Why Is One AirPod Louder Than the Other? – Best Guide

As a music lover, the most common source of frustration is not finding a medium that produces sound exactly how you want it – and you could be lucky enough to find one, but then you could also be unlucky enough that it starts to malfunction. The last thing anyone wants is to be stuck wondering why one AirPod is louder than the other.

Airpods have become rather popular in recent times – everyone wears them for many different reasons. They’re great, convenient, and helpful, but they could also become faulty. This article will discuss a commonly asked question amongst AirPods users: Why is one AirPod louder than the other?

Read also: Why are my AirPods so loud all of a sudden?

Why Is One AirPod Louder Than the Other?

If one AirPod is louder than the other, the most common reason is the presence of waste material covering the main speakers of the lower AirPod. Waste material like ear wax, dust, dirt, or other debris can settle in the speakers and cause them to sound quieter than usual.

Here are some other causes of the one AirPod louder than the other issue:

1. Audio Imbalance

By default, the audio balance of Airpods is set to center. However, it can accidentally be changed to either left or right, pushing the sound in that direction. This can cause one AirPod to sound quieter than the other because the audio balance is set in the direction of the louder one.

2. Connectivity

Your AirPods might’ve developed connectivity issues or bugs that can be solved by resetting, recalibrating, or forgetting them and then reconnecting. This will allow them to return to their default configuration and connect afresh.

3. Connected Device

You might not consider it, but the issue might be from the phone or any other device connected to the AirPods rather than the AirPods itself. There could be some settings on the device tampering or conflicting with the proper function of the AirPods.

How to Fix One AirPod That Is Louder Than the Other

To fix one AirPod louder than the other, you should first try cleaning it. Here are some practical ways to clean your AirPods and case:

1. You can clean your AirPods with a soft anti-static or new toothbrush. Use it on the speakers as well – very gently. Then use a clean, soft, lint-free cloth to wipe the AirPods and speakers after gently brushing the dirt.
2. You can also carefully suck out the wax or debris from the AirPods. Remember to cover the speakers of the quieter AirPod with a thin cloth to make sure the dirt does not go in your mouth as you suck it out. Keep testing the audio as you do this to check if it’s working and know when to stop. You can also use the cloth to clean the AirPod speakers as you go.
3. You can gently use a cotton swab to clean the AirPod speakers and the case. Lightly damp the swab with water or alcohol first. Ensure to use very little liquid – as little as possible – and try not to get any part of the swab stuck in the speakers.

Here are some other ways to fix the one AirPod louder than the other issue:

Fix 1: Adjust Audio Balance

You can try adjusting the audio balance of your AirPods until they sound as they should. To do this:

1. Connect the AirPods to your device by putting them in your ears
2. Go to Settings >> Accessibility >>Audio/Visual
3. Scroll down to find balance and then adjust the slider
4. The slider should be in the middle for equal sound

The audio balance can also be adjusted using the AirPods and case.

1. Connect the AirPods to your device and put only the louder one in your ear
2. Play anything to use it for a while
3. Then, return it into the case and close it
4. Leave it that way for some time and recheck it with both AirPods

Fix 2: Reconnect

You can either reconnect or make the connection afresh to fix connectivity issues. This can be done by resetting the AirPods, forgetting them, or recalibrating.

To reset and connect your AirPods afresh:

1. Put the AirPods in the case close the lid
2. Wait 30 seconds and open the lid again
3. Go to Settings >> Bluetooth
4. Tap the i next to the name of your AirPods, then tap Forget This Device >> Forget device
5. Confirm that the AirPods is no longer on the list
6. Then, with the lid still open, press and hold the Setup Button at the back of the case until the light on the front blinks amber and then white – this should be about 15 seconds
7. Once done, setup and connect the AirPods to the device afresh

To forget and reconnect your AirPods:

1. Go to Settings >> Bluetooth
2. Tap the i next to the name of your AirPods, then tap Forget This Device >>Forget device
3. Confirm that the AirPods is no longer on the list
4. Then reconnect them by opening the AirPods case, click on Connect when the setup option pops up

To recalibrate your AirPods:

1. Put the AirPods in your ears and play a song
2. Take the volume to the lowest until the AirPods are entirely silent
3. Next, keep the AirPods ON and turn OFF Bluetooth on your device
4. Then, play a song again with your device’s speakers and take the volume to the lowest again
5. Finally, turn ON Bluetooth again and reconnect the AirPods
6. Turn up the volume and see if it’s been fixed

