JBL Tune 225TWS are great earbuds. They are easy to use, provide a stable fit, offer up to 5 hours on a single charge (+ 20h via the charging case), and have a nice bassy sound signature. Unfortunately, none of these great features matter when one of your JBL Tune 225TWS earbuds is not working. If you are dealing with this issue, you’ve come to the right place.
One of your JBL Tune 225TWS earbuds might be dead, and that’s something you should be prepared for, especially if they are not new, but there are so many other things that could cause one of your earbuds to stop working. In this article, I will guide you through the troubleshooting process, and try to help you fix the malfunctioning JBL Tune 225TWS earbud. Let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
- Whenever one of your earbuds is not working, whether a JBL earbud or some other brand, the first three troubleshooting steps are: restart the connection (unpair the earbuds from your phone and pair them again), resync the earbuds, and reset your earbuds. If the issue is minor, one of these fixes should bring the faulty earbud back to life.
- Your earbud might be discharged or may have problems charging. Check the charging contacts on the earbud and on the case. If they are dirty, clean them. You may also want to try putting a drop of WD40 on the contacts.
- If one earbud is quieter than the other, the speaker driver inside the earbud might be clogged with earwax and dirt – you should clean it.
- While the latest Bluetooth earbud models have longer range than older models, it’s still recommended to keep them within a 10-meter range.
- iPhones and some Android devices have the Audio Balance feature that allows you to shift the balance to the left or right. If the toggle is moved all the way to one side, the audio won’t come out of one of your earbuds, making you think the earbud is not working.
- Finally, if none of the fixes work, the chances are there is something wrong with the earbud – your earbud might be dead. The best solution in this case, especially if the earbuds are under warranty, is to contact JBL’s customer support and ask for a replacement.
Recommended Reading :
Ways to Fix JBL Tune 225TWS One Side Not Working
I always start with the most basic and least invasive solutions – it’s proven to be the smartest way of dealing with earbud issues. Regardless of how basic they may be, these simple actions can fix so many issues.
Restart the Connection – Unpair and Re-Pair Your JBL Tune 225TWS
This one is super simple and could fix minor earbud firmware glitches or your phone’s OS glitches.
First, you need to forget the earbuds from your phone’s pairing list.
The first step to restart the connection between your phone and the earbuds is forgetting/removing the earbuds from the list of paired devices.
After forgetting the earbuds from your phone’s list of saved devices, you need to repeat the pairing process. Put the earbuds back in the case, take them out, and wait for the right earbud to start blinking blue and white. The left one (if turned on) will blink blue slowly. This means the earbuds are in pairing mode.
The left earbud doesn’t have to be turned on or taken out of the case for the earbuds to go into pairing mode because it’s the slave earbud. So, you can just pair the right one with your phone. When you take out the left earbud, it will pair with the right one.
The right earbud blinking blue and white indicates the earbud is in pairing mode.
If the earbuds don’t go to pairing mode automatically, you can put them in pairing mode manually. Turn off both earbuds by pressing and holding the control buttons on each bud until the LEDs blink white twice (this should take approx. 5 seconds).
To manually put JBL Tune 225TWS in pairing mode, turn the earbuds off and then press and hold the button on the RIGHT earbud for 5 seconds.
Now, you can press and hold the button on the right earbud (which is the main/master earbud) for 5 seconds. This will turn the earbud on and put it in pairing mode. The LED will flash blue and white.
When you turn on Bluetooth on your phone or refresh the list of available Bluetooth devices, your JBL Tune 225TWS will appear on the list under Other Devices (iPhone) or Available Devices (Android). Just tap on the name of your earbuds, and they will be paired in seconds.
Tap on the name of your JBL earbuds, and you will be paired in seconds.
Pairing JBL Tune 225TWS with an Android Device (Automatic and Manual Pairing)
Pairing JBL Tune 225TWS with an iPhone
Resync Your JBL Tune 225TWS Earbuds
Most JBL earbuds have the master and slave earbuds. This also applies to JBL Tune 225TWS. The right one is the main earbud, while the left one is the slave earbud. Only the main earbud (RIGHT) pairs with your phone. The slave earbud (LEFT) only pairs with the right one, not with your phone.
If the left JBL Tune 225TWS earbud is not working, it might be because it’s not syncing with the right one. You could try syncing them together manually. This can be done easily by pressing the buttons on both earbuds 3 times (quickly) while the earbuds are turned on.
Pressing the buttons on each earbud 3 times quickly while the earbuds are turned on will resync them (reconnect left and right earbud).
How to Resync Left and Right JBL Tune 225TWS Earbuds
Reset Your JBL Tune 225TWS
The next step, if resyncing doesn’t help, is resetting your JBL Tune 225TWS. This is another simple procedure that could fix various firmware bugs.
Here’s how to do it:
Place both buds into the charging case. The instructions on JBL’s website suggest that the charging case should be connected to the power source (it should be charging), but I believe the case just needs to have enough charge.
While the earbuds are inside the case and the lid is open, press the button on the right bud for about 5 seconds. The LED should turn off and back on (and it should be blinking blue shortly).
Resetting JBL Tune 225TWS to Factory Default Settings
Earbud Battery is Discharged – Charge It
If one of your JBL Tune 225TWS earbuds won’t even turn on, your earbud’s battery is either empty or dead. You should try charging it for an hour or two and see what happens.
If the earbud battery is discharged, you won’t be able to turn the earbud on – put it back in the case and give it some time to charge.
Charging JBL Tune 225TWS Explained
JBL Tune 225TWS Left/Right Earbud Won’t Charge – Clean the Charging Contacts
If the charging indicator on earbuds does not glow white when you put the earbud back in the case for charging, it could mean three things – the earbud is fully charged, the earbud won’t charge, or the earbud battery is dead.
