JBL Pulse 4

You cannot download the JBL Portable App on a PC. This app is only available on mobile devices.

A new firmware version has been released for the Pulse 4 (Version 0.5.1.0), below is a list of the improvements:

1. Supports Bluetooth 5.1 profile.
2. Improves the stability of stereo setup using the JBL Portable* app.
3. Improves compatibility with Mac computers.
4. Enhances light show synchronization with music.

The firmware update is installed as an OTA update:

1. Download and install the JBL Portable* app from the Google Play/App Store.
2. Connect your Pulse 4 to your phone/tablet through Bluetooth.
3. Open the JBL Portable app and wait for the Pulse 4 to appear.
4. On the Pulse 4 screen, select settings (gear cog symbol).
5. Proceed with installing the firmware update.

*JBL Portable is the new name for the JBL Connect app, the name will change in January 2021.

This unit is IPX7 rated, which means that you can submerge the unit in water as deep as 3 feet (1 meter) for up to 30 minutes.

The intensity of the light show is dependent on the amount of audio signal being sent into the unit.

If you are experiencing a light show that doesn't move around very much, it is likely that you are not using a feature on your phone called Bluetooth Absolute Volume*. This means that the volume of your phone/tablet/device is controlled independently from the volume of the speaker.

So, if you have the Pulse 4 set to maximum volume or close to it, but the volume on your device is set at a low level, the light show will show little to no effect. All you have to do is reverse it. Turn up the volume on the device to the maximum and set the Pulse 4 to the desired volume. This will send the correct level to the speaker and the light show will show plenty of effect. This also benefits the sonic quality as well. Therefore, we recommend always having the volume on your device turned up to a high level and then adjusting the volume level on the speaker itself. This way you'll be able to enjoy the light show while also getting good audio quality. Or, if possible, setup your device for Bluetooth Absolute Volume*.

*BLUETOOTH ABSOLUTE VOLUME: Most phones/tablets/devices now use Bluetooth Absolute Volume (a.k.a. volume sync) by default. This is a feature that synchronizes the volumes of the device and the speaker, and allows the speaker volume to be controlled by changing the volume on either the device or the speaker. The volume being sent from the device is fixed at full volume.

If the buttons on your portable speaker are not working properly or are unresponsive while plugged into a power source, please try running the speaker on battery. If the buttons perform correctly while running on battery, this means your power supply is not providing enough current/amps. Be sure to use a power supply that has a rating equal to or greater than the amperage rating indicated in your product specs.

There can be differences in the internal hardware that also implies different firmwares. These products feature the same specifications and performance expectations. If the app does not inform you of any new updates, the firmware is current and the product is performing as designed.

You will need to dry the charging port completely before plugging in power for charging.
 

You can change the JBL Pulse lightshow via JBL Portable app.

1. Connect the Pulse with your phone, open the JBL Portable app and wait for app to recognize your speaker.  
2. Click the Lightshow button to enter the lightshow set-up
3. Swipe left and right to change lightshow
4. Swipe to customized page, to select your favorite pattern and customize your lightshow
5. Click the color wheel to change color or enter camera color picker
6. Click the brightness button to adjust brightness of the lightshow

                                                                                                                                       

Your JBL speaker is waterproof with IPX7 rating. (IPX7 means it can survive immersion in 1 meter/3.3 feet for up to 30 minutes.) To maintain the looks and functions of your speaker, please make sure to rinse it with fresh water after using it at a swimming pool or the ocean, then dry off all covers and areas where water can gather. The standard for waterproofing is for tap water. Chemicals and salt in your pool or the ocean can damage the waterproof seals or harm the surface finish over time if not rinsed off after use.

1. Turn on both speakers.
2. Connect your device to one of the two speakers via Bluetooth.

3. Start streaming music to that speaker (for best results play music on this speaker for more than 20 seconds before proceeding with the next steps).
4. Open the JBL Portable app.
5. Allow the app to detect the single speaker playing music.
6. Once detected, press the Connect/Partyboost button on both speakers.

7. Allow the app to identify both speakers.
8. Click the Partyboost button, you will see the option for Party or Stereo, select Stereo.

