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The convenience that AirPods offer is nearly unrivaled due to their light weight and complete elimination of wires, making them one of the best earbud sets to keep on hand for anyone who has to use headphones for extended periods of time.
That being said, even though the AirPods’ portability and absence of cables make them incredibly convenient, it’s important to note that these features can occasionally make it simple to forget that they’re there, as many customers have had unpleasant experiences linked to this.
Today’s post will focus on a particularly upsetting situation that may occur to any owner of AirPods: one of the earbuds disappears without your knowledge, and you are left with no choice but to use the remaining AirPod to charge your device until you can find a more long-term solution.
Owning an iPhone or any other device that supports the new Bluetooth 5 wireless standard will allow you to easily use a pair of AirPods—that is, if you have both of them. If you just have one AirPod, it’s not as simple. Thankfully, if you lose one of your AirPods, there are a few easy ways to reattach them.
Understanding the AirPods Design
With their elegant appearance and practical functions, Apple’s AirPods are a well-liked option for wireless earphones. You can solve any problems you have connecting your AirPods to your devices by being aware of their design.
Clear audio is produced during phone calls and music playback thanks to the small speaker on top and microphone on the bottom of each AirPod. Using just a few simple motions, you can control playback, summon Siri, and more using the touch-sensitive stem of each AirPod.
When you remove the AirPods from their charging case, they immediately activate and establish a connection with your device, which is one of their distinctive features. The AirPods may be charged several times in the charging case, which is simple to refill using a Lightning wire.
Recall that AirPods are meant to be used in pairs, with each AirPod connecting to your iPhone at the same time. Even though you can use just one AirPod, doing so can cause problems with connectivity or sound quality.
Recognizing the Importance of Both AirPods
Understanding the importance of each earbud is crucial while using Apple AirPods. Although using just one AirPod is possible, it is not advised for a number of reasons.
To begin with, AirPods are meant to be used in tandem. They connect to your device and to each other via Bluetooth technology. You’re not getting the complete experience that Apple intended if you simply use one AirPod.
Second, the sound quality may suffer if you only use one AirPod. Each earphone in the AirPods pair is intended to perform a specific function in producing high-quality sound. It can be annoying to discover variations in sound quality when using just one AirPod.
Thirdly, using just one AirPod might have an impact on battery life. Every AirPod has its own battery and is meant to be used in tandem with other AirPods. The battery of an AirPod may not last as long as it would if you utilized both, because using just one puts more load on it.
Although using just one AirPod is feasible, it is not advised. You’ll have the complete Apple intended experience—better sound quality and longer battery life—when you use both AirPods simultaneously.
Locating the Missing AirPod
Although losing an AirPod can be annoying, it’s not always the end of the world. You can find your misplaced AirPod and resume listening to music with a few easy steps.
Checking your iPhone or iPad’s Find My app should be your first step. Even in cases where your AirPods aren’t linked to your device, this app can assist you in finding them. Use the Find My app by doing the following:
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Select the Devices tab.
- Find your AirPods in the list of devices.
- Tap on your AirPods to see their last known location on a map.
If your AirPods are within Bluetooth range of any of your Apple devices, you can also play a sound to help you locate them. Here’s how:
- Open the Find My app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Select the Devices tab.
- Find your AirPods in the list of devices.
- Tap on your AirPods to see their last known location on a map.
- Tap the Play Sound button to play a sound on your AirPods.
So, can you connect AirPods with one of the earbuds missing?
You can connect the remaining AirPod to your phone without any issues, as long as your phone was associated with your AirPods before one of the earbuds disappeared. Your phone will detect the AirPod automatically, just like it typically does.
The possibility of connecting AirPods with one missing will be further examined in the ensuing sections. We will also learn how to hear all incoming sound using just one AirPod, walk through the steps involved in possibly finding a missing AirPod, and ultimately discover if a replacement AirPod can be bought.
Can You Connect AirPods with One Missing?
Although utilizing only one AirPod is not ideal, it’s still significantly better than not being able to listen to anything at all, so connecting just one AirPod can be a lifesaver in the short term.
In this scenario, all you have to do is remove the remaining AirPod from the charging case as normal, which will cause it to immediately connect to your device. If your AirPods are already connected to the device you want to connect the remaining earbud to, then you’re in luck.
However, you will have to start the pairing procedure again if your AirPods are not already linked with the device you want to use the remaining earbud for. Regrettably, this means that both AirPods must be in the charging case.
The easiest solution to temporarily fix the situation in such a case is to borrow the AirPod that matches the missing side. This will enable you to finish the set and start pairing, which will allow the remaining AirPod to establish a connection with your smartphone.
