Soundcore Earbuds, One Side Not Working: How to Fix

Soundcore earbuds, following their introduction in 2014, were manufactured by Anker Innovations, the same company that has become famous for power banks and cables.

In 2018, Anker released a statement explaining their merger and renaming under the Soundcore audio department. Today, Soundcore earbuds have been rising in popularity and competing for a top spot in the audio market. 

When it comes to the functionality of wireless audio devices, especially earbuds, some problems occur often. Much of the malfunctioning stems from the connectivity of Bluetooth services.

Some issues get fixed quickly and easily, while others might require professional handling. 

In this article, you will find the most common issues relating to the use of Soundcore Earbuds (including when one side is not working on your Soundcore Earbuds) and how to fix the issue with quick & simple instructions.

Read on further for step-by-step details.


Soundcore Earbuds, One Side Not Working

In most situations, Bluetooth pairing, inadequate charge, dirty connectors, firmware updates, and device malfunction are the underlying causes creating an imbalance of audio production from your earbuds. 

How To Fix if One Side Is Not Working

Fix your Soundcore earbuds with one side not working by following the detailed step-by-step guide below.

Step 1: Clean Both Earbuds

Wireless earbuds rely on connectors to create a stable flow of charge. On your Soundcore Earbuds, locate the contact pins, metal filters, and connectors on the earbuds and the case. 

Take a microfiber cleaning cloth and dip it in an alcohol-based disinfectant solution. Hydrogen Peroxide with a percent of 3 or less is the safest. For an effective cleaning method, use a toothpick.

Needless to say, you should be careful when exposing your earbuds to anything that is sharp and/or damp.

Wrapping the cloth around the tip of a toothpick, lightly dip it in the solution, and gently wipe away any dust or dirt buildup that might lay on or around the electrical connectors. Also, remove any particles blocking the metal filter.

Thoroughly dry the connectors, contact pins, and metal filters using a dry end of the cloth or cotton balls. Allow enough time to dry. 

Avoiding the use of hazardous or abrasive cleaning materials will guarantee better results without any harm.

Once the drying process is complete, connect the earbuds to your Bluetooth device and test the output of sound.

If the problem is solved, regularly clean your audio device. If not, continue to step two for further methods.

Step 2: Check for a Complete Charge

Many users will notice that one earbud isn’t connecting or producing sound. The first thing you will want to do is check your earbuds’ battery level. It isn’t uncommon to find one earbud drawing more power over the other, reducing the charge. 

After you have thoroughly cleaned both earbuds, place your earbuds back into the Soundcore case and close the cover. When both buds are placed in their charging position, check the case’s level of charge. If the charge is low or not full, plug it in until a one-hundred percent charge is achieved. 

Once completely charged, place the earbuds in your ear, check the Bluetooth connection, and test the volume output of each by selecting a song from your music application.

One of your earbuds may have a low battery, not allowing it to output any sound until it has a certain level of battery. This should cure the issue allowing your earbuds to reach their original output ability.

(If the problem remains, continue to step 3).

Step 3: Reset & Connect

Part I: On your device (phone, tablet, or computer), locate the Bluetooth connection list and select your Soundcore Earbuds. Click “Forget Soundcore Earbuds” and turn off your device’s Bluetooth pairing ability. This will allow your device to recognize the earbuds as a new audio device. 

Now, place one of the earbuds into its case. Place your finger over the earbud’s touchpad and long press it for seven seconds until the LED light flashes three times. Repeat the process for the other earbud. 

After both earbuds have completely reset, remove them from the charging case and place them together outside of the case. Using your device, activate your Bluetooth connection and reselect “Soundcore Earbuds” as your current Bluetooth connection. 

Place the earbuds back into your ear and test the output of audio from your music device. This should do the trick. If it doesn’t fix the problem, read part II for an alternate method of resetting them.

Part II: Similarly to part I, take your Soundcore Earbuds out of the case and disconnect the Bluetooth connection from your device. This will unpair your audio device from whichever device you are using. 

As you have the earbuds outside of the case, place one in each hand and gently tap the button four times until the red blinking light is activated. When the red light begins blinking, go ahead and place the earbuds back into the charging case. Allow the earbuds to achieve a full charge before taking them out.

Once completely charged, remove the earbuds from the case and place them outside of the case close to each other. Wait for fifteen to twenty seconds before placing them back into your ear for Bluetooth pairing. Pair the earbuds with your music device and check for full output from each side. 

This should fix the issue if none of the previous steps were effective. If not, there could be greater problems (mentioned below). 

Step 4: Check for Firmware Updates

If the steps above haven’t solved the issue your earbuds are having, it might be time to check the audio device’s firmware (if your earbuds require updates).

It is recommended to keep all electronics up to date with the latest software. Operating under the most current firmware will keep your device running smoothly and avoid most minor bugs. 

