Category: Earbuds & Bluetooth

Active noise cancelling (ANC) uses small microphones to hear outside noise and play an opposite sound to cancel it. When ANC feels weak, uneven or starts whistling, the cause is usually fit, settings or blocked microphones.

1. Check the mode

Make sure ANC is on and not in transparency or ambient mode. Some apps switch modes automatically based on your location or activity; turn off adaptive features to test.

2. Improve the fit

ANC only works with a good seal. Try other ear tip sizes and run the fit test in your earbuds app. A weak bass check in our Headphone Test is a good sign that the seal is poor.

3. Clean the microphone vents

The ANC microphones sit behind tiny mesh holes on the outside of each bud or ear cup. Dust and wax there make ANC weaker or cause a whistle. Brush them gently with a soft, dry toothbrush. Do not push anything into the holes.

4. Check both sides

If ANC is weaker on one side, compare the left and right fit and clean that side. See also one earbud quieter than the other.

5. Update the firmware

Open your earbuds app (Sony Headphones Connect, Galaxy Wearable, Bose, or iPhone Bluetooth settings for AirPods) and install any update.

6. Reset the earbuds

Forget them on your phone, reset them using the maker’s steps, and pair again.

Common problems

What ANC cannot do

ANC is best at steady low sounds like engines and air conditioning. Voices and sudden noises are harder to cancel, even with good earbuds.

Common questions

Does water affect noise cancelling?

Yes. Moisture on the mic mesh can weaken ANC. Dry the buds and run the Earbuds Cleaner when they are dry outside.

Is ANC bad for your ears?

No. It lets you listen at a lower volume in noisy places, which is good for your hearing.

Earbuds should feel almost invisible. If yours cause pressure, soreness or itching, the fit is usually the problem, not your ears. Small changes make a big difference.

Common causes

• Ear tips that are too big or too small
• Hard plastic pressing on the ear
• Wearing them for hours without a break
• Dirty tips or earwax buildup
• Pressure feeling from noise cancelling

7 fixes

1. Try every tip size

Most earbuds come with small, medium and large tips. The right size seals gently without pushing. Many people need a different size in each ear.

2. Use the fit test

AirPods Pro and many Android earbuds have an ear tip fit test in their settings. Run it after changing tips.

3. Try foam tips

Memory foam tips squeeze down, then expand slowly to fit your ear. Many people find them much more comfortable.

4. Change the angle

Rotate the bud slightly forward or back until it sits in the bowl of your ear instead of pressing on one spot.

5. Take breaks

Remove them for a few minutes every hour. This also helps your hearing; see safe headphone volume.

6. Keep them clean

Dirty tips can irritate the skin. Clean them regularly with our guide on how to clean AirPods and earbuds.

7. Switch noise cancelling to transparency

Some people feel ear pressure with strong noise cancelling. Try transparency or a lower ANC level.

How to check the fit

A good fit gives fuller bass and better isolation. Run the Headphone Test: if the bass check sounds weak, the tips probably do not seal well.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if you have ear pain that does not go away after you stop using earbuds, swelling, discharge, or itching that keeps coming back.

Common questions

Are over-ear headphones more comfortable?

For long sessions, many people find them easier on the ears.

Can earbuds push wax deeper?

They can, over time. Clean the tips often and do not use cotton swabs inside your ear.

When sound plays in only one ear, the cause is almost always one of four things: a phone setting, a dirty or loose connection, a damaged cable, or a blocked earbud. A one-minute test tells you which.

First, test it

Run our Headphone Test. It plays sounds in the left ear, right ear and center, then tells you which side fails. If you use desktop speakers, use the Left & Right Speaker Test instead.

1. Check the balance slider

iPhone: Settings → Accessibility → Audio & Visual → Balance. Android: Settings → Accessibility → Audio adjustment. The slider should be in the middle.

2. Turn off Mono Audio

Mono Audio sends the same sound to both sides. That is not the problem by itself, but switching it on and off can reset a stuck balance.

3. Push the plug all the way in

Thick phone cases stop wired plugs from fully seating. When the plug is half in, one channel often drops out. Remove the case and try again.

