What to do if one AirPods earphone is broken. Personal experience

• December 13, 2019
• Android
• Alexandra Pal

If you are not afraid to be left without Apple headphones or you feel sorry for giving them to a repair shop, then this article can help you decide to disassemble the device yourself or make sure that it is still better to take the AirPods to a repair service (which is desirable in this case). At the same time, get acquainted with the structure of the headphones and find out how to disassemble the EarPods.

It is worth noting that there are EarPods with both lightning and 3.5 mm Jack - a connection connector. Since the iPhone is being modernized from year to year, recently the package with an Apple smartphone began to include EarPods with a lightning connector, and the 3.5 mm connector on new iPhone models has ceased to exist altogether. So in this article we will analyze headphones with a lightning connector.

We will analyze it from the bottom up: first we will look at the lightning connector device, then the control panels and speakers. So, how to disassemble EarPods?

First step: overview of appearance and characteristics

It's no secret that Apple's headset includes a number of useful features. These are, for example, speech recognition (do you use Siri?), noise reduction. First of all, let’s unpack our Airpods.

It is worth noting that if you use a headset with a lightning connector, you will not be able to charge your phone at the same time. Charging uses the same port as wired EarPods. Let's look at the control panel.

As you can see on the slide, we can adjust the volume with two buttons and answer calls with the key in the middle. On the back of the panel there is a microphone, which is used to record voice.

There are markings on the headphones - R and L (right and left).

So, let's start solving the question of how to disassemble the EarPods.

The right or left earphone does not work

Let's look at the main ways to fix the problem if one apple earphone does not work:

1. Place your AirPods in the base case and wait a bit. Put on your headphones, activate them, they will instantly connect to the nearest device and you can check if the problem has been resolved.
2. If one earphone does not play, turn off Bluetooth on your smartphone and turn it on again to reconnect the headset.
3. There are failures when smartphones do not “see” one of the headphones due to its replacement. The settings allow you to delete the previous connection and synchronize the device with the headphones again.

If these methods do not help, the failure may be mechanical, which will require professional repair.

Reboot

If the right apple earphone does not work, you can try rebooting the headset. There is no difficulty in this; the procedure is quite simple and makes it possible to solve many problems that are associated with the correct functioning of the accessory. How to do it:

• Place the AirPods in the base case;
• The cover panel is equipped with a button that must be pressed for 30 seconds;
• Once the indicator starts flashing orange, the operation is completed;
• Reconnect the accessory.

It is not recommended to reboot too often.

Updating airpods firmware

If there is a certain malfunction of the headset, for example, 1 earphone has stopped working, you can try the option of installing new firmware. Headphones can be automatically updated to the required version; you just need to follow certain conditions:

• Make sure that the headphones are inside the base case;
• Connect the case to charging using the supplied cable;
• Connect the headset to your iPhone.

Manufacturers do not recommend making adjustments to the firmware yourself; this can lead to more significant problems with the accessory. Thanks to their efforts, the headphones themselves can be updated, but today it is difficult to say that Apple regularly provides updates for headsets. By following simple rules, you can avoid problems with the accessory firmware.

Checking the volume balance

If the airpods do not play synchronously, it is worth paying attention to this situation. Perhaps they are broken, and the right earphone plays better than the left. Volume imbalance is a problem faced by many owners of this accessory. Let's look at the reasons for what happened and figure out how to act:

• The earphone may be discharged; you should place it in the case for additional charging;
• Inspect the headphone nets; they may be littered with lint;
• Dig into your volume settings;
• If you have problems with sound quality, contact a specialist.

In situations where these methods are not effective, you should buy a new headset.

Cleaning airpods

If your working headphone starts to sound bad, be sure to inspect it for additional contamination. Small debris often accumulates on the earphone mesh, which leads to a significant deterioration in sound. A small soft brush, brush or cotton swab can remove any dirt found.

Second step: disassemble the lightning connector

If your headphones are in good condition, it is better not to disassemble them. The article is for informational purposes only and is not a practical guide. We'll just take the headphones apart so you can see how they work inside.

