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Computers and Electronics
Audio
Audio Speakers
Headphones
How to Fix Earphones when One Side Is Silent Explore this Article Steps Steps Other Sections Video Related Articles References Article Summary Co-authored by Florisa-Leila Ramos and Travis Boylls
Last Updated: January 27, 2026 Fact Checked
X
This article was co-authored by Florisa-Leila Ramos and by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Florisa Ramos is a Cleaning Expert based in Leominster, Massachusetts. Florisa founded Office & Home Cleaning in 2017 and brings over 20 years of experience in the house cleaning industry. With a 5-star rating on Google, Office & Home Cleaning offers deep cleaning, move-in and move-out cleaning, and office cleaning services. With extensive training in cleaning business fundamentals and a workshop certification in commercial cleaning and facilities management, Florisa has built a reputable career in the cleaning industry, demonstrating expertise in both residential and commercial cleaning services. She has been featured on multiple online platforms, showcasing best practices, expert cleaning tips, and sustainable cleaning solutions. Recognized for her commitment to eco-friendly practices, Florisa prioritizes using safe, non-toxic products to protect both clients' spaces and the environment. Florisa has an Associate's degree in Business Administration from Mount Wachusett Community College. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 449,142 times.
It's frustrating when one side of your trusted headphones goes silent. Hearing sound in only one ear feels off-balance, and often you miss instruments and sounds that are panned to one side or the other. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to fix this problem. This wikiHow teaches you how to troubleshoot and fix headphones that have gone silent in one ear.
Steps
1 Check to make sure the earphones are connected properly. If you are using wired earphones and you notice one side is silent, the first thing you should do is check to make sure the earphones are connected properly. Disconnect the headphones from the headphone jack and reinsert them. Make sure it snaps all the way in. See if this fixes the problem.[1]XResearch source
2 Check the stereo balance. If you are using a smartphone or computer, check the audio settings in the Settings menu. Make sure the stereo balance is not panned to one side or the other. It should be panned directly in the center. If you are using an external audio device, such as an audio receiver, check the balance on the device itself to make sure the stereo balance is panned in the center. Advertisement
3 Make sure you are not in Mono mode. Mono sound transmits the same sound to all speakers. Stereo sound transmits different sounds to the left and right speakers. While you are checking the audio settings on your device, check to see if the device has the option to switch between stereo and mono sound. Make sure you are in stereo mode, and not mono mode.[2]XResearch source
4 Unpair and repair Bluetooth headphones. If you are using wireless Bluetooth headphones, try to unpair the headphones by turning off Bluetooth on your device. Then turn Bluetooth back on and put the headphones in pairing mode. Reconnect your headphones with your device and see if this fixes the problem.[3]XResearch source
5 Restart your device. If you are using a computer, smartphone, or tablet, try powering the device off and then back on. This can fix temporary bugs in the software.[4]X Trustworthy Source Microsoft SupportTechnical support and product information from Microsoft. Go to source
6 Try a different set of headphones. If you experience the same problem with a different set of headphones, then the problem is with the headphone jack, not your headphones. In which case, you can try cleaning the headphone jack. If this doesn't work, you will most likely need to have your device serviced.
To clean your headphone jack, power the device off. Dip a cotton swab in some lukewarm water. Squeeze the excess liquid out and roll it into a tight, thin strip. Stick it in the headphone jack as far as it will go, and then twist it to clean out any dirt that got inside. Then repeat with a dry cotton swab to dry out the inside. Wait a few hours and see if this fixes the problem.
If you're experiencing problems with the headphone jack on a computer, smartphone, or tablet, it may be caused by a virus. Try running a virus scan. If absolutely necessary, back up your device and reset it to its factory settings.
