EASY FIX: One Earpiece Not Working

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One earpiece not working Left or Right

One of the most common problems we face with headphones is when one side stops working. This is indeed a difficult and undesirable situation. No matter how advanced our technology is, there are always challenges we continue to face.

But you don’t have to worry, we’re here with a simple fix to get your headphones working properly again!

So how do you fix one earbud not working?

To fix headphones that work on one side, check the audio balance settings on your device. If the slider has moved to one side, then there will be no audio output on the other side of the headphones. Make sure the balance slider is in the center and then you should hear sound from both earbuds.

But this is one simple solution that may not always work. An audio device such as Bluetooth headphones or headphones can have numerous software glitches and hardware issues that can cause them to not work properly.

Here is a list of other solutions you can try to fix if the single earbud not working issue is:

Disable mono audio on Android phones
Disable Mono Sound on iPhone
Reboot your device
Check cables
Reconnect your Bluetooth devices
Check the audio jack
Check out the headphones
Try different devices
Fix range issues
Charge your wireless headphones
Check for compatibility issues
Reset Bluetooth Headphones
Last resort – replacement or maintenance

Disable mono audio on Android phones

Did you know that, unlike stereo audio, mono audio plays audio using only one audio channel? Every audio device currently has the ability to play mono and stereo sound. However, sometimes you may encounter the problem of one earbud being louder than the other, which can be solved with the help of our guide.

To turn off mono audio on Android phones:Open the “Settings” option
You’ll see an Accessibility or Ease of Use option.
Inside this there should be an option for mono sound settings.
Turn it off and then see if your headphones work properly.

Disable Mono Sound on iPhone

To turn off mono audio on iPhone:

Click Settings
Go to General settings and open it
Scroll down to find the Accessibility option.
Open it, scroll down and you will see Accessibility
On the accessibility screen, there is a button to set mono sound and make sure it is unchecked

Reboot your device

This seems to be the trick to solving all problems, right? Well, you know what, in many cases, it works! So, if your wireless headphones have a problem with sound coming only from one ear, another simple solution might be to reboot the device.

If there is any software error, then restarting the audio device should fix the problem. Unplug your headphones during the reboot while the phone is on, plug in your wireless headphones and check if the problem persists. Sometimes it’s possible that your airfields have fallen into the water – here’s how to save them!

Reconnect your Bluetooth devices

No matter how advanced our technology is, there will always be failures. If you are using Bluetooth headphones, there is a possibility that the pairing was not completed successfully. In such cases, you may experience problems with the audio output.

Turn off your Bluetooth headphones and turn off Bluetooth on your audio device. Now turn on your headphones, enable Bluetooth on your device, and then start the pairing process again. Check if this fixes your problems.

Check cables

The wires of wired headphones are prone to tangling, cutting or even short-circuiting. If you are using wired headphones, untangle all wires properly first. Do not use force as this may damage the internal wiring. After unraveling, reconnect and see if the problem persists.

If there are cuts in the wire or the internal wiring is exposed, this can also lead to audio problems. Check the entire length of the cable and find the places that need to be secured. Apply tape and carefully cover all affected areas. This should help resolve your issue.

Check the audio jack

This is a two part solution. First, let’s check if the 3.5mm jack on your audio device is damaged. without any blocking. If there is loose dirt or any foreign material inside, the jack will not be able to properly exit. Take a thin cotton swab and gently clean the socket of the socket. Once that’s done, you can plug in your headphones and test them out.

The second solution is to make sure you have connected the headphone jack correctly. When you insert the headphone jack into the device, you should hear a faint click. This confirms that the connector is connected correctly. If you don’t insert it all the way, it’s called a half point problem, which results in connection problems.

Check out the headphones

Whether you’re using wired or Bluetooth headphones, headphones can sometimes get dirty. Constant use and exposure to the elements can cause dirt, dust and earwax to accumulate in your headphones. If any of these have accumulated in front of the speaker, they may be blocking the sound.

Regular maintenance ensures that this does not happen. Take a cotton swab and gently clean the earbud speaker and the mesh that protects it. If you are using headphones with removable covers, take them out and dry-clean them.

Try different devices

Another way to find out the root cause of the problem is to use different devices. Plug them into another audio device first and see if it works or not. If this does not work, connect another pair of headphones to the original device.

If device switching works, this will help you narrow down the exact issues. Try it and see if it works for you.

Fix range issues

If device switching works, this will help you narrow down the exact issues. Try it and see if it works for you.

