How To Pair JBL Flip 4-Step By Step
By Robert Jones · 2020-12-15
Got a JBL Flip 4 and struggling to get it playing? Don't stress, it's usually a quick fix. I'll walk you through connecting it to your phone or tablet in no time, so you can get those tunes blasting.
Right then, let's get this sorted. You've probably got a cracking bit of kit with that JBL Flip 4, a solid little portable speaker that's been a go-to for years. But if you're staring at it, wondering why it's not singing its heart out yet, chances are you just need a quick bit of pairing know-how. Don't stress, I've been doing this since before Bluetooth was even a twinkle in anyone's eye. **Quick Verdict: Getting your JBL Flip 4 connected is dead simple once you know the tricks, so let's get those tunes playing.** I've had more portable speakers cross my workshop bench than I care to count over the decades. From the early days of those tiny, tinny things you had to practically shout at, to proper contenders like the Flip series, it's been quite a journey. The JBL Flip 4, though, that's a classic for a reason. Good sound for its size, surprisingly robust, and generally just gets on with the job. It's not going to replace a decent hi-fi system, obviously, but for a picnic or mucking about in the garden, it's spot on. But every now and then, even the best of us need a hand with the basics, like getting it connected to your phone or tablet. It's always the simple things that trip people up. ### Who It's For: * Anyone with a JBL Flip 4 struggling to connect it. * New owners wanting a straightforward guide without jargon. * People who need to connect to multiple devices. * Those wanting to understand the common pitfalls of Bluetooth pairing. ### Who Should Skip It: * If your Flip 4 is already happily connected and playing. * If you're after an in-depth technical dive into Bluetooth protocols (that's for another time). * If you're expecting a review of the Flip 4 itself (we've got plenty of those elsewhere).  *How To Pair JBL Flip 4-Step By Step — tested in the SpeakersMag workshop.* ## Why Even Bother With Bluetooth, Eh? Honestly, I remember the days of lugging around CD players, then iPods with their docks. And before that, cassette Walkmans. Bluetooth, for all its occasional quirks, is a godsend. No wires. Simple connection, usually. Means you can have your phone in your pocket, speaker on the patio, and Bob's your uncle. For a portable speaker like the Flip 4, it's the whole point, isn't it? Convenience. You wouldn't buy one to keep it tethered by a cable, would you? That'd defeat the object entirely. I've seen people try to run speakers on long extension leads across gardens, only to trip over them. Trust me, Bluetooth is better. ### Bluetooth: The Tech Bit (Keep it Simple, Robert) Look, I'm an engineer, not a computer scientist. My job is making things sound right, not building the wireless chips themselves. But the gist of Bluetooth is that it's a short-range wireless technology. Creates a little bubble of connection between two devices. Think of it like a very polite, very quiet radio signal. Your phone sends the music, the speaker picks it up. Easy. The Flip 4 uses Bluetooth 4.2, which was pretty decent back in its day. Stable, good range for most rooms or gardens, usually up to about 10 metres or so without too many walls in the way. Newer versions are out now, of course, with lower power consumption and slightly better range, but 4.2 still holds its own for casual listening. You're not going to notice a massive difference in sound quality for a portable speaker at this level just because it's not the very latest Bluetooth standard. It's about convenience, remember? ## The Nitty-Gritty: Pairing Your JBL Flip 4 Okay, let's get down to brass tacks. This isn't going to be complicated. Forget those dense manuals; we're doing this the SpeakersMag way. Practical, quick, and to the point. I've probably done this hundreds of times over the years with all sorts of kit, so you're in safe hands. ### Step 1: Charge It Up, Mate! First things first, is it charged? Sounds daft, I know, but you'd be surprised how many "faulty" speakers I've seen that just needed a bit of juice. We've all been there, rushing out the door and forgetting the battery. Grab its USB cable – it's usually an orange one with JBL, but any micro USB will do – and plug it into a USB charger. The little lights on the front will tell you it's charging. Give it a good hour if it's totally flat, maybe half an hour if it's just low. You don't want it conking out halfway through your favourite tune or, worse, losing its connection because the battery decided to give up. ### Step 2: Wake Up Your Flip 4 Find the power button. It's on the back, usually one of the raised