Any equipment has an expiration date, and many consumers have come to terms with this. In order not to shorten the already short life of devices, owners try to be more careful when handling them, which is not always possible. Headsets for listening to music are especially susceptible to wear and tear, since every fifth person does not leave home without a player or smartphone filled to capacity with tracks.

At such moments, the most annoying thing is when the sound in one earphone does not work. This trouble does not allow you to fully enjoy a trip somewhere, and in general your mood spoils for the whole day. But what to do?

Reasons independent of the headset

It also happens that the device itself is fully functional, but the culprit is the negligence of its owner or incompatibility with the player. There may be several such options:

  • loose fit of the plug into the connector;
  • earwax contamination of the speaker;
  • absence necessary drivers on smartphone/PC;
  • the plug is inserted too tightly (the “magic” of some laptops).

These are not all the reasons why one earphone does not work. But they are the easiest to deal with, which is why they are considered first.

Problems getting into the nest

It would seem like a pretty stupid reason, wouldn't it? But no, most often it is she who is the culprit of the malfunction. To exclude this scenario, you need to check how tightly the plug is inserted into the connector of the playback device. If the headset does not fully fit into the jack, then it immediately becomes clear why one earphone is not working.

The contacts responsible for sound transmission are made in the form of rings surrounding the pin. If it does not fit into the connector all the way, the connection between the “ears” and the player is disrupted, since the elements needed to reproduce signals do not touch each other.

However, the opposite situation exists. Some laptop jacks may not be suitable for the connected headset. However, it will work if you pull the pin out slightly so that a small part of it is visible from the outside.

Lack of drivers

Why doesn't one earphone work when connected to a certain device? It's simple: sound drivers are not functioning properly or are not installed. Because of this, the audio equipment conflicts with the gadget’s operating system and connecting a headset causes all sorts of troubles.

You can eliminate them by installing software, which comes on a disk complete with “ears” or is available for download on the official website of the equipment manufacturer.

Why doesn't one earphone work?

Among other things, the reason may be the owner’s untidiness and simple model headsets. If the owner of earbud headphones (meaning the shape) engages in sports or other hard work in them, after a couple of months the speaker will become clogged with earwax. And it will affect the sound.

In such a case, all that remains is to thank simple design a headset that is easy to disassemble and clean if necessary. But it is better to monitor the condition of the device more carefully so as not to encounter such a problem when one earphone does not work.

How to fix a damaged headset?

If all the easy options have been considered, but none of them were the cause of the breakdown, you will have to take the matter seriously. You will need to carefully inspect the cord, feel it and bend it several times at different angles near the plug or headphone speakers. Of course, if your fears are confirmed, you will have to part with them, but it is possible to make the device work a little longer without replacing the headset.

The faulty part of the old cord needs to be cut off, the wires stripped and twisted with the remains of the whole cable.

Wireless device

The measure described above should help in the case of a damaged wire (if one earphone does not work). How to fix a bluetooth headset? The answer, unfortunately, is not encouraging. This technique is most often not intended for self-repair owner, and anything can be done only if you have certain knowledge in this area. Therefore, you have to replace the device or contact a specialist.

Most often, such a problem occurs (one earphone does not work), but due to the high cost, any such breakdown is solved by warranty service centers. The same applies to other headsets released under well-known brands, so don’t despair. But if the purchase was cheap, replacing the device with a new one will be much easier and faster.

They break. Moreover, users cannot even understand what is the reason for this breakdown. These and other problems will be discussed further.

It is worth noting that currently there are a huge number of different companies that produce and sell headphones. However, it is certainly impossible to call all these companies reliable, as in all industries, there are the best and the worst among them.

If we talk about high-quality headphones, then, first of all, we mean fairly well-known companies. EarPods headphones can be called one of the best of their kind. The fact is that the quality of their almost perfect sound attracts buyers from all over the world. However, like any other technology, these headphones have problems.

