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Today I’m going to show you what to do when one of your AirPods is not working.
It will cover:
- Why your left/right AirPods is not working
- Check the Bluetooth connection
- Reset your AirPods
- and more.
Let’s get started!
Why is your left or right AirPods not working?
AirPods are a great device to use and they have made the lives of many people much easier. But with any new device, there are bound to be some problems that you will face. One of the most common problems that people face with AirPods is when one of the earbuds stops working.
There are many reasons why your left or right AirPod might stop working and they can range from software problems, battery life issues, dirty AirPods, or other unknown reasons. So in this article, we will go through all these possible reasons and how to fix them.
What to do when your left/right AirPods is not working properly
Step 1: Clean your AirPods and the case
Make sure you clean your AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max, including the case thoroughly.
To clean the AirPods’ case and contacts, use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth, alcohol, and a q-tip.
Rub them gently to remove any debris that has become stuck to the case and the AirPods.
You can also disinfect your AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max with a disinfectant. It is recommended that you use 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes, 75% ethyl alcohol wipes, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes.
Gently wipe every inch of the surface of your AirPods.
Remember that you should not dip your AirPods underwater since it is not water resistant.
Don’t use soap, shampoo, or other household cleaners to clean your AirPods because it can cause stains or other damage.
After you’ve cleaned your AirPods and the case, leave them dry before you use them again.
Step 2: Charge your AirPods

Check the battery life of your AirPods or charge them for a few minutes before using them again.
It is recommended that you charge your AirPods, AirPods Max, and AirPods Pro with the original charging cable that came with them.
If your AirPods support wireless charging, make sure the charger is Qi-compatible. Then, position your AirPods case so that the status light is facing up.
The status led will light up for a few seconds before turning off automatically. It indicates that it is charging. You should wait for 5 to 15 minutes before attempting to connect it to your iPhone.
Following that, you can test to see if one of your AirPods is still not working.
Step 3: Reset your AirPods
To reset your AirPods, here’s what you need to do:
1. Place your AirPods back into the case and close the lid.
2. Leave it for one minute.
3. Open the case’s lid.
4. Grab your iPhone and go to Settings > Bluetooth and find your AirPods’ name and tap the More Info button next to it.
5. Select Forget This Device and confirm it if prompted.
6. Let the case lid open and hold down the button at the back of the case for 15 to 20 seconds. The led status will change from yellow to white.

Please note that when you reset your AirPods, the configuration that you have made earlier will be removed. So, you need to connect it again to your iPhone.
Now, you can move to the next step to connect the AirPods to your iPhone before trying to see if the error on your left or right AirPods has been resolved.
Step 4: Re-pair your AirPods
After you reset your AirPods, you need to connect them to your iPhone again.
Make sure that you are running iOS 15 or later on your iPhone before proceeding.
Do the following steps to connect the AirPods to your iPhone:
1. Go to the Home screen on your iPhone.
2. Put your AirPods into the case and open the lid of the case.
3. Place your AirPods case with the open lid next to your iPhone.
4. When you see a setup animation on the screen of your iPhone, tap Connect.
5. Tap Done.

Step 5: Check the volume
When you have successfully paired your AirPods with your iPhone, try to play some music.
If your left or right AirPods isn’t playing the music or the volume is too low, try the following steps:
1. Check the volume
Press the increase and decrease volume buttons on the left side of your iPhone to make sure that the volume on your AirPods is working properly.
2. Check the balance
If you can only hear the sound from either your left or right AirPods, try the balance settings.
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual > Balance and then set the balance in the middle.

Step 6: Contact Apple care center
If none of the methods above work for you and you still get the same error, I recommend taking your AirPods to an Apple Service Center. Or, you can contact Apple Support.
They can determine whether the problem is with the AirPods, the case, or the battery.
If it is still under warranty, Apple Care should replace it for free.
Those were the several steps you can try when your left/right AirPods is not working.
Hopefully, the issue has gone after you perform the steps above.
Check Other AirPods Tips:
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