Tozo is a manufacturer many audiophiles may be unfamiliar with, despite its growing corner in the market. Tozo has done a respectable job providing lower-end headphones that offer a decent bang for your limited bucks.
Originating in 2015 by way of Seattle, Washington, Tozo is becoming a go-to for reasonably priced headphones. The biggest worry for consumers is whether or not the attractive price tag means that their earbuds will quickly pass on to the big retail chain in the sky.
These concerns are not entirely unfounded — Tozo products will likely experience a malfunction or two during their lifespan.
One of the biggest issues plaguing headphone companies across the globe is the dreaded dead earbud, creating a frustratingly one-sided listening experience.
Tozo earbuds are not an exception to the rule and are just as likely to become left-side dominant as any pair of headphones. If this issue hits home, then keep reading to learn the solutions needed to fix your Tozo earbuds with only one side working.
Solutions for Tozo Earbuds (One Side Not Working): Quick Overview
For anyone that wishes to skim rather than read the article in its entirety, here are the most likely fixes to attempt:
- Charge earbuds properly before attempting solutions.
- Reset earbuds to factory settings to revert any changes that may have caused the problem.
- Deep clean your earbuds to remove dust or dirt that can hinder performance.
- Connect Bluetooth to a new device to identify potential compatibility issues.
- Check battery status to rule out power-related issues.
- Review your sound settings to ensure the audio balance is correctly set.
Keep in mind, if none of these work, Tozo provides a warranty on all its earbuds, and you can reach out to their customer support for further assistance.
Solutions for Tozo Earbuds (One Side Not Working): Step-by-Step
While many consumers may get a feeling of dread in their stomach as an earbud goes quiet, typically you can still salvage the headphones. Unlike wired headphones where a muted side signifies a dead channel, wireless alternatives have a few more fixes that may resuscitate your mute Tozo earbud.
In the interest of efficiency, we will cover the solutions from the most simple fixes to more nuanced solutions.
While a lot of these fixes could work universally across several different brands of wireless earbuds, we will have more unique solutions further below.
If you have an issue that is specific to a certain model (the T10 for instance), they will be covered further down as well.
Charge the earbuds prior to attempting solutions as an insufficient charge can negatively affect the listed resolutions.
Reset Tozo Earbuds to Factory Settings
One of the most simplistic and wide-reaching solutions is to simply dial back your earbuds to their default settings via a factory reset.
This process is simple though it does vary slightly depending on the model of Tozo earbud you are using. While we tend to prefer a universal reset method from a manufacturer, we will still be covering all wireless Tozo products available.
How To Factory Reset the T10, T12, and T8
- Remove the currently paired device from your earbuds.
- Take out your earbuds from their charging case.
- Press down on both buttons on each earbud and hold them down for no less than ten seconds.
- If done correctly, a flashing light will inform you that the process is complete.
How To Factory Reset the T5, and NC9
- Take the headphones out of their charging case.
- Hold down both earbud touch buttons until the light flashes red and the earbuds power off.
- Hold down the buttons for another five seconds, this time the light will flash blue and red.
- Double tap both buttons twice. If done correctly, a purple light will appear letting you know the process has been completed.
How To Factory Reset The T6
- Turn off Bluetooth pairing from your preferred device and delete your earbuds from the list of paired products.
- Take out both earbuds and look for blinking blue and red lights.
- Hit the touch buttons on the back of the earbuds with three quick taps to fully reset your T6 earbuds.
- Put the buds back into their charging case and then remove them once more. They are now factory reset and can be paired with a device of your choosing.
Deep Clean Your Tozo Earbuds
One of the more common issues with headphones, earbuds, and on-ear audio equipment is the dust, dirt, and gunk that can burrow into the hard-to-reach parts of your product.
A couple of decades ago a pair of dirty headphones were little more than an unfortunate fashion accessory. With wireless earbuds, it can knock out your audio abilities almost entirely if left unchecked.
To get the process started you are going to need something long, thin, and preferably not metallic, like a toothpick. Additionally, you are going to need non-abrasive linens or a dry wipe to clean off the earbuds.
The first step is gently put a small amount of pressure on the charging “port” of your earbuds charging case. This is to make sure the charger reacts easily to applied pressure and doesn’t have any sediment buildup. If there is resistance, don’t force it! It may need a deep clean for the case to alleviate any obstructions that may be present.
While cleaning your earbuds may feel like a tedious process, it is actually fairly quick. It is important you don’t rush the process as a careless hand could cause untold damage to your Tozo headphones.
Using the tools listed previously, get rid of any unwanted gunk or debris until your earbuds, charging case and overall product is free from any obstructions or dirt. When cleaning your earbuds, do not use chemicals, chemical substances, metal objects, or anything abrasive as it could irreparably damage your product.
Try to Connect Bluetooth to A New Device
Sometimes fixing your audio issues is as simple as switching to a different device.
Due to minor glitches and inconsistencies with Bluetooth connections, sometimes switching over to a different device is the best move. This not only can alleviate the issues of a dead earbud but also shows any compatibility issues between your earbuds and any smart devices you may own.
The process is as simple as removing your earbuds from your preferred device’s list of compatible Bluetooth connections. Once this is done, choose a different device and pair your earbuds with it.
Once the connection has taken place, test out audio on both earbuds. If they are both working, then you can safely assume the problem is the BlueTooth connection with your previous device.
If this solution has not alleviated the problem then the issue more than likely stems from your earbuds and you can continue to the next solution.
If your earbuds both work on a different device then you need to switch off BlueTooth, reset the affected device or look for common connection glitches with your device’s BlueTooth connection. Solutions for an iOS device are different than an Android phone or Windows computer, so try to be specific when addressing the issue you have.
