When one side of a pair of wireless earbuds goes quiet, first split the symptom in two: is one side completely silent, or can you hear it but more quietly? Apple and Samsung both give different check sequences for the two. If it is silent, look at charging and connection (reset or coupling). If it is quieter, look at debris, ear tips and the left-right balance setting.
When one AirPod makes no sound
Apple's If your left or right AirPod isn't working (published September 17, 2026) gives this order.
- Make sure the charging case is fully charged. If the case won't charge, clean its charging port.
- Put both AirPods in the case and charge them for 30 seconds, then open the case near your iPhone or iPad and check the on-screen charge status to confirm each one is charging.
- Wear only the problem AirPod, put the other in the case and close the lid. While connected, play audio to test that side alone.
- If it plays sound on its own, put both back in the case, charge for 30 seconds, open the case and test both together.
- If it still doesn't work, reset your AirPods. If one AirPod was replaced, follow the setup steps for a replacement AirPod instead.
The reset method depends on the model. According to How to reset your AirPods (published September 17, 2026), first put the AirPods in the case, close the lid and wait 30 seconds, then, if the AirPods appear in Settings › Bluetooth on your device, tap the More Info button next to them and choose "Forget This Device." Next, for AirPods 1, 2 and 3 and AirPods Pro 1 and 2, with the lid open, press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds. For AirPods 4, AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3 there is no button: while the status light is on, double-tap the front of the case, double-tap again when the light flashes white, and double-tap a third time when it flashes quickly. In either case, when the light flashes amber and then white, reconnect by following the on-screen steps. If it doesn't flash white, close the lid for 20 seconds and repeat.
If a "Mismatched AirPods" alert appears, the cause is different. Apple's guide to the "AirPods Mismatch" alert (published July 29, 2025) says it can appear when the two AirPods in the case are different generations, have been swapped with someone else's, or are already paired with another Apple Account. Because AirPods can be linked to only one Apple Account in Find My, an AirPod used with another account must first be removed from that account.
When one AirPod is quieter
The same Apple document gives a different order for a volume difference. Remove the ear tips, check the microphone and speaker mesh on each AirPod, and clean them if there is debris. Then go to Settings › Accessibility › Audio & Visual and make sure the Balance slider is in the middle.
With Galaxy Buds
Samsung Electronics Service's guide for when one earbud is hard to hear (published March 5, 2025) uses the same split. If one side is quieter, check that the earbud is seated securely and that there is no debris on the speaker, and note that different left and right ear tip sizes can make the volume feel different. If the fit is fine, adjust the balance for connected audio in the phone's Settings › Accessibility › Hearing enhancements › Left/right sound balance. This balance feature does not apply to calls, and some models such as the Galaxy Buds and Buds+ (SM-R170/R175) may not support it.
If one side is completely silent or won't connect, the same document says the earbud coupling may have been temporarily released. According to how to set up earbud coupling (published April 3, 2026), for the Buds4 and Buds4 Pro, place both earbuds in the matching left and right slots, open the case and press the connect button on the back for 7 seconds. When the case LED flashes blue and turns off, coupling is complete; if it keeps flashing red, coupling failed, so take the earbuds out, put them back and try again. For the Buds3 and Buds3 Pro, press the connect button next to the charging terminal at the bottom of the case for 7 seconds or more, and if it keeps flashing red even when seated properly, check the contacts for debris or corrosion and whether the case got wet. For the Buds+, Buds Live, Buds Pro, Buds2 and Buds2 Pro, place both earbuds in the case slots and touch and hold both at the same time for 7 seconds or more; coupling is complete when the battery status light flashes green and turns off. The original Galaxy Buds (SM-R170) cannot self-couple and can only be set up at a service center.
Where this stops
In both manufacturers' documents, the last step a user can take is a reset (Apple) or coupling (Samsung). If one side is still silent after that, these procedures cannot narrow the cause further. Samsung's document points to its customer center (1588-3366) when the problem isn't resolved. This order is based on official AirPods and Galaxy Buds guidance; other brands' earbuds were not checked.