JBL Flip 5 is a portable Bluetooth speaker produced by JBL in 2019. It’s known for its IPX7 waterproof qualities, 12 hours of playtime, and a short 2.5 hours charging time. However, sometimes the speaker won’t charge. How to fix it?
To fix a JBL Flip 5 that won’t charge, change the USB-C charger and wall charger, clean the charging port, reset it, dry the charging port, try a different wall outlet, replace the battery, or replace the charging circuit.
A JBL Flip 5 won’t keep its charge if its battery (lithium-ion polymer) has completed its charging cycles or is damaged. Once the battery completes the charging cycles, its performance and runtime will decrease.
How To Fix a JBL Flip 5 That Won’t Charge?
To fix a JBL Flip 5 that won’t charge, do the following things.
1. Change The USB-C Charger
The JBL Flip 5 has its own original USB-C charger, but sometimes it can get damaged. A bad or damaged USB-C charger won’t charge your speaker.
Use a different or new charger to test if the problem is with the charger. If the speaker starts to charge after using a different USB-C charger, the old charger was faulty. Replace your old USB-C charger with an original USB-C charger, avoid using 3rd party charger as you will face the same issues in a few weeks.
If the speaker doesn’t start to charge after replacing the charger, it’s the speaker’s fault.
2. Change The Wall Charger
The JBL Flip 5 won’t charge if the wall charger, also known as a power adapter, is faulty. The main purpose of the wall charger is to convert the alternating current (AC) power from the wall outlet into direct current (DC) power that is compatible with the speaker.
Replace the old wall charger with a new one. When choosing a new wall charger, pick one with the same power output as the original (old) one. JBL Flip 5 requires a 5V/3A wall charger. Using a wall charger with a lower voltage than required from the speaker will lead to insufficient charging or battery damage.
After replacing it, charge the speaker. If the JBL Flip 5 starts charging with a new wall charger, it was the wall charger’s fault and you have to keep the new one.
3. Clean The Charging Port
The charging port of the JBL Flip 5 is located next to the buttons and it doesn’t have a protective door that prevents dirt or dust to get inside. The speaker won’t charge if the charging port is filled with dirt, dust, or debris as it prevents proper electrical contact between the charging cable and the charging port.
The charger port will accumulate dirt and dust if the speaker is used outdoors, stored in a dusty environment, or if it isn’t regularly cleaned. Using the JBL Flip 5 outdoors for a long period of time without cleaning it will lead to a clogged charging port.
Use a flashlight to check if there’s dirt, debris, or dust inside the charging port. Power off the speaker and use a small and soft brush or a toothpick to clean the charging port properly and remove the dust. Ensure to be careful while cleaning it to avoid damaging the charging port or other components of the speaker.
4. Reset The JBL Flip 5
A software bug or glitch can prevent the JBL Flip from charging. To fix software bugs or glitches, reset the speaker. A hard reset will restore the original factory settings and clear the internal memory.
To reset JBL Flip 5, do the following.
- Power ON the speaker.
- Press and hold the Play and Volume + buttons at the same time.
- Release the buttons once the speaker turns off.
- Turn on the speaker again, and you are done.
Note: The hard reset will remove any previously known connected devices, you need to manually pair with those devices again as they won’t automatically pair.
5. Dry The Wet Charging Port
JBL Flip 5 has an IPX7 waterproof rating, meaning it can be submerged up to 1 meter in water for 30 minutes. While the speaker is waterproof, the charging cable and power adapter don’t have the same level of waterproofing. So, if the charging port gets wet, ensure to dry it out immediately and don’t use it until it’s fully dried out.
To dry a wet charging port, use a hairdryer in low-temperature settings. Don’t use a high-temperature hairdryer as you can damage the speaker and the charging port. Dry the port for 5-10 minutes, then let it dry naturally for 24 hours before trying to charge the speaker.
6. Try a Different Wall Outlet
If you changed the USB cable and the wall charger, then it’s time to change the wall outlet. The wall outlet you are using to charge your speaker can be damaged. So, just to make sure, try different charging outlets.
7. Replace The Battery
JBL Flip 5 won’t charge if its battery (lithium-ion polymer) is damaged. The lithium-ion polymer battery will get damaged if exposed to high or low temperatures, if it’s improperly stored, if it has completed its charging cycles (300-500), or if it’s physically damaged.
A (1) charging cycle of the lithium batteries is completed when the battery is completely drained (from 100-0) and then fully charged (from 0-100). Lithium batteries usually have 300-500 charging cycles, but the exact number depends on the manufacturing quality and usage conditions.
You must replace the battery of the speaker if it’s damaged as you won’t be able to charge it. To replace the battery, send the speaker to an authorized repair shop (if you have an active warranty) or to a local electronic shop (if you don’t have a warranty).
8. Replace the Charging Circuit
The charging circuit refers to an electronic circuit (or system) that facilitates the process of charging a battery or power source of the device. The speaker won’t charge if the charging circuit is damaged or faulty. A charging circuit will get damaged if you improperly store the speaker, or if the speaker is physically damaged.
Unfortunately, there’s no way for you to fix the charging circuit, you have to send it for professional repair.
Why Won’t JBL Flip 5 Keep Its Charge?
JBL Flip 5 won’t keep its charge if its battery (lithium-ion polymer) is old, damaged, or has completed its charging cycles. Once the lithium-ion polymer completes its charging cycles (300-500), its overall capacity and performance will start to decrease, its charging time will increase, and it will have a limited runtime.
While completing the expected number of charging cycles is an indication of battery wear, it doesn’t mean the battery will suddenly stop working. Lithium-ion batteries will still function beyond completing the estimated cycles but with a reduced capacity. However, it’s best to replace the battery as its performance will keep decreasing until it won’t work anymore.
The battery will also get damaged if you physically damage the speaker, expose it to high temperatures, or use a low-quality 3rd party charger. Unfortunately, if the battery is damaged you can’t do anything to fix it, you must only replace it.
Related Read: JBL Flip 5 Won’t Turn On? (Fix)
Can You Charge JBL Flip 5 with a Phone Charger?
Yes, you can charge a JBL Flip 5 portable speaker with a phone charger, as long as it provides the required voltage and current. The adapter must have a power rating of 5V/3A or it won’t charge the speaker.
How To Know if a JBL Flip 5 is Charging?
To know if a JBL Flip 5 is charging, check the battery indicator (located next to the charging port). The battery is full if the battery indicator (a white line) is fully filled with white color. The more the battery indicator is filled with a white color, the more battery the speaker has.
Can You Leave a JBL Flip 5 plugged in all the time?
You can leave the JBL Flip 5 plugged in all the time without any significant harm to the battery or the speaker. The speaker is designed with built-in safety mechanisms that automatically stop supplying power to the battery once it’s full.
How long does JBL Flip 5 battery last?
A JBL Flip 5 has a running time of 12 hours.