How to Hear the Entirety of the Sound with One AirPod?
Using a single AirPod will inevitably result in a scenario where some sounds are missing because modern technology is designed with stereo sound as the default, meaning that both the left and right earbuds must be present in order for you to be able to hear the whole sound spectrum.
You must convert from stereo audio to mono audio in order to hear the whole sound that your device produces using one AirPod. Doing so will cause your device to broadcast the full audio to both the left and right earphones.
If you have an iPhone, you can rapidly convert to mono audio and use one AirPod to hear everything by following the instructions below:
- Open the Settings application on your iPhone.
- Navigate to the accessibility section.
- Navigate to the Audio/Visual section located under the Hearing category.
- Press the switch next to the Mono Audio label.
- When the switch turns green, it means that mono audio is enabled.
Whether you’re using your AirPods on an Android phone or a Windows laptop, you should be able to locate this functionality on all current operating systems. Of course, the precise method of going from stereo to mono audio will differ depending on the device and operating system you’re using.
How To Connect One Airpod If You Lost One
Download the AirPods app.
Included with your new AirPods is a small and basic tool called the AirPods app. If you haven’t already, you should download it straight away from the App Store, as it is free to use.
Open the app.
After downloading it, launch the application and select Settings > General > Activate Lost Mode. Alternatively, you can get directly to that page in the app by clicking here.
Tap Activate Lost Mode.
After that, the app will prompt you to provide a phone number where others can contact you in the event that your misplaced AirPods are found. This is a smart move because it will enable the person who finds your headphones to get in touch with you immediately. The Finder will contact you at the phone number you submit, so make sure you enter your actual number. If you have an email account that you don’t use for sensitive information, you might also want to think about adding another one.
Enter your phone number and email address, then tap Submit.
After that, you’ll be prompted to choose which AirPod is missing. If yours are mismatched, select the appropriate one, or simply choose the one that isn’t with you at the moment. Then, press yes or no to indicate to the app whether it is still linked to your iPhone.
Double-Check Your Device’s Bluetooth Settings
Verify that your lost AirPod hasn’t malfunctioned in any way. To accomplish this, launch the Settings app on your iPad or iPhone, then select Bluetooth. You can move on to step 2 if the AirPod’s name has a red dot next to it, which indicates that it isn’t connected to anything. However, if the dot is white, it indicates that it is connected with another object. If that doesn’t work, try unplugging it from the device it’s linked to and re-plugging it into your iPad or iPhone. If that still doesn’t work, continue reading for additional advice.
Verify if your iPad or iPhone can connect to the lost AirPod. You might not be able to connect them at this time if you left one of them at home and took the other one with you, linked to your ear. The usual Bluetooth range is approximately 30 feet (9 meters).
Verify that the AirPod firmware on your device is the most recent version by going into the settings. Open the Settings app, then select General > Software Update to accomplish this. Install any available updates after downloading them. By doing this, you can make sure that your AirPods and your iPhone or iPad are interacting as effectively as possible.
Use Siri To Connect Your Single Airpod
You must first confirm that your two AirPods are charged. (The charging case can be used for this.)
Next, launch your iPhone’s Settings app, then select Bluetooth. Verify if Bluetooth is turned on.
If you currently only have one AirPod connected, tap the name of your AirPod in the list of devices that appears on the screen; it should be titled “AirPods.” In place of a name, you might find a Connect button here. If so, hit it to pair your lone AirPod with your iPhone or iPad. In the event that there are no devices shown or if there is only one listed device that isn’t named “AirPods,” try manually connecting them by following the instructions below:
To get further choices for connecting a single AirPod to your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app and tap Bluetooth once more. To uninstall your AirPod from your list of devices, hit the “i” next to its name and select Forget This Device from the pop-up menu.
Return to the Bluetooth screen now, and press Scan for Devices once more. You can now connect your AirPod by tapping it one more time after it appears in the list of discovered devices.
Try exiting and reopening Settings if your AirPod isn’t visible in the list of devices discovered. Next, use step 4 above to try scanning for Bluetooth devices once more.
Using A Password To Connect Your Single Airpod
Verify that your iPhone or another device is linked to your AirPods and that they are both turned on.
Once “Connected” appears on the display, hold down the top of the single AirPod.
Press down until “Pairing” appears, and then press down once more until “Pairing complete” appears.
Once you’re satisfied with the connection, give your AirPods a tiny shake to make sure they’re attached correctly. If you fail to accomplish this, if your single AirPod is not in its typical location—such as in your pocket or bag—it may take a few seconds for the connection to be made.
