settings then Bluetooth. Turn it on and locate the JBL device. If it isn’t among the list, search for it and pair it. Usually, the list of available Bluetooth connections is under “Other Devices”. Tap on it to pair.

For Macs, go to Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Bluetooth. Choose your JBL Flip 3 speaker and click Connect. Click Accept if asked.

If you are connecting from your Windows laptop, under the search bar, type “Bluetooth & other devices settings” or access the option from the System Settings by clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the toolbar and choosing “Show Bluetooth devices”.

If the Add new device prompt pops up, click on Bluetooth and look for your JBL Flip 3 device. Tap on it and follow the pairing request prompts.

4. Confirm if Pairing is Successful

The easiest way to confirm if the pairing is successful is by checking whether the LED light on your JBL Flip 3 is still blinking or not. If it isn’t blinking, it means that the two devices are connected. You will also hear an audio confirmation that your device is paired successfully.

Troubleshooting Your JBL Flip 3 Bluetooth Connection

If, for some reason, you have followed the above steps to the latter, but your JBL Flip 3 speaker still won’t connect, don’t give up just yet. There are easy steps you can perform to ensure it is working again.

JBL Flip 3 Connects and Disconnects

If your JBL flip 3 keeps connecting and disconnecting, the problem could be outdated software, interference from other devices, power issues, too much range between the two devices, or too many connected devices.

Keep Devices Within Range

It doesn’t matter whether your device boasts a large connectivity radius, it is crucial to ensure that it is within your JBL Flip 3’s range, particularly when you are pairing. Once paired, you can move some distance, but not too far out of reach. Your speaker will experience audio distortions.

Check if Other Connections Already Exist

If your JBL speaker is already connected and locked to another smart device, you will first need to break that link before connecting with your sending device. Similarly, devices that have been configured to automatically connect to the speaker will always interfere with the connection. So, ensure that there are no other devices nearby trying to also connect to the speaker.

Is Your JBL Speaker Properly Charged?

A Bluetooth speaker will, in most cases, turn itself off when the power is getting low or when it has run out of juice. To ensure a sustained connection, ensure that your JBL speaker is fully charged.

Move Away from Interfering Devices

A wi-Fi router, microwaves, and fluorescent lights often send the same signals as your Bluetooth connection. They mostly share the same frequency, and this could cause some interruptions. Newer versions of JBL speakers have been designed to account for such frequencies, but still, you may experience some connection issues.

JBL Flip 3 Won’t Connect

If your JBL Flip 3 speaker won’t connect at all, there are a few more things you can do. In addition to the above-mentioned steps, try to:

• Turn it off and on again

• Check for updates

• Perform a JBL Flip 3 hard reset

Mostly, the issue requires a simple fix. But if after everything it still won’t connect, then the problem could be your JBL speaker’s hardware, in this case, the Bluetooth chip, which could mean getting a replacement.

1. Turn Your JBL Flip 3 Off and On Again

This concept is based on electronics running off internal programs and software, and in most cases, this simple fix solves the issue. If your JBL speaker is left to continually run, it might begin overflowing with lots of data and cache.

Both your speaker and the device you are sending data from, be it a smartphone or a computer, utilizes temporary memory to store the data. Over time, this data accumulates to a point that your device begins lagging. A good example is when your phone hangs and must be restarted to get it working again. Luckily, that is just about all it takes to fix the issue. Turning it off and on again clears the cache.

2. Check for Updates

Updating outdated software and apps, for both your phone and your JBL Flip 3 speaker, may also be the solution you need to get back your Bluetooth connection. If your devices are not up to date, they may lack the required infrastructure to establish a successful Bluetooth connection.

If, for instance, your smartphone or laptop is running the latest version of Bluetooth firmware, then your speaker needs the same update for compatibility reasons. If the speaker won’t connect to your laptop, then the issue might be with the drivers your computer is running. Try updating your Bluetooth drivers to the latest ones available and connect again.

3. Reset JBL Flip 3 Speaker

Resetting your JBL speaker is unlike powering down and turning it up again. While the latter clears the cache, this process completely wipes all the settings, leaving your Flip 3 speaker exactly as it was out of the box. This procedure allows you to start afresh without any issues or interferences.

A reset will also clear the cache, which means all the saved devices will be deleted and forgotten. To reset the JBL Flip 3:

4. Press and hold the Power button to turn it on

5. Once powered on, press, and hold the Volume Up and Play buttons together until it turns off.

6. Next, turn the speaker back on by pressing the Power button. If the blue LED light is flashing, then your JBL Flip 3 should be ready to pair now and that means your Hard Reset is complete.

Final Thoughts

If your JBL Flip 3 won’t connect, or it keeps disconnecting as is the case with many Bluetooth speakers, chances are that it requires a simple fix. Perhaps the speaker is out of range, your connecting device’s Bluetooth isn’t turned on, another device is interfering with the connection or is trying to connect to the network, or it could simply mean that your speaker has a low charge.

Hopefully, the above troubleshooting methods will help you arrive at a solution. You can always reach out to JBL for technical support if the problem persists