How to fix AirPods only playing in one ear

AirPods have quickly become one of the most popular headphones in the world thanks to their reliable, simple and practical design. However, just like any other headphones, AirPods can have some issues.

A common issue that AirPods users report is that audio only plays in one ear. Of course, this problem can be very annoying, especially considering the cost of these wireless headphones. Listening to audio with only one ear is possibly worse than not listening to it at all. It sounds silly, but if you’ve experienced it, you know what we’re talking about. It can be very disorienting, especially if you like video games.

Fortunately, however, there are steps you can take to help resolve this issue and get your AirPods working again. This article is here to help you fix your AirPods only playing in one ear. Let us begin.

How to fix AirPods only playing in one ear

There are many reasons why your AirPods may play in only one of your ears, and depending on the cause of the problem, the solution will be different.

It may be due to software issues, Bluetooth connection issues, or even a battery issue. In any case, we will see some of the most common causes and how to solve them.

Solutions are yet to come, so keep an eye on them.

Note: One of the easiest ways to narrow down the source of the problem is to connect your Airpods to another device. If both are working correctly, it is likely a software issue or something is wrong with the original device. If the Airpod still doesn’t work, it is a problem with the headset.

Check if your AirPods are charged

The first thing you must check if your AirPods are charged. One of them may have low battery, which could cause it to shut down.

1. To check if your AirPods are charged, place them in the charging case, open the cover of the case, and hold it close to your iPhone or iPad. Your iPhone will show you the battery percentage of your AirPods.
2. Alternatively, you can go to your AirPods’ Bluetooth settings on any Apple device and check the battery there.

If this is your problem, the solution is incredibly simple and can be done immediately. Place the AirPods in their case and charge them with the Lightning cable.

Once they are loaded, try playing something with them and see if that fixed the problem. If the problem persists and you only have sound in one ear, try the following solution.

Clean your AirPods

In some cases, the problem may be that your AirPods are not clean. Make sure both AirPods are thoroughly clean. If dust and dirt clog the small holes in your AirPods, the volume will be lower or they will stop working altogether.

Use a cotton swab, Q-tip, damp cleaning wipe, or soft-bristled toothbrush. Rub until they shine like new again. Do not use water because you could damage or ruin them. If you must use a liquid to clean your Airpods, use a minimal amount of alcohol because it dries quickly. Be careful not to use too much; Otherwise, you risk damaging major internal components.

Lastly, you should also clean the charging case! Using a Q-tip, clean the charging case where the malfunctioning AirPod connects. If the AirPod is not properly charged, it will not make any sound. Clean the port and charge it a little.

Now, put them back in and try them out. Is there sound in both ears? If not, move on to the next solution.

Reconnect your AirPods

Often, problems with AirPods are the result of a poor Bluetooth connection. As a result, the solution could be to reconnect your AirPods to your smartphone.

You may have already thought of this, but it’s still worth a try. Unplugging your AirPods and plugging them back in is one of those simple solutions (like turning something off and on again) that works most of the time. Here’s how you can do it on your iPhone:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone and select Bluetooth.
   
2. Play the Yo Button near your AirPods.
   
3. Click on Disconnect and confirm in the pop-up window.
   
4. Reconnect the AirPods to your phone once again by going back to the Bluetooth settings and tapping your Airpods.

Are you both working now? If not, there are other solutions.

Disable Bluetooth

Bluetooth issues on your device may be causing AirPods to misbehave.

1. You can turn off Bluetooth from the Bluetooth settings.
2. Once you have turned off Bluetooth completely, wait about a minute and then turn Bluetooth back on.
3. Once again, check if both AirPods are working. Continue to next step if not.

Find your stereo balance

Inside your smartphone, there is a setting for stereo balance. Stereo balance is the distribution of sound between each of your headphones. The left and right headphones must be balanced to work. Otherwise, you will have problems, such as a headset possibly stopping working.

Here’s how to check it on iPhone:

1. Open the Settings on your phone and go to Accessibilityeyelash.
   
2. Scroll down toAudiovisual and touch it.
   
3. look at the letters l and R. Move the slider toward the center, which will give you a perfect 50-50 balance.
   