What should I do if my EarPods are quiet?

There are many reasons why headphones begin to reproduce sounds poorly. However, the most common ones are:

  • manufacturing defects;
  • mechanical damage;
  • incorrect setting.

If we talk about the first two cases, then there are only two ways to solve the problem:

  1. The first way is to seek help from a specialized service company.
  2. The second is to buy new headphones.

Of course, you can also try to disassemble the headphones and repair them yourself, however, as a rule, this does not lead to anything.


Photo: Disassembled EarPods

As for the problem of connecting headphones, here you will need to go to the settings of your device and make sure that it sees the headphones. If this does not happen, then most likely your operating system simply doesn't support this device.

Among other things, problems with the connector often arise.

Right or left EarPods not working?

This problem is widespread not only in our country, but throughout the world. In fact, the problem is easily solved, unless it is a manufacturing defect. Solutions:

  • You need to switch to mono audio mode. The fact is that almost everything sound files on the iPhone are played in stereo. Thus, one of the musical instruments will play in the right earphone, and the other in the left. In order to switch to stereo mode, you need to go to settings, then to universal access and select the required action there.


  • The first option is effective, however, it does not always help. A sound problem may occur due to a malfunctioning device connector. In order to find out that the reason is in the connector, you need to connect other headphones and try to listen to music. If the problem persists, you will have to contact a service center for help.

What to do if the EarPods microphone does not work?

As for the microphone, it fails less often than headphones. This is due to the fact that the microphone is used much less intensively. If your microphone stops working, there are several reasons for the breakdown:

  1. You need to check if the headphone output works. To do this, just turn on the music and listen. If the sound continues, you need to look for the source of the problem elsewhere.
  2. The most obvious and popular reasons for microphone failure are manufacturing defects and mechanical damage. In such cases, you will need to contact a service company.
  3. Check your phone settings. It is possible that your microphone is simply muted. This can be done using the Mute button. The problem is solved by pressing the button again.

Photo: Mute button

Buttons on EarPods not working?

It is worth noting that such problems arise very often and they are associated with a rather banal reason. Headphones almost always conflict with equipment not from Apple. Sometimes they simply refuse to work on other smartphones and computers.

Unfortunately, this problem cannot be solved; all that remains is to switch to smartphones from Apple or purchase other headphones.

There are several other reasons why buttons may not work:

  • If you have equipment from Apple, but the buttons do not “listen” the first time, then try pressing the button several times the desired button with little effort. Sometimes it happens that the buttons get stuck and stop responding to commands.
  • Another cause of breakdown may be a manufacturing defect. Of course, original headphones, which have a lot of differences from fake ones, are practically not susceptible to this problem, but this should not be completely ruled out.
  • Another cause of failure can be mechanical damage. In this case, you can seek help from a workshop or simply buy new headphones.

Now you know how to fix EarPods if you have problems using them. The main thing is to remember that you should only buy proven original equipment, only in this case you will receive a quality product. Try to use the headset correctly and do not try to fix the problem yourself without the proper skills, this can lead to even bigger problems.

  1. Check for debris in the headphone port on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
  2. Check the headphone cable, jack, remote control, and in-ear headphones for damage such as wear or breakage.
  3. Inspect the mesh of each earbud for small debris. To remove debris, carefully brush all openings with a clean, dry, soft brush.
  4. Connect your headphones securely to your device. If your iOS device is protected by a case, remove it to ensure a secure connection.

If the problem with the headphones cannot be resolved, follow the steps below.

In almost every case, the equipment itself is damaged. If something is placed in the headphone jack, removal may take several attempts different ways. Most often, such problems arise in the hardware itself. Typically, something is interfering with the headphone jack, triggering the sensor, or the headphone jack itself is in an inoperable state. If the headphone jack is broken, there is very little the owner can do other than replace the phone. If something needs to be dislodged, on the other hand, there are a number of useful methods for clearing the obstruction.

