Why is One Airpod Louder Than the Other? Here’s How to Fix It

| Updated on March 27, 2024

AirPods is one of the finest and most successful inventions in technology so far. They were immediately accepted and are now used worldwide due to their comfort and portability.

Apple AirPods

But it’s unsettling when both of your AirPods have been working flawlessly until one day, one of them just abruptly starts to sound louder than the other. Users have been complaining about an error that they are facing and that is “Why one AirPod is louder than the other?”. And so, to help them in getting away with it using some easy fixes, we are going to tell it all.

In this article, we will discuss the probable reasons why one of my AirPods is quieter than the other, and how we can resolve this issue using some pretty easy steps. So let’s get the ball rolling!

 

Why is One AirPod Louder Than the Other?

Airpods

Imagine enjoying your favorite music on your AirPods in comfort, but the sound frequency doesn’t feel quite right. You wonder if your AirPods aren’t connecting when one AirPod is louder than the other. Not very likely.

It can be challenging to tell if a hardware or software problem with one AirPod is causing it to be louder than the other. However, the following are some explanations as to why the Airpod is louder in one ear: 

  • Imbalanced Audio Signal: There is a possibility that you have not set the audio signal correctly in the settings of your connected device which is causing the issue of one AirPod being louder than the other.
  • Connectivity Glitch: If your AirPods are not connected in the right manner, then that can be the reason for the issue.
  • Damaged AirPod: The possibility for such an error is high if your AirPod is damaged. As the AirPod which is damaged isn’t functioning properly, the working one’s sound can be heard louder.
  • Junk Accumulated in the AirPod: If an excessive amount of debris has been accumulated in your AirPods, then this can be one of the reasons why your one AirPod is louder than the other.

At this point, we can’t be sure why exactly one AirPod sounds louder than the other. It can be because of a software or hardware problem. More importantly, earwax from your ear could get inside your AirPods and possibly cause damage. Below, we are going to explain how to get your AirPods issue repaired if they malfunction.

How to Fix the “One AirPod is Louder Than the Other” Issue?

Here are some helpful solutions to help you resolve this issue if one of your AirPods, either the left or right, sounds quieter than the other. In order to get your AirPods’ balance back, you can try each of the below solutions one at a time using simple steps. 

All models, including AirPods (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation) and AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd generation), are covered by this tutorial.  

Clean Your AirPods

We advise inspecting your AirPods to see if there is any debris, dirt, or foreign object blocking the speaker grills before adjusting your configurations. The speaker grills on your AirPods will gather dirt over time from use, which interferes with sound transmission.

  • Get a soft and lint-free cloth for cleaning the surface. 
  • With the help of the cloth, gently wipe the AirPods and their charging case.
  • To clean more compact particles, you can also use a fresh toothbrush.

Notes

Don’t use tissue or cloth that will break up inside your device.

Clear Out the Earwax

Earwax is a natural component of our ears, and it can also enter devices like earphones or AirPods that are worn in our ears. And so, there is a high chance for the AirPods to get slower due to their excessive accumulation. Therefore, we have got you some easy ways to get rid of unwanted earwax from your AirPods. 

Holding the AirPods while covering the mesh with a thin towel and sucking to remove the debris will effectively remove earwax. After that, keep sucking on it and check your quieter-sounding AirPods to see if there has been a discernible change in the sound quality. 

Check Audio Balance

Audio balance refers to the volume of sound that comes out from the left side and right side of your AirPods when you’re listening to music or watching your favorite television show. As the balance is adjusted in the bar, your AirPods will sound louder on that particular side of the AirPods. 

To make sure that you are listening to the best quality audio on your AirPods, you should check if the balance is adjusted in the middle to keep the audio levels in check and balance on both AirPods.

  • Go to the Settings of your device.
  • Then tap on Accessibility and select Audio/Visual.
Select Audio Visual Settings
  • Now, to restore the balance, slide the bar to the middle (0.00).
Adjust the audio volume balance

Use the Eartip Fit Test (For Airpods Pro)

In order to achieve better sound isolation with AirPods Pro, use the Ear Tip Fit Test. This reduces sound leakage and any stray background noise. As a result, you can hear sounds more clearly, and it might even make your AirPods sound louder and more balanced.

