It can be very unnerving and extremely frustrating when your Airpods were once working as they should be and then the next moment you notice that one of them is louder than the other.
When it comes to technology like this, especially due to their price tag, it can be a worrying time. Luckily though, there are some common reasons why this might be happening and sometimes, it is a quick and easy fix.
This isn’t always possible though, so be aware that if all else fails, you may need to replace your Airpods. However, our guide here will look at the common reasons why this issue occurs and how you might be able to fix it.
So, if you’re ready to learn more – then read on and discover the answers.
What Might Be The Reason?
As we said, there are a number of potential reasons why one of your Airpods is louder than the other. Generally speaking, it is normally down to hardware related issues or software related issues.
Having said that though, it could be something much more simple like the audio settings being wrong or the Airpods not at full charged capacity.
The biggest problem you have here is not having a clear idea as to what the problem is, as it could be any of the things we have just mentioned. However, let’s break them down a little more.
Firmware Issues
If you have ever had Apple products before, you will likely be fully aware of how often Apple delivers updates for their devices and you are forced to make sure these run.
This is often to fix performance problems or to update the device to work with other things more smoothly.
In fact, these updates can fix common bugs or random errors that occur with your Apple products, so when it comes to your Airpods – this is no exception. Therefore, you’re going to want to check your settings for a potential pending update.
To do this, you will want to follow these steps:
- Open settings
- Head to general
- Select about
From here, you will be able to see the firmware version. At the time of writing this, the latest firmware version should be 5B58. The difficulty is that Apple rarely will announce new firmware updates, so you may be hard pressed to find what version you should be using.
Click here for latest firmware information for all Airpods.
Audio File Issues
Sometimes, we overlook the simplest reasons for problems and head to the more complicated ones before ruling out the prior. Generally speaking, audio files have audio signals sent to two different channels – left and right.
These channels and the sound itself are often manipulated and altered by sound engineers using software. One such sound manipulation is known as audio panning and this changes the perception of sound distance between left and right channels.
You can check if it is the track, rather than your device itself, by changing the audio file to Mono. This will then disable the stereo output and you will listen to the track through the same audio signal.
Do this by heading to accessibility through settings and then select audio/visual. All you need to do then is toggle the mono setting and then play your chosen track to see if this has resolved the problem.
Hardware Issues
Of course, firmware and software issues can generally be resolved with some basic steps, but when it comes to hardware issues, this is usually much more significant where the internal mechanism of the Airpods have broken.
One of the most common reasons for this is due to dirt and debris build up, generally from earwax or pocket lint. To prevent this issue, remember to regularly clean your Airpods and try to avoid putting them in your pocket unprotected.
You will also want to avoid any chances of your Airpods getting wet. If they get slightly wet, perhaps due to rain – then be sure to dry them off with a paper towel and allow them to air out for a short time.
Audio Source Settings
Another potential reason for your Airpods having sound related issues is due to your other device. If your iPhone or Mac for example have technical bugs, you might notice some sound output problems.
Other than this, having the wrong audio enhancement settings could be the potential culprit. While it is true that these settings are for the user to experience the sound they want, it can often cause improper settings.
With these improper settings, the sound will become distorted or of course, one side will become louder than the other.
What Should You Do?
The first thing you should do is to check the basics. Start by checking that the audio settings are correct on your devices and your Airpods are clean and free of debris.
Check to see if you have your volume turned up and if this has not helped, then access the mono/stereo settings and choose other tracks to assess if the problem is the track itself.
You should also check that your devices are all fully charged and all your devices are up to date, in terms of the potential updates that might be available to you.
If you have checked everything that we discussed above and you still are experiencing audio problems, then you might have a hardware issue which needs to either be fixed, or much more likely – you will need to buy a replacement set of Airpods.
While this is not ideal, you could try the preventive measures we discussed earlier, such as regular cleaning, protecting your Airpods and keeping them dry.
The Bottom Line
If one Airpod is louder than the other, there are a number of reasons this could be happening as we have seen. Be sure to check out the most obvious ones before you head out to buy a new pair!
From a young age, I have always had a big interest in technology, and this blog is an extension of that interest. Through this blog, I hope to provide others with all of the information they need regarding tech options to consider, and things such as compatibility. Some of the different items I will be discussing include headphones, smartwatches, and how to fix common issues.
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