Why Is One AirPod Not Charging? Common Causes and Quick Fixes
Single-sided AirPod charging failures affect thousands of users daily, creating frustration during commutes, workouts, and calls. When one earbud displays low battery while its partner shows full charge, the culprit is rarely permanent damage. Most cases stem from accumulated debris on charging contacts, battery calibration errors, depleted charging cases, or temporary firmware glitches. Simple maintenance and reset procedures resolve the majority of these issues within minutes, restoring full functionality to both earbuds without expensive repairs or replacements.
Common Causes Behind AirPods Not Charging on One Side
Before you start panicking and thinking your AirPod is damaged, you should know that most charge issues have a straightforward solution. The culprit is most likely lurking somewhere in one of four categories: physical blockages, battery misunderstandings, power sources, or software glitches.
Dirty or Blocked Charging Contacts
Those tiny metal contacts on your AirPods stems? They're magnets for trouble. Every time you pop your earbuds in and out of your ears, they collect:
Earwax and skin oils
Pocket lint and dust particles
Lotion and skincare product residue
Environmental debris from your bag or desk
Even a microscopic layer of gunk creates an insulating barrier that blocks electricity from flowing properly. One dirty contact equals one dead AirPod, making this the most common reason for AirPods not charging properly.
Battery Calibration Errors
AirPods rely on sophisticated battery management chips to track charge levels. Sometimes these chips get "confused" about how much juice is actually left. This happens when you constantly top off your AirPods without letting them fully drain, or after iOS updates that tweak power management. The battery might be fine; your AirPod just forgot how to read it correctly.
Depleted Charging Case Battery
Your charging case (the small pod that stores your AirPods) acts like a portable power station. If it's dead, your AirPods can't charge no matter how clean the contacts are. The case itself needs at least 20-30% battery to effectively transfer power to your earbuds. This often creates confusion when troubleshooting AirPods one side not working.
Firmware and Software Conflicts
Temporary firmware bugs occasionally prevent one AirPod from "talking" properly to the charging case. The earbud might physically sit in the case but never trigger the charging sequence because of a software miscommunication.
How to Fix AirPods Not Charging Issues
Most charging problems disappear with basic maintenance. Start here before considering hardware repairs.
Clean Both AirPods and Charging Case Thoroughly
Grab a lint-free microfiber cloth and 70% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol from any drugstore). Here's your cleaning routine:
Dampen the cloth slightly with alcohol
Gently wipe the metal stem tips on each AirPod
Use a dry cotton swab for the charging wells inside the case
Let everything air dry for 2-3 minutes
Never use sharp objects like toothpicks or needles. They can scratch the delicate contacts and make problems worse.
Check Your Charging Case Power Level
Connect your case to a Lightning or USB-C cable. Watch the LED light:
Orange light: Case is charging
Green light: Case is fully charged
No light: Check your cable and power adapter
If you have an iPhone nearby, open the case lid next to your phone. A pop-up shows battery percentages for both AirPods and the case.
For troubleshooting on the go: When you're commuting, traveling, or spending long hours away from wall outlets, a depleted charging case creates false alarms that waste your diagnostic time. You might think your AirPod has a hardware problem when your case simply lacks enough juice to complete the charging cycle. Keep a portable power bank handy to maintain consistent power during troubleshooting. The EcoFlow RAPID Mag (10,000mAh with built-in USB-C cable) provides reliable backup power with 25W fast charging, ensuring your case stays charged throughout the entire diagnosis process whether you're at the airport, office, or on a road trip.
Perform a Complete Battery Calibration Cycle
Drain both AirPods completely by using them until they die. Place them in the case and charge uninterrupted to 100%. This full cycle recalibrates the battery sensor and often fixes false "not charging" readings. This AirPods troubleshooting step resolves many battery percentage discrepancies.