First of all, you need to cut off the plug from the lightning. We cut it along the seam using a stationery knife.

Inside we see a steel sleeve, it is needed for better protection against mechanical stress. Let's remove the seal to look at the power board. There was a thick layer of glue under the steel plate, which will also have to be removed.

Now we get to the printed circuit board. Please note that the identification chip may not be present in a cheap Chinese counterfeit.

Here's what was inside: a steel sleeve for protection, special glue, power board, plug, insulation, wires.

Why did Airpods stop working?

One of the reasons why Airpods don't work is because the app or Bluetooth pairing is not set up correctly. As a result, there is no sound, it is distorted or periodically disappears.

Possible reasons:

• Low battery level;
• Random volume reduction;
• Bluetooth module malfunction;
• Pairing faults;
• Failure of smartphone applications;
• Unknown failure.

The first and simplest action, which in most cases solves the problem, is to reboot the devices. Next, it is advisable to re-pair the headphones and phone via Bluetooth. Then, if necessary, erase the cache and reinstall the gadget control application. More detailed malfunction situations are discussed below.

Third step: disassemble the control panel

To adjust the sound volume in the headphones, call an assistant, make and receive calls, EarPods provides the user with a functional control tool - buttons.

The control panel housing is secured with latches so that it can be easily opened. And here it could not be done without a steel plate. In this case, it is designed to maintain the shape of the case: very thin (which makes it almost weightless) and elastic.

When you press the remote cover, the steel plate deforms, bends and touches a specific area on the board. In this case, a certain route (chain) for signal transmission is built, which allows us to control the system. On the back side of the steel case there is a hole for voice recording. There are 3 buttons under the steel plate.

Before you disassemble your AirPods, think carefully about whether you have enough knowledge to fix this device yourself.

What to do if the microphone does not work?

The earpods microphone can stop working at any time; many headset owners face this problem. Let's look at the key reasons for the malfunction:

• The headphone output is faulty. It’s easy to check, turn on the music - if it plays, then you should look for problems in other nodes;
• Presence of manufacturing defects or minor mechanical damage. It is best to use the services of a service center;
• Inspect the settings, you may have disabled the microphone yourself.

Our technicians are ready to quickly fix any problems found, so don’t delay repairing your headphones.

Last step: disassembling the EarPods speakers

So, we come to the main question: how to open Apple headphones?

Since the plates of the earphone body are tightly coupled to each other, they can only be disconnected with a scalpel with a sharp and thin blade. Then you need to remove the glue around the edges.

The diaphragm, coil and magnet are compactly located inside the case. The diaphragm in this case is a paper cone (as it seems at first glance, but in fact it is a thin film with a lot of fibers), bordered by a layer of rubber (polymer), due to which sound waves propagate in space during vibrations.

The inside of the device consists of a metal frame and a middle magnet. Under the diaphragm there is a coil - the most important element. The magnet is static, but the electromagnet (coil) is either attracted or repelled from it, causing the diaphragm to vibrate and propagate sound waves. There are 2 wires running from the speaker to the circuit on the back side.

How to restart Airpods or reset settings

The most common way is to reboot guide apple. Simply put, a factory reset is performed.

What should be done:

1. Go to “Settings”;
2. Select "Bluetooth";
3. Click on the i next to “Airpods”;
4. Select the “Forget device” menu;
5. Place the headphones in the case;
6. Open the lid and long press the status button to reboot the headphones. When the operation is successful, the button will flash white.

How to clean earbuds

AirPods Pro differ from other Apple headphones in that they are vacuum-sealed. In this regard, cleaning is required not only for the speaker mesh, but also for the earbuds themselves.

To remove small particles of dust or water, simply tap the liner on a hard surface. For example, a table. If dirt cannot be removed, remove the ear pads and rinse them under running water.

Next, you will need to wipe the earbuds with a dry, lint-free cloth. At this point, make sure the ear pads are completely dry. And only now you can put the earbuds back on AirPods Pro. These instructions will be applicable to any models of vacuum headphones.