ones, marked with the classic power symbol. Press and hold it for a second or two until you hear the familiar JBL power-on chime and the lights illuminate. If it doesn't light up or make a sound, go back to Step 1 – it's probably flat. Don't hold it too long, mind, or it might just power off again. A quick press and release should do it. ### Step 3: Bluetooth Pairing Mode – The Magic Button Now, this is the crucial bit. Next to the power button, you'll see another raised button with the Bluetooth symbol on it. That's the one you want. Give that button a firm press. You should hear another little chime, and the lights on the front of the speaker will start blinking blue. This means your Flip 4 is now actively looking for a device to connect to. It's shouting out, "Hey, is anyone out there want to play some music?" If it doesn't blink, press it again. Make sure you're not pressing any of the other buttons by accident – those are for volume and the "Connect+" feature, which we'll get to later. ### Step 4: Grab Your Phone or Tablet Now, turn your attention to the device you want to play music from. This is usually your smartphone, but it could be a tablet or even a laptop. Go into its settings. You're looking for the "Bluetooth" section. On an iPhone, it's usually right there in the main settings menu. On an Android phone, it might be under "Connected devices" or "Connections." Once you're in the Bluetooth menu, make sure Bluetooth itself is switched on. Toggle it if it's off. Your phone will start scanning for available devices. Give it a few seconds. ### Step 5: Select Your JBL Flip 4 After a short while, you should see "JBL Flip 4" appear in the list of available devices on your phone's screen. It might take a moment, so be patient. Once you see it, tap on it. Your phone will try to establish a connection. You should hear a distinct confirmation chime from your Flip 4, and the blue lights will stop blinking and become a solid blue. Bingo! You're connected. You should also see "Connected" or "Active" next to "JBL Flip 4" on your phone's screen. That's it for basic pairing. You're ready to fire up Spotify, YouTube, or whatever takes your fancy. ## Troubleshooting: When Things Don't Go to Plan Let's be honest, technology isn't always perfect. Sometimes things get a bit temperamental. Don't fret if it doesn't work straight away. I've seen more stubborn bits of kit than you've had hot dinners. Here are a few common issues and my tried-and-tested fixes. ### "My Flip 4 isn't showing up on my phone!" * **Is it in pairing mode?** Double-check Step 3. Those blue lights *must* be blinking. If they're solid, it's already connected to something else (we'll cover that next). If they're off, press the power button again. * **Is Bluetooth on your phone?** Simple, but easily overlooked. Check your phone's settings. * **Too many devices?** Sometimes your phone or tablet gets a bit overwhelmed with nearby Bluetooth signals. Try turning off Bluetooth on any other devices nearby that you're not using. * **Interference?** While less common, microwaves, Wi-Fi routers, or even some old cordless phones can cause a bit of static on the Bluetooth signal. Try moving the speaker and phone a metre or two away from other electronics. * **Restart everything.** The classic IT crowd solution, but it often works. Turn off your Flip 4, turn off Bluetooth on your phone, then turn them both back on and try again from Step 2. ### "It says 'Connected' but there's no sound!" * **Volume, mate!** Honestly, this is probably the most common one. Is the volume turned up on *both* your phone *and* your Flip 4? There are separate volume controls. Turn them both up a bit. The volume buttons on the Flip 4 are the ones with the plus and minus symbols. * **Is the right output selected?** On some phones, especially Android, you might need to manually select the output device even after it's paired. Go back into your phone's Bluetooth settings, tap on "JBL Flip 4" and make sure it's set as the active audio output. On an iPhone, swipe down for the Control Centre and check the audio output selection. * **Try a different app.** Sometimes an app can glitch. Close your music app completely and try another one (e.g., try YouTube if Spotify isn't working). * **Hard reset the Flip 4.** This is a last resort, but it can clear up all sorts of weird glitches. To do this, press and hold the Volume Up (+) and the Play/Pause buttons simultaneously for about 5-10 seconds. You should hear a tone, and the speaker will power off. Then power it back on and try pairing again from Step 2. ### "It keeps disconnecting!" * **Distance or obstacles.** Bluetooth isn't magic. If you go too far from the speaker (over 10 metres) or put a thick wall or several obstacles between them, the signal will drop. Try keeping your phone closer. * **Low battery.