Reset Your AirPods to Factory Settings
When nothing else works, an AirPods reset clears all software issues:
Put both AirPods in the case and close the lid
Wait 30 seconds, then open the lid
On your iPhone: Settings > Bluetooth > tap the information icon (a circle with an 'i') next to your AirPods > "Forget This Device"
Hold the setup button (the small circular button on the case back) for 15 seconds
Watch the LED flash amber, then white
Re-pair your AirPods as if they're brand new
This reset (also called a factory reset) clears all pairing data and software settings, giving you a fresh start. If you use your AirPods with multiple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac), forget them from all devices before resetting, then re-pair systematically starting with your primary device. This prevents old pairing conflicts from causing recurring charging issues.
Update Your AirPods Firmware
AirPods receive automatic firmware updates that often include charging and battery management improvements. To encourage an update:
Ensure your iPhone runs the latest iOS version
Connect your AirPods to your iPhone
Place them in the charging case connected to power
Leave the case lid open near your iPhone for 30 minutes
Check your current firmware version in Settings > Bluetooth > tap the information icon (a circle with an 'i') next to your AirPods. Compare this against the latest version on Apple's support website. Outdated firmware can cause charging bugs that newer versions fix.
Signs Your AirPods Have Hardware Damage
If you've cleaned, reset, and calibrated multiple times with zero improvement, hardware failure becomes likely.
Visible Physical Damage or Corrosion
Inspect your AirPods and case under bright light. Look for:
Bent or corroded charging contacts
Green oxidation on metal surfaces
Cracks in the case or AirPod housing
Visible water damage (check for pink/red indicators if accessible)
Drops, water exposure, and extreme temperatures can permanently damage charging circuits. These require professional repair or replacement.
Rapid or Uneven Battery Degradation
AirPods batteries typically last two to three years before capacity drops noticeably. After 500+ charge cycles, one side often degrades faster than the other. If your AirPods are several years old and one consistently holds less charge, natural battery aging is probably the issue. Unfortunately, Apple doesn't offer battery replacement, only full unit replacement.
Get Your AirPods Charging Again
Begin by deeply cleaning your contacts, check that your case has active power, and perform a complete reset. In most cases, these three actions will resolve issues with not charging your AirPods in a matter of minutes. If not, it could be due to a physical problem or the battery having reached the end of its lifespan. Apple Support can provide free diagnosis if your AirPods are still under guarantee. Take action now and restore full stereo sound to your daily routine.
FAQs
Q1. My AirPods Show Different Battery Percentages After Charging Overnight. Is This Normal?
Smaller differences in percentages (5-10%) between AirPods are considered normal due to minute differences in battery cells and usage habits. Nevertheless, if your AirPod has been registering 30%+ less battery life than your other AirPod after an identical amount of charging time, there might be an issue with your battery cell or your charging point being dirty. Cleaning the charging point and completing a calibration period can resolve this issue.
Q2. Can I Charge My AirPods Case With a Fast Charger or Will It Damage the Battery?
Yes, it is safe to use fast chargers, which support a charge of up to 20W, on a case with a Lightning plug. An AirPods charging case will not consume anything beyond what it requires, which is approximately 5W. A higher-wattage adapter will not push a higher charge into a case. A poor-quality adapter, which may lack adequate voltage regulation, may cause problems. But it is recommended to use a genuine adapter from Apple or a trusted third party.
Q3. After Resetting My AirPods the Charging Problem Came Back Within Days. What's Wrong?
If the problem is still there within weeks of resetting your AirPods, then you are probably facing the situation of either persistent clogging of your earbuds that was left uncleaned or the hardware deterioration of your earbuds. Your earbuds are temporarily corrected for software glitches and will exhibit hardware glitches once again. In this case, you will have to perform tougher cleaning using 90% isopropyl alcohol and an anti-static brush on your earbuds.
Q4. One AirPod Gets Hot While Charging But the Other Stays Cool. Should I Be Worried?
A slight warmth during charging is normal, but if one of the AirPods heats up while the other is normal in temperature, this could be a sign of a problematic device. This could be due to high resistance in the charging circuit, which could be a sign of corrosion or a short circuit or a faulty battery. This needs to be checked by Apple right away if this occurs.