How to Wear Headphones

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Quickly learn how to put on different types of headphones

Co-authored by Amber Crain

Last Updated: September 23, 2024

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No matter what kind of headphones you’re using, they may take a bit of adjustment to get the perfect fit. On-ear and over-ear headphones are the most traditional, with the ear cups fitting snugly over each ear. In-ear headphones and earbuds need to be placed inside the ear.

How to Wear Headphones or Earphones

Start by connecting your headphones to your computer, either via the built-in cable or with Bluetooth, if they are Bluetooth enabled. If you're using over-ear headphones, place them over your ears. In-ear headphones are inserted just inside the ear canal, though some models have parts that go over the back of your ears.

For popular FAQs on wearing headphones, jump to more common questions.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Wearing On-Ear and Over-Ear Headphones

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1
Plug the headphones into your audio device. Your device, whether it’s an iPod, laptop, or smartphone, has an audio input that your headphone jack should fit into perfectly. An mp3 player only has one input, which takes any guesswork out of the equation. For a laptop or larger device, you may need to check around the perimeter and on the back to find the right audio input.
- The headphone jack should pop into the input without having to be forced. If yours won’t fit, the headphones may be incompatible with the device.
- If you have wireless headphones, use your device’s Bluetooth connection to link the headphones to it.
2
Check for “L” and “R” labels near the ear cups. Many headphones specify which ear cup goes over the left ear and which one goes over the right. Check around your ear cups for the “L” and “R” markings, which mean "Left" and "Right."^{[1]
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- If you find these markings, follow the instructions for distinguishing which ear cups goes over which ear.
- If you don’t find these markings, you can wear the cups over either ear.
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The band that connects the cups should fit snugly over the top of your head. Most headphone bands are adjustable, so if the fit isn’t comfortable, try adjusting it. Tug at the band to see if it gets smaller or larger, then adjust as needed.
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Place the ear cups directly over your ears. Adjust them a bit so that the cups cover your ears comfortably.^{[2]
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Research source} Over-ear headphones, which have large cushions as ear cups, create a slight seal effect over each ear, which cancels out noise during use. On-ear headphones are smaller, and the cups are usually around the size of your ear. They will fit directly over the ear hole.
- You may need to remove your earrings if you find that the cups push into the jewelry uncomfortably.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Wearing In-Ear Headphones

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In-ear headphones look a lot like ear buds, but they aren’t worn in exactly the same way. Ear buds hang from the crevices of your ear-folds, whereas in-ear headphones are inserted directly into the ear canals. Start by situating the squishy tip gently in your ear hole, over the canal. Don’t push it in, just get it in place.^{[3]
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Pull the left earlobe down and push the tip into your ear canal. Tug your left earlobe down gently with your right hand, which will widen your ear canal. Use your left index finger to carefully push the squishy tip of the left ear speaker into your left ear canal.^{[4]
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- You do not need to push far. The tip fits just inside the canal.
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Release the left earlobe to create a seal. Once you’ve inserted the speaker gently into the ear canal, let go of your earlobe. Your ear canal will return to its normal size, causing the walls of your ear canal to hug the speaker. This creates a seal, which ensures good audio. Without getting that proper seal, the audio quality might suffer.^{[5]
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- You've achieved the proper seal when the sound around you is almost impossible to pick up. You will feel enclosed, in a way, because all sound is isolated in your canal.
Gently pull down the lobe and insert the speaker. Release the earlobe to create the seal, which cancels out background noise and provides quality audio. You may need to repeat this a few times until you get a feel for how your headphones fit. Always be gentle and never shove the speakers into your ear canals.^{[6]
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Experiment with tip sizes. In-ear headphones aren’t one size fits all, and there should be a range of squishy rubber tips that came with your earphones. These different sizes fit different-sized ear canals. Start with the smallest tips first and, if those doesn’t fit comfortably, go up a size. Keep trying until you find the size that creates that perfect seal.^{[7]
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- If rubber tips aren’t working for you, go online to purchase foam tips. These tend to work well for most hard-to-fit people.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Wearing Ear Buds

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1
Check for “L” and “R” labels on your ear buds. Some ear bud brands may specify which speaker goes into which ear. “L” means left ear, and “R” means right. The most common kind of ear buds, such as those made by Apple that come with iPods, usually do not have this.
- If you don’t see a clear marking, you can place the speakers in either ear.
Situate the bud in your ear by hooking it into the into the ear hole. The plastic stem connecting the bud to the wire should line up in the same direction as your jawline. Do not push it into your ear canal. It should hang in the crevice in the outer part of your ear-fold.
Repeat the same action for your right ear by gently situating the rounded bud into the outer part of your ear hole. Adjust carefully and avoid pushing the ear bud into your ear canal.
Ear buds are notorious for falling out of the ears, especially during exercise. If this is happening to you, search online for accessories that you can pair with your buds to keep them in place. There is a wide range of different approaches to this, so do a little research and choose the accessory that best addresses your issue.

Common Questions: Wearing Headphones

Is there a right or wrong way to wear headphones?

If you have stereo headphones, you should make sure the left and right earpieces are over your left and right ears, respectively. You may also experience more discomfort if you wear certain types of headphones incorrectly, and noise-cancelling headphones may not cancel all noise if not positioned on your head properly.

How can I look good while wearing headphones?

If you have long hair, try pulling it back into a ponytail, bun, or braid. If you wear headphones for work and want to look presentable during a video call, take your headphones off and fix your hair before putting them back on. In a casual setting, hats are also good at keeping your hair tidy while wearing headphones.

How can I wear headphones without my ears hurting?

Choose lightweight headphones with ear pads, and make sure the headphones aren't too small for your head. Otherwise, make sure to drink plenty of water, avoid eyestrain (which can exacerbate headaches) and take regular breaks from wearing your headphones to give your ears and scalp a rest.