If you don't hear any sounds or only the left or right earphone works

  1. Adjust the volume using the volume buttons on your iOS device or use the Volume slider in.
  2. To see if replacement is required, try connecting a second pair of headphones. If the second pair works, contact the manufacturer of the first pair and see if you need to arrange a replacement. If the second pair does not work, .

If the device does not exit headphone mode

If your headphones are disconnected from your iOS device and you still see the Headphones volume indicator on the screen, see:

Headphone jack problems

Almost every headphone jack problem is a problem hardware. Once the process is completed, users simply need to press the Power button again. You can check the headphone jack by looking into the hole with a flashlight. Those checking for a hardware fault should carefully inspect the headphone jack for debris. Such debris may include food, dirt, or a broken part of the headphones. You should be careful when trying to remove debris from the headphone jack.

If the microphone doesn't work

  1. Make sure your headphones have a built-in microphone.
  2. Check whether the microphone is blocked by small debris, lint or plastic packaging.
  3. To see if replacement is required, try connecting a second pair of headphones. If the second pair works, contact the manufacturer of the first pair and see if you need to arrange a replacement. If the second pair of headphones does not work, .

If the remote control still does not work, contact your

If the buttons on your Apple EarPods don't work

Such efforts may unwittingly make the problem worse. If the obstructing item cannot be removed, it may have to replace the phone, so it is often better to try removal rather than simply replacing the phone. However, if the phone owner is willing to take the risk, there are several methods you can try. This will destroy the pen in the process.

One tries this cleaning method by inserting the cartridge into the headphone jack, twisting the cartridge back and forth, trying to dislodge any debris, and then shaking the phone until the debris is gone. Users should not press too hard or reach too deep into the headphone jack, otherwise it may cause further damage. Users should try another repair method instead.

Ruler iPhone smartphones includes several generations of highly technical functional devices designed for comfort and versatility in use. But the developers’ special approach to creation does not at all guarantee that the devices will last forever without any breakdowns or failures. For example, specialists of the Ai-Yai-Yai service quite often encounter a problem when the “Headphones” mode is turned on on the iPhone without headphones. And this problem can bring a lot of unpleasant moments to the owner and his interlocutors.

You can also use a can of compressed air to clean a broken headphone jack. Often this will work as a magic fix even if there is nothing blocking the headphone jack. This compressed air will blow and loosen stuck debris, helping it find its way out. Start by removing the headphone jack from the outside, and then gradually work into the jack itself.

Moisture in one breath can cause permanent damage to the headphone jack. Tweezers can also be used to clean such an abstraction, provided they are small enough to fit into a tiny headphone jack. One should have an idea of ​​where the obstacle lies before attempting such a procedure.

Causes and solutions

The main problem of this headset problem is that the user cannot answer calls normally because he cannot hear the interlocutor. Essentially, the gadget simply stops the sound supply to external speakers, directing the signals to the bottom connector. At the same time, the headphones themselves are not connected, although the iPhone works in connection mode.

Trying to use tweezers can damage the sides of the headphone jack, so extreme caution is recommended. However, if paying for repairs or replacement is not a viable option, self-assembly may be the only choice. In this case, one attempt to disassemble the entire phone removes the obstructing element and then reassembles the phone.

This approach is not recommended. It is possible that there is nothing obstructing the headphone jack, but the jack itself is not working. This can be caused by a number of things. This is one of the most common ways to break headphone jacks. In most cases, the owners of these phones cannot understand how their phone could get wet.

It is logical to assume that the main reason for the breakdown is the operation of the headset jack. And in 90 percent of cases this is true, although the causes of the malfunction may be the following:

1. Mechanical impact. As a result of such interference, the integrity of the connector may be compromised, causing it to work incorrectly, recognizing the connection even if there is none. The safest thing to do is to install a new part in place of the damaged one.

