How to Fix Earphones when One Side Is Silent

Co-authored by Florisa-Leila Ramos and Travis Boylls

Last Updated: November 11, 2024 Fact Checked

It's frustrating when one side of your trusted headphones goes silent. Hearing sound in only one ear feels off-balance, and often you miss instruments and sounds that are panned to one side or the other. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to fix this problem. This wikiHow teaches you how to troubleshoot and fix headphones that have gone silent in one ear.

Steps

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If you are using wired earphones and you notice one side is silent, the first thing you should do is check to make sure the earphones are connected properly. Disconnect the headphones from the headphone jack and reinsert them. Make sure it snaps all the way in. See if this fixes the problem.^{[1]
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If you are using a smartphone or computer, check the audio settings in the Settings menu. Make sure the stereo balance is not panned to one side or the other. It should be panned directly in the center. If you are using an external audio device, such as an audio receiver, check the balance on the device itself to make sure the stereo balance is panned in the center.

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Mono sound transmits the same sound to all speakers. Stereo sound transmits different sounds to the left and right speakers. While you are checking the audio settings on your device, check to see if the device has the option to switch between stereo and mono sound. Make sure you are in stereo mode, and not mono mode.^{[2]
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If you are using wireless Bluetooth headphones, try to unpair the headphones by turning off Bluetooth on your device. Then turn Bluetooth back on and put the headphones in pairing mode. Reconnect your headphones with your device and see if this fixes the problem.
If you are using a computer, smartphone, or tablet, try powering the device off and then back on. This can fix temporary bugs in the software.^{[3]
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Try a different set of headphones. If you experience the same problem with a different set of headphones, then the problem is with the headphone jack, not your headphones. In which case, you can try cleaning the headphone jack. If this doesn't work, you will most likely need to have your device serviced.
- To clean your headphone jack, power the device off. Dip a cotton swab in some lukewarm water. Squeeze the excess liquid out and roll it into a tight, thin strip. Stick it in the headphone jack as far as it will go, and then twist it to clean out any dirt that got inside. Then repeat with a dry cotton swab to dry out the inside. Wait a few hours and see if this fixes the problem.
- If you're experiencing problems with the headphone jack on a computer, smartphone, or tablet, it may be caused by a virus. Try running a virus scan. If absolutely necessary, back up your device and reset it to its factory settings.
Inspect the side that isn't working and check to make sure it doesn't have excess earwax, dust, or dirt. If it's dirty, you can try cleaning it with a small brush, or a vacuum cleaner hose with a narrow nozzle. You can also dip a cotton swap in some lukewarm water or alcohol-based cleaner, and use it to clean the headphones. Be sure to squeeze out the excess liquid before cleaning. Then use a dry cotton swab to thoroughly dry the headphones before use.^{[4]
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Headphones are often exposed to sweat, rain, and spilled liquids. This can cause water damage to the headphones. If you suspect your headphones have been damaged by liquid, place them in a window seal or in front of a fan to dry out. If possible, remove the covers from the headphones so that the insides can dry out too. Allow about 72 hours for them to fully dry out. Then try again to see if this fixes the problem.^{[5]
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Check the wires for damage. If the wires are tangled, untangle them and straighten them out and see if this fixes the problem. If it does not, connect the headphones and play some audio. Go over the entire section of wires and twist each section while checking for broken or exposed wires. Also, twist and bend the wire at the base where it connects to the headphone jack. IF you hear audio at any point, note which section of the wire you were twisting.^{[6]
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- If you find the wire is damaged in a specific area, disconnect the headphones from the device. Then use a pair of wire cutters to carefully remove the outer wire covering and expose the wires inside. Be careful not to cut through the wires. If you find the wires are tangled, you'll need to untangle them. If the wires are broken, twist the wires together to reconnect them. You can also solder the wires. See if this fixes the problem. If the problem is fixed, seal the exposed wire with electrical tape.
- If the wire is damaged where the wire connects to the headphone jack, you may need to take it to a technician. You could try soldering the broken wire back to the headphone. If you have another cable with a 3mm headphone jack, you could try cutting the wires and then splicing the wires to another cable with a 3mm headphone jack.
If nothing works, they may require a professional technician to repair it. If it's an expensive set of headphones, you may look into having them professionally repaired. If it's an inexpensive set of headphones, you may be better off getting a new set of headphones.