How to Connect JBL Speakers to Computer & Laptop? JBL makes some of the best wireless Bluetooth speakers, with their Charge and Flip being the most popular models among consumers. All JBL speakers deliver a loud and dynamic sound, consisting of a rugged design built for outdoor use. Odds are you’ve recently got yourself a JBL speaker to use with your computer or laptop, which is why you’re here.
You can connect JBL speaker to PC via AUX or Bluetooth. The latter might be your only option if you own one of the newer models. But for those not familiar with the Bluetooth pairing process, we’ve prepared this guide to help them connect JBL speakers to computer or laptop. Below you’ll find step-by-step instructions for Windows, macOS, and Chrome OS.
Learn How to Activate Pairing Mode on your JBL Speaker
Before you move along, you’ll have to learn to put your JBL speakers in discovery or pairing mode. The process is the same for most models, but you may need to check the user manual for yours.
First, locate the Power button on your JBL speaker and press it to turn it on. You should see the button glow up, indicating your speaker is powered ON. If the Bluetooth button on your JBL speaker also starts blinking immediately, it’s already in pairing mode.
Otherwise, manually press the Bluetooth button. Your JBL speaker will play an audio cue, followed by the button blinking to indicate that the pairing mode is activated. Your speaker will stay discoverable until you power it down or it runs out of battery.
Once you know how to activate pairing mode on your JBL speaker, move on to this guide’s next portion to see how you can connect it to your computer or laptop.
How to Connect JBL speakers to Computer & Laptop (Windows)
You’re missing out a lot if you’re still consuming Netflix or YouTube, playing games, or listening to music through the built-in speakers of your laptop or monitor. But as long as your Windows PC or laptop has built-in Bluetooth or an external Bluetooth adapter, you can wirelessly connect your JBL speaker for an instantly better listening experience. Read on to learn how to connect JBL speakers to devices running Windows 10 and 11.
Windows 10
Assuming you’ve installed the Bluetooth drivers correctly, the instructions below should be relatively straightforward to follow for most Windows 10 users.
- First, open the Start menu and go to Settings on your Windows 10 PC or laptop. Or, press Windows + I on your keyboard.
- Select Devices among the top row of the Settings page, then click the “Bluetooth & other devices” tab on the sidebar.
- Next, tap the slider below the “Bluetooth” label to enable it. Make sure it says “On” next to the slider.
- Now power on your JBL speaker press the Pair (Bluetooth symbol) button to put it in pairing mode.
- Click “+ Add Bluetooth or other device” at the top of Windows’ Bluetooth settings menu.
- Select Bluetooth in the following window, then choose your JBL speaker’s name in the list of available devices.
- Once you’ve successfully paired the speaker with your Windows 10 PC or laptop, click the Done button.
If the audio is still playing through your computer monitor or laptop speakers, click the Sound icon on your taskbar’s lower-right corner. After that, select your JBL speaker from the list of available playback devices. To disconnect, simply press the Power button on your JBL speaker or turn off Bluetooth on your computer.
The next time you wish to connect your speaker to the computer, click the Action Center (square speech bubble) icon on the far-right corner of your taskbar and click the Connect tile. You should be able to see your JBL speaker in the following menu and connect to it, as long as it’s in pairing mode.
Windows 11
If you’ve recently upgraded to Windows 11 and have the proper Bluetooth drivers, perform the following steps to connect JBL speaker to your PC or laptop:
- Go to the Start menu and click the Settings (cog) icon next to the Power option. Or, use the Windows + I keyboard combination to open Settings.
- Select the Bluetooth & devices tab on the sidebar, then click the toggle next to Bluetooth to turn it on.
- In the meantime, power on your JBL speaker and put it in pairing mode.
- Next, click Add device in either location where the option is available in the “Bluetooth & devices” menu.
- Select Bluetooth in the “Add a device” window that appears. When you see the list of discoverable devices, choose your JBL speaker and wait for it to pair.
- Click Done once it’s connected to your Windows 11 computer.
You should now hear your desktop or laptop audio through the connected JBL speaker. If not, click the Sound icon next to the date and time indicator on the taskbar. Click the arrow next to the volume slider in the pop-up menu, and then choose your JBL speaker from the list.
The next time you want to connect your speaker to your Windows 11 computer, go back to the “Bluetooth & devices” menu in Settings, turn on Bluetooth, and click your JBL speaker’s name at the top.
How to connect JBL Speakers to Mac Computer
Whether you have a MacBook, Mac mini, iMac, Mac Pro, or Mac Studio, you can connect your JBL speakers to it via Bluetooth in just a few steps. The following instructions apply to the latest macOS version, Monterey 12, and previous versions like Big Sur 11.0, Catalina 10.15, and Mojave 10.14.
- First, power on your JBL speaker and press the Pair / Bluetooth button to make it discoverable to nearby Bluetooth devices.
- Go to the Apple menu from the top menu bar of your Mac desktop. Then, select “System Preferences…” in the context menu.
- Select Bluetooth in the “System Preferences” menu and click the “Turn Bluetooth On” button.
- Once you see your JBL speaker in the “Devices” list, click Connect next to it.
When it says “Connected,” macOS will automatically play audio from the connected JBL speaker. It’ll stay connected until your turn off Bluetooth or the speaker itself.
Note that you can also connect your JBL speaker to your Mac by clicking the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar or Control Center and choosing it. If you can’t see the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Bluetooth and enable “Show Bluetooth in menu bar.”
See: JBL Charge Essential vs Charge 4: What is the Difference?
How to Connect JBL Speakers to Chromebook
If you daily drive a Chromebook, Chromebox, or have an older PC or laptop running Chrome OS Flex, you can easily connect your JBL speaker to it via Bluetooth. Use these steps to do it:
- Make sure your JBL speaker is powered on and in pairing mode.
- Click the Quick Settings Panel at the lower-right corner of your screen.
- Next, click the Bluetooth icon in the pop-up QS panel. It’ll automatically toggle Bluetooth on and start scanning for available devices.
- Now select your JBL speaker model from the scan results and wait for it to finish connecting.
Once your JBL speaker connects to your Chrome OS device, it’ll be the primary audio output device until you disconnect it. If not, open the QS panel, click the headphones icon next to the volume slider, and pick your JBL speaker from the output options.
Connect JBL Speakers to Computers & Laptops via AUX
If you have a JBL speaker (e.g., Pulse 4, Charge 4, Xtreme 2) with a 3.5mm auxiliary input, all you have to do is plug it into your PC or laptop using an AUX cable. Devices running Windows, macOS, and Chrome OS will automatically detect your JBL speaker and play PC audio through it.
However, features like Connect+ and PartyBoost, which allow users to pair two or more JBL speakers together, won’t work when the primary speaker and source device communicate through the 3.5mm audio interface. JBL’s multi-speaker pairing features only work over Bluetooth.
Must See: How to Pair JBL Headphones & Earbuds
Final Words
This is how you connect JBL speakers to computers and laptops. We’ve included in-depth instructions for three of the most popular desktop operating systems, i.e., Windows, macOS, and Chrome OS. Hence, you shouldn’t have any problems pairing your JBL speaker to your PC or laptop.
If you happen to run into issues related to the Bluetooth pairing process, be sure to ask for help in the comments. As long as your PC/laptop has the correct Bluetooth drivers, and your JBL speaker is sitting right next to your computer, you will unlikely face any device pairing error.