I got a brand new portable JBL Flip Essential Bluetooth speaker. I have no problem connecting with my iPhone, playing music and the sound quality is really awesome.
But when I connected it to my MacBook Pro, trying to play some YouTube videos. Something weird happened: there is no sound!
I did everything right. Pressed the JBL power button and it showed blue (which means on), I then pressed the Bluetooth button on the device.
And on my Mac Bluetooth app, I was also able to find the device and I can again confirm it’s properly connected because Mac Bluetooth shows this:
Now I opened a YouTube episode, something strange happened: the sound actually came from my Mac’s internal speakers (which is okay sound, but I’d prefer to listen to it from my new portable speaker, that’s why I bought it, right?)
The Solution: It’s Actually a Quick Fix
Initially, I thought there was something wrong with my Mac, so I restarted the computer and tried again, nope, the issue still persists.
Long story short, it turns out to be the Sound output issue. And it was a simple fix.
Here’s how:
Step 1: On your Mac, move the mouse cursor to the top left corner and click on the Apple logo icon, then select System Preferences…
Step 2: In the new System Preference panel, find Sound and click on it.
Step 3: In the Sound window, make sure you’re under the Output tab.
Most likely, you’ll see the default sound output is: Internal Speakers (Built-in), even though the external Bluetooth speaker (i.e. JBL Flip Essential) is detected and showing here.
What you need to do is: select the external speaker! (don’t see it here? Check the solution below)
Once I clicked on JBL Flip Essential, the sound immediately switched from my Mac internal speakers to be from the bluetooth speaker.
Done!
What if My JBL Bluetooth Speaker is Not Showing in Sound Output?
It’s probably time to upgrade the firmware, this video shows you how:
Note that it requires you to have a phone that can download the JBL Portable app (iOS or Android), and it will take you a bit of time to do so. Be patient.
Anyway, I hope this helps. If you found another solution to fix this kind of Bluetooth speaker sound issue on Mac. Please let me know and I’ll consider updating this post to make it up to update.
marielle
Thanks it worked! On “sound” I I saw that the output was on the Mac,so I switched it to the JBL speaker and the sound came out clearly on the speaker. Thanks for your graphic explication which was so easy to follow and facilitated everything.
Stole
I have the same problem as Kate here, speaker (JBL flip 4, 4.0.0.0 firmware) paired with mac, showing in bluetooth connections, is not showing in sound output devices, so we can not choose that output … so this solution is impossible for us
Jerry Romero
Sorry to hear that. I’m not sure how to help you troubleshoot your problem, because I can’t replicate your scenario. Hope you good luck though!
SArah
I had the same issue. Firmware updated, etc ,etc. I finally discovered that my iphone was already connected to the flip 4. Once I disconnected it, the flip 4 appeared in the list of output devices! Hope this helps.
Adam
I know that you’ve received many comments to this effect, but thank you for this. Really frustrating reading Apple suggestions that didn’t work, but your solution was never mentioned. Really appreciate it.
Jerry Romero
Thanks Adam. Glad to hear that!
Kate
I have my JBL Flip4 Connected via bluetooth from my Macbook Pro to my speaker. However, there is no option to connect the Flip 4 in the Sound preferences as a sound output source. I already have the JBL app and it’s updated on my iPhone, but that has nothing whatsoever to do with my Macbook Pro (as you have it) and I have looked at the app store via my computer and it does not offer the JBL Portable app for the installation on my computer. So, the speaker (while it is connected via bluetooth) does NOT play any sound from my computer. (I’ve had no issues connecting the speaker to either my iphone or ipad… it’s my Macbook Pro that’s the issue. Is there a JBL Flip4 driver that can be installed on the macbook pro, do you know?
Jerry Romero
Hi Kate,
I don’t think you need a driver and I doubt there’s one for Mac (if you’re using a PC, that’s another story though).
A few troubleshooting steps:
1. Make sure you’ve selected the sound output to be your JBL speaker (instead of the internal speaker or any other device)
2. Make sure the volume is up on both your MacBook and the speaker. Do not mute it.
3. Which macOS version your MacBook Pro is running? If it’s a very old version, I recommend updating it to a newer one.
Hope this helps!
Desiree
Thankyou so much!! I must have messed around with the settings but this did the trick!!
hayward Maberley
Dear Jerry,
I have used Apple from very early, late 1980s onward and still do, now with an M1 iMac desktop running macOS Ventura 13.5.1 as well as an iPad, but I only use a dumb Nokia mobile as with the iMac and iPad I have enough access and computing power.
My problem was that I was given new a JBL Flip essential 2 that although it showed connected by Bluetooth on System Settings it was not delivering any audio.
I had been to a few sites, then I found macOSX of course there was The Quick Fix which worked.
Thank you,
Hayward
Problem solved
Jerry Romero
Hi Hayward, glad to hear that it helped. Thanks for the comment.
Chris
Thank you! That did the trick!
d
omg thank you so much!! i’ve been searching for so long and this was the only thing that actually worked!!!!