4. Turn off themono audio option if enabled.

Here’s how to check stereo balance on Mac:

1. OpenSystem preferences and choose Sound.
   
2. Click on Production.
   
3. Choose your AirPods in this menu.
   
4. Place the slider exactly in the center between leftand goodif it is not already.

If this doesn’t solve your problem, then it’s time to try one last step.

Check your device

Perhaps the culprit is your device and not the AirPods. To see if this is the case, connect to another pair of Bluetooth headphones and see if you encounter the same problem. If it does, then the fault is with your device, not the AirPods.

In this scenario, you will need to reset your device settings. Here we explain how to do it on your iPhone:

1. Gonna Settings and select the General eyelash.
   
2. Scroll down toRestart
   
3. Select Reset all settings.
   

Your device will be reset to default settings, but don’t worry; Your data will not be lost. Connect to your AirPods again and see if they both work. If not, then it’s time to look for professionals.

Update your operating system

If you’ve ever read one of our many articles, you’ve probably seen this recommendation before. This is because many of our technical problems are due to outdated software. This also applies to the Bluetooth connectivity feature that your Airpods depend on to function properly.

Although software issues often plague both Airpods, an update is worth trying. Here’s how to update your Apple device:

Update software on iOS

1. Open Settings on your iPhone and tap General.
   
2. Tap on Software update.
   
3. If one is available, tap Download and install.
   

Update software on a Mac

1. Tap the Apple icon in the top left corner of your Mac.
   
2. Click on System preferences.
   
3. Tap Software update.
   
4. Hit Update now and follow the steps to update macOS.
   

When the updates have completed successfully, plug in your Airpods to check if this has resolved your issue.

Contact Apple Support

The last resort is to contact Apple directly. Go to your official websiteand look at the AirPods p. Find the Audio Quality tab and look for solutions there. From there, you can call them or contact them online.

If none of the other options worked for you, hopefully Apple can guide you through your problems.

Frequent questions

Here are more answers to your questions about Airpods.

What do I do if one of my AirPods is missing?

If only one of the small buttons is missing, you can try using Find My iPhone to locate it. For this to work, you will need to be within range of the AirPod and have it connected to your iPhone.

1. Tap your AirPods in Find My iPhone and tap Play sound. It will be very quiet, so you will have to listen carefully.

If your AirPod is a lost cause, you can purchase a replacement AirPod from Apple.

Will my AirPods work with just one AirPod?

Yes. If you lost one or it just doesn’t work, you can still use the headphones. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to pair them with a new device without both pods in the case.

But, if they’re already paired, you should be fine with just one AirPod for a while.

How do I know if my AirPods are still covered under warranty?

To verify warranty coverage for your AirPods, visit this Apple website. You’ll need the serial number found on each AirPod, but it’s incredibly small and hard to see. An easier option to find your AirPods serial number is to go to the Bluetooth settings on a connected device (make sure your AirPods are in your ear and connected).

1. Tap the ‘i’ icon to the right of your AirPods name to display the serial number.

2. Go back to the website we linked above and enter your serial number.

Is the liquid in my AirPod damaged?

If you are having problems with your audio, you may be wondering if the cause is fluid. Whether you washed the bud in the washing machine or it was exposed to sweat, the liquid can damage the internal components and cause problems.

Unfortunately, there are no indicators of liquid damage on AirPods that we know of. However, if your buds have been exposed to moisture, there is a risk of liquid damage. If you are concerned that this is the root cause of your problems, it is best to take them to Apple and discuss replacement options.

Problem solved?

AirPods have become incredibly popular thanks to their ease of use, reliability, and simplicity. While AirPods are generally a great product, they can have problems like any other pair of headphones. Problems like audio playing in only one ear are very common and very frustrating.

Hopefully, one of the solutions provided in this article worked for you. Having experienced this problem before, we know how disconcerting it can be. Tell us what you think about this problem and the solutions. Were they useful? We are looking forward to reading your comments!