7 Check if the headphones are dirty. Inspect the side that isn't working and check to make sure it doesn't have excess earwax, dust, or dirt. If it's dirty, you can try cleaning it with a small brush, or a vacuum cleaner hose with a narrow nozzle. You can also dip a cotton swap in some lukewarm water or alcohol-based cleaner, and use it to clean the headphones.[5]X Expert Source Florisa-Leila RamosCleaning ExpertExpert Interview Be sure to squeeze out the excess liquid before cleaning. Then use a dry cotton swab to thoroughly dry the headphones before use.[6]XResearch source
8 Check for water damage. Headphones are often exposed to sweat, rain, and spilled liquids. This can cause water damage to the headphones. If you suspect your headphones have been damaged by liquid, place them in a window seal or in front of a fan to dry out. If possible, remove the covers from the headphones so that the insides can dry out too. Allow about 72 hours for them to fully dry out. Then try again to see if this fixes the problem.[7]XResearch source
9 Check the wires for damage. If the wires are tangled, untangle them and straighten them out and see if this fixes the problem. If it does not, connect the headphones and play some audio. Go over the entire section of wires and twist each section while checking for broken or exposed wires. Also, twist and bend the wire at the base where it connects to the headphone jack. IF you hear audio at any point, note which section of the wire you were twisting.[8]XResearch source
If you find the wire is damaged in a specific area, disconnect the headphones from the device. Then use a pair of wire cutters to carefully remove the outer wire covering and expose the wires inside. Be careful not to cut through the wires. If you find the wires are tangled, you'll need to untangle them. If the wires are broken, twist the wires together to reconnect them. You can also solder the wires. See if this fixes the problem. If the problem is fixed, seal the exposed wire with electrical tape.
If the wire is damaged where the wire connects to the headphone jack, you may need to take it to a technician. You could try soldering the broken wire back to the headphone. If you have another cable with a 3mm headphone jack, you could try cutting the wires and then splicing the wires to another cable with a 3mm headphone jack.
10 Take your headphones to a technician or get a new pair. If nothing works, they may require a professional technician to repair it. If it's an expensive set of headphones, you may look into having them professionally repaired. If it's an inexpensive set of headphones, you may be better off getting a new set of headphones.
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Co-authored by: Florisa-Leila Ramos Cleaning Expert This article was co-authored by Florisa-Leila Ramos and by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Florisa Ramos is a Cleaning Expert based in Leominster, Massachusetts. Florisa founded Office & Home Cleaning in 2017 and brings over 20 years of experience in the house cleaning industry. With a 5-star rating on Google, Office & Home Cleaning offers deep cleaning, move-in and move-out cleaning, and office cleaning services. With extensive training in cleaning business fundamentals and a workshop certification in commercial cleaning and facilities management, Florisa has built a reputable career in the cleaning industry, demonstrating expertise in both residential and commercial cleaning services. She has been featured on multiple online platforms, showcasing best practices, expert cleaning tips, and sustainable cleaning solutions. Recognized for her commitment to eco-friendly practices, Florisa prioritizes using safe, non-toxic products to protect both clients' spaces and the environment. Florisa has an Associate's degree in Business Administration from Mount Wachusett Community College. This article has been viewed 449,142 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 6Updated: January 27, 2026 Views: 449,142 Categories: HeadphonesArticle SummaryX
1. Make sure the headphones are connected properly. 2. Check to make sure the stereo balanced is panned to the center. 3. Make sure you are in stereo mode and not mono mode. 4. Restart your audio device. 5. Unpair and repair wireless Bluetooth audio headphones. 6. Check if the headphones are dirty and clean them with a brush, or damp, lukewarm cotton swab. 7. Use a different set of headphones to see if the headphone jack is the problem. 8. Allow the headphones to dry out if they've been water damaged. 9. Check if the wires are broken or tangled and fix them with tape. Did this summary help you?YesNo
