Why Is Your Left or Right AirPod So Quiet?

It can be frustrating to realize that one of your AirPods has suddenly started sounding louder than the other.

Getting an imbalanced sound output can gravely affect your listening experience. Believe me when I say I understand how annoying that can be.

This is why I’ve put together this handy guide for you. This article will help you understand why the left or right AirPod is so quiet and what you can do to fix the issue.

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

Why is Your Left or Right AirPod So Quiet?

Your left or right AirPod is so quiet, probably due to wear and tear.

Some other reasons are hardware-related problems and software issues related to firmware, files, or audio settings.

Generally, we recommend you confirm why your left or right AirPod is so quiet before attempting any fix. So here are some of the top reasons why your left or right AirPod is so quiet and some fixes we recommend you try.

1.     Firmware issues

From time to time, Apple releases some firmware updates to improve the performance of the AirPods. Aside from performance upgrades, these updates also help fix possible bugs and issues that may affect the performance of your AirPod.

If you haven’t installed the necessary updates in a long time, your AirPod will likely be susceptible to bug issues. These bugs can be why either the left or right one of your AirPod is so quiet.

2.     Audio issues

Many people usually overlook this. Did you stop to think the issue may be arising from the audio file you are trying to listen to?

If you notice an imbalance in sound production from your AirPod, you can try playing another audio file.

3.     Hardware problems

Your AirPod may also be faulty. One good example is that dirt may be getting in the way of the internal circuitry of your AirPod, leading to muffled sound transmission.

Dirt can also block the speaker grill mesh and thus stop sound from passing through.

4.     Wear and tear

Wear and tear are unavoidable if you’ve been using your AirPod for a long time. The AirPod may accumulate dust or wear out due to constant use.

These can affect the sound output of both AirPods.

Some other reasons why your left or right AirPod may be so quiet include:

• Faulty connection
• You may have muted one of the AirPods
• The volume may be too low
• You may need to charge the AirPod

Read also: Left Or Right AirPod Isn’t Working? Working Fixes

How To Fix A Left Or Right AirPod That Is Quieter – Best Tips

Now that you know why your left or right AirPod is so quiet let’s discuss some fixes you could try.

1.    Clean your AirPods

Since your AirPods spend several hours in your ears, it is easy for them to accumulate wax buildup from your ears. They may also collect dust and debris.

This dirt can block the proper flow of sound from the AirPod’s speaker, leading to low volume output. To avoid this situation, you should clean your AirPods and AirPod case from time to time.

Here are some things you need to clean your AirPods:

• A soft and dry lint-free cloth
• Toothpick
• Soft bristle toothbrush
• Cotton swabs/q-tips
• 70% isopropyl alcohol solution – avoid the use of water.

Follow the steps below after you’ve got all the materials you need.

• STEP 1: Apply a little portion of the alcohol solution onto the cotton swab/q-tip and the lint-free cloth.
• STEP 2: Gently use the cotton swab/q-tip to scrub away any dirt and debris on the AirPod’s speaker grill and sides. Be careful not to exert too much force on the speaker mesh.
• STEP 3: If dirt is still in hidden corners, gently use a toothpick to lift them out.
• STEP 4: Use the toothbrush to brush over the speaker mesh lightly. You can also try reaching the corners to loosen any leftover debris.
• STEP 5: Use the dry, lint-free cloth to remove the remaining debris and dirt.

Read also: Why Is Your Left or Right AirPod So Quiet?

2.    Reset the AirPods

Resetting your AirPod is a quick way to fix any problem you may have with its performance. When you reset your AirPod, you return it to its factory setting.

You should, however, note that when you do that, you will lose all the saved information you have on the AirPod.

If you still want to reset your AirPod, you can follow the steps below:

• STEP 1: Place your AirPods inside their charging case and close the lid.
• STEP 2: Wait for 30 seconds before you open the lid again.
• STEP 3: Go to “Settings” on your iOS device.
• STEP 4: Tap on “Bluetooth.”
• STEP 5: Tap on the ‘i’ icon you see next to your AirPod.
• STEP 6: Click on “Forget This Device.”
• STEP 7: Confirm your decision to forget the device.
• STEP 8: Look for the setup button at the back of the AirPod case.
• STEP 9: Press and hold the button for 15 seconds.
• STEP 10: The status light will change from blinking amber to white.

The blinking white light indicates that the reset process was successful.

Read also: Do Airpods Pro Leak Sound?

3.    Charge your AirPod

The simplest thing you can do to fix the issue of the left or right one of your AirPod being so quiet is to charge it.

This is a good idea because the volume may also decrease when the battery power on an AirPod runs low. Moreover, the different pieces of an AirPod can drain energy at different rates.

This means that charging them simultaneously doesn’t mean one cannot run out low quicker than the other.

So whenever the left or right piece of your AirPod gets so quiet, check its battery life and charge it if necessary.

4.    Reconnect the AirPod

Your left or right AirPod may be quiet because you didn’t properly connect the AirPod to your device. In such cases, the ideal solution is for you to disconnect the AirPod from your device and reconnect it.

Here is how you can reconnect your AirPod on your iPhone:

• STEP 1: Open “Settings” on your iPhone.
• STEP 2: Select “Bluetooth.”
• STEP 3: Tap the “i” button next to your AirPod’s name.
• STEP 4: Click “Disconnect” and confirm your action in the pop-up message.
• STEP 5: Exit the “Settings” page.
• STEP 6: Go back to “Settings.”
• STEP 7: Tap on “Bluetooth.”
• STEP 8: Tap on your AirPod to reconnect.