All Bluetooth devices have a fixed range within which they will operate. For best performance, it is always recommended to stay within a connection radius for best results. Whenever you are using Bluetooth headphones and encounter the problem that one side is not working, try increasing the range.

Move closer to the audio device and see if the connection improves. If you are far away, this may cause one side earpiece not to work properly.

Charge your headphones

Wireless headphones use batteries and need to be constantly charged to ensure good performance and standby time. Check the battery level in the earpiece and if it is low, charge it to a high percentage. If you are using brand new headphones, you should always charge them to 100% battery level before using them.

Check for compatibility issues

Compatibility issues arise when using wireless devices. If there is a mismatch between the Bluetooth technology used by your Bluetooth audio device and headphones, then there may be audio output problems due to compatibility issues. Check if there are any pending updates for your device and Bluetooth headphones. However, if you can fix compatibility, you will need to replace the device.

Reset Bluetooth Headphones

If you have taken the steps mentioned above and still cannot resolve the issue, you can try resetting the Bluetooth connection.

To reset the Bluetooth headphones

On your smartphone, go to the Settings option
Go to the Bluetooth menu and search for connected devices.
Click on them to open the menu
You should see the “Forget this device” option.
Once the device is removed, you can pair to begin with.

The same process can be followed even if you are using a tablet, laptop, or other Bluetooth audio device. You can even reset Apple AirPods and Samsung Galaxy Buds by putting them in a case.

Last resort – replacement or maintenance

Let’s say you’ve tried everything listed above and nothing works for you? Then what are you doing? Well, if all else fails, then as a last resort, you should either service or replace the headphones. Check if your headphones are covered by the warranty. If yes, then you can get a free repair or even a replacement.

Visit an authorized service center and check if the headphones/bluetooth headphones are working. Minor problems are fixed easily and at minimal cost. But if the repair cost is too high, then it makes sense to buy new headphones.

How to fix Apple headphones that work on one side

To fix Apple headphones that work on one side:

Make sure your Airpods charging case is fully charged. If this is not the case, then charge the case to 100%
After charging, put both earbuds into the case and close the lid.
The AirPods are now charging and you can leave them inside for a couple of minutes, depending on how much charge they held before.
After a while, open the AirPods case. If your phone and case are synced, your phone will show if it’s charging and the percentage of charge in the pods and case.
Now, if your AirPods are sufficiently charged, take them out of the case and play the music file.

How to fix Galaxy left or right earbud not working

To fix Samsung Galaxy headphones that are working on one side:

Turn off your headphones and place them in the Samsung Galaxy Buds case.
Make sure they fit correctly and then close the case. This will start the Buds charging process.
If there is not enough charge in your case, you will first need to fully charge the case before placing the earbuds inside.
Once your Galaxy Buds are fully charged, start the pairing process with your device.
Reconnect the Galaxy Buds to your smartphone and check if both Bluetooth headphones are working.

How to properly care for headphones or earbuds?

To properly care for your headphones or a pair of headphones:

Servicing/cleaning the headphones at frequent intervals. This includes wiping the wires to remove accumulated dust. Along with that, use a Q-tip to remove dirt and wax from the headphone speakers.
Use original products together with headphones. If you use cheap quality chargers or charging cases, they can damage your headphones or a pair of headphones. Don’t skimp on quality
If you use wireless headphones, always store them in a case when not in use. Even the charging case can get dirty or stained with earwax. Wipe the cabinet from time to time with a soft cloth or brush.
If you are using wired headphones, always make sure that the wires do not get tangled. When you tangle or bend the wires too much, the internal wiring can be damaged or you could have a broken wire.
Charge the headphones only when the battery level is less than 20%-30%. Some people worry about the battery and keep charging their wireless earbuds. Did you know that constant charging can damage batteries?
Do not expose your headphones or earbuds to rain. Some brands claim that their products are waterproof or waterproof, but it’s best not to risk it.If you have bought a pair of high-quality headphones, then know that they are not cheap! Take care of them and they will last you a lifetime.

Conclusion

Annoying! This is exactly the emotion we all feel when one of our everyday devices encounters a glitch. Phones, tablets, laptops, and audio devices are all an important part of our lives now, and most of us cannot do without them. In this article, we have addressed the problem of incorrect operation of a one-side earphone.

With the many solutions mentioned above, you can use a well-defined troubleshooting process to fix your Bluetooth headphone issue. Whether it’s a hardware or software problem, our solutions should solve all problems in the best possible way. Follow them as we mentioned here and hopefully, your issue is now resolved.

Also Check: Dropped AirPods in Water? : How To Save Them?