Whenever we think of quality earbuds, JBL always comes to our mind, doesn’t it? Their earbuds are quite reliable and long-lasting.
But a quite common issue with the JBL earbuds is the charging failure. A few weeks back, I had the same problem with my JBL Tune 225TWS, and changing the cable did the trick for me. If you’re looking for more information on the variety of products JBL offers, you can check out our list of the best JBL earbuds.
Have the same issue? No worries! I’ve explained all of the troubleshooting methods for every JBL earbud model. I hope that by the end of this article, your earbuds are charging again. So, let’s begin!
WHY ARE MY JBL EARBUDS NOT CHARGING?
Place the earbuds properly:
If your earbuds are not charging, this doesn’t always mean that your earbuds are faulty. Sometimes the problem is at your end. So, before you start looking for the problem, make sure you’ve perfectly placed the earbuds in the charging case.
If any of the earbuds don’t fit properly, you might face charging issues. Most of the JBL models have magnetic seating and the earbuds snap instantly when inserted in the case.
However, if a dust particle or debris blocks the charging pins inside the case, your earbuds will not charge. To clear it out, take a damp cloth or cotton swab and thoroughly rinse the earbuds seatings.
Still no power? Then the charging pins might be the culprit behind this issue. So let’s spruce up your charging pins. For more in-depth comparisons on audio equipment and to understand where JBL stands in the market, you might find our JBL vs Bose comparison guide helpful.
Clean the charging pins:
Have you ever wondered how your earbuds get charged in the case? Well, they have two or three charging pins on the side which fit in the pins inside the charging case.
You experience charging glitches when these charging pins are covered in dirt, oil, or wax. If you have not cleaned these pins for a long time, now is the right time to do so.
Never done it before? It’s simple! Take a sandpaper and gently rub it on the pins of the earbuds and the case. Now use a soft bristled toothbrush to brush away the dust. I recommend cleaning your earbuds and the case every once in a while to prolong their life.
Push the pins up and down:
While you’re cleaning the pins, push the pins down in the case and make sure all of them are fully retracting back. If any of the pins isn’t retracting back as it should, you’ve located the problem. Keep pushing and pulling on that pin until it retracts to the original length.
You should take your earbuds to an expert if the pin doesn’t get fixed. But most probably you’ll have to buy a new pair.
Clean the charging port:
If cleaning the pins doesn’t fix the issue then check your charging port for any dirt particles. Most of the latest JBL earbuds have a USB-C charging port, which by design is quite accommodating for dust and debris.
Dirt can block your charging port and your charging cable won’t fit resulting in charging issues. The only solution is to clean your charging port. You’ll need a thin and pointy tool, a small piece of cloth, and a can of WD40 solution. Got everything? Now follow these steps:
- Take out the earbuds from the charging case and put them aside
- Now spray the WD40 solution inside the charging port thoroughly with the narrow nozzle extension that comes with the spray
- Wrap the cloth at the tip of the sharp tool and scrap out all the dirt from the charging port (be gentle while cleaning because rash handling can cause damage)
- Then spray another round of WD40 solution and let it air dry for 10 minutes
Now your charging port is as good as new. Try charging your earbuds again and see if it fixed the problem. If not, try the next fix.
Charge overnight:
Have you kept your earbuds in a drawer for a long time without charging? If yes, then the problem might be the battery. Earbuds have lithium-ion batteries which get depleted to critical levels if left uncharged for a while.
Does this mean you’ll need new earbuds? No, it’s fixable! Put your earbuds on charging and leave them for at least 12 hours, even if you don’t see them charging. Trust me, it will work.
Check the charging case temperature:
As you already know, earbuds work on lithium-ion batteries which have built-in battery management systems (BMS). When the temperature of your earbuds gets too high or low, these systems prevent the earbuds from picking up charge.
This saves your battery from any permanent damage. If you’re facing this temperature issue, try to bring your earbuds to room temperature before charging. Hopefully, this will work.
Try a different power source:
It’s not always the earbuds causing the charging problem. Sometimes a faulty or incompatible power source is the reason.
As JBL doesn’t have any power brick to charge the earbuds, we use whichever adapter we can find in the house. So, changing the power brick might do the trick.
All the JBL earbuds can be charged with any 5V power source. So, if you can’t find any other adapter, you can plug your earbuds right into your laptop or PC.
Check the charging cable:
Another possible reason for your earbuds not charging is a damaged USB cable. Although the wire that comes with the JBL earphones is of premium quality, it can get damaged with repeated usage.
