Why is one AirPod louder than the other? – Quick Fix

Is one of your AirPod louder than the other? Here are the reasons and quick fix for your AirPods problem.

Both Airpod and Airpod Pro owners often complain about their one earbuds being louder as compared to the other. There are several instances of AirPods owners reporting having this issue; some claim to have been dealing with it for years!

Fortunately, there is an easy solution that should take care of most issues with one AirPod being louder as compared to the other.

Why One AirPod is louder than the other?

It is possible that one AirPod may be louder as compared to the other due to a build-up of sweat, dirt, and earwax on the speaker inside the earbud. This build-up can form a layer on your speaker, which can cause the sound to be muffled or not as loud as it should be.

To fix this issue, it is recommended to use a Q-Tip or and dry and clean toothbrush to gently clean the dirt from the earbuds. This should help restore the sound quality and make the earbuds louder.

If there is a build-up of earwax and other debris in the AirPods, it can cause the volume to decrease significantly. To solve this issue, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the AirPods.

If cleaning the earbuds does not solve the problem, there are many other fixes that can be tried to troubleshoot and fix the issue. By following these steps, your AirPods should be working properly again.

Clean the Charging Ports and Airpods

The sound quality of your AirPods might be significantly altered by even a thin covering of earwax, grime, and dirt on the speaker of the earbud or in the charging port. To fix this issue, it is important to clean both the AirPods and charging port. This can help restore the sound quality and make the earbuds louder.

If you frequently work out or wear your AirPods in wet conditions, moisture can cause a build-up of dirt and grime on the earbuds. Your sweat can leave behind salt in the AirPods and negatively impact the audio quality. 

Additionally, AirPods that are damp from sweat attract dust as they dry out. The earbuds of the AirPods Pro are particularly problematic because they attract earwax, dirt and sweat.

If the loudness and audio quality of your AirPods Pro have decreased suddenly, it is a good idea to check the tips for any buildup of dirt or grime. Be sure to look closely, as the buildup can be difficult to notice on a first look.

It’s simple to remove debris and crud from your AirPods. However, since you’re working with delicate electronics, you need to be certain that you’re cleaning them properly.

To clean dirt and grime out of your AirPods, you can use a toothbrush or a Q-Tip to softly clean the debris from the earbud speakers. It is important to be gentle and not apply too much pressure, as you do not want to damage sensitive electronics.

Ensure that you clean both the AirPods’ charging tips and the insides of the charging case. Just be sure to be gentle and avoid using too much force, as you do not want to damage the earbuds or the charging case.

If required, give your AirPods a more thorough cleaning, you can use a Q-Tip dampened with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol. It will help in removing any dirt or grime that may be hard to see.

Just be sure not to use water or soap, as these substances can potentially damage the speakers permanently. It may also be helpful to use a phone flash or flashlight to get a clearer look and ensure that you are able to effectively clean the earbuds. Note that using isopropyl alcohol to clean your AirPods is approved by Apple.

To help prevent the issue, it is important to regularly clean the connection points, the speaker, and the sensors on the earbuds. By keeping these areas clean, you may be able to resolve the issue permanently and maintain good sound quality.

Make Adjustments in Sound Balance

If you have cleaned your AirPods and one is still louder compared to the other, you may need to adjust the audio balance. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings on your device.
2. Select Accessibility.
3. Navigate to the Audio/Visual section.
4. Ensure that the Balance slider is exactly in the middle.

By adjusting the audio balance, you may be able to improve the sound quality and balance the volume between the two earbuds.

If the Balance slider is not set to the middle, it can cause one AirPod to be louder in comparison with the other. To ensure that the audio is balanced and both earbuds are at the same volume level, it is important to adjust the slider to the middle position. This should help improve the sound quality and balance the volume between the two earbuds.

Resetting Bluetooth

If wiping the AirPods and adjusting the audio balance did not fix the issue of one AirPod being louder compared to the other, then you should attempt resetting your phone’s Bluetooth connection. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open Settings on your device.
2. Select Bluetooth.
3. Turn the Bluetooth off, wait for a few seconds and turn it back on
4. Try to reconnect your AirPods.

If this does not work, you can try it once again before trying other troubleshooting steps. Resetting the Bluetooth connection can sometimes help fix issues with the volume or sound quality of your AirPods.

If you are still experiencing issues with one AirPod being louder compared to the other after resetting the Bluetooth connection, you can try resetting the earbuds themselves. 

Resetting the AirPods

If the previous troubleshooting steps did not resolve the issue of one AirPod being louder compared to another, you can try forgetting the device and re-pairing the AirPods.

1. Open Settings on your device and select Bluetooth.
2. An info symbol will appear beside the AirPods, Click on it.
3. Click on Forget This Device to remove the AirPods from your device.
4. Before re-connecting make sure the Bluetooth is turned on.
5. Open the lid and place both the AirPods in case.
6. Hold down the button on the rear of the AirPod charging case till the case light begins to blink white.
7. Re-connect the AirPods to your device and then they should be ready to use.

Resetting the AirPods may help resolve any issues with the volume or sound quality. If you are still experiencing issues after trying these steps, there may be other troubleshooting options you can try.

iOS Software Update

If you are still experiencing issues with one AirPod being louder in comparison to other, it is a good idea to check that your iPhone is running the latest software. Outdated software can cause issues with the Bluetooth connection and may result in one earbud sounding louder as compared to the other. Follow these steps to updater iOS of your phone:

1. Open settings on your device.
2. Go to General and click on Software Update.
3. Choose Install Now if a newer update is availale.

Alternatively, you can turn on automatic updates. By keeping your iPhone software up to date, you can help ensure that your device is working in optimal condition and avoid potential issues

Turn all nearby devices off

One solution to resolve the issue is to turn off any nearby Bluetooth devices. This can include phones, keyboards, mouses etc. that may be causing interference. You can ensure that there is no interference by performing this action.

Disable Automatic Ear Detection

Another possible solution to try is turning off Automatic Ear Detection. This feature senses when you are wearing the AirPods and begins receiving audio from the connected device. However, if there is an issue with this feature, it can cause the sound to distort.

To disable Automatic Ear Detection, open Settings > Bluetooth, tap on the info symbol beside the AirPods then naviagate to automatic ear detection and turn it off. Keep in mind that once this feature is turned off, the AirPods will continue playing even when they are not in your ears.

It may be helpful to try cleaning the AirPods first, as dirty headphones can sometimes cause problems with Automatic Ear Detection.

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