The first time I started using earbuds and stopped using wired earphones was among the best decisions I ever made. I had finally freed myself from detangling earphone wires in the struggle to listen to music.
Although the experience was intriguing, I was new to earbuds and needed to understand how they work. Pairing them was a challenging task, but I eventually did it.
One thing that bothered me was how I was supposed to charge the buds and the case they came in. Should I charge the case first, then the earbuds, or should I simultaneously charge the buds and the case?
After years of experience with earbuds, I finally have the answers to all these questions.
Therefore, I wrote this article to help anyone who faces the same predicament I faced. Read on to understand how the buds are supposed to be charged and, most significantly, if you can charge the case separately from the earbuds.
Key Takeaways
- Place the earbuds in the case to recharge them.
- Ensure the LEDs on the buds are lit up to show that the buds are recharging.
- Always ensure the charging case is adequately charged before using it to recharge the earbuds.
- You can charge the earbuds and the case simultaneously or the case without the earbuds.
- Unfortunately, there is no way to charge the buds without the case.
- Just place the buds in the case and connect the case to a power source.
- The LEDs on the case and the earbuds usually communicate how much battery is left in the buds and the case.
- Most earbud charging case LEDs will light up when you open the case.
- Some cases require you to press a button on the case to know how much battery is left.
- Whenever the case is low on battery, the LED will start blinking red, or only one LED will flash with multiple LEDs.
- Leaving the buds in the case for long will not ruin the battery on the earbuds; instead, the buds will stop charging once they are full.
- Charging cases can be charged using a USB cable or wirelessly using charging pads if they support the feature.
How to Charge AirPods
How to Charge the Earbuds?
Knowing how to charge the earbuds is one of the most essential practices if you own a pair.
That is because the buds will not work once the battery runs out.
Hence the steps below describe how to recharge the earbuds and all the precautions you should take.
- Ensure the charging case has sufficient power before using it to charge the earbuds.
- If the case needs recharging, you can check the next section on recharging.
- Place both earbuds in the case and ensure each bud is in its respective slot. The right earbuds should be in the right slot, and the left bud should be in the left slot.
Put each bud in its respective slot
- If you interchange the buds, the charging contacts on the buds and the charging pins in the case will not align, and the buds will not charge.
- Once the buds are in the case, you should see their LEDs light up solid red to show that they are charging.
On most earbud models, the LEDs on the earbuds will light up red when the earbuds are charging
- You can close the case, and the buds will continue charging.
- Most earbud models will turn the LED green or off once the buds are fully charged.
How to Charge the Earbuds Charging Case?
Earbud charging cases can be charged using a USB cable that connects to a USB port on your laptop or a compatible power plug.
You can even connect the USB cable to a power bank. However, connecting to any USB port apart from using a power plug will likely reduce the case’s charging speed.
The other end of the cable connects to the case’s charging port, and you will see the LED on the case light up to show that the case is charging.
The LED on the case (on most models) will light up red, indicating the case is charging
Alternatively, some earbuds charging cases support wireless charging. You can tell if your model is one of them by reading its specifications sheet or the user manual.
If the case supports wireless charging, get a charging pad and connect it to a power outlet.
Best Wireless Charging Pads for Earbuds
Anker 315
TOZO W1
Then place the case on the charging pad with the back touching the pad’s charging point. Most cases have a label that shows where their wireless charging points are, so it does not necessarily have to be on the back.
Once the case is correctly placed on the buds and charging begins, you will see the LEDs on the case light up.
Always check the power input values written on the label on the case so that you can get a charger that outputs the same amount of power. This will ensure your case charges at the correct rate and lasts longer.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro – Wireless and Wired Charging
Can You Charge the Buds Without Their Case?
Unfortunately, you cannot charge the earbuds without placing them in their case.
The buds have tiny charging contacts that can only be accessed by the charging pins.
