Looking to figure out how to fix Bluetooth earbuds when only one side works? Maybe your headphones stopped working?

Your not the only person to ask “why are my headphones not working”. Here we will walk through our step-by-step guide to resolving your issue of sound only coming out of one headphone.

You will quickly learn how to fix headphones only working in one ear or other common problems. We will explain in written form as well as link to other related YouTube videos guides.

Headphones not working on one side is a frustrating problem, but whether wired or wireless, it is however possible to fix in many cases. Let’s begin!

Configure Settings on Your Media Device

Before examining the headphones, check the device they’re connected to. There are a few settings that are easy to find – and also easy to forget – on your device, and some simple things you can do to rule out your device being the cause of your single-channel problem.

Fix 1: Quick restart

The first step in diagnosing electrical issues is always a simple reboot. Disconnect your headphones from your device and shut it down – if you’re on a phone or computer, select shut down, not restart. Once your device is fully powered off, wait 10-15 seconds, then boot it back up and reconnect your headphones.

It’s amazing how many problems a simple system reboot can solve. That said, if one earpiece still isn’t working, move on to Fix 2.

Fix 2: Try a different pair of earphones

Plug another pair of headphones into your device and see if both earpieces work. If you hear sound in both ears, the problem obviously lies with your first headset, and you can skip to our Wired Headphone Solution or Wireless Headphone Solution to investigate further.

Conversely, if the problem persists in a second headset, check the audio settings on the device you’re connected to.

Fix 3: Check your device’s audio settings

There are two audio settings on your device which, if set incorrectly, can cause a mute earpiece. A technical explanation of these settings is outside the scope of this article, but simply checking them could solve your audio troubles.

Navigate to the audio settings on your device and check the status of two options:

• Mono: Find this option and switch it off
• Sound Balance: This setting balances the sound levels in both ears. On most devices, you’ll find it under Levels > Balance. Confirm that both L (left) and R (right) sliders are set equally.

Fix 4: Clean the audio jack

Dust is the archenemy of electronics. As it builds up, it can physically block electrical signals. This is common in mobile devices, where a lifetime spent sliding into pockets forces lint and dust into openings, like headphone jacks.

To see if dust is your culprit, get a flashlight and a toothpick or small needle. Shine the light in the jack, and carefully (and we do mean carefully) use your pick to loosen up dust and debris. You can simply blow the dust out yourself or use a cotton swab to remove it.

Wired Headphones Only Working in One Ear: Causes & Solutions

Some headphone aficionados prefer wired over wireless, but wired headsets come with unique challenges. From the jack on your media device to the speakers on your headphones, there are several possible causes for a wired headset to only work in one ear.

In this section, we’ll walk you through the simplest things to check for.

Fix 1: Repair twisted cord or exposed wire near the plug

The two most common maladies effecting any cable are twisting of the wires inside the sheath and splitting of the cable above the plug. In headphones, both are caused by wear and tear over time, and both can cause signal loss to one or both ears.

It’s possible to fix both issues at home, but you will need a soldering kit to fix it correctly. If that’s not a problem and you’re ready to go, we’ve combined the steps to fix both wire twisting and cable splitting since they both have essentially the same solution.

Tools Required: Box cutter (or other sharp blade), wire cutter and wire stripper, soldering kit, electrical tape

1. Slice through the plastic protective base around the earphone plug and remove it.
2. Using a wire cutter, cut the cord 2-3 inches above the plug. If wire is exposed at the joint of the plug and the cord, cut an inch above the exposed wire.
3. Take the plug, which is now separate from the headset, and sever it from the remaining section of the cord at its base.
4. Remove any covering and remaining solders from the plug. NOTE: Take a picture of the order in which the wires are soldered to the plug. You’ll need this in a moment.
5. The plug should now be clean and have nothing attached. Set it aside.
6. On the clean end of the cord still connected to the headset, use a wire stripper to remove the sheath and expose the wires inside. You’ll see red, green, gold, and blue wires.
7. Using your soldering kit, burn the tips of the insulation off each of the four wires.
8. Solder the wires to the plug. Use the picture you took in Step 4 as a guide.
9. Cover the newly soldered section with electrical tape.

Fix 2: Repair a short in the main headphone cord

This repair might take a bit longer, but it can easily be done at home (solder gun not required!). It’s the type of job that benefits from a video tutorial, and we found a great one, courtesy of RichsMethods.

