

Once you’ve done this, check if you can hear from both headphone speakers. This could be especially helpful if your audio issue occurred after a software update, since certain components are removed or replaced during this process.

Restarting your device shuts down all running programs and deletes all caches, effectively refreshing your device. Doing so doesn’t actually kill any processes but instead places them in hibernation mode. Shutting down isn’t enough if you want to reboot a sluggish device. However, if the functioning headset also starts playing only in one ear, you may need to remedy them using one of the solutions in the following sections. In this case, just follow the tips below for fixing wired and Bluetooth headphones.

If they’re working as they should, you’ll know that the problem truly lies with your headphones. The quickest way to find out what’s causing your audio issues is by getting a pair of perfectly working headphones or earbuds and connecting them to your device. Here are some methods that’ll help you figure out if your phone, laptop, or PC is at the root of your audio issues: So, before discarding your headphones or attempting to repair them yourself, try determining the actual source of the issue first.

Most of the time, however, incorrect audio settings or a temporary (and easily fixable) device malfunction are at the root of these problems. As such, it’s only natural to start considering getting them replaced. When audio problems crop up, such as static noises or hearing sound in only one ear, it’s easy to assume your headphones are broken. Headphones Only Work in One Ear: Ruling Out Phone or PC Issues
