Bluetooth earbuds only connect in one ear. Any fix?

Factual Questions
1

I’ve had problems with Android bluetooth earbuds only connecting to one ear.

I had a expensive Bose earbud that completely quit connecting in one ear. I had to throw them out.

My current earbuds are much less expensive. (I learned a hard lesson). The problem isn’t consistent. Sometimes it’s the right ear and sometimes the left.

I turn bluetooth on/off. Use forget to remove the device. Then connect again.

If I fight with it long enough I eventually get both paired. Sometimes the sound drops out in the right earbud for a few seconds and comes back.

Is it the phone or the earbuds?

Any solutions other than buying another set of earbuds?

I know it’s not range. My phone is always close by.

2

Based on what you describe, I suspect that it’s almost undoubtedly the earbuds.

3

Have you tried putting it back in its case and pulling it out again? Just asking because that’s the solution I’ve found. If the headphone wasn’t connected correctly to the charging port in the headphone, then it doesn’t “realize” it’s been taken off and you’re attempting to put it on again.
Properly seating the headphone in the case, then removing it and trying again has made it work for me.

4

The usual suggestion is to reset the earbuds themselves, which will probably also require repairing them with the phone.

How exactly you do that will depend on the model, so you’ll have to look in the instructions. Sometimes it can be quite complicated, with different levels of “reset,” and may involve things like opening and closing the case multiple times, pressing buttons, pressing one or both earbuds as they’re in the case.

There may be a reset that just unpairs with everything, and another that does a complete reset, requiring the earbuds to repair with each other (usually just by putting them in the case).

I have some earbuds that can come off the contacts in the case, which might cause one to think it’s in use, and then go to sleep because it’s not actually being used. When I remove them from the case, the one that was properly on the contacts wakes up when it’s removed, but the other one doesn’t wake up, because as far as it knows, it could have been sitting on a table for 2 hours. Usually putting them both back in the case, and securely pressed down on the contacts for a few seconds will fix that problem.

5

I had forgotten about putting them back in the case. That does seem to reset them. I’ll try pressing them down on the contacts for a few seconds.

I agree, it seems like the earbud is asleep and not connecting. Going to asleep when not paired is how earbuds conserve battery charge.

I always press the side until I hear power off. But just handling earbuds and putting them in the case will sometimes turn them on.

Thanks. Hopefully I won’t have to buy another set of earbuds.

6

Had the same occasional issue with mine and that was the exact solution.

7

Me three. It happens to mine frequently, but I just pop the offending bud back in the case, close, then open the lid, and put the bud back on and it works 99% of the time (the 1% I have to do it a second time).

8

Four. That seems to be the default solution.

9

I tried the earbuds today. Putting them in the case helped get the right and left bud paired.

I think they are going bad. The right bud sometimes loses audio for a few seconds and comes back. It doesn’t appear to be a pairing issue. The amplifier seems to flake out briefly.

I use Amazon Tozo buds. Pretty inexpensive at $25 to $40. I’ve lost a couple sets in the past few years. (fell out of my pants pocket) No need to spend more money on a high quality ear bud.

10

I have the same problem from time to time. Both the second bud not pairing (solve by putting in case and pulling out again) and the going silent for a bit.

I was also having low battery warnings for a while.

I have these problem less often when I make sure the contacts to the charging case are good and not obstructed by, say, ear wax :slight_smile:

I have these buds - I like them. Comfy, not too pricey.

11

The pricing is interesting. Usually basic black is the cheapest. This time they are offering blue cheaper.

Color doesn’t matter unless it’s bright pink. :wink: I’ll consider Anker when ordering.

12

This is why I’ve never been a fan of them (that & I don’t like the way they fit/feel in my ears). Kid dropped one airpod outside a couple of days ago…in the snow & by a bush. Took him & a buddy almost 1/2 hr to find it & they were only searching about 5 Sq ft.

I did just break down & bought a pair of over-the-ear hooked Shokz but their size should make them harder to accidentally drop & easier to find if they do fall.

13

I remember being upset when the earphone jack was removed from phones.

But bluetooth (headphones or ear buds) is so much more convenient.

There’s no tangled wires in a drawer. No wires running from your ear to the phone.

I still miss my phone jack. There are times higher fidelity is desirable.

I made the mistake of buying expensive Bose ear buds. They were too big to fit comfortably. One bud died. Learned my lesson.

The inexpensive buds are fine.

14

It changes regularly, probably based on supply/demand. I was considering buying another pair during Black Friday when I think several were $45. But then my current pair came good when I cleaned them a bit and recharged them all. I bought a different model of Anker in the meantime but they hurt my ears a bit. My original pair of black ones were $60 when I bought them.