AirPods are fantastic, apart from when they don’t work. And an incredibly frequent problem that many AirPod consumers have is also extremely simple to fix: Because one AirPod isn’t working, you can only hear sounds in one of your ears.
What should you do if one of your AirPods stops working?
If one of your AirPods stops working, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem. A weak battery, a system setting, or even an unclean speaker grid in one earbud might all be to blame. Examine these troubleshooting options to see what repairs your AirPods and cures your connection issue.
Before attempting any solutions:
- Remove both AirPods from your ears, wait 30 seconds, and afterward replace them in your ears at the very same time to see whether the problem has been resolved.
- Put each AirPods back into the charging dock, shut the lid, and wait 30 seconds before checking to see if the pair is operating properly.
- Switch off Bluetooth on the associated device (iOS or another smartphone), hold on for a minute, and afterward switch it back on to see if the Sound is playing via both AirPods.
- Restart the associated device (iPhone, Apple Watch, etc.) and verify that the pair is working properly.
- Track the progress of your AirPods’ charge. Charge them in the case the battery is low. Leave your AirPods in the charging condition for 2 to 3 hours, even though the charge levels are not down, and verify the issue.
- Update your AirPods and the device they’re linked to.
- Try pairing your AirPods with some other device to see whether the problem persists.
Clean Your AirPods as well as the Charging Ports
Dust, dirt, earwax, or other material forms can collect on your AirPods, clogging the speaker grill and preventing audio from reaching you. This situation can happen to consumers who have a habit of placing their AirPods in their pockets or handbags after they’ve used them. To use a case in the future might be a nice idea. Cleaning the speaker grill of the AirPods may remedy the problem in this situation.
Furthermore, the charging ports on your AirPods and the charging case might become filthy, resulting in no recharge of the affected AirPod and, consequently, that AirPod is becoming battery-dead and producing no sound. Cleaning the AirPods’ charging ports and the carrying case may also remedy the issue in this situation.
- Wipe any dirt from the earbud/speaker grills using a dry towel. If the AirPods are damp, dry them with a dry towel. However, if they are wet, use a cotton towel to absorb any leftover moisture (since it will not get new fibres from the AirPods).
- You can clean the problematic spots with a cue-tip to remove any dirt.
- Clean the charging terminal connection point at the bottom of each AirPod after clearing the speaker grills.
- Check to see if the problem has been resolved after cleaning the AirPods.
Adjust Your AirPods’ Stereo Balance
Many current systems, such as iPhones, Macs, and Windows PCs, feature an option that allows all audio to be routed to a single AirPod, which can be left or right. The primary goal of this option is to assist users who are deaf or hard of hearing. However, if you allow this setup by accident, the audio can only be played through one AirPod. Reverting this configuration to play audio from both AirPods may resolve the issue in that situation.
iPhone
- Select Accessibility from the drop-down menu under Settings.
- Tap Audio/Visual in the Hearing category.
- Now, move the scale halfway between L and R.
- Then, directly above the scale, flip the Mono Audio option off.
Mac
- Start by going to System Preferences, then to Sound, and finally to Output.
- Select your AirPods from the Sound Output menu.
- Set the scale halfway between Left and Right towards the bottom of the screen.
- Open Accessibility in System Preferences once more.
- Disable the Mono Audio box in the audio category.
Repair Airpods
A breakdown in communication between your AirPods and the associated device might cause one of them to stop working. Unplugging and replugging the devices may resolve the issue in this scenario. Because AirPods may be associated with various devices, we’ll walk through the procedure using an iPhone as an example. You can use the instructions that are specific to your device.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings and then Bluetooth.
- Select the I symbol next to the AirPods from the list.
- Select Forget this Device from the menu.
- Also, on all devices that use your Apple ID, “forget” the AirPods.
- Then connect the AirPods to your iPhone and see whether the issue has been resolved.
Reset AirPods to Factory Settings
To resolve any communication or software issues, AirPods can be factory reset. If you’re still having problems with your AirPods, you could try resetting them.
- Check to see if the charging case is charged.
- Put both AirPods in their charging cases and charge them.
- Remove the charging case’s cover.
- Find the little button on the rear of the casing (near the bottom)
- Then, for at least a few minutes, hold down the button. To reset your AirPods, ensure you hold the button for a good time. Your AirPods will appear in active mode if you don’t push long enough (not in reset mode).
- Cover the charging case’s cover and then open it again.
- Move your AirPods case with an opened cover nearer to your iPhone, and the iPhone will identify the AirPods and display a popup to pair them.
- Connect your AirPods and see whether the issue has been resolved.
Reset Your Device’s Settings
To see if the issue is with your smartphone, try pairing another set of AirPods with it. If other AirPods perform similarly, i.e., Sound comes from only one AirPod. The issue is most likely with your smartphone. In such a scenario, resetting your device’s settings (Warning: Do not lose essential data) can be the solution. We’ll use an iPhone as an example, but you may adapt the steps to your device.
- Go to Settings and then to General.
- Then press the Reset button.
- Now press the Reset All Settings button. This choice will not erase any material from your smartphone but will restore default settings for screen brightness, volume, and notification settings. Personal information will not be affected.
- Check to see if your AirPods are working properly after completing the reset process.
Firmware Versions
When the firmware of one AirPod somehow doesn’t complement the other AirPod, this problem might occur (e.g., left AirPod has updated its firmware whereas right AirPod does not). This will prevent both AirPods from pairing (firmware versions may be seen in the App settings under the About section in the General option).
Determine which AirPods have the older firmware version. Then keep this one attached to the iPhone while you charge the AirPod in the charging dock. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the AirPod to receive the update if it is left near the iPhone (with an active internet connection).
If your AirPods are still giving you problems, you may want to try changing them. Apple would exchange the item for free if you bought it less than a year ago.
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