Everyone loves AirPods until they fail to work like they should. However, a lot of the recurrent issues AirPod users experience can be fixed with ease, like when one AirPod stops working. This can easily be fixed and within a few seconds, and you can have your AirPods working just as new. Whether you own the noise-canceling AirPods Pro, the original AirPods, the AirPods 2, or the AirPods 3, the steps to fixing your faulty AirPods are the same. So, how do you fix your AirPods when only one is working?
To fix one AirPod not working properly, you can try toggling Bluetooth on and off, examining stereo balance in the settings menu, or performing a hard reset on the AirPods using the button the case. Check that the charging contacts aren’t dirty too, and if nothing works contact Apple Support.
It’s not always easy to pinpoint the cause of your AirPods’ failure when one of them stops functioning. Some of the possible reasons include software settings, low battery, and possibly an errant speaker mesh within the faulty AirPod. Irrespective of which AirPod is malfunctioning, let’s look at what could be causing the problem and how to fix it.
Why Do AirPods Only Play In One Ear?
You know that something has gone wrong when your AirPod produces audio in just one ear. This may be brought on by a simple issue like dirty AirPods or a low battery and sometimes by more complex issues like audio settings or network problems.
Since there is no single cause of AirPod malfunction, there is no single solution either.
Troubleshooting and Fixing One AirPod Not Working
One problem that could be quite irritating is the recurrent issue where one AirPod loses connection irregularly or fails to work for no specific reason. If this is happening to you, take a look at the fixes below and follow the given steps to see if the issue can be sorted out.
Take a look at your battery
The likeliest reason for your AirPod to stop working is simply a dead battery. Your AirPods don’t consume power at the same rate therefore, even when you have both AirPods fully charged, one may run out of power before the other.
So, the first thing to do when one ear loses audio is to check your battery or the battery widget. When necessary, charge your AirPods.
Your AirPod may need cleaning
Sometimes, the reason you don’t hear the audio in one AirPod is that dirt has been built up over time. This can stop audio from getting out. Earwax, dust, or lint could build up and clog up the AirPod. All you have to do is run a quick check and clean up your AirPods when you find that the speakers are clogged.
Dirt on the bottom of the AirPod can interfere too – if you consider the charging step above, note that an AirPod may not charge at all if there’s dirt covering the charging contacts on the bottom of the AirPod stem or the contacts in the base of the AirPod case.
Toggle Bluetooth on and off
Another possibility could be that audio is not propagated as it should from your mobile device to your AirPods. When this is the case, a simple solution will be to reset your Bluetooth.
If you are using any Apple product like iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, here’s how to do it: from settings, click Bluetooth, then toggle the Bluetooth slider off/white, then wait a few seconds before moving it back to on/green.
Try restarting your device
While restarting your device may not solve the problem, it is a simple attempt that may help you. Restarting your device helps to clear active memory and is a great way to handle temporary issues. Go ahead and restart your iPad or iPhone and see what results you get.
Unpair and re-pair AirPods
If at this point you still can’t get audio in your AirPod, you may have to set up your AirPods fresh. If you own an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, head over to settings, > Bluetooth > click on the “i” next to the AirPods > Forget This Device > Forget Device.
This disconnects the AirPods completely from your device. After this, return the AirPods to their case and hold down the button. Then the onscreen set-up instructions will guide you to reconnect.
Try a hard reset on the AirPods
If you try all of the above and nothing worked, then it is time to hard reset your AirPods. To do this, follow the same steps for unpairing and re-pairing your AirPods above.
When you get to the part where you have to hold down the button on the AirPods case, hold it for 15 seconds. You will know you’ve done it right when the light turns amber then white. When this happens, you can take your hand off the button and follow the guidelines onscreen.
Consider resetting your network settings
There is a setting incorporated into your device that manages its connection to various networks and this includes Bluetooth. When there’s a problem with the settings, it could affect your AirPods.
You can easily reset but afterward, you’ll need to re-pair your Bluetooth devices, put in your Wi-Fi passwords again, and more. Here’s how to reset your Network Settings: head over to Settings> General > Reset > Reset Network Settings.
Examine stereo balance
Deep in your Accessibility options on Apple devices, there is a setting that allows you to control the audio balance between both AirPods. The problem with your AirPods could be because there is no balance, so the sound is being sent to one AirPod.
Here’s how to handle this: Head to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > locate the Balance slider and push it to the middle to achieve balance.
Update operating system
With every new version of iOS and iPadOS update, you receive some new features and bug fixes. This may not necessarily solve your problem, but all problems encountered in the older version may be fixed with the update. This is worth a try since these updates are free, fast, and offer other great benefits.
When all else fails, here are some steps you can follow to resolve the problem.
- Go to the Settings app on your iPad or iPhone.
- Click first on Bluetooth, then go to the “i” icon beside AirPods.
- Select “Forget this Device.”
- Make sure you have both AirPods in their charging case. Be sure that the case is fully charged.
- There is a small button at the back, close to the bottom of the case. This button sits flush with the case and wears the same color. It is not so easily found, so you may take your time and run your hand around the areas indicated.
- Open the lid of the charging case.
- When you find it, press and hold the button for a minimum of 15 seconds. Your AirPods charging case has an internal light that sits between AirPods – this works for first-generation or non-wireless second-generation AirPods charging cases. This internal light will flash a white light before turning amber to show the AirPods have been reset. You will notice this light on the front of the case if you own the Wireless Charging Case for AirPods 2 or AirPods 3. These cases are available as upgrades to first-generation AirPods.
- When all of these is done, close the lid of your AirPods case, then open it again.
- Now place your AirPods case with the lid open beside your iPad or iPhone. Your Device will recognize the AirPods, and you can go ahead and connect them using the popup.
When you have tried all of the above and nothing works, you should consider resetting your iPhone’s network setting. Here’s how to do this:
Head over to the Settings app, click on General then proceed to reset. Click on “reset network setting.” Afterward, try to pair your AirPods again using the steps outlined above.
If this also fails, you may need to contact an expert for help. Apple support is a good call – reach out to Apple Support or head over to an Apple Genius Bar.