Please note: Stereo Mode can only be enabled when 2 of the same speaker model are used.
For example, you will not be able to achieve Stereo Mode with a Flip 5 and Flip 6, only Party Mode.
Also, it is not possible to pair speaker models with Connect and Connect+ together, or pair to speaker models with Partyboost.

If there are drop out or connection issues when using PartyBoost or Connect+, it could be one of three things.

1.      Units are too far apart (move units closer together) 

2.      Interference from other 2.4gHz wireless units in the area.

3.     Unit is no longer working as designed

Here are some steps to isolate the issue:

 Try taking the units out of the house and test it outside with no interference to see if you still experience connectivity issues. If you still experience connectivity issues, please try steps below:

Whatever unit drops off, remove that from the chain. Test the rest of the speakers and keep doing it until you find the speaker that is causing the drop outs.  If all speakers begin to drop off, please try a different order and repeat. Repeat this process with each unit being the “main speaker”. 

 Make sure to turn off all WiFi/RF devices. (Router, laptop, baby monitor, Nest cams, IP cams, WiFi switches, WiFi outlets, WiFi lights, cordless phones, etc.) 

You should be able to identify the issue/speaker by following these steps. 

1. In order to change the name of the speaker, you must first connect your speaker via Bluetooth and then download the JBL Connect app.
2. Once the app is downloaded choose app and wait for it to recognize your device.
3. Now that your speaker is highlighted, choose the gear located either below or to the right of the speaker image.
4. Once you choose the gear you will have the option to edit the name by clicking on the small pencil icon.
5. After you change the name, you will see a notification stating to "Reconnect to  Apply New Name"
6. Go to your Bluetooth settings select "Forget This Device" and then reconnect to establish the new speaker name.

So your Pulse 4 got dirt on it, or even fingerprints, and you want to show off the device the best way possible.
Keep reading this article, and we will instruct you on how to clean the glass and device.

How to clean your speaker

• Dirt and stains on your speaker can be cleaned under lukewarm running tap water.
• Use a soft cloth, preferably cotton, to clean the glass and to remove fingerprints. Hold the top part to avoid adding more prints to the glass part.

Remember not to charge the device while it is still wet. The charging port needs to be completely dry before charging.

Contact our Customer support for more help and advice to keep your speaker top-notch!

The PartyBoost feature is not available when your JBL speaker is connected to a computer via Bluetooth. This is a technical limitation. When connected to a computer, the computer is acting as the primary device. Therefore, the JBL speaker does not have control of re-transmitting the Bluetooth signal to other JBL speakers.

NOTE: Speakers effected by this are the JBL Flip 5, JBL Flip 6, JBL Charge 5, JBL Pulse 4, JBL Xtreme 3, and JBL Boombox 2, as well as future products featuring the PartyBoost feature.

This product does not feature speakerphone or voice assistant functionality as it does not have a microphone.

1. Connect the first Partyboost speaker with your phone and keep music playing (for best results play music on this speaker for more than 20 seconds before proceeding with the next steps).

2. Press the Partyboost button on the first speaker.
3. Turn on the second speaker that you want to connect in Partyboost mode.
4. Now press the Partyboost button on the second speaker.
5. After a few seconds, both Partyboost speakers should connect and play together.
It can take a few seconds after music is started before sound will be heard from both speakers.
This is also the process for connecting more than two speakers in Party mode, simply turn on the other compatible speakers and press the Partyboost buttons.

• Always have clear line of sight between your Bluetooth device (speaker, headphones etc.) and source device (Smartphone/tablet/PC etc). Be aware of obstacles in front of your devices.

• Try to shutdown other products that have Bluetooth, but are not being used. They are often the reason for interference even though they are not being used.

• Do not stand too close to your Wi-Fi router since a Wi-Fi signal is stronger and in many cases will "overlap" the connection.

• Be aware of walls around you. Concrete and brick walls will often interrupt the signal, as it cannot pass through such thick walls.

• Bluetooth signals cannot travel through water, which includes the human body. Make sure with wireless headphones to keep your source device and the receiver on the same side of your body.

