Have you ever tried to play some music, watch a movie, or listen to some audio on your iPhone or laptop, and you realize sound only coming out of one speaker? That can be a real pain.
There are many reasons why this might happen, and also different ways to fix it depending on your device. This article will help you understand why this happens and how to deal with it when it does. So, you should read it to get your groove back.
Sound only coming out of one speaker? Causes
Having sound come out of only one speaker on your device is inconvenient and quite annoying, but why does it happen? One reason could be that the other speaker is faulty. It could also be a bug or some wiring problem.
If the problem is with your speaker, then you can probably fix it with a few tries, if it is an internal wiring problem, you would need a professional to have a look at it for you. To check which is the case, run the following tests.
First, connect a pair of earphones to it, and check if you are getting normal sound from the earphones.
If you’re experiencing sound problems still, try playing from a different source. For example, some music is stored on your device or your phone’s radio app.
If you experience sound issues in both instances, then it is likely a wiring problem, and you would need professional help for that.
If the sound works fine on earphones or other sources, then it is likely just a speaker issue, and you could try working it out on your own with some of our best fixes.
Sound only coming out of one speaker on iPhones? Best fixes
If you are having this problem with your iPhone, try out these fixes to tackle them.
Fix 1 – Clean your speaker
Sometimes, dirt could clog your speakers and block or restrict the sound. If this is the case, clean your speaker first and check if the sound comes back on. Remove your screen protector, film, or pouch first before cleaning.
Read also: Best Sound Boosters for Windows 10 Laptops
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Fix 2 – Adjust the sound balance
Ensure the audio on your iPhone is properly balanced. For the sound to play on both speakers, the phone’s audio balance needs to be in the middle. Check if it isn’t, and rectify if that’s the case. To find this setting, follow these steps.
On the latest iOs (iOs 13), open your Settings app, scroll until you find the Accessibility section, look for the Audio/Visual settings and ensure the slider is in the middle.
For an earlier iOS, open your Settings app, open the section labeled “General”, find the Accessibility section, find and adjust the slider.
Fix 3 – Hard-reboot your iPhone
If your audio balance is just right and you still have this problem, you may want to hard-reboot your device. A hard restart usually deals with minor bugs. To do this, press your volume button up and down successively, then press and hold your side button until the Apple logo appears on your screen.
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Fix 4 – Reset phone settings
Resetting your phone’s settings can also help to fix the sound issue if nothing else has worked so far. Resetting the settings won’t affect your phone’s data, so you can rest easy. To reset your settings, open your settings app, open “General” settings, go to “reset”, then click “reset all settings.”
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If you’ve tried all these fixes and nothing works, it might help to visit the Apple store closest to you to get it fixed by skilled technicians.
Sound only coming out of one speaker on Windows 10 laptops? Best fixes
Despite the cool features of the Windows 10 OS, the bugs can pose quite an inconvenience. Especially the sound bugs. Here are some fixes to try when you find sound only coming out of one speaker on your Windows 10 laptop.
Fix 1 – Use the troubleshooter
The Windows 10 OS comes with a full audio troubleshooter that checks your sound system for issues whenever you have difficulties with your computer. If any problems are found, it recommends solutions for them. This should be your first resort. If the problem is diagnosed by troubleshooting, it’ll save you a lot of time. Follow these steps to conduct audio troubleshooting.
- Step one: Open your computer’s taskbar and type “troubleshoot” in the search bar.
- Step two: From the displayed results, select “Troubleshoot settings”.
- Step three: Look for the “Get up and running” section. In that section, there’s an option labeled “Playing audio”. Open it and choose “Run the troubleshooter”.
- Step four: You’ll see a new troubleshooter icon pop-up on your screen, select it.
- Step five: In the new window, you’ll have the option to troubleshoot different kinds of speakers, including inbuilt speakers. You can choose to troubleshoot your default speakers or customize your experience.
- Step six: Let the troubleshooter run and see what it has to say. Follow whatever steps it gives to fix the problem.
Fix 2 – Update Drivers
The second solution is by conducting a driver update. A lot of improvements are made with each update and the key to solving your sound problems could be in the recent one. If you haven’t updated your device in a while, try updating it and see if it helps.
If the sound issue was a result of a recent update or you noticed it after a recent update, first cross-check your computer’s volume mixer to see if there have been any changes. To do this, follow these steps.
- Step one: Check for a speaker icon on the right side of your taskbar.
- Step two: Right-click on the icon and select “open volume mixer”.
- Step three: Check the displayed sliders for changes. Pay special attention to any third-party apps there and make sure everything looks good. If any of the sliders are unusually low, you would need to adjust the volume and see if it fixes the problem.
If these fixes do not work, you should place a call to your local technician to check your system for other issues.
John follows everything happening in the tech industry, from the latest gadget launches to some of the big-name moves in the industry. He covers opinionated pieces and writes on some of the biggest names in the industry. John is also a freelance writer, so he shares articles on freelancing every now and then. email: john@tekpip.com Learn more about tekpip and the team here on our about us page.