(7 Fixes) JLab Earbuds, One Side Not Working [2023]

You wear both of your JLab earbuds.

But to your surprise, only 1 of them works. 

I know how frustrating this issue can be.

Because I’ve also experienced it before. 

But don’t worry. 

I’ll tell you the exact steps I took to solve this problem in minutes. 

Continue reading to find out:

• 7 fixes for JLab earbuds that only work on 1 side. 
• The reasons why 1 side of your JLab earbuds isn’t working.
• How to easily reset your JLab earbuds to fix their connection issues.
• And this is just the beginning… 

JLab Earbuds, one side not working – why?

One side of your JLab earbuds isn’t working because it has no power left. Or because it’s trying to connect with 2 gadgets simultaneously. Sometimes, this problem also happens when one of the earbuds turns OFF due to inactivity. 

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JLab earbuds, one side not working – 7 fixes

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#1: Turn ON your earbuds

Let’s start with the easiest way to fix this problem in seconds.

And that’s to turn ON your JLab earbud that isn’t working manually.

See, your earbuds will automatically turn OFF after 3 minutes of inactivity.

So 1 side of your audio device might not be working because it isn’t ON.

That said, simply wear both of your earbuds.

Then, press and hold the back side or the logo of the earbud that isn’t working for 3 seconds. 

After that, try to play any audio to check if you’ve fixed the problem.

If this solution doesn’t work for you, instead, try to… 

#2: Charge your Bluetooth earbuds 

Each of your JLab earbuds has an independent built-in battery. 

So 1 of them can drain their power faster than the other.

That said, you should try charging the earbud that isn’t working.

And see if a low battery is causing this problem.

But before you do so, I highly recommend you clean your JLab charging case.

That’s because if 1 of your earbuds stored less power than the other…

Debris might be blocking the faulty earbud’s charging port. Thus, preventing it from storing power efficiently. 

Fortunately, it’s very easy to…

Clean your JLab earbuds’ charging case: 

Step 1: Remove your earbuds from their case

This way, you can easily clean the interior part of their casing. 

Step 2: Grab a Q-tip and dip it in isopropyl alcohol

Don’t soak the cotton too much.

And just dab it with enough alcohol.

Warning: Don’t use other liquids to clean your JLab’s case. That’s because other cleaning solutions take more time to evaporate. And they also leave more residue. So they can damage your audio device. 

Step 3: Clean the inside part of your charging case

Using your Q-tip, lightly scrub the upper areas of your JLab casing.

And remove any visible dirt or dust.

Warning: Don’t let your Q-tip hit the connectors. Or the golden dots in the innermost part of the case because they’re sensitive to liquid.

“Then, how can I clean those areas?”

Use a dry Q-tip instead of a wet one to wipe the connectors inside the case gently. 

After doing so… 

Step 4: Clean your earbuds 

Dip a new, clean Q-tip in isopropyl alcohol. 

Then, use it to clean your earbuds.

Note: Avoid hitting the connectors or the tiny dots on each earbud. 

Step 5: Wipe the exterior part of the case

Get a clean piece of cloth.

Then, use it to wipe the outer part of your earbuds’ charging case.

If there’s dirt that’s hard to remove…

Lightly dip the fabric in alcohol and use it to scrub the case’s outer part. 

After following these steps, ensure that both of your earbuds are dry.

Then, place both back in their case so they can start charging.

Now, let your earbuds charge for an hour or so.

And try using them again after and see if the problem persists. 

Recommended reading: JLab Earbuds Not Charging: 7 Ways To Fix It ASAP

#3: Turn OFF other gadgets around you

If you’ve previously paired your earbuds to other gadgets near you… 

Then, you should turn OFF those devices temporarily. 

That’s because, sometimes, JLab earbuds will try to pair to multiple gadgets at once. 

As a result, they won’t work as well as they should.

And several problems might arise, including:

• Your earbuds not pairing at all.
• 1 side of your JLab earbuds not working.

That said, after turning OFF other gadgets, except the 1 paired with your earbuds now… 

Try using your audio device again. And see if both of its sides are already working. 

If this fix doesn’t solve the problem, it’s time to… 

#4: Make your device “forget” your earbuds

There may be a connection problem between your earbuds and the device they’re paired with. 

So now, you should disconnect your gadgets from each other by… 

Making your device forget your JLab earbuds:

iOS

1. Go to your device’s Settings.
2. Select Bluetooth.
3. Find your JLab earbuds’ name.
4. Click the (i) icon beside it.
5. Select Forget This Device at the bottom of your screen.
6. Tap Forget This Device on the new window.

