Why Is Only One AirPod Not Working?

AirPods are expensive but convenient wireless earbuds that are best paired with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Sometimes they don’t behave quite as you expect, e.g. B. when an AirPod refuses to connect at all. Here are some fixes you can try when encountering this problem.

Make sure the AirPod is charged

It might sound obvious, but the first thing you should do is check if the AirPod in question is charged. To do this, place it in the charging case. When the light on the case turns green, AirPod is fully charged. When the light on the case turns amber, AirPod is charging.

We’ve found that sometimes one AirPod will fully discharge while the other is sufficiently charged. Why is this happening? If the sensors on AirPod are dirty, they may no longer detect when you put them in your ears. An AirPod that thinks it’s always in your ears is an AirPod that’s always on.

Make sure the case is charged too

If the LED on your AirPods charging case doesn’t do anything at all, there’s a good chance the charging case needs to be charged. Assuming your AirPods model supports wireless charging, try plugging it into a Lightning connector or using a wireless charging pad.

While both AirPods should charge at the same rate, that’s not always the case. If you only use one AirPod at a time, you can use up the remaining charge in the case while charging only one AirPod.

Clean the contacts and the charging case

There’s no LED on each AirPod to show the current status, so it’s not clear if an earbud is charging or not. If the case is charging (or charging) and you’ve waited a short while without success, you should check that there aren’t any obstacles that could prevent the AirPod from charging properly.

Open the case and take a look at the charging bay where the affected AirPod sits. Dust, pocket lint, and other debris can accumulate and cover the contacts required for charging. This will prevent your AirPod from charging, so make sure you clean it well.

You should also check out the AirPod itself. Check the tip of the AirPod that rests against the charging contacts for anything that might be causing the issue. The silver metallic border should be shiny and clean.

You can clean your AirPods with a soft cloth, cotton swab, Blu-Tack, isopropyl alcohol, and a soft brush. You can also clean the charging port on the bottom of the device with a toothpick and a light touch.

Verify that both AirPods appear in Bluetooth settings

If all else fails, take your AirPods out of the case and put them in your ears. Now use Control Center on your iPhone (or iPad) to verify that both AirPods appear. You can do this by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen and tapping the “Now Playing” box followed by the AirPlay icon. View the currently connected devices.

If both AirPods are recognized, your device will label them as “Tim’s AirPods Pro” (or whatever you called them) with a battery percentage:

If only one is detected, you will see an “L” or an “R” to indicate which is displayed along with the battery percentage:

This information can help narrow down the problem. Do you see both AirPods but you only hear sound from one of them? This could indicate a problem with the speaker itself. If only one appears, the AirPod may have other issues or simply need to be paired with your device again.

If both are detected, you can try “force” a firmware update to see if that fixes things. There is no way to do this directly with iOS or iPadOS. Instead, you need to place both AirPods in the case, plug in the power cord, and then place them next to your iPhone or iPad. Firmware updates are wireless and automatic as they become available.

Consider plugging in your device during this time, and make sure it’s also updated to the latest version of Apple software.

TIED TOGETHER: How to update an iPhone

Pair your AirPods again

It’s also worth trying to pair your AirPods again with your iPhone or iPad (or whatever device you’re currently using). Before doing this, you need to remove them from your selected device. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the “i” next to the AirPods you want to remove.

Scroll to the bottom of the screen and tap Forget This Device. Then confirm your decision. You don’t have to have your AirPods on or even nearby to do this.

Now get your AirPods and put both earbuds in the charging case. Turn on Bluetooth on your device in Settings > Bluetooth or use Control Center, then bring it close to your iPhone or iPad and open it. The AirPods should appear with pairing instructions.

If you’re using another device (like an Android smartphone or Nintendo Switch), you’ll need to find the small round button on the back of the case and hold it down until the light on your AirPods starts blinking.

From here, go to the Bluetooth settings and from the list of available devices, tap on your AirPods to pair them. The flashing light indicates they are in pairing mode. So if you don’t see the flashing light, you’ll need to repeat these steps. Sometimes, forgetting and reconnecting your AirPods is enough to fix the problem.

TIED TOGETHER: Here’s how to pair AirPods with a PC, Mac, Android phone, or other device

Still problems? Check for damage

Inspect your AirPods and charging case carefully for any telltale signs of damage. They’re mainly looking for cracks in the outer plastic, which could indicate damage that could cause your earbuds to stop working (or not charging if the case is damaged).

Damage doesn’t immediately mean it’s game over for your AirPods (we’ve cracked AirPods ourselves and ours kept going until the battery died), but if you’re already having issues, physical damage could help explain the issue. A crack allows more moisture in and could indicate that the impact has affected more than the hard plastic shell.

If you have an AppleCare+ policy for your AirPods, you’re covered for two accidental damages within 12 months, although you’ll have to pay a $29 service fee for the repair.

Check your warranty status

If you’ve paired your AirPods with an iPhone or iPad, you can check your warranty status under Settings > Bluetooth by tapping the “i” button next to your AirPods. Your AirPods don’t need to be turned on or connected to do this.

You can also check your AirPods warranty status on the Apple Support site. To do this, you’ll need your original serial number, which according to Apple’s instructions can be found either under the lid of the charging case, on the AirPod itself, or on the original packaging (if you still have it).

Your AirPods may be eligible for replacement

Even if you’re out of warranty, some known issues plague certain models of AirPods. If you have a pair of AirPods Pro that were manufactured before October 2020, there’s a chance they’ve been affected by a recall. Bring your AirPods to an Apple Store for verification.

If you suspect the battery is to blame, there are third-party providers who will replace your AirPods battery for a fee. Otherwise, you can replace individual faulty AirPods and charging cases starting at $69 for basic AirPods or $89 for AirPods Pro.