Battery May Be Dead
While we already went through the process of cleaning our charging cases and earbuds, it still doesn’t seem to always fix the issue. Because of this, it may be time to put the earbuds on opposite sides of the charging case and see if this triggers the charge of the affected earbud. If you get a confirmation via the LEDs, then you either have a damaged charging connection or malfunctioning parts that don’t allow a connection to form with the dead earbud.
The issue with a lot of lower-end products is that they can sometimes fail to alert you to low batteries or insufficient charge, even if they offer low battery notifications or audio alerts. Because of this, trying to even diagnose what the problem is with our earbuds can be the start of our own personal film noir. If your earbud is responding to the alternate side of the charging case, allow it to charge fully and see if the problem persists.
If the audio is fixed, you may need to purchase a replacement case regardless. The tediousness of having to charge earbuds one by one is more than any of us care to imagine. If the audio issues still persist, on the bright side at least your charging case isn’t malfunctioning. The downside is we have to move on to our last solution to the problem.
Check Your Sound Settings
Contrary to popular belief, iOS and Android phones have a lot of customization when it comes to your audio settings. Unfortunately, if these are accidentally tweaked or inadvertently changed they can very quickly become a nuisance that is difficult to fix.
When we have a dead earbud we are so used to faulty headphones we immediately assume the product is damaged beyond repair. Meanwhile, the audio balancing is set to Mono or the slider is pushed so far right it has a European accent.
Accessing these settings is very easy and relatively straightforward. The only reason this is so far down the list is because of how uncommon an issue it typically is. Regardless, let’s take a look at how to access our audio settings via iOS, Android, Windows, and more.
For iOS
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio/Visual.
- Make sure audio is played in Stereo and not Mono.
- Move the Audio Balancer directly into the middle.
- If the settings are already correct, this is not the issue. If they aren’t, check your audio to see if the problem persists.
For Android
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing. Do not go to Sound, you won’t find the audio balancer there.
- Move the Sound Balance switch to the center or middle of the line.
- Change the audio channel from Mono to Stereo.
- If these settings are set by default then your issue is not with the Audio Balancing. If you had to alter them, play audio and see if your problem is still present.
For Windows 10
- Right-Click on the Speaker button in the lower right corner and select Sounds.
- Select the Playback section from the list of tabs and then choose your playback device. If you aren’t sure which playback device to use, play audio on your computer. Whichever device has moving green bars is the one you want.
- Right-Click on it and select Properties.
- Click on the Levels option and then select Balance.
- This will show you the audio levels of your device, for most people these will have the same numerical value (49/49 for example).
- If they do not have the same numerical value, adjust them until they are even then click OK. If they are the same numerical value, this is not the reason your earbud is quiet.
For Mac
- Click on the Apple menu > System Preferences > Sound > Output.
- Select your preferred playback device. This is typically going to be either your headphones, the computer’s speakers, or an external speaker that is plugged in.
- From here, you can change the audio balance with the dial at the bottom of the popup menu. It should be placed directly in the middle.
- Test to see if your audio is fixed.
Tozo’s Warranty and Customer Support
One factor often overlooked in the consideration of lower-cost audio products is the warranty and customer support provided by the manufacturer. Like any reputable brand, Tozo provides warranties on all its earbud models. Should you face a malfunction beyond repair as covered in this article, the warranty might save you from having to buy a replacement.
Tozo’s standard warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship under normal use for a period of one year from the date of retail purchase. This warranty does not cover any damage caused by misuse, neglect, accidents, abrasion, exposure to extreme temperatures, solvents, acids, water, or normal wear and tear.
In case of malfunction, reach out to Tozo’s customer support through their official website or the point of sale (such as Amazon’s customer service). Always provide as many details as possible about the issue, and keep your purchase receipt safe, as proof of purchase is required to claim the warranty.
Updates and Bug Fixes
Keeping your earbuds updated with the latest firmware can often fix ongoing issues and prevent new ones from cropping up. Firmware updates may improve various aspects of your earbuds’ performance, from audio quality to battery life and Bluetooth connectivity.
Tozo periodically releases firmware updates for its earbuds. To check for updates, you can either install the Tozo app available for iOS and Android, or visit the official Tozo website and navigate to the support section. Following the instructions provided by Tozo for the update process will ensure that your earbuds are always up to date.
Wrapping Up
If none of the previous solutions worked for you, it is likely time to break out the warranty or look for another pair of earbuds. The biggest problem with lower-end headphones is their tendency to break or damage themselves beyond repair.
Because of this, a lot of deal-seeking consumers settle for higher-end products at a discount to alleviate the risk of a faulty pair of earbuds.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t make do with the budget Tozo’s you have at your disposal, however! With a bit of care and caution, hopefully, you can get another year or two out of your conveniently priced T10s!
FAQs
Are Tozo earbuds waterproof?
Yes, most models of Tozo earbuds are waterproof. However, the degree of water resistance may vary from model to model, so it’s best to check the specific IP rating of your model. While some models can withstand being submerged in water for a certain amount of time, none are designed for swimming or taking in the shower.
Can Tozo earbuds be used with devices other than smartphones, like PCs or game consoles?
Yes, Tozo earbuds use standard Bluetooth connectivity and should be compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth audio. However, the process of pairing and maintaining a stable connection might vary depending on the device and its operating system.
Do Tozo earbuds support active noise cancellation (ANC)?
Some models of Tozo earbuds, such as the NC9, support active noise cancellation. However, the effectiveness of ANC can vary depending on the environment and fit of the earbuds.