Tools Required: Wire stripper, lighter, electrical tape

Watch the video tutorial here

Fix 3: Check the earpiece

This one is a bit tricky. Earpieces and speakers are complex, and if their malfunctioning is caused by anything more than a loose wire, fixing them requires specific expertise. That said, here’s how to open the earpiece and check for said loose wires. NOTE: For more on fixing earbuds specifically, click here: How to Fix Broken Earbuds

Tools Required: Flathead screwdriver, Philips head (cross) screwdriver, soldering iron

1. Disassemble the faulty earpiece. For smaller earbuds, look for a seam in the plastic and pry it open with your flathead screwdriver. For larger, ear-covering earpieces, remove the padding and look for screws holding the unit together. Check online for specific directions on taking apart earpieces on your specific model.
2. How to fix earbuds: Once the bud’s two halves are separated, don’t pull the unit apart – doing so could cause damage. Grab the cord and push it up through the earbud’s upper housing to expose the components. Look for loose wires and re-solder them.
3. How to fix larger earpieces: Once the unit is disassembled, you’ll see its internal workings immediately. Look for loose wires and re-solder them.

If you see nothing but sturdy solders after opening the earpiece, something else is wrong. It’s time to take your favorite pair of headphones to a professional.

But don’t beat yourself up – you did everything you could to repair the problem yourself!

Wireless Headphones Only Working in One Ear: Causes & Solutions

If wireless is the holy grail of electronic technology, headsets are its poster child use case. But high tech comes at a high cost: diagnosing and resolving problems is much more involved.

If only one Bluetooth earbud works at a time, there are a few simple things to check before digging into the hardware itself to find the problem. We’ve outlined the most simple solutions here.

Fix 1: Restart/reset device

This one is as simple as it sounds. Restart your headset, reconnect it to your media device, and see if both speakers work.

If restarting doesn’t work, try a full reset. This process will be different for each model, so check your owner’s manual or online.

Fix 2: Diagnose a halfway point issue

A halfway point problem has to do with the headphone jack on your media device. We know what you’re wondering – how could a headphone jack cause an issue with wireless speakers?

Put simply, inside the headphone jack (guide for headphone jack not working with windows 10) are small, spring-loaded metal connectors. When a plug is inserted, the plug pushes these metal connectors up, which tells the media device that something is plugged into the port and that a sound signal should be sent to it. These metal connectors occasionally get stuck in the “pushed-up” position, causing the device to mistakenly think that headphones are plugged in and that wireless audio should be turned off – in one or both ears.

Make sense? Fortunately, the solution isn’t so long-winded; simply insert and remove an aux cable plug into the jack repeatedly and at different angles. Eventually, you’ll trigger the internal connectors to release.

Test your speakers, and if one speaker still doesn’t work, move on to Fix 3.

Fix 3: Fix loose or broken internal wires

Let’s face it, wireless headphones get dropped. That’s the nature of going hands-free. Even if you haven’t dropped your device, internal components and wires can get jarred loose over time, so it doesn’t hurt to crack your wireless headphones open and see if everything is where it’s supposed to be.

For this fix, you will need a solder gun.

Tools Required: Flathead screwdriver, Philips head (cross) screwdriver, soldering iron

1. Disassemble the casing on your wireless headset. You may be able pry it open using your flathead screwdriver, or you may see screws holding the unit together. Check online for specific directions on taking apart your specific model.
2. Once you’ve removed the casing, locate any internal circuitry. If you find any loose wires or broken solders, simply solder them back in place.

Fix 4: Check the earpiece

As mentioned above (Wired Headsets, Fix 3), speaker diagnosis and replacement is complex, and we won’t detail it here. But again, it’s easy to check for loose wires, and here’s how.

Tools Required: Flathead screwdriver, Philips head (cross) screwdriver, soldering iron

1. Disassemble the faulty earpiece. For smaller earbuds, look for a seam in the plastic and pry it open with your flathead screwdriver. For larger, ear-covering earpieces, remove the padding and look for screws holding the unit together. Check online for specific directions on taking apart earpieces on your specific model.
2. For earbuds: Once the bud’s two halves are separated, don’t pull the unit apart – doing so could cause damage. Grab the cord and push it up through the earbud’s upper housing to expose the components. Look for loose wires and re-solder them.
3. For large earpieces: Once the unit is disassembled, you’ll see its internal workings immediately. Look for loose wires and re-solder them.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully your favorite pair of headphones are working perfectly again! If you’ve made it this far and you’re still only hearing in one ear, hope is not lost. After all, independent repair technicians are in abundant supply these days, and finding an experienced one could save you time, money, and stress.

Of course, if you feel like treating yourself, check out some of our comparisons and reviews. Maybe this frustrating malfunction is the universe’s way of telling you it’s time for a new pair!