Since the earbud is not working and won’t turn on, it means the earbud is either dead or there’s a problem with charging. One of the most common culprits of charging issues is dirty or corroded charging contacts.
So, you have to try and clean those charging contacts, both on the earbuds and inside the charging case.
Use a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol to clean the contacts on the earbuds. If they are corroded, try using a toothbrush.
The charging contacts inside the case are at the bottom of the earbud slots, so reaching them can be tricky, especially if you need to remove corrosion from the contacts. I have even seen people using sandpaper to remove corrosion. I suggest doing this only if nothing else works – sandpaper simply seems too aggressive.
How to Clean True Wireless Earbuds
While this is not recommended practice, I’ve seen people using WD40 to lubricate charging contacts. Apparently, this trick works.
You shouldn’t spray your earbuds or the charging case with WD40 – just take a drop of WD40 with a paperclip, put it on the charging contacts, and wait for it to dry off.
Although it seems silly, using WD40 to lubricate charging contacts could fix some charging issues.
One Earbud is Quieter Than the Other – The Drivers Might Be Clogged with Earwax
If you hear music on both earbuds, but one is noticeably quieter than the other, you might be dealing with clogged drivers. If you don’t clean your earbuds regularly, the earwax and gunk will build up and clog those grilles protecting the drivers. It might even penetrate those tiny holes in the grille and block the drivers.
Cleaning the grilles could fix audio imbalance issues.
In this case, you need to clean the grille. It might even be possible to remove the grille and clean the drivers themselves, although I wouldn’t recommend that for two reasons. First, putting the grille back on can be very difficult. Second, earbud drivers are sensitive, and you could damage them while trying to clean them.
Check the Audio Balance on Your Phone
If cleaning the grilles doesn’t fix the audio imbalance, you could also check the audio balance feature on your phone.
The latest iPhones and Android phones have features that allow you to adjust audio balance. It’s very hard to cause audio imbalance by mistake since you really have to look for these settings, but it doesn’t hurt to check them and make sure the balance is right.
On iPhones, the balance toggle is found under Audio/Visual settings. You can slide the toggle to the left or right to adjust the balance.
On iPhone, go to Settings – Accessibility – Audio-Visual – Balance and make sure the slider is in the middle.
On Android phones, the Audio Balance feature is found under the Hearing Enhancements option, within the Accessibility settings.
On Android devices, go to Settings – Accessibility – Hearing Enhancements – Connected Audio and make sure the slider is in the middle.
Audio Balance on Android Devices
You Might Be Out of Range – Move Closer to Your Phone
You are certainly aware of the limited range of your earbuds. Every Bluetooth device has a certain range. The latest earbuds featuring Bluetooth 5.0 (like JLB Tune 225TWS) have a significantly longer range than older Bluetooth devices, but that still doesn’t mean you can move wherever you want.
You should try to stay close to your phone while using the earbuds and see if that helps.
While JBL Tune 225TWS earbuds have a longer range than older Bluetooth earbuds, I recommend staying within the traditional 33ft range. Ideally, you will keep your phone close to your earbuds all the time.
The Earbud Might Be Dead or Damaged
If you have reached this final chapter without fixing your faulty JBL Tune 225TWS earbud, the chances are your earbud battery is dead or some other part of the earbud is damaged (either the earbud’s PCB or driver).
Your further course of action depends on whether your earbuds are under warranty or not. If they are, I would suggest contacting JBL’s customer support and asking for help. You should get a replacement if they don’t fix your problem.
If they are not under warranty, you could try opening the earbuds, finding replacement parts on eBay, and replacing them. However, these earbuds are very difficult to put back together, so it’s easier to buy a new pair.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: Why can I only hear from one side of my JBL earbuds?
- Answer: It could be because one of your earbud drivers is clogged with earwax and gunk. Try cleaning the grilles that protect the drivers. You could even try removing the grilles and cleaning the drivers, but I don’t recommend this since putting the grille back on can be difficult.
- Furthermore, if the audio balance on your phone is moved all the way to one side, the audio will only come out of one side.
- Question: How do I reset my JBL Tune 225TWS?
- Answer: To reset your JBL Tune 225TWS, put both earbuds in the charging case and make sure the earbuds are charging. Now, press the button on the right earbud for about 5 seconds. The earbud will turn off and back on, indicating it’s been reset.
- Question: How do I reset my left JBL Tune 225TWS earbuds?
- Answer: You can’t reset only your left JBL Tune 225TWS earbud. You can either reset them both or sync both earbuds together.
- Question: How do I get my JBL Tune 2225TWS earbuds out of mono mode?
- Answer: If only one of your earbuds is playing, you have to resync two earbuds together. In the case of JBL Tune 225TWS, you have to press the control buttons on both earbuds three times while the earbuds are turned on.
- If it doesn’t work, try pressing the button on the left earbud first (press it three times while the earbud is turned on), and then do the same with the right bud. Both earbuds should flash blue and white for a few seconds. Then, the left one will flash blue slowly, and the right one will keep flashing blue and white.
- Question: Why is my left JBL earbud quiet?
- Answer: Your left JBL earbud is quiet because of one of these reasons – the earbud driver is clogged with earwax/gunk, the audio balance on your phone is not right, or the earbud driver is damaged.
- Question: How do I turn off my JBL 225TWS earbuds?
- Answer: While the earbud is turned on, press the control button for about 5 seconds, and it will turn off.
Conclusion
While JBL Tune 225TWS earbuds offer great sound and are super-easy to use, they are not without flaws. One side not working is one of the most common issues users experience with JBL Tune 225TWS.
In this post, I have tried to cover all the potential culprits and offer you all the possible fixes. Hopefully, one of the troubleshooting tips will help you fix your faulty JBL Tune 225TWS earbud.