By wrapping the headphones this way, if the headphones are plugged into a socket, this puts pressure on the plug, straining it to move in the direction of the weight of the headphones, thereby gradually removing the headphone jack from the logic board. These parts cannot be removed and replaced separately. This creates serious inconvenience, since a phone without sound will no longer perform its main function. Such damage limits the use of this smartphone to use applications and the Internet without sound or send text messages.

They cover their parts and labor for a lifetime warranty. Again, users can try to repair the phone themselves, but this is not recommended as it can be extremely difficult. The tips mentioned above should be followed with care and caution as they may damage the headphone jack beyond repair.

2. Normal pollution. The headset output may not function properly if there is a large amount of dirt that has accumulated in it and is preventing the system from working properly. In this case, regular cleaning of the connector will help.

3. It is also possible to display the iPhone system constantly in the headphones if water has entered the lower input of the iPhone. To restore it, you need to take the gadget to specialists for special cleaning to remove oxidation products.

Those looking to repair a damaged phone must exercise patience, caution, and care when attempting to repair their phones. Although a mistake can have catastrophic consequences, the cost of repairs makes it such a risk. There is no specific solution or reason for this problem. This could be a problem with the headphones, a software glitch, or a hardware glitch.

Try connecting your headphones, and then carefully plug it back in. Most of the time this would solve the problem. But if this is not the case, then this is not the end of the list, keep reading. Try another pair of headphones. It's time for a treasure hunt. Then take a toothpick or any thin object, wrap some cotton around it, and then clean the port. If something is bothering the port, then there is a possibility of encountering a problem in the thread.

IN in some cases Unauthorized switching to headset mode can be caused by malfunctions in the software, but such breakdowns are quite rare and can be eliminated by regular debugging or reinstalling the software.

Long before the start of their sales, they attracted the attention of users.

After the Apple product was released, customers began to talk about discovering several problematic aspects that were quite easy to fix on their own.

What to do if your AirPods or one of them doesn't work?

If the sound disappears in wireless headphones, then experts advise paying attention to the following signs:

To get rid of the problem, you should try to configure the headset to work through a single earphone in case telephone conversation. You can decide which right or left earphone will be used during a conversation through the Bluetooth menu.

You can easily repair a gadget when only one earphone fails if:

  • put AirPods in the charging container and wait 10-15 seconds;
  • turn Bluetooth on and off several times in a row;
  • reboot wireless headphones;
  • If one of the headphones has been replaced, then you should select the “Forget device” function in the menu and register it again.

If the sound is too quiet or absent

Sometimes one of the AirPods starts to sound very quiet. This problem needs to be corrected as follows:

  • recharge both headphones or one of them;
  • clean the mesh from lint and dust;
  • clean the entire disassembled headset using a soft brush;
  • disable the automatic ear detection option;
  • check the volume connection in the main gadget.

Photo: AirPods Auto-Ear Detection feature

If all stages are completed, and the sound is still not satisfactory, then it is strongly recommended to take the wireless headphones to a company service center.

Apple slightly delayed the release of new wireless AirPods, thanks to which, they say, the company managed to solve a number of technical problems, which inevitably happen with new devices. However, judging by the reviews, Apple specialists have not yet solved all the problems with AirPods.

On the other hand, most of the troubles that users most often complain about can be classified as standard. That is, those who, without special effort The user himself can fix it.

If it comes to the point, competently.

In this regard, about what can happen With during their operation, and what should be done in such cases.

AirPods problems - won't connect

If one or both AirPods suddenly stop connecting to the iPhone, iPod or iPad with which you usually use them, then the first thing you need to do is simply insert them into the case. Next, wait at least 10 seconds, then take out both headphones and insert them into your ears. After another 3-5 seconds, AirPods should automatically connect to any of the devices already “familiar” to them, if one is nearby and in working condition.

