The JBL Charge 4 is a portable Bluetooth speaker manufactured by JBL in 2018. It’s part of the JBL Charge series, known for their durability, long battery life, and powerful sound. But, sometimes the speaker won’t charge. How to fix it?
To fix a JBL Charge 4 that won’t charge, hard reset it, change the wall and USB charger, clean the charging port, replace the defective battery, or contact JBL support.
To extend the lifespan of the JBL Charge 4 battery, charge the battery when it’s low, avoid overcharging, don’t use the speaker while charging, and avoid contact with water.
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How To Fix JBL Charge 4 That Won’t Charge?
To fix JBL Charge 4 which won’t charge, do the following things.
1. Hard Reset
If JBL Charge 4 isn’t charging because of a software bug or glitch, a hard reset will fix it. A hard reset will restore the original factory settings of the speaker, clear internal memory, and remove previously connected (known) devices.
To hard reset JBL Charge 4, do the following things.
- Power up the speaker by pressing the power button once.
- Press and hold the Bluetooth and Volume Up (+) buttons at the same time.
- Release the buttons once the speaker turns off.
- Press the power button to turn on the speaker.
- Start charging the speaker and see if it works.
2. Try a Different Wall & USB Charger
JBL Charge 4 won’t charge if the charger is old or broken, or if you use a 3rd party charger with less output than recommended. Charge your speaker with a new (original) charge to see if charging works. If the speaker starts to charge, it was the charger’s fault.
The wall charger must have a power output of 5V/2.3A. The speaker won’t charge properly or at all if the charger has a lower power output than 5V/2.3A.
Except for the wall charger, the USB-C charging cable could be faulty. Along with the wall charger, use a different charging cable and see if it charges your speaker. Use a short and thick USB-C cable as they are more durable. Long and thin USB-C cables can result in voltage drop.
Adapter Requirements: The JBL Charge 4 uses a USB-C charging port. The charger must provide a 5V DC (Direct Current) output with a minimum current rating of 2.3A (Amperes) for optimal charging (5V/2.3A).
Charging Indicators: The JBL Charge 4 has 5 LED indicators that indicate the battery level. Each light powered up indicated 20% of charge. So, if it has 3 LED lights powered up, the battery is 60%.
3. Clean The Charging Port
While the JBL Charge 4 speaker has an IPX7 waterproofing rating, its charging port doesn’t have the same waterproofing qualities and doesn’t have a protective door to protect it from dust or dirt. The speaker won’t charge if the charging port is wet, dirty, or dusty as it prevents proper electrical contact between the charging cable and the charging port.
It’s recommended to clean the charging port regularly and dry it immediately once wet to avoid charging problems. To clean the charging port, use a small soft brush. Put the brush inside the charging port and start wiping the dust or dirt out. Be careful while cleaning it as you can easily damage it.
To dry out the charging port, use a hairdryer with low-temperature settings. Avoid using high temperatures while drying it as it can damage the speaker. After drying for 5 minutes, let the charging port dry naturally for 24 hours before charging the speaker again.
5. Replace the Defective Battery
The JBL Charge 4 won’t charge if its battery (Lithium-ion Polymer 3.6V, 7500mAh) is faulty or damaged. The battery will get damaged if the speaker is exposed to high temperatures, it’s improperly stored or is physically damaged. If the battery is damaged, you must replace it.
You also must replace Lithium-ion batteries after they complete their charging cycles (300-500). While the battery will keep working after the charging cycles are completed, the battery and overall performance will start to decrease until the battery won’t work anymore.
It can take up to 2-3 years of daily use to complete all 500 charging cycles. If you had the speaker for longer than that, then it could be a battery problem. Unfortunately, there’s no trick to fix the battery. You must replace it.
6. Contact JBL Support
Contact JBL support if a hardware part (e.g. circuit board) is damaged or faulty. Internal hardware parts will get damaged if you physically damage the speaker or expose it to high temperatures.
If you have an active warranty, JBL Support will help you fix the issue or ask you to send the speaker to an authorized repair shop. If you don’t have a warranty, send the speaker to a local electronic repair shop.
How To Extend The Life of the JBL Charge 4 Battery?
To extend the life of a JBL Charge 4 battery, do the following things.
- Charge The Speaker When The Battery is Low – Keep an eye on the battery indicators of the Charge 4, if the speaker is on a low battery then charge it immediately. It’s not recommended to use the speaker if it’s on a low battery as that can damage the battery.
- Avoid Overcharging – JBL Charge 4 battery (lithium-ion polymer) has in-built safe mechanisms that prevent overcharging, but it’s still recommended to unplug the charger once fully charged. The JBL Charge 4 has a charging time of 4 hours (5V/2.3A).
- Don’t Use The Speaker While Charging – Using the JBL Charge 4 while charging will generate excessive heat causing the battery to heat up. This heat can decrease the battery’s performance and lifespan.
- Avoid Contact With Water – JBL Charge 4 has an IPX7 waterproof rating, meaning it can submerge in water for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter. But, if you submerge the speaker in water for longer than 30 minutes, the battery and speaker will get damaged.