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Co-authored by: Florisa-Leila Ramos Cleaning Expert This article was co-authored by Florisa-Leila Ramos and by wikiHow staff writer, Travis Boylls. Florisa Ramos is a Cleaning Expert based in Leominster, Massachusetts. Florisa founded Office & Home Cleaning in 2017 and brings over 20 years of experience in the house cleaning industry. With a 5-star rating on Google, Office & Home Cleaning offers deep cleaning, move-in and move-out cleaning, and office cleaning services. With extensive training in cleaning business fundamentals and a workshop certification in commercial cleaning and facilities management, Florisa has built a reputable career in the cleaning industry, demonstrating expertise in both residential and commercial cleaning services. She has been featured on multiple online platforms, showcasing best practices, expert cleaning tips, and sustainable cleaning solutions. Recognized for her commitment to eco-friendly practices, Florisa prioritizes using safe, non-toxic products to protect both clients' spaces and the environment. Florisa has an Associate's degree in Business Administration from Mount Wachusett Community College. This article has been viewed 449,142 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 6 Updated: January 27, 2026 Views: 449,142 Categories: Headphones Article SummaryX
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1 Check to make sure the earphones are connected properly. If you are using wired earphones and you notice one side is silent, the first thing you should do is check to make sure the earphones are connected properly. Disconnect the headphones from the headphone jack and reinsert them. Make sure it snaps all the way in. See if this fixes the problem.[1] 
2 Check the stereo balance. If you are using a smartphone or computer, check the audio settings in the Settings menu. Make sure the stereo balance is not panned to one side or the other. It should be panned directly in the center. If you are using an external audio device, such as an audio receiver, check the balance on the device itself to make sure the stereo balance is panned in the center. Advertisement 
3 Make sure you are not in Mono mode. Mono sound transmits the same sound to all speakers. Stereo sound transmits different sounds to the left and right speakers. While you are checking the audio settings on your device, check to see if the device has the option to switch between stereo and mono sound. Make sure you are in stereo mode, and not mono mode.[2] 
4 Unpair and repair Bluetooth headphones. If you are using wireless Bluetooth headphones, try to unpair the headphones by turning off Bluetooth on your device. Then turn Bluetooth back on and put the headphones in pairing mode. Reconnect your headphones with your device and see if this fixes the problem.[3] 
5 Restart your device. If you are using a computer, smartphone, or tablet, try powering the device off and then back on. This can fix temporary bugs in the software.[4] 
6 Try a different set of headphones. If you experience the same problem with a different set of headphones, then the problem is with the headphone jack, not your headphones. In which case, you can try cleaning the headphone jack. If this doesn't work, you will most likely need to have your device serviced. 
7 Check if the headphones are dirty. Inspect the side that isn't working and check to make sure it doesn't have excess earwax, dust, or dirt. If it's dirty, you can try cleaning it with a small brush, or a vacuum cleaner hose with a narrow nozzle. You can also dip a cotton swap in some lukewarm water or alcohol-based cleaner, and use it to clean the headphones.[5] Be sure to squeeze out the excess liquid before cleaning. Then use a dry cotton swab to thoroughly dry the headphones before use.[6] 
8 Check for water damage. Headphones are often exposed to sweat, rain, and spilled liquids. This can cause water damage to the headphones. If you suspect your headphones have been damaged by liquid, place them in a window seal or in front of a fan to dry out. If possible, remove the covers from the headphones so that the insides can dry out too. Allow about 72 hours for them to fully dry out. Then try again to see if this fixes the problem.[7] 
9 Check the wires for damage. If the wires are tangled, untangle them and straighten them out and see if this fixes the problem. If it does not, connect the headphones and play some audio. Go over the entire section of wires and twist each section while checking for broken or exposed wires. Also, twist and bend the wire at the base where it connects to the headphone jack. IF you hear audio at any point, note which section of the wire you were twisting.[8] 
10 Take your headphones to a technician or get a new pair. If nothing works, they may require a professional technician to repair it. If it's an expensive set of headphones, you may look into having them professionally repaired. If it's an inexpensive set of headphones, you may be better off getting a new set of headphones. Advertisement 
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