  • Navigate to Settings > Bluetooth with your AirPods Pro in your ears and connect to your iPhone or iPad.
  • In the list of devices, select your AirPods by tapping the More Info button.
  • Tap on Ear Tip Fit Test (Make sure you have iOS or iPadOS 13.2 or later if you don’t see the Ear Tip Fit Test).
  • After selecting Continue, press the Play button.
Ear Tip Fi Test

Try adjusting your AirPods Pro and retaking the test if it suggests changing the ear tip or the test recommends it. Try a different size after that. It’s possible that your left and right ears will require different sizes.

Restart your Device

It is possible that the AirPods you are blaming for being louder on one side are actually the device’s fault that they are connected. For that, you can follow the most basic common methods i.e., restarting your device.

  • Press and hold the power button and swipe the power off slider.
Slide to power off
  • Now, restart your iPhone after waiting 30 seconds by holding the power button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

Turn Off Automatic Ear Detection 

The ability of AirPods to recognize when they are plugged into your ear and when they are not is just one of their many features. This is why when you remove one AirPod from your ear, the audio, or the video automatically stops playing and when you plug it in again, it starts to play. 

This could occasionally interfere with your ability to use your AirPods to listen to music. Hence, you can try turning off the automatic ear detection feature. 

  • Go to the Settings section. 
  • Tap on General
  • Click on the Info button present next to your AirPods. 
  • Scroll down and turn off the ‘Automatic Ear Detection’ option. 

Reset AirPods

Consider resetting your AirPods if you’re experiencing minor software issues like connection issues and rapidly declining battery life. Just like with your device, when you reset your AirPods, you get a “new start.” 

  • Close the charging case’s lid after placing your AirPods inside and wait for 30 seconds. 
  • Then, place your AirPods in your ears. 
  • Navigate to Bluetooth > Settings on your device. 
  • Select Forget This Device by tapping on More Info next to your AirPods. 
  • Close the charging case’s lid after putting back your AirPods. 
  • Hold down the Setup button for 15 seconds or until the status light on the case changes from green to amber to white. 
Airpods reset button
  • After that, reconnect your device to see if the issue has been resolved. 

Calibrate AirPods Sound and iPhone

If still, nothing works out for you, try calibrating your AirPods with your iPhone. This method is meant to simply entail the altered sound to account for all the external circumstances. 

With this, you will be able to hear the effect immediately, especially as the level of sound rises and falls. Here’s how you can calibrate your AirPods:

  • Turn down the volume all the way. 
  • Then in Bluetooth settings, turn off your AirPods. 
  • Make sure that your AirPods are positioned correctly in your ears. 
  • Use your iPhone’s speakers to listen to the sound. 
  • Then, turn your phone’s volume down all the way. 
  • Now connect your AirPods again and increase the volume all the way and see if it works. 

Reset All Settings

If resetting your Apple AirPods Settings doesn’t work, you should try resetting the settings of your device itself. Here are the steps for it:

  • Go to Settings.
  • Tap General.
  • Scroll down and click on Transfer Or Reset iPhone.
  • Tap Reset.
  • Click on Reset All Settings.
  • Enter your passcode, if asked.
  • Tap Reset All Settings another time to confirm your decision.

Try Your AirPods With Another Device 

If you are still having trouble fixing this problem, try connecting your AirPods to another iOS device, such as an iPhone, iPad, or iMac. This will demonstrate whether the problem is with your AirPods or if there is a different problem. 

Once connected, try watching or listening to some audio or video on that device to see if the problem persists. 

Contact Apple Support for Repair

If none of the above-mentioned methods worked for you, don’t worry! As we are still here for the rescue with one last resort for you – contacting Apple Support for the repair of your AirPods. 

If they are unable to solve the issue, if your AirPods are still covered by warranty, you might be eligible for a free pair. Additionally, if it has passed its warranty expiration date, you can purchase a single replacement AirPod.

First, second, and third-generation AirPods cost $69 each.Each AirPods Pro costs $89

Conclusion

You now have all the information you require regarding what to do if one of your AirPods is louder than the other. No matter how old or new your AirPods are, if you don’t know how to identify and fix the problem, having one AirPod sound quieter than the other can be a nuisance.

I hope your AirPods issue of being louder in one ear has been resolved by this point and you can resume watching and listening to music and movies the way it was intended.


Chitra Joshi

Content Writer & Marketer


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