How To Connect JBL Speakers to Laptop or Computer?

To connect JBL Speakers to a laptop or computer, use a Bluetooth connection, Aux cable, or a Bluetooth transmitter (adapter). To connect via Bluetooth, you need to activate the pairing mode on the JBL speaker and enable Bluetooth on your laptop/computer. Then, you pair the devices by selecting the JBL speaker from the Bluetooth settings.

To use an aux cable, plug one end into the laptop/computer and the other end into the JBL speaker. However, this method restricts the movement of the speaker and may affect sound quality if using a long cable.

If the Laptop or Computer doesn’t have in-built Bluetooth, use a Bluetooth transmitter.

Can You Connect JBL Speakers to a Laptop or Computer?

You can connect JBL speakers to a laptop or computer using a Bluetooth connection or Aux cable. The laptop or computer must have an in-built Bluetooth or a Bluetooth transmitter adapter (if the laptop/computer doesn’t have Bluetooth). A Bluetooth transmitter is a device that allows you to transmit audio signals wirelessly from non-Bluetooth-enabled devices to Bluetooth-enabled devices.

You can also pair JBL Speakers to a laptop or computer using an Aux cable. An aux cable, short for auxiliary cable, is a type of audio cable used to connect audio devices together. It is also known as a 3.5mm cable, mini-jack cable, or stereo cable. Simply plug one end of the Aux cable into the PC/Laptop and the other end into the JBL Speaker.

The problem with using an aux cable is that you can’t move the speaker around. Using a long aux cable isn’t recommended either as it will affect the sound quality.

How To Know If a Computer or Laptop Has Bluetooth?

To know if a computer or laptop has Bluetooth, do the following things.

Windows

To know if your Windows PC or Laptop has in-built Bluetooth, do the following things.

1. Go to the Windows Desktop.
2. Click The Windows Logo (bottom left) and write “Device Manager“
3. Check the list and see if you can find “Bluetooth“. If you find it, your computer has Bluetooth.
4. If you don’t, check under “Network Adapters” as it may be there. If not, then your computer doesn’t have Bluetooth.

Mac

Most Macs have Bluetooth capabilities. But, here’s how you can check just to make sure:

1. Click “Apple Menu“, then “About This Mac“.
2. Click “System Info” to generate a report for all devices connected.
3. Check the list and try to find Bluetooth. If you find it, your Mac has Bluetooth.

Linux

To check if Linux has in-built Bluetooth, do the following things.

1. Open the terminal and type “dmesg | grep -i blue” and click Enter.
2. If you see a returning line, you have Bluetooth. If you don’t, you don’t have Bluetooth.

Some Linux Kernels won’t show Bluetooth, even if the PC/Laptop has it. To know for sure, try to connect a device using Bluetooth and see if it works.

How To Connect a JBL Speaker to a Windows Computer or Laptop Using Bluetooth?

To connect a JBL Speaker to Windows Computer or Laptop using Bluetooth, do the following things.

1. Put The JBL Speaker Into Pairing Mode

Power up the JBL Speaker and press the Bluetooth button once. Some JBL Speakers will enter pairing mode automatically once you turn them on. The Bluetooth button will have a flashing blue light when in paired mode and a steady blue light once connected to a device.

The pairing mode is only active for 1-5 minutes (depending on the model), if the speaker doesn’t connect with a device during this time, it will exit pairing mode.

2. Open the PC’s Bluetooth Settings

Go to the Windows Desktop, click the Windows logo at the left bottom, and type “Bluetooth” into the search bar. Click “Bluetooth and other devices settings” > “Add Bluetooth or Other Devices”.

A new small window will open, click “Bluetooth” and wait for your computer to scan for nearby Bluetooth devices. Once the scanning is done, check the Bluetooth and click “JBL Speaker” (the name will depend on the model you have), and the devices will pair.

Once both devices are paired, the speaker will release a short sound to indicate that it’s paired with a device. The Bluetooth button will also have a steady blue light.

3. Test The Connection

To test the connection, play music on your PC/Laptop and check if the sound is coming through the speaker. If the sound comes through the speaker, the devices are successfully paired.

If the sound doesn’t come through the speaker, change the audio output source of your Windows PC. To do so, right-click the “Volume” icon (bottom right), click “Open Sound Settings‘, under “Choose Your Output Device” and choose “Bluetooth” or “JBL Speaker“.

