Why is Only One Airpod Working? Ways to Troubleshoot

Why in only one airpod working? The AirPods are great, but sometimes they fail to work properly. One of the most common glitches that many AirPod users encounter is also one that’s relatively easy to fix: One AirPod doesn’t work, so you only hear the audio in one ear.

The problem with AirPods is that they sometimes stop working mysteriously. It’s a simple fix for this issue, so you should be able to use your earbuds normally in a few seconds. Regardless of whether you have the original AirPods, the AirPods 2, the new AirPods 3, or the noise-cancelingAirPods Pro, the steps are the same.

It’s also a good idea to make sure your iPhone’s Bluetooth is enabled if you’re experiencing problems with your AirPods. To launch the Control Center, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen. The Bluetooth icon should appear in a blue circle. If it does not, turn it on by tapping it.

Additionally, you can verify that your iPhone’s software is up to date to mitigate any potential problems you might be experiencing with your AirPods. It’s generally a good idea to update your AirPods’ software since it includes security fixes and sometimes new features as well. Open Settings, tap General, then select Software Update.

What to do if one of your AirPods isn’t working

The problem with AirPods is that it can be hard to pinpoint a single reason why it isn’t working. There could be a low battery, a software setting, or even a dirty speaker mesh in one of the earbuds. Find out what fixes your AirPods connection problem by investigating these troubleshooting tips.

Connect the Bluetooth device

In most cases, it’s smart to start troubleshooting with the easiest fixes first when one of your AirPods won’t connect. It’s possible that a software glitch can be fixed by simply turning Bluetooth off and on again – when it comes back on, both earbuds will connect normally. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Then tap Bluetooth, swipe the Bluetooth button to the left, and then back to the right.

The battery has died in one AirPod

As you might expect, your AirPods’ batteries drain at different rates, and one of them dies before the other, which is why only one is working. You can check this by placing both AirPods in their charging case and bringing the case very close to your iPhone. Wait a few moments and then open the case to see the battery level. You can charge your AirPods for 30 to 60 minutes if you need to.

Restart your iPhone

In the event that turning Bluetooth on and off again did not solve the problem, rebooting the entire device may resolve it. Sometimes, flushing out the phone’s memory and running software is all that’s required to fix audio problems. For a refresher, here are the steps for restarting your iPhone and iPad.

Clean the AirPods

The AirPods may work normally, but you can’t hear audio through one of them due to a buildup on the speaker mesh. It doesn’t take a lot of gunk to muffle the sound, but it sounds impossible. You can restore the full sound of your AirPods by cleaning them with a lint-free cloth, water, and a toothpick.

Check your AirPod audio settings

One thing most people aren’t aware of: You can set your AirPods to only play audio in one ear, either intentionally or by accident. There is a trick to controlling stereo balance in the Accessibility settings of your device.

• Choose Accessibility from the Settings app.
• Tap Audio/Visual under the Hearing section.
• Adjust the balance slider in the Balance section. If it is not in the center, slide it back to restore balance.

Make sure your phone is up to date

Although unlikely, it is always possible that your AirPods may be experiencing a software glitch that can be fixed with the latest iOS update. Here’s how to make sure your iPhone is updated, and here’s how to update your iPad.

Re-pair your AirPods

In the event that none of the possible fixes has worked for you, there could be an issue with how your AirPods are connected to your device, so you’ll need to reset them to factory conditions and reconnect them.

• You should place the AirPods in their case and make sure they are fully charged.
• Open the App Settings and turn Bluetooth on.
• Select the AirPods from your list of devices and tap the i on the right.
• Then, tap Forget This Device and confirm that you want to do so by tapping Forget Device in the pop-up.
• Hold down the button on the back of the AirPods case for about 15 seconds until the status light flashes white and amber. After you have released the button, connect your AirPods to your iPhone according to the instructions.

Turn to Apple for support

Having tried all the troubleshooting tips, it’s likely that the issue isn’t something you can fix with software or a light cleaning – it could be a hardware problem. You should contact Apple’s support in that case so that they can determine whether the AirPods are damaged or need to be replaced.

Do the AirPods 3rd gen and AirPods Pro sound as good as cheap earbuds?

In order to improve the sound quality of the third-generation AirPods, Apple raised the soundbar. There are many true wireless earbuds that cost less than $100 or even less than $50 and offer surprisingly good sound for the price compared to AirPods and AirPods Pro, which are good but not as good as they should be for their price.

In today’s market, many cheaper earbuds feature multiple microphones and some are surprisingly good at making voice calls. Some of the models on this list have surprisingly good noise reduction and compare well to the AirPods, which are known for their strong voice calling abilities.