Inspect your charging cable for any visible signs of wear and tear, especially around the type-C connector area. To test your old wire, you can charge your earbuds using any USB type-C cable lying around your house.
If your old cable isn’t working, I would recommend replacing it with a high-quality cable because using substandard accessories can damage your earbuds and your charging case.
Update firmware:
Have you updated the firmware on your earbuds? If not, this could be the cause of your earphones not charging. Here’s how you can update your earbuds’ firmware:
- First, install the JBL Headphones App on your phone
- Now pair your earbuds to your phone
- Open the JBL app and select the earbuds
- Tap on software update and wait until it finishes
Your earbuds now have the latest firmware, see if it did the trick. If not, move on to the next step.
Reset your earbuds:
The charging issue can also occur because of a cache glitch or software bug. In this case, you’ll only need to reset your earbuds. Don’t know how? Follow these steps:
- As you’ve already downloaded the app, open it and select your earbuds
- Navigate down to the support section
- Tap on the “reset to factory settings” option
- Confirm by tapping on “reset”
After confirmation, your earbuds will switch off, disconnect from your phone, and reset to factory settings.
This method will work with the recent JBL models. You can check here whether your model is compatible. If your earbuds don’t have this feature, you’ll need to manually reset them.
Each pair of earbuds has a slightly different reset procedure. However, I’ll explain the general process to reset your earbuds.
- Take out your earbuds from the case
- Press the button on the back of either earbud two times
- On the third press, hold the button for five seconds (only 2 seconds for JBL free ll)
- Place the earbuds back in the case. If the blue light flashes, your earbuds have been reset.
After the reset, try charging your earbuds. Still no luck? Your earbuds might have hardware damage. If you are unsure about how to reset your specific JBL model, our guide on how to reset JBL earbuds can provide you with step-by-step instructions. After the reset, try charging your earbuds. If you are still experiencing difficulties, or if you are unable to pair them back to your device, refer to our guide on how to pair JBL earbuds for additional assistance.
Look for physical damage:
At last, you should your earbuds and the case for any signs of physical damage. Did you drop your earbuds or the case recently? Or spilled water (or any other fluid) over them?
If your answer’s yes, then it is most likely that your earbuds are damaged. Unfortunately, in this matter, I can’t tell you any DIY way to fix them. You’ll have to connect with a professional. With that said, it brings us to my last tip.
Contact JBL support:
If you’ve tried every trick but your earbuds are still not charging then it’s time to reach out to JBL contact support.
JBL has a team of trained specialists who are there for your help. You can discuss your problem with them and hopefully, they’ll solve it for you.
Call JBL:
- Talk to a product expert at (800) 336-4525
- Available hours: Mon – Fri: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm (EST) and Sat-Sun: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (EST)
Chat with JBL:
- Chat with the JBL support team on this link
- Available hours: Mon – Fri – 9:00 a.m 11:00 p.m (E.T) and Sat-Sun – 9:00 a.m 5:00 p.m (E.T)
Text JBL:
- Chat with a support agent through SMS at 628-333-7807
- Available hours: Mon – Fri: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm (EST)
Parting thoughts
Are your earbuds charging again? If yes, then I’m more than happy to help. But if nothing worked and you’re thinking about buying a new pair. As a last resort, I want you to brief your problem in the comments below and I’ll try my best to save your bucks. Till then, signing off!
FAQs
When you put your earbuds on charging, the LED light on the case and the earbuds start to flash or blink. Depending on your model, it might stop blinking or turn green when it’s fully charged.
There’s no reason to be concerned if your earbuds are glowing while not charging. They are simply depleted and need recharging. If, however, they are blinking red while charging, their battery may be about to die. This problem can be resolved by charging them overnight.
If one of your earbuds isn’t charging, the problem is either with the charging pins on your earbuds or the case. You can use the cleaning technique that I explained before to fix this problem. The only other possible reason is physical damage, like if you’ve dropped that earbud or something. In the latter case, you’ll have to consult a professional or contact JBL support.
In most wireless earbuds, replacing the battery is not possible. Nevertheless, JBL earbuds have a replaceable battery but it’s quite a complicated task and you’d have to go to a professional for it.
I’m Shaun Conroy, an audiophile & founder of HiFi Audios. Holding a Bachelor’s in Sound Engineering, I bring deep expertise in audio devices and offer insights & recommendations to fellow enthusiasts.
