Match the symptom, then work through the safe checks.
1. What best matches what you observe?
2. Complete only the checks that are safe for you.
Show stop conditions
- An AirPod or the case is swollen, unusually hot, cracked, wet, or smells chemical
- Cleaning would require liquid or a sharp object inside the speaker or charging contacts
- One side remains silent after charging, re-pairing, balance checks, and the official reset
Likely causes
- Audio is still routed to the phone, computer speakers, car, TV, or another Bluetooth device
- One or both AirPods are discharged or not making contact in the charging case
- The pairing state is stale even though the device reports Connected
- Speaker mesh debris or left-right balance settings reduce or remove sound from one side
- The AirPods or connected device require software, firmware, or hardware service
Quick checks, in order
Select AirPods as the active output
Open the device's audio-output or AirPlay menu, choose the AirPods explicitly, and confirm the media volume is raised.
Check charge for both AirPods
Place both earbuds in the charged case for 30 seconds, open it near the device, and verify that each AirPod reports a charge level.
Test each AirPod separately
Keep the other AirPod in the case and play audio to identify whether the failure affects one side or the complete pair.
Re-pair before resetting
Close the lid for 15 seconds, reopen it, reconnect, and use Apple's model-specific reset procedure only if normal pairing still fails.
Which AirPods audio symptom matches?
Select them in the audio-output menu and check whether another paired device has taken the media stream.
Verify individual charge, test that side alone, inspect the speaker mesh, and confirm the accessibility balance is centered.
The device may be using a call profile while media is routed elsewhere; reselect AirPods as the media output.
Update the connected Apple device, re-pair the AirPods, then follow Apple's model-specific reset flow.
Stop and get qualified help when
- An AirPod or the case is swollen, unusually hot, cracked, wet, or smells chemical
- Cleaning would require liquid or a sharp object inside the speaker or charging contacts
- One side remains silent after charging, re-pairing, balance checks, and the official reset
Official support and model manuals
Use the full model number from the rating label. The manufacturer manual is the deciding reference when codes differ by region or product family.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my AirPods connected but not playing sound?
The most common first check is audio routing: select AirPods in the output menu and ensure the device volume is up. Charge, pairing, and one-sided hardware issues come next.
Why does only one AirPod have sound?
Apple recommends confirming both earbuds charge, testing the silent AirPod by itself, inspecting the speaker mesh, and checking that left-right balance is centered.
Do I need to reset AirPods immediately?
No. First select the correct output, check volume and charge, test each side, and re-pair. Reset only with Apple's instructions if those checks fail.