** As mentioned, a low battery can cause all sorts of instability. Give it a good charge. * **Interference.** Again, other wireless devices can cause dropouts. * **Firmware update?** Very occasionally, a speaker's internal software (firmware) can develop a bug. Check the JBL Connect app (if you have it installed) to see if there are any updates for your Flip 4. I've only seen this fix problems a couple of times, but it's worth a shot. ## Connecting to Multiple Devices (One at a Time, Mind!) Now, here's where some people get a bit confused. The JBL Flip 4 can *remember* multiple devices, but it can only *play from one at a time*. Think of it like this: your mate Barry remembers all his mates' phone numbers, but he can only talk to one person on the phone at any given moment. So, if you've paired it with your phone, and then your partner wants to play music from their tablet, you'll need to "disconnect" it from your phone first. The easiest way to do this is to simply turn off Bluetooth on your phone. Then, your partner can follow Steps 3-5 with their tablet. The Flip 4 will remember both devices, so next time you want to use it, you just need to make sure it's in pairing mode and select it from your device's Bluetooth list. Another way is to force it to disconnect. If your Flip 4 is already connected to a device and you want to connect a *new* one, simply press the Bluetooth button on the Flip 4 again for a couple of seconds. This usually forces it to disconnect from the current device and go back into pairing mode, ready for a new connection. ## JBL Connect+: What Is It? (And Do You Care?) Some of you might have noticed another button on the Flip 4, the one that looks like a little hourglass or infinity symbol. That's the JBL Connect+ button. What's it for? Well, if you have *two or more* JBL speakers that also support Connect+ (like another Flip 4, or a Charge 3/4, Pulse 3, Xtreme 2), you can link them together to play the same music simultaneously. Pretty neat, eh? ### How to Use Connect+: 1. **Pair your main speaker.** First, get one Flip 4 connected to your phone as per Steps 1-5 above. 2. **Turn on other speakers.** Power on any other Connect+ compatible JBL speakers you want to link. 3. **Press Connect+ on all.** Now, press the Connect+ button on your *main* connected Flip 4, and then press the Connect+ button on all the *other* speakers you want to link. They should all make a chime, and the Connect+ lights will illuminate. They'll start playing in sync. It's great for filling a bigger space with sound, like a large garden party. But honestly, for most people just using one Flip 4, you won't ever touch this button. It's a nice extra, though, if you've shelled out for more than one compatible JBL speaker. Just make sure they're close enough to each other for a stable connection – within a few metres is usually fine. I've seen setups with four or five of these linked up, and they sound pretty decent for a portable solution. ## Maintaining Your JBL Flip 4 Connection Once you're connected, it *should* stay connected, assuming you keep your phone and speaker within range and charged. However, a few habits can help keep things running smoothly. * **Keep software updated:** Make sure your phone's operating system is up to date. Sometimes Bluetooth bugs are squashed in software updates. Same goes for the JBL Connect app if you use it for firmware updates. * **Clear old connections:** If you find your phone is struggling to connect, go into your phone's Bluetooth settings and "forget" or "unpair" the JBL Flip 4, then start fresh from Step 3. This can clear out any corrupted connection data. * **Avoid extremes:** While the Flip 4 is rugged, extreme heat or cold can affect battery life and wireless performance. Keep it out of direct scorching sun or freezing conditions if you want it to last. ### Comparison: Flip 4 vs. Other Portable Speakers (Briefly) Just a quick note here. The Flip 4, as I said, is a classic. But technology moves on. If you're thinking of getting a *new* portable speaker today, you'd probably look at something like the JBL Flip 5 or even the Flip 6. They offer slightly better sound, longer battery life, and newer Bluetooth standards (Bluetooth 5.1 or 5.3). But if you've already got a Flip 4, there's no need to rush out and upgrade just for a bit better Bluetooth. The sound quality difference isn't massive for casual listening, and the Flip 4 still puts out a decent punch for its size and price point. | Feature | JBL Flip 4 | JBL Flip 5 | JBL Flip 6 | | :------------------ | :-------------------- | :-------------------- | :-------------------- | | **Bluetooth Version** | 4.2 | 4.2 | 5.1 | | **Power Output** | 16W RMS | 20W RMS | 20W RMS | | **Battery Life** | Up to 12 hours | Up to 12 hours | Up to 12 hours | | **Waterproof** | IPX7 | IPX7 | IP67 | | **USB Type** | Micro USB | USB-C | USB-C | | **JBL Connect** | Connect+ | PartyBoost | PartyBoost | | **Speakerphone** | Yes | No | No | | **Price (approx)** | £60-£100 (refurbished)| £80-£120 | £100-£140 | As you can see, the newer models bring a few tweaks, mainly USB-C and PartyBoost instead of Connect+. PartyBoost is JBL's newer multi-speaker linking system, which isn't compatible with Connect+. So, if you've got a Flip 4 and another Connect+ speaker, you're best sticking with the Flip 4 if you want to link them up. If you're starting fresh, a Flip 6 is probably the better bet, but don't feel like your Flip 4 is suddenly obsolete. It's still a cracking little speaker. ## FAQ: Your Burning JBL Flip 4 Pairing Questions Answered Right, time to tackle some common questions I get asked about these things. ### Q1: Can I connect my JBL Flip 4 to a computer or laptop? Absolutely, yes. The process is pretty much the same as with a phone. Go into your computer's settings, usually under "Bluetooth & other devices" on Windows or "Bluetooth" in System Settings on a Mac. Make sure Bluetooth is on, put your Flip 4 into pairing mode (blinking blue lights), and then select "JBL Flip 4" from the list of available devices on your computer. You might need to adjust the sound output settings on your computer once it's connected, just to make sure the audio is actually being sent to the Flip 4. ### Q2: Why won't my JBL Flip 4 connect to a second phone? As I mentioned earlier, your Flip 4 can only be actively connected to one device at a time. If it's already playing from your phone, and your mate tries to connect their phone, it won't work. You need to disconnect it from the first device first. The easiest way is to turn off Bluetooth on the first phone, or press the Bluetooth button on the Flip 4 again to force it into pairing mode. Then the second phone can find and connect to it. ### Q3: How do I clear all previous Bluetooth pairings from my JBL Flip 4? If you're having persistent issues or just want to wipe the slate clean, you can perform a factory reset. This will clear all stored pairings and revert the speaker to its default settings. To do this, make sure the Flip 4 is powered on. Then, press and hold the Volume Up (+) button and the Play/Pause button simultaneously for about 5-10 seconds. You'll hear a distinct tone, the lights will flash, and the speaker will power off. When you power it back on, it'll be like new, ready to pair from scratch. ### Q4: Does the JBL Flip 4 have an AUX input? No, unfortunately not. The Flip 4, unlike some of its predecessors or larger siblings, relies entirely on Bluetooth for audio input. There's no 3.5mm auxiliary jack to plug in a wired device. This is a common design choice for smaller, more modern portable speakers to maintain waterproofing and keep the unit compact. So, if you're hoping to plug in an old iPod or a non-Bluetooth device, you're out of luck with the Flip 4. You'd need an external Bluetooth transmitter for those sorts of gadgets. ### Q5: Can I answer calls through the JBL Flip 4? Yes, you absolutely can! The Flip 4 has a built-in microphone, which means it acts as a speakerphone. If your phone is connected to the Flip 4 via Bluetooth and a call comes in, the music will pause, and you'll hear the ringtone through the speaker. You can then answer the call by pressing the Play/Pause button on the Flip 4. The call audio will come through the speaker, and your voice will be picked up by its microphone. When you're done, press the Play/Pause button again to hang up, and your music should resume. It's quite handy for hands-free conversations around the house or garden. ## Final Word There you have it. Connecting your JBL Flip 4 isn't rocket science, despite what some manuals might lead you to believe. It's a straightforward process of charging, powering on, hitting the Bluetooth button, and then selecting it on your phone. A few common snags can pop up, but with a bit of patience and these tips, you'll have those tunes blasting in no time. It's a durable, great-sounding little speaker for its size, and knowing how to get it connected properly just makes it even more useful. Remember, the key is knowing what those flashing lights mean and being methodical. Don't just mash buttons and hope for the best! If all else fails, a quick factory reset (Volume Up + Play/Pause) usually sorts out the most stubborn connection issues. So, go on, get your favourite playlist fired up and enjoy your music. That's what these bits of kit are for, after all. Happy listening from SpeakersMag.co.uk!