4. Clean the headphone jack

Lint builds up in the jack. Turn the phone off, then lift lint out gently with a wooden toothpick. Never use metal.

5. Wiggle test the cable

Play music and gently bend the cable near the plug and near the earbud. If sound cuts in and out, the wire is broken inside. Replacement is the real fix.

6. Clean the quiet earbud

Earwax on the mesh is the most common cause of a quiet or silent bud. Brush it with a soft, dry toothbrush, then run the Earbuds Cleaner on that side only.

7. Reset Bluetooth earbuds

Put both buds in the case, forget the device on your phone, reset the earbuds (see the maker’s steps), and pair again. This fixes many one-side issues with AirPods and Galaxy Buds.

8. Check the charge

With true wireless earbuds, one bud often runs out of battery first. Check each bud’s battery level and clean the charging contacts in the case.

Which fix for which symptom?

Common questions

Can water cause one side to stop?

Yes. Dry the earbuds, then run the Earbuds Cleaner. See AirPods got wet.

Is it worth repairing wired headphones?

For cheap pairs, no. For good headphones with a detachable cable, just replace the cable.

Bluetooth audio always has some delay, because sound is compressed, sent and decoded before you hear it. Most people don’t notice under about 100 ms. Above that, lips stop matching voices and games feel off.

Quick answer

Measure your delay with our Bluetooth Delay Test. If it is over 150 ms, turn on game or low-latency mode, keep the phone close, reconnect the device, and use a lower-delay codec if both devices support one.

Measure it first

Guessing doesn’t work well, because our brains adapt to small delays. Open the Bluetooth Delay Test, press start, and move the slider until the flash and click happen together. The number is your delay. Test with wired headphones too, so you know your baseline.

What is a normal delay?

Why Bluetooth lags

• Codec: each codec compresses audio differently. Basic codecs usually add more delay than low-latency ones.
• Distance and walls: a weak signal makes the device buffer more audio.
• Interference: busy Wi-Fi, other Bluetooth gear and microwaves can cause drops and extra buffering.
• Device processing: noise cancelling and sound effects take time to compute.

8 fixes

1. Turn on game mode or low-latency mode in the earbud app or phone settings.
2. Keep the phone within a metre or two, with nothing in between.
3. Disconnect Bluetooth devices you are not using.
4. Forget and re-pair the speaker or earbuds.
5. Update the earbud firmware and your phone.
6. On Android, check Developer options for the Bluetooth codec and pick a low-latency one if both devices support it.
7. Use the audio delay setting in your video app, TV or game, if it has one.
8. For gaming or video editing, use wired headphones or a low-latency USB dongle.

Test again

After each change, run the Bluetooth Delay Test again and note the number. Keep the changes that help.

Related

If your Bluetooth speaker sounds muffled rather than late, read how to fix a Bluetooth speaker.

When one earbud sounds quieter than the other, the cause is usually simple: wax on one mesh, a balance setting that slid to one side, or a bad fit. Real hardware failure is less common.

Quick answer

First confirm which side is weaker with our Left & Right Speaker Test. Then check the audio balance setting, clean the weaker bud’s mesh, and re-pair the earbuds.

1. Confirm which side is quieter

Ears can trick you, especially if you sleep on one side or one ear is blocked. Play sound to the left only, then the right only, with the Left & Right Speaker Test. Swap the buds between ears too. If the quiet side follows the earbud, the bud is the problem. If it stays with the same ear, see a doctor about your ear.

2. Check the balance slider

Both iPhone and Android have an audio balance setting under Accessibility. It can get moved by accident. Set it back to the centre.

3. Clean the mesh

Wax on the mesh is the top cause. Brush it gently, lift leftover wax with putty, and finish with a short tone from the Earbuds Cleaner on the weak side only. Our cleaning guide has the full steps.

4. Check the fit

A loose ear tip leaks sound and loses bass. Try a different tip size on the quiet side. Many earbud apps have a fit test.

5. Turn off mono audio and EQ

Mono audio, spatial audio or a custom EQ can change how each side sounds. Turn them off, test, then turn back on what you like.

6. Reset and re-pair

Forget the earbuds in Bluetooth settings, reset them using the maker’s steps, and pair again. This fixes many sync problems between the two buds.