Wireless earbuds have charging contacts that can only be accessed by the case’s charging pins. They don’t have charging ports that would allow you to charge them without the case.
Additionally, the buds are too small to accommodate standard charging ports, but hopefully, that will change in the future.
The charging cases of the earbuds are also programmed to supply the buds with enough power and not too much that can fry the bud’s circuitry.
That is why using the correct charging case for each earbud model is also essential.
Charging AirPods Pro 2 with a Fake Case
Can You Charge the Case Without the Earbuds?
Yes, you can charge the charging case even if the earbuds are not inside.
The case acts as a power bank that stores power for the buds so that you do not have to be connected to a power outlet all the time.
Thanks to charging cases, you can also significantly increase the earbuds listening time since you can leave the case charging as you use the buds.
You can even charge the buds and the case simultaneously, and the buds will work as they should.
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How Do You Tell When the Earbuds Are Fully Charged?
Most earbuds take approximately one hour to charge fully. You will notice that the buds’ LEDs light up when correctly placed in the case to show they are charging.
Once the earbuds are fully charged, the LEDs will either go off or turn a different color (usually green)
Most earbuds have a companion app that can also tell you the earbud’s battery level once the buds are connected to your phone.
If your earbuds have a companion app, you can use it to check the battery status
Alternatively, you can tell the battery percentage by connecting the buds to a source device. Then go to the Bluetooth settings and check the connected devices, and you will see the battery percentage of the buds.
How Do You Tell When the Case Is Fully Charged?
Most charging cases take two to four hours to charge fully, and the LEDs will go off (or solid green) once the buds are fully charged.
Charging – RED Light, Charged – GREEN Light
It is difficult to tell the exact battery percentage of the charging case, but you can get an estimate by observing the LED behavior.
Some cases have four or five LEDs, each representing twenty percent or twenty-five percent of the battery.
Some charging cases have 3, 4, or 5 LEDs, each indicating 33%, 25%, or 20% charge
So, if the case has four LEDs and three are on or flashing, the case is at approximately seventy-five percent charge.
Other cases have a single LED that is color coded, and each color represents a certain percentage range.
Some earbuds, like Jabra, have charging cases with only one LED light. Different LED colors indicate different battery percentages.
On the other hand, others have one LED that tells the case’s battery percentage through the rate and number of blinks.
For instance, if the LED flashes twice, the battery is between fifty and seventy-five percent.
The correct way to tell the case’s battery percentage is to read the user manual and understand how to interpret the LEDs.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How do you turn on earbuds without a case?
- Answer: It depends on the model and manufacturer of the earbud. Some models require the user to hold the touchpad for a specific duration in seconds.
- Other earbuds have a button that you press for a certain period, and they will power on. Read the user manual to know how to power your buds manually.
- Question: Can you charge the case without the earbuds?
- Answer: Yes, you can charge the case without the earbuds. The case has a battery that will store the power that will be used to recharge the earbuds at a later time.
- Question: Is it OK to keep earbuds in a charging case all the time?
- Answer: There is no problem with keeping the buds in the case when you are not using them. The manufacturer already considered the issues that might arise and took measures to mitigate them before they occurred.
- However, ensure the case is charged so that it can recharge the buds whenever they are in the case. This will give you more listening time and stop the earbud batteries from completely being drained.
- Question: What if I lost my earbuds charging case?
- Answer: If you lose the earbuds charging case, you cannot charge the buds. The only option is to get a replacement case compatible with your earbuds.
- Most manufacturers sell replacement cases, and you can get a replica of the one you lost.
Conclusion
Charging your earbuds is one of the easiest tasks you can undertake. It requires you to carefully place the buds in the case and ensure they indicate they are charging.
After an hour or two, the buds will be fully charged, and you can continue using them.
You can also charge the case with or without the buds. Always read the earbuds user manual before using them so you can fully grasp how to utilize the buds.
If you encounter challenges, contact the manufacturer’s customer service, and you will be provided with further assistance.
