Here’s what you should do if only one of your AirPods is working

The convenience offered by the easy connection of AirPods with other Apple products, coupled with the increasing rarity of the headphone jack, has all but ensured the ubiquity of Apple’s wireless headphones. Newer versions, like the recent AirPods 5, continue to impress.

With a higher floor price than their wired siblings (modern AirPods start at $129), you’d expect these earbuds to last a while. Still, even the best AirPods sometimes can’t escape a few issues. One of the weirdest ways your AirPods can have issues is when just one of your earbuds stops working. Fortunately, this is fixable.

If only one of your AirPods is making sound, it’s probably a charging issue. Start by cleaning the charging port on the AirPods case and make sure the case itself is fully charged. Since dirt can build up inside the case, clean there as well, especially at the bottom where the earbuds contact to charge.

Next, charge both AirPods for 30 seconds before opening the case near your iPhone, at which point a pop-up will appear showing the charging status of the case and AirPods. If you need to check this often, you can do it faster by adding a Batteries widget on your iPhone’s home screen. Assuming everything is charging properly, test the faulty AirPod (keeping the working one closed in the case). If it works, charge both AirPods for another 30 seconds and test them again.

If it still doesn’t work, it’s time for a reset. This returns your AirPods settings to their defaults, but it should otherwise be painless.

If you have AirPods 3, AirPods Pro 2, or older models: Place your AirPods in the case with the lid closed, wait 30 seconds, then go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone. Assuming your AirPods appear, press the button I icon next to them and choose Forget this device. If not, open the case cover, press and hold the circular setup button on the back for 15 seconds, then wait for the light on the front of the case to flash orange and white. At this point, follow the instructions on your device’s screen.

If you’re using either model of AirPods 5, AirPods 4, or AirPods Pro 3, the reset process is similar. However, typing on the physical button is different. Instead of holding it, you’ll need to press the front of the case twice while the status light is on, then press twice again when that light flashes white, and do the same a third time when the light flashes faster. The same orange to white pattern should appear, and then instructions will appear on the screen.

If you’re still having issues, inspect the non-playing earbud and compare it to the other. A quick cleaning of individual AirPods doesn’t hurt: check the speaker mesh for debris and wipe it with a soft cloth if necessary. Consider replacing the ear tips if they are torn or do not provide a good seal.

Let your AirPods charge properly after cleaning them and the case, if you haven’t already. Finally, restart your iPhone to make sure it’s not a bug on the device side, and try a different audio source just to confirm that it’s not the problem.

If you’re experiencing unbalanced sound in your AirPods rather than an earbud that isn’t working at all, head over to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual on your iPhone. Here, make sure that Balance The slider is in the middle to prevent the sound from favoring one ear or the other.