The Powerbeats Pro true wireless earphones are amongst the most popular in their class. They are ergonomically designed to have one of the most secure fits, while not sacrificing audio quality.
Despite being well-made, these earphones are not without their faults. Chief among the complaints by users is occasional paring issues. Specifically, that only one Powerbeats Pro earbud is working.
But before you start calling up the engineers over at Beats, let’s take a look at some ways to fix Powerbeats Pro only one earbud working. In this short guide, I’ll be going through the quick fixes for one Powerbeats earbud not working. So, let’s get started.
Fixing Powerbeats Pro – Only One Earbud Working
Here are the most common causes for no sound and quick fixes for getting both the Powerbeats Pro earbuds working again.
1 Forget and Deactivate Bluetooth on Previously Paired Devices
The first time you pair your Powerbeats Pro to any device, you’ll need to “forget” them on any previously paired devices.
It is also a good idea to deactivate the Bluetooth connection on other nearby devices. When a device has already been paired to the Powerbeats Pro, the earbuds will automatically try to connect to that device once it gets within range.
2 Perform a Reset on Your Powerbeats Pro
The reset function helps to fix faults and bugs, like one earbud not working. Here’s how to reset your Powerbeats Pro:
- Place both earbuds in the charging case, but keep the lid of the case open.
- Press and hold the system button on the charging case for at least fifteen seconds. Wait until you see the LED flash red and white.
- When the lights begin to flash, release the system button.
- The lights will continue to flash for the duration of the resetting process.
- Once the lights stop, you know the reset was successful. Then, you can re-pair your earbuds with the source device.
3 Perform a Firmware Update on Your Powerbeats Pro
Firmware and OS updates might seem superfluous. But, they can cause strange issues sometimes. These include one earbud magically ceasing to function.
Powerbeats Pro and iOS Devices
If you are using your Powerbeats with an Apple Source device, then they should automatically update the firmware. That said, there are instances when the auto-updates don’t happen due to connection or network problems.
So, check your firmware version and see if it is up-to-date. If it is not, you will need to update the firmware.
How to update Powerbeats Pro firmware on an iOS device:
- Turn on both devices and pair your Powerbeats Pro to the Apple device.
- Open the settings app, navigate to general, and tap on About.
- Scroll down the list and tap on your Powerboats pro
- The information contained here will include the current firmware version.
- If your version is out of date, just make sure that you have an active internet connection, and the update should happen automatically within about fifteen minutes.
Powerbeats Pro and Android Devices
If you are using your Powerbeats pro with an Android device, then you will need to download the Beats app from the Google Play store. This is the only way you can check and update your current firmware.
If your firmware is out-of-date, then you will need to use the Beats Updater application to manually update the firmware of your Powerbeats.
You will need a computer or laptop for the following steps. It doesn’t matter whether it is a Mac or Windows machine; the steps are the same:
- Start by downloading and installing the Beats Updater app.
- Follow the prompts on the screen.
- Connect your Powerbeats Pro charging case to the laptop/pc via the lightning charging cable.
- The application will read the firmware installed on the device, and you will be prompted to do a manual update if the version is out-of-date.
4 Turn Off Automatic In-ear Detection
Sure, it’s nice to have fancy features on your gadgets. But, they don’t always work as intended. A good example of such a feature is automatic in-ear detection. This feature automatically detects whether the earbuds are in your ears or not and then pauses or plays music accordingly.
Most of the time, it works quite well. But, sometimes, the sensors can get confused. This will cause one earbud to cease functioning when it should.
Here’s how to de-activate this feature on your iOS device:
- Open the Settings app and navigate to Bluetooth; tap to open the settings.
- Tap in the “i” symbol next to your Powerbeats Pro.
- Switch the toggle next to automatic in-ear detection to the off position.
5 Clean the Powerbeats Pro Earbuds and Charging Case
The build-up of microscopic pieces of dust and fibers inside the earbuds, the case, and specifically on the contact points, can cause connection problems. Often, the best way to fix an audio problem with Powerbeats Pro is some good old-fashioned housekeeping.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to perform this cleaning regularly. That said, here’s how to clean your Powerbeats Pro:
- Remove the earbuds from the charging case.
- Use some Cotton Swabs and Lint Free Cloth dipped in 70% Isopropyl Alcohol to clean the charging case, the earbuds, and especially the contact points.
- Wipe down the areas you touch with the alcohol immediately to prevent the buildup of moisture.
- Cleaning every nook and cranny until all the grime has been loosened and removed. Using a Toothbrush is a very cost-effective way of getting this done.
Fix Powerbeats Pro Only One Earbud Working – Other Methods
After reaching out to people in the community, I found a few tips and tricks that worked for some other users. So, if you have had no luck with why only one Powerbeats Pro earbud is working, then these might be worth a try.
Press down on the problem earbud while in the case
A few users said that the strange shape and design of the Powerbeats Pro, the plastic can warp. As a result, the contact points can become disconnected.
If you notice this, try pressing down gently on the earbud that isn’t charging. Make sure that the charging case is connected to the charging cable when you do this.
Drain the battery completely
One user reported that after he had drained the battery on his earbud completely and then recharged it fully, the connection problem was solved.
Wiggle the earbuds around inside the case
To check the battery levels of the charging case and earbuds, simply slide the home screen of your OS device to the right. This should display the battery levels of both left and right earbuds. If you open the lid of the charging case, its battery level will also be displayed on this screen.
You should see a lightning bold symbol on both the earbuds and the charging case when they are charging. If you do not see this, try wiggling the earbuds inside the case a bit to make sure the connection points are making contact.
Once the lightning bolt symbols reappear, close the lid, and the Powerbeats should charge properly.
Remove excess moisture
One user said that they often hit the gym with their Powerbeats Pro. And the build-up of moisture from their sweat caused one earbud to stop functioning. But, after drying it off properly, it started functioning normally again.
Try pairing and disconnecting your Powerbeats Pro with previously paired devices
A few users said that they connected the Powebeats Pro to another device, then disconnected them and placed them back in the case. After that, they were able to reconnect them to the intended device and got them working with no problem.
Try using a different charging source
Some users said that using a different charging source will solve the problem. For example, if you were using a wall outlet, try using a PC USB port or a different wall outlet.
Pair the Powerbeats Pro to a different source device
Some users said that they fixed their Powerbeats Pro by turning off their device’s Bluetooth and then pairing the Powerbeats Pro to someone else’s device for about five minutes.
After five minutes, they reconnected the Powerbeats to the intended source drive, and they were working again.
Have Some Other Powerbeats Questions?
We can help with that. Take a look at our detailed articles on Can’t Reset Powerbeats Pro, Why Does One of My Powerbeats Pro Not Charge, AirPods Pro vs Beats Powerbeats Pro, and Apple AirPods vs Powerbeats Pro for more useful information.
Also, check out our in-depth reviews of the Best True Wireless Earbuds, the Best Sound Quality Earbuds, the Best Bass Earbuds, the Most Comfortable Earbuds, the Best Noise Isolating Earbuds, the Best iPhone Earbuds, and the Best Earbuds for Running you can buy in 2023.
Fix Powerbeats Pro Only One Earbud Working – Final Thoughts
Hopefully, one of these fixes helped you get your Powerbeats Pro earbuds working again. If not, then at least you can take comfort in the fact that you are not alone. Unfortunately, this seems to be a problem with quite a few of their batches.
If your Powerbeats are still under warranty, then you can get them replaced. Otherwise, your best bet is to get a new pair.
Until next time, happy listening.