How To Connect a JBL Speaker To Macbook Using Bluetooth?

To connect a JBL Speaker to Macbook using Bluetooth, do the following things.

1. Activate Pairing Mode

Most JBL speakers enter pairing mode automatically once turned on. To manually activate the pairing mode, press the Bluetooth button once. The Bluetooth or power button (depending on the model) will have a flashing blue when the speaker is in pairing mode.

2. Activate Bluetooth in Your MacBook

To activate Bluetooth in a MacBook, click the “Apple Menu“, open “System Preferences“, and click “Bluetooth“. Under the Bluetooth icon, click “Turn Bluetooth On” to activate it.

3. Connect the JBL Speaker with MacBook

The MacBook Bluetooth will automatically start to scan for nearby Bluetooth devices (e.g. your speaker), once activated. Keep the JBL Speaker and MacBook within their Bluetooth range (10 meters or 30 feet). Once the MacBook scans and find the speaker, it will list its name “JBL Speaker” (or the model’s name) under “Devices” in the “Bluetooth Preferences Panel”.

Click the speaker’s name to pair both devices. Once paired, a “Connected” text will appear under the “JBL Speaker” name in the Bluetooth list.

Move the speaker closer to the Mac, avoid Bluetooth interferences, or turn the Bluetooth (in both devices) off/on, if the Mac and speaker won’t pair.

4. Change the Audio Output In Your MacBook

Once the devices are paired, test their connection. Play music on your MacBook and check if the sound is coming through the speaker. If the sound comes through the speaker, the devices have successfully paired.

You must change the Audio Output Source if the devices are paired but the sound comes through the MacBook and not the speaker.

To change the Audio Output Source, click “Sound Preference Panel” in the “System Preferences” window, and tick the box “Show volume in the menu bar.” Click the “Volume” icon in the menu bar, and under “Output Devices”, choose “Bluetooth” or “JBL Speaker”.

How To Connect a JBL Speaker to a Computer or Laptop Using Aux?

To connect a JBL Speaker to a computer or laptop using Aux, do the following things.

1. Plug The Aux Cable Into the Port

Plug one end of the Aux cable into the audio output port of the source device (e.g. Laptop. PC, MacBook) and the other end into the audio input port of the receiving device (JBL Speaker).

The location of the aux port, also known as the headphone jack or audio output/input, on a PC or laptop can vary depending on the specific model. However, the common locations where you might find the aux port are the front panel, rear panel, and side panel, or it may be a combination port that supports both headphone and microphone input.

The aux port in the JBL Speaker is located near the charging port (but it may depend on the model). In some models, the aux port is hidden behind a protective plastic door, in some not.

2. Change the Audio Output Source

Most devices will automatically change the Audio Output Source to Aux once you plug in the Aux cable. But, if it doesn’t automatically change, you must manually choose “Aux” or “Headphones” as the Audio Output Source. To do so, follow these steps.

For Windows Users: Right-click the “Volume” icon (bottom right) in the Windows taskbar and click “Open Sound Settings“. Under “Choose Your Output Device” choose “Aux” or “Headphones“.

For Mac Users: Click the “Volume” icon in the menubar (top right) and under “Output Devices” choose “Aux” or “Headphones“.

3. Test The Connection

To test the connection, play music on your source device (PC, Laptop, MacBook) and check if the sound is coming through the speaker. If it is, you have successfully paired both devices using an Aux cable.

If the aux cable is plugged into both devices (PC and Speaker) but the sound is coming through the PC or Laptop, push the Aux cable deeper, check if you used the right port, or change the Audio Source Output. Also, check the volume as sometimes it goes to 0 automatically once you plug in an aux cable.

How To Connect a JBL Speaker to a Laptop or Computer Without Bluetooth?

To connect a JBL Speaker to a Laptop or Computer without Bluetooth, use a Bluetooth transmitter or adapter. A Bluetooth transmitter is a device that allows you to transmit audio wirelessly from a non-Bluetooth device (e.g. Laptop or PC) to Bluetooth-enabled devices (e.g. portable speaker) as it acts as a bridge between both devices.

Bluetooth transmitters come in various forms, including standalone devices that connect directly to the laptop. They feature Bluetooth pairing buttons, indicator lights, and audio input/output ports for connecting to the laptop and the speaker.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to connect the Bluetooth transmitter to the Laptop/PC. Once connected, pair the JBL Speaker with the Laptop.