Android

1. Head to your phone’s Settings app.
2. Click Connected devices.
3. Tap Connection preferences.
4. Select Bluetooth.
5. Find your earbuds’ name.
6. Select the settings icon beside it.
7. Tap Forget.

Note: Exact steps may vary depending on your Android device’s brand or model. 

After following the instructions above…

Do the next solution before you pair your earbuds with your mobile device again. 

That’s because forgetting your audio device is also the first step to easily… 

#5: Reset your JLab earbuds 

Like other gadgets, sometimes, JLab earbuds also have connection problems. 

But luckily, fixing their connectivity issues is extremely easy. 

That’s because it only takes 3 minutes to…

Manually reset your JLab earbuds

Go Air/Epic Air models

1. Put both of your earbuds back in their case.
2. Tap 1 of the earbuds 7x.
3. Wait for it to flash blue 3x.
4. Tap the other earbud 7x as well.
5. Wait until it also flashes blue light 3x.
6. Remove both earbuds from their case.
7. 1 of the earbuds should flash white/blue.
8. The other side should display a solid white. 

Air/Jbuds Air models

1. Put your earbuds in their case with the lid open.
2. Tap 1 of the earbuds 4x.
3. Wait for it to flash blue 4x before turning into a solid blue light. 
4. Repeat steps 2-3 to the other earbud.
5. Remove both earbuds from their case.
6. Put them 2 inches away from each other.
7. Wait for 1 of the earbuds to flash white/blue light.
8. The other side will have a solid white color. 

If you need a visual guide to reset your earbuds, I recommend watching this video: 

Note: If you don’t see the light indications in steps 7-8, repeat the process 2-3x. And if all attempts fail, contact JLab themselves. Check the end of the article to find the different ways to reach the company. 

After resetting your audio device, follow the steps below to…

Pair your earbuds with your mobile device again

Android

1. Open your phone’s Settings app.
2. Click Connected Devices.
3. Tap Pair new device.
4. Select your earbuds’ name when you see it.
5. Click Pair. 

Note: Exact steps may vary depending on your Android device.

iOS

1. Go to your phone’s Settings.
2. Tap Bluetooth.
3. Turn Bluetooth ON if it isn’t already.
4. Select your earbuds’ name when it appears on your screen.
5. Follow further instructions. 

Note: If you don’t see your audio device’s name on your screen, return your earbuds to their case. Then, remove them again and wait for 1 side to flash blue/white. After that, try the steps above to pair your devices once more. 

Once you’ve reconnected your earbuds to your gadget… 

Try playing any song or video on your phone. Then, check if both sides of your earbuds are now working. 

Further reading: 5 Steps To Connect JLab Earbuds To iPhone (How-To)

#6: Connect your earbuds to other devices

Your JLab earbuds aren’t always the cause of the problem.

Rather, the gadget you’re pairing with your audio device is the one that has connection issues.

That said, try connecting your JLab earbuds to another device. 

So that you can figure out what your next course of action should be. 

However, before you do this… 

Note: Repeat solution 4 and reset your earbuds again. That’s because your audio device won’t connect to a new gadget if it’s still paired with another one. 

Now, if you’re wondering:

“What device should I connect my earbuds to?”

You can pair your earbuds to any of these devices:

• Tablets.
• Phones.
• Smart TV.
• PC/Laptop.

Or any gadget that can connect with Bluetooth audio devices.

That said, if both of your earbuds work when you pair them to a different gadget…

Then, the previous device connected to your earbuds was causing the problem. 

So, you should try troubleshooting that gadget instead of your audio device. 

However, if 1 of your earbuds still isn’t working even when you pair them to another gadget… 

Then, it’s time to contact JLab’s professionals. Because this means your earbuds are faulty. 

With that, proceed to the last solution, which is to… 

#7: Contact JLab

Your earbuds may have some external damage.

Or some of their internal components may be malfunctioning.

And for these types of issues, only JLab’s professionals can solve the problem.

Fortunately, though, the company has a good customer support system.

So you can contact JLab in several ways for free:

• Email them at support@jlab.com. 
• Proceed to JLab’s support website.
• Call their support team at 1-405-445-7219.

Note: JLab’s customer support is active from 8 AM to 4:30 PM during weekdays, Pacific Time. However, on Friday, they end earlier, at 2 PM. And the company’s support team doesn’t operate during weekends.