Fix 3: Device Check

If the issue is with the device connected rather than the AirPods itself, you can try to restart the device, and if that does not work, you can reset it. This will return it to its factory settings. To do this:

1. First, try to use the AirPods with other devices to confirm that the particular one is the issue
2. Once confirmed, go to Settings >> General >> Transfer or Reset iPhone >> Reset >> Reset all Settings
3. Then, type in your passcode when prompted
4. Tap Reset All Settings again for confirmation
5. After this is done, you should reconnect the AirPods

Alternatively, you can also try updating your device to fix the issue and if there are no updates, simply restart it. To update your device:

1. Go to Settings >> General >> Software Update >> Download and Install
2. Then, let the Device download and install the update

Fix 4: Go to Apple

If none of these suggested fixes work, the AirPods might be damaged. Therefore, we recommend going to the nearest Apple service center to get them repaired or replaced. Your AirPods will be examined, and if a fault is found, a fix will be attempted, or you will be given a replacement for free (if the AirPods are less than a year old, you are on a warranty or have AppleCare).

Why Is One AirPod Louder Than the Other After Cleaning?

If one AirPod is louder than the other after cleaning, you probably damaged something while cleaning. We recommend using only a soft anti-static brush, new toothbrush, soft lint-free cloth, or cotton swab to clean AirPods. If you must use liquid, use recommended ones like alcohol or clean water in very little quantity. You can also use the cleaning solutions used for hearing aids. Avoid using too much liquid, sharp objects, abrasive, or dirty materials to clean your AirPods.

How to Make One AirPod Louder

Here are some ways to make one AirPod louder than the other:

1# Turn OFF Low Power Mode

You can do this either by swiping up to view the control center on your iPhone or tapping the battery icon to turn on/off low power mode. Or you can go to Settings >> Battery and toggle off Low Power Mode.

2# Calibrate

To calibrate your AirPods with the device:

1. Put the AirPods in your ears and play a song
2. Take the volume to the lowest until the AirPods are entirely silent
3. Next, keep the AirPods on and turn off Bluetooth on your device
4. Then, play a song again with your device’s speakers and take the volume to the lowest again
5. Finally, turn on Bluetooth again and reconnect the AirPods
6. Turn up the volume and see if it’s been fixed

3# Remove Soundcheck Or Volume Limit

To check for volume limit:

1. Go to Settings >> Music >> Volume Limit/Settings >> Sounds >> Headphone Safety >> Reduce Loud Sounds
2. Tap on it and select Off to disable it/toggle it off to disable it
3. You can also adjust the volume knob to increase it

To check for soundcheck:

1. Go to Setting >> Music
2. You can then toggle it on or off

4# Adjust Equalizer

You can improve sound quality and increase the volume on your airpods by adjusting the equalizer until it sounds right. To do this:

1. Go to Settings >> Music >> Playback >> EQ
2. Here, you can either turn it OFF or select an option
3. Select Bass Booster for music or Spoken Word for podcasts or audiobooks
4. You can choose the option that best suits what you are listening to

Read also: How Long To Charge Your AirPods Case For The First Time?

5# Unpair And Re-Pair

To forget and reconnect your AirPods:

1. Go to Settings >> Bluetooth
2. Tap the i next to the name of your AirPods, then tap Forget This Device >> Forget device
3. Confirm that the AirPods is no longer on the list
4. Then reconnect them by opening the AirPods case, click on Connect when the setup option pops up

To reset and connect your AirPods afresh:

1. Put the AirPods in the case, close the lid
2. Wait 30 seconds and open the lid again
3. Go to Settings >> Bluetooth
4. Tap the i next to the name of your AirPods, then tap Forget This Device >> Forget device
5. Confirm that the AirPods is no longer on the list
6. Then, with the lid still open, press and hold the Setup Button at the back of the case until the light on the front blinks amber and then white – this should be about 15 seconds
7. Once done, setup and connect the AirPods to the device afresh

Conclusion

If you’re asking why one AirPod is louder than the other, you have just joined the large group of people who have/will probably end up sucking out dirt from their AirPod speakers. It’s a gross option but very efficient. You should try that first, then try everything else in this article until you find a fix. If nothing works, you should visit Apple.

• Are AirPods Pro Worth It In 2022?
• How Do AirPods Charge So Fast?
• Is it bad to sleep with AirPods in?
• Best Spotify Equalizer Settings for AirPods

About The Author