During the process, the connection indicator on the headphone case should blink white. If the white color of the indicator is not observed, close the case, press the reset button, holding it, open the case again and look at the color of the indication. It will either immediately turn white, or you need to hold the button down a little longer until it flashes yellow several times and then finally flashes white.

If the headphones still do not connect, then you need to turn off and on Bluetooth, to which the headphones are “attached”, and to which this moment time they don't want to connect. Open " Control Center ", turn off the Bluetooth module, wait with half a minute , turn it on again and look at the behavior of our AirPods. Connected - good, if not connected - reboot them (more on this separately - at the end of the post ).

AirPods problems - only one earphone works ( left or right)

As practice shows, this sometimes happens if for some reason you replace one of the headphones in a pair. Without preliminary setup, the new AirPod, as a rule, simply does not sync with the old one and does not connect to the playback device. To fix the problem, you just need to command your iPhone, iPad or Mac to “forget” the old AirPods and then connect both existing ones as a new pair. You can do this as follows:

  • open " Settings ", then " Bluetooth » and find the old AirPods in the list;
  • tap the letter “i” on the right and then “ Forget this device "(if you didn’t find the “Forget” function in the device settings, try restarting the network settings: “Settings” → “General” → “Reset” → “Reset network settings”).

After this, we connect both headphones to the device by following the standard pairing procedure. If after this only one earphone still works, perform the reboot procedure (see below).

AirPods problems - won't connect to Mac

First, let's note that if your Mac is, let's say, not very new, then connecting AirPods to it may indeed not be so easy. But sometimes AirPods for some reason don’t want to connect to new Macs. If such an opportunity occurs, then we begin with the actions listed in the previous paragraph.

But keep in mind that if you turn off Bluetooth on your computer, then all wireless BT peripherals that worked with it will also turn off. In particular, a mouse, if it is also Bluetooth. Therefore, instead of disconnecting the laptop’s Bluetooth module, it is better to try removing the current pair with headphones and pairing them again ( « System Settings" -> "Bluetooth" choose "AirPods" and click " X «).

By the way, directly from the Mac, via iCloud, you can also “unlink” the headphones from all your iOS devices with which they are paired, i.e. iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Only after this is it advisable to reboot each of these devices.

New pair with AirPods, open again bluetooth settings on Mac and carry out the standard pairing procedure. Next, iCloud will automatically connect the headphones to all other devices. In the vast majority of cases, failures when connecting AirPods to Apple devices are resolved in this way.

If your AirPods suddenly stop automatically connecting to your Mac...

...then you can quickly resolve the problem using one of the following methods:

  • open " System Settings ", click " Bluetooth ", Further - " Turn off Bluetooth ", wait at least 30 seconds, then click " Enable Bluetooth «;
  • in the menu bar, click the speaker icon and in the list “ Output device » indicate AirPods ;
  • on Mac open " System Settings", click " Bluetooth", wait a little while the computer finishes searching for all available Bluetooth devices and AirPods appear in the list (most likely marked " Not connected"), Now in the menu bar (at the very top of the screen) click the speaker icon, also wait a little until all devices are displayed in the list, select AirPods and wait sound signal, which indicates the completion of the headphone connection procedure.
  • in some cases they also help several Mac reboots in a row , during which the old iCloud and Bluetooth cache is cleared.
AirPods problems - won't connect to Apple Watch

Before connecting Airpods to your smartwatch via Airplay, try turning on Airplane mode on your Apple Watch for a few seconds, and then turning it off. Focus often helps resolve bugs with connecting or syncing headphones to the Apple Watch.

AirPods problems - won't sync with iCloud

In this case, you should simply log out of iCloud and then log in again. Often this is enough to eliminate various synchronization bugs. Including those that cause one earphone to stop working (this often happens in the first 1-2 days after connecting AirPods).

If reconnecting to iCloud does not help, then the synchronization problem can also be solved by restarting the headphones themselves. The procedure is described below.