Read also: How To Reset AirPods Without iPhone

5.    Turn Bluetooth OFF

Your Bluetooth may malfunction, so you can turn it off and back on. Here is a quick guide on how to do that.

• STEP 1: Go to “Settings.”
• STEP 2: Tap on “Bluetooth.”
• STEP 3: Turn Bluetooth off.
• STEP 4: Wait for a minute and turn Bluetooth back on.

6.    Adjust the sound balance

The sound balance is a feature that allows you to adjust the volume on each piece of the AirPod. This feature lets you set the AirPod’s sound to shift more towards one of the two ears.

So if for some reason, it is inconvenient for you to hear more clearly with one ear, you can shift the sound more towards the other ear. The side effect is that you can mistakenly adjust the sound on your AirPod through this feature, leading to the left or right AirPod sounding quieter than the other.

If you find yourself in this situation, you can adjust your sound balance by following the process below:

• STEP 1: Go to the “Settings” menu on your iOS device.
• STEP 2: Tap on “Accessibility.”
• STEP 3: Click on “Audio/Visual.”
• STEP 4: Adjust the slider to redistribute the sound balance between the left and right AirPod.

7.    Disable low power mode on your iPhone or iPad

The low power mode usually helps to conserve the phone battery. However, turning this feature on usually reduces the performance level of some features, including your AirPod.

It can make your AirPod’s volume sound lower than usual, even if the AirPod has full battery power.

Follow this process to turn OFF the low power mode:

• STEP 1: Open your iPhone’s Control Center by swiping down from the top of the Home screen. You should slide up if your phone doesn’t have a touch ID.
• STEP 2: Check if the battery icon is yellow on a white background. If it is, that means the low power mode is on.
• STEP 3: Tap the battery icon to turn it OFF.

Read also: AirPods Pro 2 Battery Life Review

8.    Update your operating system

Every new operating system Apple releases usually comes with new updates to improve their products’ performance. These updates also tend to come with fixes for bugs that could interfere with the devices’ performance.

This is why you need to check for updates and install them if there are any. Here is a quick guide on how to do that:

• STEP 1: Open “Settings” on your iPhone.
• STEP 2: Tap on “General.”
• STEP 3: Tap on “Software Update.”
• STEP 4: If there is any available update, tap “Download and Install.”

9.    Calibrate the AirPods’ volume

If your AirPod and your device are not in sync, your AirPod may not be able to utilize its audio or volume controls fully. You can quickly fix this issue by calibrating your AirPods’ volume with your iOS device.

This will help improve the sound balance your AirPod produces. Follow the steps below to learn how to calibrate your AirPod’s volume:

• STEP 1: Connect your AirPod to your device and play music.
• STEP 2: Press the volume down button and hold onto it till your AirPod goes mute.
• STEP 3: Swipe down from the top of your screen to access the Control Center.
• STEP 4: Disable your Bluetooth by tapping on the Bluetooth icon in the Control Center.
• STEP 5: Disabling your Bluetooth will disconnect your AirPod, and your music will stop playing.
• STEP 6: Exit the Control Center.
• STEP 7: Resume the music you were playing.
• STEP 8: Press the volume down button again till the sound goes mute.
• STEP 9: Open the Control Center and tap Bluetooth to turn it back on.
• STEP 10: Connect to your AirPod.
• STEP 11: By observing all the processes above, you have already calibrated your AirPod and iOS device.

10. Contact Apple Support

If you still feel that your left or right Airpod sound is quieter than the other one, the last resort is to contact Apple directly. Go to the Apple Support page to seek help from Apple’s professionals.

Read also: Are AirPods Pro Worth It In 2022? – Best Tips

How Do I Make My Left Or Right AirPod Louder?

The best way to do this is to adjust your AirPod’s stereo balance.

Here is a quick guide on how you can use the stereo balance feature to make the left or the right AirPod sound louder:

• STEP 1: Go to your iPhone “Settings.”
• STEP 2: Select the “Accessibility” tab from the list of options.
• STEP 3: Scroll to the “Hearing” section.
• STEP 4: Tap on “Audio/Visual.”
• STEP 5: Scroll down to the “BALANCE” section.
• STEP 6: Adjust the slider to extend more towards the L or R depending on the AirPod piece you want to make louder.

How Can I Increase AirPod Volume?

The best way to increase your AirPod’s volume is by calibrating it.

If your AirPod and your device are not in sync, your AirPod may not be able to fully utilize its audio or volume controls. Calibrating your AirPods’ volume with your iOS device can help improve the overall sound your AirPod produces.

Follow the steps below to calibrate your AirPod’s volume:

• STEP 1: Connect your AirPod to your device and play music.
• STEP 2: Press the volume down button and hold onto it till your AirPod goes mute.
• STEP 3: Swipe down from the top of your screen to access the Control Center.
• STEP 4: Disable your Bluetooth by tapping on the Bluetooth icon in the Control Center.
• STEP 5: Disabling your Bluetooth will disconnect your AirPod, and your music will stop playing.
• STEP 6: Exit the Control Center.
• STEP 7: Resume the music you were playing.
• STEP 8: Press the volume down button again till the sound goes mute.
• STEP 9: Open the Control Center and tap Bluetooth to turn it back on.
• STEP 10: Connect to your AirPod.
• STEP 11: By observing all the processes above, you have already calibrated your AirPod and iOS device.  

Conclusion

We hope that you’ve been able to get the answer to why your left or right AirPod is so quiet. If you didn’t read through the entire article, you could refer to some sections in the article if you are searching for working fixes to solve the problem.

• Dropped AirPods in Water? – What to Do If AirPods Get Wet
• How Long To Charge Your AirPods Case For The First Time?