Downloading the Soundcore app is the best way to check for possible firmware updates. Installing the application to your device will inform you of any new updates by displaying a notification. 

Always make sure you keep your device’s firmware up to date by regularly checking the application. 

Step 5: Contact Anker Customer Support

If the four steps mentioned above won’t resolve your Soundcore Earbuds with one side not working, it might be time to contact customer support for more in-depth diagnostics. 

Unfortunately, not every device is guaranteed to run the same as others. There are many hypotheses as to why audio devices experience problems. 

It is crucial to take care of your earbuds by following the recommended techniques. If you want your Soundcore Earbuds to last as long as possible, avoid these mistakes:

  • Keep away from all liquids.
  • Dry any moisture sticking to your earbuds or case (especially before charging)
  • Store in a dry area with more than sixty percent battery.
  • Regularly clean the pins, connectors, and metal filters.
  • Open the case and use the earbuds frequently (at least once a month).
  • Replace the rubber ear tips/ear wings carefully. 

Connecting Earbuds for the First Time

You might think Soundcore Earbuds should connect separately as they are wireless earbuds for each ear with no connecting cable.

The truth is that they sync to a Bluetooth device’s connection as one pairing unit, making it simple and easy. Unfortunately, the audio set can only work with devices that have Bluetooth functions.

To connect your Soundcore Earbuds for the first time, activate your device’s Bluetooth function by searching for nearby audio equipment with Bluetooth enabled. 

Next, put your Soundcore Earbuds in pairing mode, allowing the device to locate the new Bluetooth connection. 

The good news is that once the connection establishes, your device will connect to your earbuds every time the case opens and the earbuds are in pair mode. 


Other Common Problems

Let’s quickly note some of the familiar issues that might arise when using earbuds.

Bluetooth Connections & Pairing Problems

Connection issues using the Bluetooth pairing function are the most common problem people encounter. It can happen due to the age, condition, and range of your smartphone. 

Battery Issues

Once in a while, the audio equipment can fail or die early due to manufacturing mistakes or rough use, causing the charging case to maintain a short charge. It is advisable to take care of your earbuds and be aware of how they function over time. Because earbuds are small devices, the built-in batteries are also small and prone to degradation.

Water Damage

Whatever you do, do not allow your earbuds to encounter excess moisture or become submerged in water. They are not water resistant and can become damaged very quickly.

Firmware Update

When updating your Soundcore Earbuds, pay close attention to the before and after performance quality. Some users have stated a change in performance. Always read the update details before updating to the new firmware.


Ensuring Optimal Sound Balance for Your Soundcore Earbuds

Another aspect of ensuring the best experience with your Soundcore Earbuds, apart from troubleshooting issues, is maintaining the optimal sound balance between the earbuds. There can be instances where the sound seems to favor one earbud over the other, not due to technical issues, but due to the settings on your device.

Here are steps to check and adjust the sound balance on your device:

  1. Checking Sound Settings on Android: Navigate to the ‘Settings’ of your device and then ‘Accessibility.’ Under the ‘Hearing’ section, you will find the option to adjust the left-right sound balance.
  2. Checking Sound Settings on iOS: For iPhone users, go to ‘Settings,’ then ‘Accessibility,’ and scroll down to the ‘Audio/Visual’ option. Here you will find a slider for ‘L/R Balance,’ which you can adjust as needed.
  3. Checking Sound Settings on Windows: Open ‘Control Panel’ and navigate to ‘Hardware and Sound,’ then ‘Sound.’ In the Playback tab, select ‘Speakers,’ and click ‘Properties.’ Under the ‘Levels’ tab, click ‘Balance’ to adjust the volume for each earbud.
  4. Checking Sound Settings on MacOS: Go to ‘System Preferences,’ then ‘Sound.’ Under the ‘Output’ tab, there will be a slider to adjust the balance between the left and right channels.

Remember that these settings are device-specific, not earbud-specific. Any changes you make will affect all the audio output devices you connect to your device. So, if you find that one side of your earbuds is not working, check the sound balance settings before proceeding with other troubleshooting steps.


Final Thoughts

With any luck, you have now solved the problem and restored audio to both Soundcore earbuds.

If it isn’t fixed by now, check our universal guide to troubleshooting earbuds with one side not working. If that still doesn’t solve the problem, it is time to admit that you need a new pair of earbuds!


FAQs

My Soundcore earbuds do not seem to be charging, what could be the problem?

Check to ensure that your charging case has power and the charging ports are clean. If your charging case is out of battery, plug it in to charge. If the problem persists, consider reaching out to Anker customer support for further help.

The audio quality of my Soundcore earbuds seems poor, what could be the problem?

This could be due to poor Bluetooth connection, make sure your earbuds are within range of your device. If the problem persists, consider resetting your earbuds.

Can I pair my Soundcore earbuds to multiple devices?

Yes, Soundcore earbuds can be paired with multiple devices. However, they can only be connected to one device at a time.