As an AirPods owner, I was recently frustrated to find that one of my AirPods was charging slower than the other. After some research and testing, I’ve discovered some ways to solve this problem and I wanted to share my experience with others. In this blog post, I’ll be explaining why one AirPod may be charging slower than the other, and the different solutions I’ve found to help resolve this issue.
Likely reasons why one of your AirPods charges slower than the other are that there is debris in the case, the case is broken, or the AirPod’s battery is damaged.
For many people, getting both AirPods to charge evenly, is a case of simply cleaning the case.
However, if that does not work, it is likely that you are going to have to take it to an Apple store or do nothing and leave it how it is.
Quick tips:
- Ensure that there is no debris in the charging case, as this is o
- If one of the AirPods has been used more often than the other, this could be causing the issue.
- Resetting the AirPods often helps.
Table of Contents
Why does one AirPod charge slower than the other?
Below are likely reasons why one of your AirPods charges slower than the other.
Debris
It might simply be the case that there is debris in the charging case. It would help to clean the charging case and to try to wipe the inside of the case by using a cotton swab.
Broken case
It could also be the case that the charging case itself is broken. If you have a friend who also owns AirPods, you could try charging your AirPods in the case.
If both of the AirPods charge evenly, it would mean that it is the case that is causing the problems. If they do not charge evenly, it would mean that the AirPod itself is broken or faulty.
Broken AirPod
It could also be the case that the AirPod itself is broken. This would be more likely if there is clearly no debris inside the case and if you can’t get the AirPod to charge when using someone else’s case.
It would help to consider if the AirPod recently got wet or if you dropped it.
In this case, your only option would be to take it to an Apple store or to buy a replacement. Alternatively, you can just leave it how it is.
If the battery life is not too bad, it would likely be the best option to just do nothing.
Different amounts of use
If you have been using one of the AirPods a lot more, it might be the case that each of them now have different amounts of battery capacity. This would be more likely if one of them also drains more quickly.
One battery discharges more rapidly when you regularly use one AirPod at a time for listening or use one as a microphone. The battery that has been used the most will deteriorate more quickly and need charging more often.
Try resetting the AirPods
Sometimes resetting the AirPods can help. To do this, put the AirPods in the case, open the lid and hold the button until the light flashes orange then white.
Read more: Why does my AirPods case die so fast?
How to get my AirPods to charge equally?
The good news is that there are techniques you can use to potentially solve this problem.
The first option would be to thoroughly but carefully clean the AirPod’s “tail” and charging case. You may clean the charging ports inside of the case with a periodontal brush, soft toothbrush or straw cleaner.
It’s best to clean the tail with a completely dry piece of cloth. Other parts of the device also need occasional cleaning, but they aren’t likely to affect charging.
Read more: Why do my AirPods make a noise when connected?
Resetting your AirPods
It would help to try resetting and reconnecting your AirPods to your devices.
- Forget the AirPods on the device you are using
- Put your AirPods in the case
- Press the button on the case for 15 seconds
- Wait 30 seconds
- Open the lid and hold the button on the case
- Reconnect your AirPods to your device
Deactivating “Hey Siri”
If you have 2nd generation or newer AirPods, they include a feature known as “Hey Siri.” The feature lets you talk to Siri using the built-in microphone.
Unfortunately, this means that one AirPod is constantly listening to hear the words “Hey Siri.” The battery drains faster and charging may become unbalanced.
You can deactivate this feature by finding “Siri and Search” under “Settings” on a paired iOS device. Select “Listen for Hey Siri” and shut it off.
Using a single AirPod
Uneven charging is less of a problem if you listen with one AirPod while charging the other unit. This technique could possibly help you correct an imbalance in charging levels or cycles as well.
Your device will switch to mono audio when you use a single AirPod. To do so, put one earbud in your ear and place the other one in the case. There’s no need to change any settings.
Replacing components
If none of these solutions work, you might need a new earbud, battery or charging case. One component may have a manufacturing defect. It also could’ve been damaged by rough handling, direct sunlight or harsh conditions.
Either way, you can replace individual parts by visiting an Apple Store. The staff may help you determine what component isn’t working right.
Keep in mind that replacing a single AirPod may lead to uneven charge levels because of the difference in age.
Alternatively, you could do nothing and leave it how it is. If both of the AirPods have acceptable battery lives, this would be the best option.