How to connect new airpods to your phone

New headphones connect to the phone almost without the participation of the owner. All you need to do is go to the home screen, move the case with airpods closer to the iPhone and open it. A dialog box with a picture of headphones will appear on the screen. Click "Connect". After a few seconds, the headphones will connect to the phone, and a window will appear on the display showing the headphones and case separately and their charge. Click on “Finish”. Now you can use Airpods.

If you bought headphones that were already connected to the device under a different Apple ID, the connection algorithm will be different:

1. On iPhone, open the home screen.
2. Place the case with the headphones closer to the phone.
3. When the message “Not your headphones” appears, click “Connect”.
4. The device will ask you to press and hold a button on the case.
5. After this, the headphones will begin connecting.

Further actions are performed in the same way as in the case of a new device.

If you have more than one Apple device with the same account, then the headphones will be available on any of them.

Remember that almost all further adjustments are carried out with AirPods inserted into your ears.

Baby monitor

When there is a small child in the house, he needs constant supervision. Thanks to baby monitors, it has become possible to do household chores and watch your child at the same time. The baby monitor transmits sound from the room in which the baby is located to the response part.

AirPods headphones can be considered a universal gadget, since they can also be used to make a baby monitor. For this:

1. Go to "Settings".
2. Select the "Control Center" line.
3. Click on “Customize Element.” management".
4. In Control Center, add the Hearing option.
5. Return to Control Center and enable the added feature.
6. Turn on Live Listening.
7. In the room with your child, put your iPhone down and put on the headphones yourself.

You can go about your business while hearing through your headphones what is happening next to your iPhone at a distance of more than 10 meters.

Main, popular reasons

In order to correctly and reliably troubleshoot problems, the reasons behind the malfunction must be correctly identified.
If the cause of the problem lies in the headphones, there are the following possible causes:

• Lack of cleaning - sound propagation is hampered by deposits of dirt, dust and earwax;
• In Chinese devices, the speaker can quickly demagnetize;
• Check if the sound card is ok; contact service specialists if you cannot do this yourself;
• One earphone works, but the other does not, due to incorrect settings on the device;
• Closes contacts;
• The cord is damaged;
• The headphones themselves are damaged - for example, water got into the speakers;
• You're using high-impedance headphones to play audio from a portable device, and they require a completely different voltage level.

Check how well the headphones work when connected to different devices. If the sound volume only drops when connected to one specific device, check it. Perhaps the headphones have become quieter due to problems located in the device. Just in case, check your settings. If necessary, change the volume mode or shift the balance between headphones.

Why did the headphones start playing quietly? Sometimes the problem is not in them at all, but it is noticed precisely while using the headset, since your attention is more focused on the perception of the hearing organs. It happens that the causes of problems are not in the equipment, but directly in its user. Your hearing may be tired. Rest, wear headphones less often, or better yet, give yourself a full break from them for several days. If you begin to realize that the problem is definitely in your hearing, and it does not go away after a break, pay a visit to the doctor.

If the bass in the headphones has disappeared, and the rest of the sound has died down, and even the stereo does not work correctly, the ground wire is probably damaged. It can be recognized thanks to its golden plating. Try gently bending the wire at the electrical connector to accurately determine the cause and location of the breakdown. A broken wire at the plug itself is the most common cause of a malfunction.

Hidden settings

For Airpods Pro wireless headphones, you can change additional settings that are responsible for the speed and delay time between pressing the sensor. To access these settings:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Open the Accessibility tab.
3. Find the “PhysicalandMotor” section and click on “AirPods”.

You can now change the following settings:

1. “PressSpeed” is the speed at which you press the sensor. You can choose from three options: “Default”, “Slow”, “Slowest”.
2. “Noise Cancellation with One AirPod” - noise reduction with one Airpod. If you activate this function, noise reduction will work even with one earphone inserted.
3. “Press and hold Duration” - duration of pressing. You can choose between “Default”, “Short”, “Shorter”.