AirPods problems - turning off while talking on the phone

There is such a problem. And it is especially annoying if the call is very important, or the headphones are turned off when you are on the move - driving, walking or running. Such a sudden shutdown occurs for a number of reasons, and therefore the problem is also resolved in different ways.

Let's start with the simplest thing - check the battery charge level of the headphones. If this is okay, then we switch the AirPods to work with phone calls only through one earphone. This is their normal mode and AirPods should work without problems in it. We configure AirPods so that the left or right earbud always works as the headset microphone. To do this, tap on the iPhone “Settings” -> “Bluetooth” , in the list of devices we find AirPods and click letter "i" to the right of the name, then tap “ Microphone " and choose at your discretion " Always left AirPods" or " Always the right AirPods«.

In addition, you can also try disabling the automatic ear detection feature for a while. This will reduce the mega-functionality of your AirPods somewhat, but you may be able to find out why the headphones turn off during a call. On the iPhone, press again “Settings” -> “Bluetooth” , in the list of devices we find AirPods and tap letter "i" to the right of the name and on the next screen turn off “ Auto ear detection «.

In some cases, rebooting the iPhone and/or completely rebooting the AirPods helps.

AirPods problems - they discharge very quickly

Ideally, fully charged AirPods have up to 5 hours of battery life. A 15-minute charge of completely discharged headphones is enough for about 3 hours of work. And the headphones work for about a day if you put them in the case from time to time.

If the autonomy of your AirPods differs noticeably from these indicators, then first check if the " Auto ear detection ". Thanks to it, the headphones automatically turn off as soon as you take them out of your ears, and do not waste battery power. Let's tap “Settings” -> “Bluetooth”, letter “i” next to AirPods -> “Auto-detection ear”(switch must be green).

If your headphones are draining faster than usual, try opening and closing the AirPods case near your iPhone (or iPad) less often. It is believed that the headphones somehow update the Bluetooth connection every time, which also does not help save the power of their tiny batteries.

If the AirPods discharge very quickly, even if they are not used in any way, then you need to reboot them. And if resetting the settings did not produce the desired effect, then it is better to contact a service or store for advice. It may be that AirPods will have to be replaced.

how to restart AirPods

The procedure is simple, takes about 20 seconds, but, as you already understand, it allows you to solve many software problems that arise with AirPods. Plus, after rebooting the headphones. As a rule, they also connect faster. So, in order:

  • put AirPods into the case;
  • on the back of the case we find the button, press it and hold the press for at least 20-30 seconds;
  • the orange light on the case lights up - the reboot is complete, close the case;
  • open the case next to the iPhone, after which the headphones will automatically reconnect to the smartphone;
  • iCloud will also automatically reconnect AirPods to all your other Apple devices.
how to clean AirPods

First of all, regularly. Secondly, if you notice that one earphone has started to sound worse (or both have started to sound worse at once), then the first thing you need to do is inspect both devices for the presence of various kinds of substances on them, that is, dirt.

The longer you wear your headphones and the longer you neglect to care for them, the more unpleasant this procedure will end up being. For the simple reason that getting out the earwax that has accumulated in the AirPods holes is not only unpleasant, but also difficult.

You can clean your AirPods using a regular toothbrush (clean and dry) with soft bristles. If the radiator grilles are heavily clogged, try first “stirring up” the dirt with a brush, and then, with the utmost care, pull it out using... for example, a vacuum cleaner. And don’t forget that you have in your hands, “ears” for 160 bucks.

As a last resort and if the headphones are yours , then you can use your mouth (they say that this is even more effective than using a vacuum cleaner). It’s unlikely to succeed the first time, but if you repeat the procedure several times and using a suitable brush, sooner or later you will remove debris from the grates.

Let’s repeat, there really isn’t much that’s pleasant, so it’s better not to let things get to that point and just clean your headphones at least from time to time, without waiting until they get clogged to a completely indecent state.