JBL Charge 4 Button Functions: A Complete Guide
By Robert Jones · 2021-08-04
JBL Charge 4 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a built-in power
## JBL Charge 4 Controls: No-Nonsense Guide Right, so you've got a JBL Charge 4. Good little bit of kit, these are. I've had one knocking about the workshop for a couple of years now – perfect for when I'm tinkering with crossovers or just need some background noise while I'm writing up a review. But like any bit of tech, knowing what all the fiddly buttons do can save you a bit of faff. Let's get stuck in. ### Power and Bluetooth: The Essentials First things first, getting it on and hooked up. Dead simple, really. * **Power Button:** You'll spot this on top, dead centre, with the usual power symbol. Hold it down for a couple of seconds and it'll fire up or shut down. You'll hear the little jingle, and a light will come on. Easy. * **Bluetooth Button:** Just next to the power button, that classic Bluetooth logo. Give it a press, and the Charge 4 goes into pairing mode. You'll see a blue light flashing. Grab your phone, tablet, whatever, find "JBL Charge 4" in your Bluetooth settings, and connect. Takes two seconds. I usually have mine paired to my old Samsung tablet I use just for music in the workshop. Never misses a beat. ### Volume and Playback: Your Daily Drivers These are the ones you'll be using most, naturally. Can't have a speaker without being able to control the tunes, can you? * **Volume Down (-):** To the left of the power button. One press, volume down a notch. Hold it, and it'll drop faster. Pretty standard stuff. * **Volume Up (+):** To the right of the power button. Same deal as volume down, but, well, up. I find the volume steps on these are pretty decent; not too big, not too small. * **Play/Pause Button:** This one's the classic triangle icon, right between the volume buttons. One press plays, one press pauses. Simple. If you get a call while it's connected, pressing this will answer it. Press it again to hang up. Handy if your hands are full. Double-press it to skip to the next track. Now, here's a common grumble, and I get it – no dedicated "previous track" button. You have to do it from your device. A bit annoying, but not a dealbreaker for me, personally. ### JBL Connect+: Link 'Em Up Now, this is where it gets a bit more interesting, especially if you or a mate has another JBL speaker that supports Connect+. You can link them up for bigger sound. I've only ever done it with a couple of Flip 5s at a BBQ once, but it worked a treat. * **JBL Connect+ Button:** This is the little hourglass-shaped button, furthest to the left on the top panel. Press it on your Charge 4, then press it on another compatible JBL speaker. They should link up. You'll hear a little tone when they connect. You can link quite a few, apparently, but I've never tried more than two. Good for a bit of multi-room audio without having to spend a fortune on a dedicated system. ### The Charging Port and Battery Indicator: Staying Powered Underneath a little rubber flap on the back, you'll find the ports. The flap keeps it waterproof, so make sure it