How to Fix Bluetooth Headphones when Only One Side Works?

Have you ever experienced a situation where only one side of your headphones works? If so, you are not alone. This is a very common problem with bluetooth headphones. Luckily, there are some relatively easy solutions to this problem.

The best solution will depend on the specific issue that led to the malfunctioning side of the headphones in the first place. You can either fix it yourself or take them into an electronics store for help if necessary. 

I know that when you’re listening to music and only one side of your headphones is working, it can be incredibly frustrating. If this has happened to you before, then don’t worry!

I’m going to show you how easy it is to fix a bluetooth headphone so that it works on both sides. If you want more information about why this happens or what the solution is, keep reading. 

Otherwise, you can jump down to the how to fix bluetooth headphones when only one side works section by scrolling down.

Table of Contents

Why do Some Bluetooth Headphones only Work on one Ear?

The main reason this happens is because of how bluetooth technology works. In order for a sound from your device, such as a phone or laptop, to be transmitted over bluetooth there needs to be two different frequencies playing at once on both sides of your headphones.

When one side has lost connection and doesn’t play its part of the frequency it causes interference which makes the other half not work either. This is why we find that we hear nothing when we try and use just one side of our headphones with Bluetooth enabled. 

You can also read: How To Fix Headphones/Earbuds When One Side Doesn’t Work?

How do I Fix the Bluetooth Headphones when Only One Side Works?

Now that we’ve gone over some of the basics why sometimes only one side of your headphones work, how do I fix this? I’m going to show you how! The method isn’t complicated at all and is often an issue with how the Bluetooth itself is set up. Here’s how:

  1. Turn off the headphones normally how you would if they weren’t already powered down. Press and hold the power button until it says “Off.” If your headphones are still on, turn them completely off how they would normally be to conserve battery life before continuing.
  2. Now that the headphones are turned off, press down and hold your finger against both ear cups at once while powering up. It should then say all of this information while booting back up again (though I can’t read it because my camera is bad). After that point, these Bluetooth earbuds should work properly again! If for some reason this doesn’t fix it, try something else like deleting your pairing with your phone/music player/Bluetooth device or restarting your phone/computer/Bluetooth device first.
  3. You can also try to delete the pairing you have with your headphones and then re-pair just as how we paired them for this tutorial. It may take a few tries, but essentially you want to go into your Bluetooth settings on whatever device it is that you’re using (make sure they’re powered off) and look for the option which says something like “forget this device” or “delete all devices.” If done correctly, the headphones should then pair back up again and work how they’re supposed to!

If this methods is not working for you, try the long but hopefully it will work.

  1. Get a clean, lint-free cloth and some rubbing alcohol. You can get these supplies at most pharmacies or grocery stores. Make sure that they’re not treated with any extra chemicals before you try this method.
  2. Get the cloth damp with the rubbing alcohol and then squeeze all excess liquid out of it so there’s only a bit left on the cloth itself. Then place it over one of your ear cups with how the headphones normally sit on your ears when using them for listening to music/taking calls.
  3. Press down on both sides of your headphones with your fingers firmly until you hear a “pop” sound come from inside each cup where the padding is located. This means that air has been pushed through so that the alcohol can clean up all of the microphone components. By doing this, you’re removing any dirt or grime that would normally make it hard for your headphones to pick up sound on both sides. Allow them to air dry completely before using them again! If using this method, try not to push down with too much force as there’s a chance you could break something in how they work.

You might be interested in: How To Calibrate Headphones | BeatsInside

Final Words

And now… how do I fix Bluetooth headphones when only one side works?

I just told you how to do that now didn’t I? 😉

Anyways if you have some other questions about how to fix bluetooth headphones when only one side works please comment below. We also have an extensive guide about how to pair Bluetooth devices so click here to check that out!

Stay awesome, thanks for reading how how to fix bluetooth headphones when only one side works and I’ll see you in the next one.