7. Check for water

If the problem started after rain or a workout, moisture may be on the mesh. Dry the bud, then run the water mode in the Earbuds Cleaner.

When to replace a bud

Most makers sell single replacement buds, which cost far less than a new pair.

Water on earbuds is common: rain, sweat, a dropped bud in the sink, or a full trip through the washing machine. Many earbuds survive if you dry them properly and wait before charging.

Quick answer

Take the earbuds out of the case, wipe them dry, and leave them mesh-down in open air for several hours. Do not charge them until they are fully dry. Once dry, clear any trapped water with a short water tone from our Earbuds Cleaner.

Step 1: Separate the buds and the case

Take both earbuds out right away. A closed, wet case traps moisture against the charging contacts. Leave the lid open.

Step 2: Dry the outside

Wipe each bud and the case with a soft, lint-free cloth. Gently shake each bud with the mesh facing down to let loose drops fall out.

Step 3: Let them air-dry

Place the buds mesh-down on a dry cloth in a room with good air flow. Give them several hours, and leave the case open to dry too.

• Skip the rice bowl. It is not faster than open air and leaves dust.
• Skip hair dryers and radiators. Heat can damage the small battery.

Step 4: Do not charge yet

Charging wet contacts can cause corrosion. Wait until the buds and the inside of the case are completely dry before you put them back.

Step 5: Push out trapped water

Water often stays on the inside of the mesh and makes sound muffled or crackly. Connect the dry buds to your phone, lay them on a cloth (not in your ears), and run the water mode in our Earbuds Cleaner for 30 seconds. Repeat two or three times if needed.

How water resistant are earbuds?

Many earbuds are rated for sweat and splashes, often IPX4 or similar. That rating covers splashes, not swimming or washing. A washing machine cycle goes well beyond what most buds are designed for, so treat it as an emergency and dry them carefully.

Signs of lasting damage

If problems last more than a day after drying, contact the maker. Many brands sell single replacement buds.

Related guides

• How to clean AirPods and earbuds safely
• One earbud quieter than the other?

Most earbuds that sound quiet or dull are not broken. They are blocked by earwax, skin oil and pocket lint sitting on a fine mesh only a few millimetres wide. Five minutes of careful cleaning usually brings the sound back.

Quick answer

Wipe the outside with a dry microfiber cloth, brush the mesh gently with a soft dry toothbrush, lift leftover wax with a bit of putty, and clean the case contacts. Then play a short tone with our Earbuds Cleaner with the buds out of your ears.

What you need

Step by step

1. Take the earbuds out of the case

Work on a clean, dry surface. Keep the lid open so you can clean the case after.

2. Wipe the outside

Use the dry cloth on the shell and stem. For grime, dampen one corner with a little isopropyl alcohol and wipe again. Keep liquid away from the mesh and openings.

3. Brush the mesh

Hold the earbud with the mesh facing down. Brush in small circles so loosened wax falls out instead of being pushed in.

4. Lift stubborn wax

Press a small piece of putty or tape onto the mesh and peel it away. Repeat with a fresh piece until nothing comes off.

5. Clean the ear tips

Silicone tips can usually be removed. Rinse them in plain water, then let them dry completely before you put them back. Foam tips should only be wiped.

6. Clean the case

Run a dry toothpick gently around the charging wells and brush the metal contacts. Dirty contacts are a common reason one earbud stops charging.

7. Finish with sound

Brushing clears the surface. Loose flakes and moisture often sit just behind the mesh. Connect the buds, lay them mesh-down on a cloth, and run a 30-second cycle with the Earbuds Cleaner. Pick only the side that sounds dull.

Never run cleaning tones while wearing your earbuds. They are made for the speaker, not your ears.

What not to use

• Pins, needles or paper clips, which can tear the mesh
• Compressed air held close, which can push debris deeper
• Running water on the earbuds themselves
• Cotton swabs pushed into the mesh

How often should you clean them?

A quick brush once a week keeps most buds sounding new. If you wear them for workouts, wipe them after each session, because sweat and wax build up faster.

Still quiet after cleaning?

Check which side is weaker with the Left & Right Speaker Test. If one side is still dull, read our guide on one earbud being quieter than the other.