Why won’t both my AirPods play at the same time?

Answered by Robert Dupre

There could be a few reasons why both of your AirPods are not playing at the same time. Let’s go through some troubleshooting steps to help you fix this issue.

1. Check the charge status: First, ensure that both AirPods are fully charged. You can do this by checking the battery status on your iPhone or iPad. Open the AirPods case near your device, and a battery pop-up should appear on the screen displaying the charge level of each AirPod and the case. If one AirPod has significantly less charge than the other, it may not be able to play audio.

2. Properly position the AirPods: Make sure you are wearing both AirPods correctly in your ears. Sometimes, if an AirPod is not positioned properly, it may not play audio or the sound may be faint. Adjust them in your ears to ensure a secure fit, and check if both AirPods are producing sound.

3. Test audio playback: Try playing audio on your device to see if both AirPods are working. Open a music app or play a video, and listen for sound from both AirPods. If only one AirPod is playing audio, there may be an issue with the connection or settings.

4. Reset your AirPods: If the above steps don’t resolve the issue, you can try resetting your AirPods. To do this, place both AirPods back into the charging case, close the lid, and wait for about 30 seconds. Then, open the lid and press and hold the button on the back of the case until the LED light on the front starts flashing white. This will reset the AirPods and disconnect them from your device. Reconnect them by following the initial setup process.

5. Contact Apple Support: If none of the above steps work, it’s recommended to reach out to Apple Support for further assistance. They can provide more specific troubleshooting steps or guide you through the process of getting a replacement if necessary.

It’s important to note that these troubleshooting steps may not apply to all situations, as each case can be unique. However, they should help you identify and resolve common issues that prevent both AirPods from playing audio simultaneously.