How to Fix One Airpod Not Working Issue

airpods not working

Are you experiencing the one AirPod not working issue? There are various factors that can cause this problem such as a Bluetooth connection problem, a software issue, battery problem, or a setting issue. To fix this you will need to perform a series of troubleshooting steps.

AirPods are wireless earbuds created by Apple and first released in 2016. It’s designed to offer a seamless audio experience with Apple devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and Macs, using a Bluetooth connection. The AirPods feature a compact design, high-quality sound, and an easy-to-use interface. They come with a charging case that provides additional battery life and portability. There are several AirPods models available including the AirPods first generation, AirPods second generation, Airpods third generation, Airpods Pro, and AirPods Pro second generation.

What to do when one AirPod is not working?

One of the issues that you might experience when using your AirPods is when only one AirPod is working. This can be a frustrating experience especially if you are using it to listen to your favorite music tracks.

Here’s what you need to do to fix this one Airpod working when playing audio issue.

Solution 1: Restart the Bluetooth connection

Turning Bluetooth off then on again on your iPhone will refresh the connection between both Bluetooth devices and will usually fix this particular issue.

Toggle Bluetooth switch from Settings app

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Scroll down and tap on “Bluetooth.”

On the Bluetooth page, toggle the switch next to “Bluetooth” to turn it off then wait for a few seconds before turning it on.

Toggle Bluetooth switch from control panel

  • Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (or up from the bottom of the screen, depending on your iPhone model) to open the Control Center.
  • Look for the Bluetooth icon, which looks like a “B” made of two arcs.
  • Tap on the Bluetooth icon to turn it off then wait for a few seconds before turning it on.

Solution 2: Charge the AirPods

One of the reasons why only one AirPod is working is because the other AirPod does not have any charge left.

You should check the battery life of your AirPods by following these steps.

  • Put your AirPods in your ears or take them out of their charging case.
  • Wait a few seconds to see the charge status of your AirPods.

If one of the AirPods does not have sufficient charge then you should put your AirPods in the charging case. Connect the charging cable to the Lightning connector on the bottom of the charging case. Plug the other end of the charging cable into a power source, such as a wall adapter or computer. The status light on the front of the charging case will turn on and indicate the charging status of the AirPods.

Solution 3: Unpair and re-pair your AirPods

There’s a possibility that one AirPod drops the connection intermittently or stops working resulting in this problem. To fix this you should try to unpair then pair AirPods to your iPhone.

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  • Tap Bluetooth.
  • Find your AirPods in the list of devices and tap the “i” icon next to them.
  • Tap “Forget This Device”.
  • Tap “Forget Device” again to confirm.

Solution 4: Restart your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone can sometimes fix issues with only one AirPod working. When you restart your iPhone, it clears the memory and stops all processes, which can sometimes resolve software glitches.

  • Press and hold the Volume Up button and the Side button simultaneously.
  • Keep holding both buttons until the Slide to Power Off slider appears on the screen.
  • Drag the slider to the right to turn off your iPhone.
  • Wait a few seconds for your iPhone to shut down completely.
  • Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
  • Release the button and wait for your iPhone to finish restarting.

Solution 5: Check your AirPod audio settings

If you are hearing audio from only one AirPod then there’s a possibility that this is caused by a stereo balance problem. Try checking the stereo balance setting of your iPhone and make sure that the balance slider is in the center.

Adjust stereo balance

  • Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  • Scroll down and tap on “Accessibility.”
  • Scroll down again and tap on “Audio/Visual.”
  • Under the “Balance” section, you’ll see two sliders labeled “L” and “R” for left and right respectively.
  • Move the sliders to adjust the stereo balance to your preference. You can drag the sliders to the left or right to increase or decrease the volume for each channel.

Solution 6: Disable mono audio

If your AirPods is not playing audio in stereo then try to turn off the mono audio setting of your iPhone.

Turning off mono audio

  • Open the iPhone Settings app.
  • Scroll down and tap on “Accessibility.”
  • Scroll down again and tap on “Audio/Visual.”
  • Under the “Hearing” section, toggle off the switch next to “Mono Audio.”

Solution 7: Update operating system of your iOS device

Getting the latest software update on your iPhone will usually address issues and glitches you are experiencing with it.

Getting the latest software update

  • Connect your iPhone to a Wi-Fi network.
  • Go to “Settings” on your iPhone and tap on “General.”
  • Tap on “Software Update.”
  • Your iPhone will check for available updates. If an update is available, you’ll see an option to “Download and Install” the update.
  • Tap on “Download and Install” and enter your passcode if prompted.
  • Wait for the update to download. This may take a few minutes or longer, depending on the size of the update and the speed of your internet connection.
  • Once the download is complete, tap on “Install Now” to begin the installation process.
  • Your iPhone will restart and the update will be installed. This may take several minutes, so be patient and do not disconnect your iPhone during the installation process.

Solution 8: Reset network settings on iPhone or iPad

Resetting the network settings on your iPhone is not directly related to fixing an issue where only one AirPod is working. However, some users have reported that resetting the network settings on their iPhone has resolved this issue for them.

This is because resetting the network settings will also reset the Bluetooth connections on your iPhone. If the issue is related to a Bluetooth connection problem, resetting the network settings may help to fix it.

Reset network settings

  • Go to “Settings” on your iPhone.
  • Tap on “General.”
  • Scroll down and tap on “Reset.”
  • Tap on “Reset Network Settings.”
  • Enter your passcode if prompted.
  • Confirm that you want to reset your network settings by tapping “Reset Network Settings” again.

Solution 9: Contact Apple support

Contacting Apple may be necessary if you’ve tried basic troubleshooting steps and your AirPods are still not working properly. Some possible reasons why you might need to contact Apple when only one AirPod is working include:

  • Hardware issues: If your AirPods are damaged or malfunctioning, you may need to contact Apple to have them repaired or replaced. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as water damage, physical damage, or battery issues.
  • Software issues: Sometimes, issues with your AirPods may be caused by software-related problems on your iPhone or other Apple devices. In this case, contacting Apple support can help you troubleshoot the issue and determine if a software update or other solution is needed.
  • Warranty issues: If your AirPods are still under warranty and you’re experiencing issues with them, contacting Apple support can help you get them repaired or replaced at no cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Why is only one of my AirPods working?

    There are several reasons why this may be happening, such as a low battery, an issue with the AirPod itself, or a problem with the Bluetooth connection.

  2. How do I fix the issue of only one AirPod working?

    First, make sure that your AirPods are charged and properly connected to your device. If that doesn't work, try resetting your AirPods, forgetting and reconnecting your AirPods to your device, or resetting the network settings on your device. If none of these steps work, contact Apple for further assistance.

  3. Why do my AirPods keep disconnecting?

    This could be due to several factors, such as low battery, an issue with the AirPods or the device they're connected to, or interference from other Bluetooth devices.

  4. How do I reset my AirPods?

    To reset your AirPods, put them in their charging case and hold the button on the back of the case until the light on the front of the case starts flashing amber. This will reset your AirPods to their factory settings.

  5. Why are my AirPods not charging?

    This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as a low battery, a dirty charging port, or an issue with the charging cable or adapter. Try cleaning the charging port, using a different charging cable or adapter, or contacting Apple if the issue persists.


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