It’s no surprise AirPods are such highly demanded products. They work perfectly with both Apple and Android devices. It’s constructed to provide seamless audio entertainment. They do too but they’re not as perfect as you think. A common complaint comes in the form of connection drops of any of the AirPod.
You’ll find your AirPods disconnecting for no apparent reason. The struggle is real because it feels like nothing can fix it. After all, the AirPods come in a charging case with a single button. What can you do? Especially when running to the nearest Apple store isn’t an option?
Here’s a quick fix if you find your left (or right) AirPod not working for some reason.
Quick Solution to Fix the Left AirPod
Step 1:
Place both your AirPods in the charging case. Make sure it’s sufficiently charged.
Step 2:
Go to Settings on your Apple device.
Step 3:
Press Bluetooth and click on the Information Symbol next to the AirPods option. It’s the “i” in the circle!
Step 4:
Now click on “Forget this device.”
Step 5:
Now pay attention to your charging case.
Step 6:
Keep the lids of the charging case open.
Step 7:
Notice the small button on the back? It should be near the bottom. Hold onto it until it flashes white. It should turn red after a while. The LED is on the front of the case on AirPods 2. This means your AirPods are reset.
Step 8:
Close the lid of the case and open it after a few seconds.
Step 9:
Pair it up with your device again.
It should be sorted now! You’ll receive a pop-up notification to get the pairing done.
Why Your Left AirPod is Not Working and How to Fix It
Honestly, this problem doesn’t pop up frequently. It’s hard to detect them because if the left AirPod stops working, the right one works just fine. Either way, we’ve shortlisted some of the easiest ways to get this problem sorted. Let’s take a closer look.
Method 1: Recharge the Battery
Yep, you read it right. You could have simply not placed it in the case properly. This is one of the biggest reasons why the left AirPod doesn’t work. Once an AirPod runs out of charge, it leaves an alert. The other one keeps on working just fine. You might have simply missed the notification.
So before panicking, just check your batteries and get them recharged. Go to the Control Center of your Apple device and open the Music card. The batter can be found on the top-right corner of the screen. Just tap on it to know the percentage. You’ll know if it’s working or not this way.
Method 2: Check the Stereo Balance
Your stereo balance could be skewed too. This happens if you don’t disable the stereo shift option from the get-go. Although this needs to be done manually. So if the left AirPod doesn’t work, you may have accidentally placed the slider to the very right.
Don’t worry! This can be sorted in a jiffy. Just follow these steps.
Step 1:
Go to Settings.
Step 2:
Tap on Accessibility and find Hearing.
Step 3:
Go to Audio/Visual and find the stereo balance panel.
Step 4:
If it’s skewed, adjust the slider midway. It should be right in the middle of L and R.
Step 5:
For added measure, turn off the Mono Audio. This means both your AirPods will be in sync.
Are you using a MacBook? The steps are pretty much the same. Just tap on Sound instead of Accessibility in Step 2. You need to go to Accessibility if you want to turn off the Mono Audio feature though.
Method 3: Take Out a Delicate Cleaning Tool
Just because it’s an electronic device doesn’t mean it’s not susceptible to getting dirty. Your AirPods require proper cleaning to function. There are dust and earwax and a plethora of other nasty things. Mind you, AirPods aren’t waterproof. So make sure you use something dry with a soft bristle to clean it.
Again, don’t exacerbate the issue by trying to clean it excessively. Use a slightly damp cloth to wipe it clean if it has a stain. Use a soft brush to clean out dust. Use a cotton swab to clean the microphone and speakers. Most importantly, avoid sharp objects at all costs!
Method 4: Change the Network Settings
Your AirPods may not always be at fault, the device you’re using could be causing problems too. The connectivity issue can stem from the presence of multiple Bluetooth devices. Instead of connecting with your iPhone, it may be connected with your laptop instead.
Or your iPhone could be paired with another device itself. In this case, you need to reset your network settings. Go to Settings, click on General, press Set, and select “Reset Network Settings.” All the devices you previously paired with will be disconnected. So that’s the only catch!
Method 5: Reboot Your Devices
If all else fails, the next course of action should be rebooting your device. Reboot your AirPods for added measure. This should sort out the issue. If not, there might be a hardware issue with either your AirPods on your device. Check whether they pair with other devices to be certain.
Conclusion
The left AirPod (or right) could stop working for a multitude of reasons. A little tweak here and there should be enough to fix the problem. If all of these fail, it’s a hardware issue. Your AirPod could be physically damaged too. If that’s the case, it’s time to replace it.
Start by recharging your batteries then look into the stereo balance. Take out your cleaning tools to give your device a refined look on top of fixing your left AirPod. Look into the network settings. Finally, reboot your system. We hope at least one of these methods helps you with your problem!
You may also like to read: How You Can Reset AirPods.
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