It is such an annoying moment when you are listening to your favourite music and suddenly one side of the earbud stops working. I really understand your pain because I have passed through the same situation. In this blog post, you will find the solutions for how to fix Bluetooth earbuds that work only on one side.
We wear Bluetooth wireless earbuds the entire day. It can be when we are travelling, cooking, working, or even during gym. There are so many instances where we can’t stay without the Bluetooth wireless earbuds. It has become one of the most essential parts of our daily lives that we can’t miss it carrying with us.
And one fine day, you may be commuting to your work or any recreational activity and you find out that your wireless earbuds work only on one side. This can be such a devastating moment and it is hard to ignore.
There will be so many things going on in our minds like what are the possible reasons for the cause or even think about solutions to fix it.
Fortunately.
In this blog post, we list down the reasons and solutions for fixing your Bluetooth wireless earbuds when only one side works.
How to fix Bluetooth earbuds when only one side works
This is one of the common issues that is faced by many users. You need not panic about it because sometimes the solutions are simple and it can be easily fixed.
In this section, we get you the common reasons and the possible solutions for you to fix Bluetooth earbuds when only one side works.
Note: Few of the scenarios and Solutions require the assistance of technicians, please do not try to open the wireless earbud and check for the issue. Because this can void your warranty or even lead to permanent damage to your Bluetooth earbuds.
Follow our step-by-step guide to find the cause for your earbud to work only on one side and fix Bluetooth earbuds.
1. Due to overtime use of Bluetooth earbuds
Whenever you use earbuds for an extensive time, the signal strength and quality tend to decrease. This is one of the common instances that are faced by many users when they are prone to long time usage.
Solution:
The possible solution for this cause would be to try switching off your Bluetooth wireless earbud and turn it on. Observe for a moment whether the devices are connecting successfully or not. You can then hear that the other side starts working. This simple solution has worked for many users.
2. It may happen due to the signal strength
Every Bluetooth wireless earbud has a limited wavelength that you shouldn’t cross from it. You can check these guidelines from the owner’s manual that you received within the box given by your company. If you don’t find it, you can get it from searching online. You need to check how much range your wireless earbud has the capacity.
Solution:
Whenever you are using wireless Bluetooth earbuds, try to stay closer to the source of media. This can be your laptop or mobile phone. Generally 30 to 50 feet depending upon the wavelength Bluetooth range of your earbuds, you need to maintain the distance. If you stay closer to the source of the media device, there won’t be any problems.
3. Hasn’t been successfully paired
This is another common cause for your wireless earbud to stop working on one side. What happens in this scenario is, due to the wavelength or signal connectivity issue, both the devices can’t be successfully paired. As it creates an opportunity for a gap that acts as an obstacle between pairing them.
Solution:
You just need to click forget from your laptop or a cell phone. This makes way for both the platforms to proceed with a hard reset. Through the step when you turn on both the platforms again and reconnect it with the password. There is a high possibility for your device to pair with each other and eliminates the issue which was causing.
4. Issue due to the battery charge
Sometimes when we are using earbuds for a longer time, we hardly notice the levels of the battery. This can be from the media source which is a laptop or a mobile phone and it can even be your wireless earbuds device. Battery charge plays an important role in connectivity between both the wireless earbuds.
Solution:
As the name itself suggests, you need to charge all your devices and ensure that they have decent enough power to operate smoothly.
5. Accidentally fallen in Water or Surface
Water: Some of the wireless earbuds devices are waterproof but some are not. As electric products are very fragile and sensitive in nature, there are high chances for your earbuds to be spoilt. Because this causes internal damage and it is not recommended for you to open its hardware and rectify the issue.
Surface: This is one of the most inevitable situations that no one has control of. Usually, these devices are shockproof to a certain extent. And when you face such an accident of your wireless earbud falling on a surface, then it will be very hard to repair the issue by yourself.
Solution:
Check whether your device is still under the warranty. And you can also check whether it is covered within any insurance. If both the scenarios are not found, you need to visit the authorized technician to get the issue resolved.
Note: If the technician says the repair amount is almost 50% of the value of your device, then it is not recommended to repair it. Instead, you can buy a new wireless earbuds device that is waterproof and shockproof.
6: This may happen due to any software update or media file issue
This instance occurs when you have received an OTA update for your media source and you haven’t updated it. This can sometimes be the general cause for improper functioning in wireless earbuds.
On another side, you need to check whether you are playing the correct media file. Sometimes media files will have a defect or they can even be designed to play just on one side of the earbud.
Solution:
Try to find the software update and fix it.
Check the media files and try shuffling audio or video files. You can also cross-check by connecting with other devices.
These are some of the steps that conveniently fixes the issue.
7. Due to the age of wireless earbud device
This is one more common cause for your Bluetooth earbud to stop working from only one side. As you know that technical products are always highly unreliable, they won’t survive for long. Usually, the lifespan of wireless earbuds is between 2 to 4 years. And when you find that your earbud device is within this age bracket. It is very hard to rectify this issue.
Solution:
Try to visit the authorized technician and get a quote. As suggested before, if the service repair cost is going to be more than 50% of your device cost. Then it is not recommended to proceed with this step. Instead, you can purchase a new one.
To sum it up,
Whenever your wireless earbud stops working on one side, the probability of fixing it by yourself is very low. If by luck, the above scenario is relatable to you and you could fix those issues without any hassle then this can be the best moment for you and your wireless earbuds.
It is better to check the warranty. And even see whether you are under insurance. Through this way, you can get the issue rectified by the professionals.
As I told you earlier, it is not worth spending more on repair costs as they don’t tend to survive longer even after the repair. It is better to replace it by purchasing new Bluetooth earbuds.
I hope this guide has been resourceful to you, please let us know if you have any queries in the comment section below.
Suggested read:
Why did my wireless earbuds stop working?
What is true wireless in bluetooth earbuds?
Is it worth to buy wireless earbuds?