How to change the name of the headphones

The name of the headphones can be changed to any other. This does not require resetting the device or re-configuring it. You can change the name as follows:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Go to "Bluetooth".
3. Select “AirPods” from the list of accessories.
4. Click on the "i" next to the name.
5. A settings menu will appear, in which you need to click on the “Name” line.
6. Enter the desired name."
7. Click on the "Back" button.

The headphones will now be given a new name. It will appear in the phone's connection list. If AirPods are linked to a Mac PC, then the name can be changed through the computer settings.

If you are afraid of losing your headphones, then write your phone number in their name. The person who finds the AirPods will try to connect to them, see your phone number and may even call you to return the device.

Why do you need an indicator?

Looking at the case for the airpods headphones, you might notice only one indicator. It can be used to determine the state of the device.

The indicator type can be as follows:

1. Orange without a picture - there is not enough charge in the case to recharge the headphones.
2. Orange with headphones - the case is charged along with the headphones.
3. Flashing orange - There was an error connecting the airpods. You need to reconnect by pressing the back button on the case.
4. Green without a picture - the case is charged and this is enough for one or several recharges of the headphones.
5. Green with headphones - charging headphones from the case.
6. Flashing green—the headphones are being removed or inserted into the case.
7. Flashing white - waiting to connect to the phone.

If the indicator is not lit, then the airpods are completely discharged and need to be connected to the network.

Lost sound on iPhone

The iPhone must be positioned so that there are no obstacles between it and the headset. Experts advise keeping the gadget away from poorly shielded cables, a switched-on microwave, wireless speakers, and places with an active Wi-Fi connection.

If the sound problem persists, do the following:

1. In the settings menu select Bluetooth.
2. Find the paired device.
3. Click on the “Forget” icon.
4. Reboot the device.
5. Reconnect AirPods.

Contact Apple Support

One of the best options for replacing your device is to contact Apple Support directly. Before calling, you'll need to know the serial number of your AirPods, AirPods Pro, or charging case. You can also contact Apple Support in tandem with the Apple Express Replacement Policy if you need a quick replacement. To get a new device, contact Apple Support for warranty details. If you meet their policy, the company will send you a replacement. After that, all you have to do is send the defective device back to Apple within ten days of the replacement being shipped.

You may not have clearly lost or broken your AirPods, but you're still having problems with the device. There are several troubleshooting steps you can take to potentially improve your experience. Check out our guide to common AirPods problems before spending money on the situation.

Editor's recommendations

Touch control

You can configure the actions that the gadget will perform when double-clicked. For this:

1. Go to the "Settings" section.
2. Open the "Bluetooth" item.
3. Click on "AirPods".
4. Go to Double Tap AirPods.
5. Tap on the earphone for which you want to select an action.
6. Choose an action.

By double-clicking on one of the headphones, you can:

• Start playing audio;
• Pause the song;
• Switch to the next or previous track;
• Launch Siri.

Each earbud can be set to a specific action to optimize control.

Noise suppression

This feature is only available on Airpods Pro. It can operate in active and transparent modes. Typically, the user only has the ability to switch between two modes. But we know how to turn them off or replace them.

To do this you need:

1. In the “Settings” section, find the “Bluetooth” item.
2. Open the “Air Pods Pro” menu.
3. Find the item “Press and hold”.
4. Select the earphone whose settings you want to change.
5. If it has Noise Control mode active, you can choose between Noise Canceling, Transparent, or Off.
6. Selecting "Shutdown" will disable all other options.

If both headphones are set to Noise Control, the following settings will automatically be applied to them together.

How to turn off automatic ear detection

With Auto Ear Detection turned on, the headphones will automatically recognize when you put them on and start a sound playing on your iPhone. If you remove one earphone, the playback will immediately stop and the sound will switch to the iPhone speaker. After disabling the function, music will play in the connected headphones even when you remove them.

To turn off automatic ear detection:

1. Open Settings in iPhone.
2. Find the “Bluetooth” item and go to it.
3. Tap "AirPods" to open the menu.
4. Drag the Auto Ear Detection slider until it becomes inactive.

After this, the function will be disabled.