• Open spaces such as parks can cause issues for your devices, as open air is "bad" for any Bluetooth signal if it cannot reflect from objects around you.

Software updates for your speaker can be done using the JBL Portable app.
Download it from the Apple App store and Google Play store.
If there is an available update, look for the small red dot above the gear icon and follow the download instructions (see image below).
If you have an issue with your device it is always worth checking if there is a Software update available and performing the installation if there is.

In the customized lightshow, you can select up to 3 patterns, however; the preset color cannot be changed. You can always adjust the lightshow brightness. 
 

Press and hold the Lightshow button for more than 2 seconds to turn off the Lightshow.

If you experience any sound distortion after immersing your speaker in water, simply shake the speaker to get rid of any excess moisture and allow the speaker to completely dry. Once dry, the sound quality should return to normal.

If you create a Stereo Pair using the JBL Portable App and you come within range of additional PartyBoost compatible speakers while they are ON, the app will find these speakers. This will break the stereo pair and create a mono PartyBoost group that includes all active speakers that are in proximity. This only happens when the JBL Portable App is actively running on the source device, including when it is running in the background, and when these other speakers are ON. To avoid this scenario, make sure the app is completely closed, without running in the background before coming near any additional PartyBoost speakers that happen to be ON.

NOTE: The Portable App does not need to be running in order to enjoy Stereo sound from two speakers

This speaker does not have an Aux Input, so no analog connection is possible.

The JBL Connect app will be renamed as JBL Portable on the App Store and Google Play store in January 2021, it will still be possible to find the app in each store by searching for either JBL Connect or JBL Portable.

There might be several reasons that our Portable app may not be working correctly on your Android device. First, your Android device must have 5.0 OS (Operating system) or higher to support JBL Connect app. Devices under 5.0 OS will not be supported. If you are having trouble viewing your JBL Portable device in the app, please disable Bluetooth, and then turn it back on again. Now you should be able to see your device in the JBL Portable app.

If you wish to reset your speaker due to various reasons, then keep reading, and follow along. 1. Press and hold Volume+ & Play/pause buttons down at the same time for more than 5 seconds. 2. The Pulse 4 will turn off, indicating that you did a successful reset. 3. Switch your Pulse 4 on again. 4. Connect with your favorite Bluetooth device and enjoy the music! Do you still have problems? Contact our Customer Service for more help!

The new PartyBoost does not support the previous Connect and Connect+ features. For example: You will not be able to successfully connect the new PartyBoost enabled Flip 5 with a Connect+ enabled speaker like the Pulse 3 or Flip 4. You will not be able to connect the Boombox 2 to the original Boombox speaker.

Our newest products, such has JBL Pulse 4 and JBL Flip 5, feature a new technology called Partyboost .

Partyboost technology

• Improved Bluetooth connection between speakers.
• A more powerful Bluetooth transmitter means that the speakers can be farther apart.
• Partyboost can only connect to other Partyboost speakers.

All newer Portable products from JBL will have Partyboost integrated.
Unfortunately, this feature is not backwards compatible with  previous models that have JBL Connect or Connect+.
 

If you are having trouble with distortion or drop outs, try the following suggestions:

Move the audio source closer to the speakers

Move the speakers closer to each other

Make sure the streaming speaker (host) only connects to one audio source, disconnect the Bluetooth connection between the streaming speaker (host) and other audio source

Make sure the audio source only connects with one streaming speaker (host), disconnect the Bluetooth connection between the audio source and other speakers

Restart both your speakers and the audio source

Make sure speakers are away from other sources of wireless signal – you could be experiencing interference

Re-pair the audio source with your speaker

If you’re streaming audio content from the internet, the issue could be with the internet connection and not your speaker

It is always recommended to use our range of Soundbars if you want a speaker for your Television or Smart TV as they are designed specifically for this purpose, whereas our Portable speakers are designed primarily for use with Phones and Tablets.

Support for Bluetooth connectivity between a TV and speaker depends on a number of different factors such as Bluetooth & A2DP versions and Audio Codecs used by each device. This can vary based on the brand, model and age of the devices, however we cannot confirm if any specific combination of TV and speaker will work without issues such as latency or lip sync delay.