Alberto
Thats actually so stupid that you have to do all that, thanks this really helped i was scared that my jbl was just broken or sum
K
THANK YOU! 30 min of frustration, solved with your help. Thanks.
Tanishk
thank you soooo much! LIFESAVER
John Springer
” download the JBL app”.
So there’s at least 9 JBL apps in the app store. I downloaded one that said “speakers and headphones”. Turned out to be a scam and they stole my credit card.
I returned to your video and saw “JBL Connect”. That app doesn’t exist any more.
The right one (for flip 4) seems to be “JBL Portable”. But that one says software is up to date (v 4.0.0)
So I found a solution though. Using the JBL Portable app turn on “Speaker phone” setting. That caused the unit to appear twice in the blue tooth list, one as a speaker and one unlabeled, but apparently the microphone. And then, lo and behold, the Flip 4 appears in the list of sound devices.
Jerry Romero
Yes, the app is called JBL Portable. We’ve updated the post to make it clear. Thanks for sharing!
BobBeard
Oh my gosh! thank you, thank you! Your’e so right, it was so simple. I was so happy I found your article and followed your steps, and tuh dah! it worked!
Janice
Thank you so much, thankfully i did not return it yet, i thought there is something defect in the speaker that I just bought. It does help with the settings, output thingy.
genia
OMG… Thank you so much…. A million years later. You are the best
Harry
Thank u Sir,
I cant even tell, how many videos/troubleshooting docs i watched to find a fix for it. I thought there was some problem with my bluetooth, didnt realise the fix was so simple 🙂
Thanks again!
Masha
I was super confused why wasn’t it working, I thought it’s a problem with the MacBook already. But your guide was so easy to follow and literally fixed the problem in seconds. Thank you!!
Juan Carlos
BRO…… you saved me! God i dif everything else but this.
Maria
It worked perfectly, thanks for that!!!
grace
had my speaker for a year. been searching for an anwser every since. ONLY JUST FOUND THIS I LOVE YOU SO MUCH THANK YOU
Christian
Thank you for this, worked perfectly!
Haastrup
it worked thank you
JAY
I have a JBL Boombox 1 and it doesn’t show in the sound output section although it’s connected via bluetooth on my Mac Pro. Have checked for an update of firmware for the boombox but there isn’t any at the moment. Does this mean I can never connect the Jbl boombox 1 to my Mac until there is an update from Jbl?
Brent Brown
I have a new MacBook Pro. I was surprised to find out it would not work with my old JBL Flip. I would think it would be backward compatible with a speaker. The firmware update resolved the problem.
Thank you for your article.
Jas
Thank you! Mine actually was being muted. I don’t know how that happen…
Tina
THANK YOU!!!
I was so close to giving up on this lol
Brigitte
Fantastic! I had been grappling with this issue for months! Your post has saved me!!! I was already negotiating with my son to take his JBL extreme to my next workshop instead of my JBL flip 4!!! Thank you very much! Brigitte
Jerry Romero
Great to hear that, and you’re very welcome!
Ovuoke
Thank you for this.
Anna
thank you so much I have been stucked with this issue for ages!
Christian
Awesome thanks
agent p
super helpful, thanks a million!
Mariana
Thank you so much!!! I was even thinking of returning the speaker!
Eith
Thanks for taking the time to share this; very awesome!!!!
Theresa
Thanks for taking the time to share this very simple solution in a very simple way, AND with very clear pics.. I agree also, This little JBL speaker is fantastic !! Thanks again.
aimee
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I was about to give up.
Petko Petkov
Perfect and highly professional!
I was extremely satisfied with your professional advice!
Sincerely, P. Petkov!
CARDONA JEAN
Thanks you for you help. fast and effective
Teresita
You’re awesome!!! Thank you so much, I was going crazy not knowing how to fix this.
Jenny
Thank you soooo much! Although connected by blue tooth I couldn’t get any sound out of my flip player till I did as you suggested. Your instructions were extremely clear. I’m very grateful. I’ve been pressing buttons all morning! Jenny x
kiri
I screamed out loud with joy because of your solution! Thank you so much!!!
Andrew
Many thanks for that very straightforward advice, like you I have had no trouble linking my JBL with iPad and iPhone but MacBook generally unsuccessful. despite linking happily with a Bose speaker. Problem now solved thank you, what a great relief!
Jerry Romero
You’re welcome. Glad that you fixed it.
Ale
Wow this totally fix my issue 10 out of 10! Superb post!
SueN
Thanks. Pricing up a new speaker after my Flip 4 suddenly stopped working and would not reconnect. Speaker not initially in any lists but played about and it worked.
Simone
This was a perfect fix! This happens a bit too often between my JBL Xtreme and Macbook Air (esp. after an update to the firmware) and your great explanation outlined the right steps to get my sound back on track. Thanks!!
Jerry Romero
No problem! Glad that you fixed it and found our guide helpful.