Fix One AirPod Quieter than the Other
Some AirPods owners have experienced a problem where one of their AirPods (right or left) is much quieter than the other. There can be a few causes for this problem. In this article, we’ll describe how you can troubleshoot the issue and get your AirPods volume balanced correctly.
Before you begin:
- Make sure your AirPods are fully charged.
- Make sure your iPhone is up to date. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any available updates.
You can try the following, in order, until the problem is resolved.
1. Reset the volume control

- Put both AirPods in your ears. Turn on some music.
- Turn the volume all the way down.
- Open the Control Center and tap the Bluetooth button to disconnect the AirPods.
- Press Play on the mini player in Control Center. Music will play through the iPhone speakers.
- Turn the volume all the way down.
- Turn on Bluetooth and reconnect to your AirPods.
2. Check for debris in the quieter AirPod

As a first step, you should take a look at the quieter AirPod to see if there is any visible debris. Check both the speaker mesh and the microphone openings. You can clean these with a dry cotton swab. You might also try gently cleaning with soft, dry brush. Do not use anything sharp, like a toothpick.
3. Check Settings
Make sure that the balance is set correctly.

- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and tap on Accessibility.
- Find Audio/Visual in the Hearing section and tap on it.
- Check that the Balance is set at 0.00 between right and left.
4. Identify the source of the issue
To help identify the source of the problem:
- Try different songs to make sure it isn’t a specific one that just sounds softer on one side.
- Try connecting another set of headphones to see if there is any trouble with the sound balance between the left and right sides. If you notice the same problem, check other songs and other devices/audio sources. If the same volume imbalance occurs, you may want to look into getting your hearing tested.
5. Try resetting AirPods
- Put the AirPods in their case and close the lid. Wait 30 seconds.
- Take the AirPods out and put them in your ears.
- Open Settings > Bluetooth, find your AirPods and tap the info (i) button next to your AirPods.
- Tap on Forget This Device.
- Put your AirPods back in their charging case, but don’t close the lid.
- Press the setup button on the case. Hold it for about 15 seconds. The status light will flash amber, then white.
- Now you can reconnect your AirPods. Leave the AirPods in their case with the lid open and set them next to your iPhone. Follow the onscreen instructions.
6. You can try…
Alright, it is a little gross, but a lot of users have sworn that this worked for them:
- Try to suck on the speaker part of the quieter AirPod. You may need to repeat a few times until the gunk has cleared.
- Make sure not to get any moisture inside the AirPod.
- Now you can clean with a dry cotton swab or a soft, dry brush.
If none of the steps above has fixed the issue, you may want to contact Apple about a replacement.
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