I have had my Realme Buds Air 2 for months now, and they’ve been serving me well. Their noise cancellation and battery life were the key factors that led me to purchase them, and my expectations were met.
Unfortunately, the bliss was short-lived when the left earbud randomly stopped working. It indicated that the battery was at zero percent. The earbud would not recharge regardless of what I tried.
A quick online search revealed that many Realme Air 2 users were experiencing the same issue with their left or right earbud. There was no definite solution, but the suggestions I found helped, and my earbuds started working again.
Below are the solutions I tried. Hopefully, they will help you fix your earbuds.
Key Takeaways
- One of your Realme earbuds might stop working for a variety of reasons.
- The issue could be that the defective earbud is discharged and has no power to function normally.
- The earbuds’ charging contacts could also be dirty or damaged. They might be preventing the earbud from charging and operating as intended.
- A firmware misconfiguration can also cause one of the earbuds to stop working. The misconfiguration can be solved by powering the buds off and then on, factory resetting, and ensuring the buds have the latest firmware.
- Letting the power drain on both buds and then recharging them can also get the defective one working.
- If the buds do not work after troubleshooting, contact customer support. They will offer more solutions or describe how you can replace your earbuds.
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Why Is One Side of My Realme Buds Air 2 Not Working?
It’s impossible to single out one reason causing one of your Realme earbuds to stop working. This makes solving this issue a little complicated.
The reasons include defective battery, dirty/corroded charging contacts, or a damaged earbud.
You can find the source of the problem by troubleshooting different problems until the bud starts working. If it does not work, you might have a damaged earbud that needs to be repaired or replaced.
Below are the solutions you should try before declaring the defective earbud irredeemable.
What Can I Do?
You can get your Realme Bud Air 2 working by following the steps below:
Power the Earbuds OFF and Then ON Again
The main reason why one earbud is not working is because it wasn’t powered on properly. The defective earbud might have also encountered a problem when powering up, making it seem like it’s not working.
So, the first thing you should try is to ensure the buds are properly returned to the case. Then, close the case and leave it that way for ten to fifteen seconds.
Then, open the charging case and press the multifunction button on the case for three seconds to get the buds in pairing mode.
Put the earbuds back in the case. Close the lid and wait for 15 seconds. Open the lid and press the MULTIFUNCTION button on the case for 3 seconds to put the earbuds in pairing mode.
The buds will automatically connect to any device they were connected to, or you can connect them to any device via its Bluetooth settings.
Try more solutions below if you notice the defective earbud is still not working.
Turn Bluetooth OFF Then ON
The next thing you should do is turn your device’s Bluetooth off and then on. That will allow the earbuds to reconnect to your device and hopefully rectify any misconfigurations that might have happened during the initial connection.
Try disabling Bluetooth OFF, then back ON.
The steps to switch off Bluetooth vary depending on the device. Bluetooth settings are usually found under the connectivity settings.
Disable Bluetooth on your device, power off the earbuds, and wait for ten seconds. Next, enable Bluetooth on your device, then power on the earbuds by opening the case. Take the earbuds out and reconnect them to your device.
Clean the Earbuds and the Case
One earbud can stop working because it’s not adequately charged. You can easily tell if this is the case by placing both buds in the case separately. Place one earbud in the case and observe the LED on the case. Then, take out the earbud and put the other one inside. Again, observe the case’s LED.
The LED should light whenever any bud is placed in the case. If it does not, it means the earbud is not establishing a proper connection with the charging contacts in the case.
You can resolve this issue by ensuring there is no debris in the case and on the charging contacts on the earbud.
Use a microfiber cloth to wipe the buds and the charging case, giving special attention to the charging contacts. Also, remember to remove any dirt stuck on any of the holes on the earbud using a toothpick. Be gentle! You risk damaging the earbuds if the toothpick goes too deep.
Alternatively, you can use a soft-bristled brush to wipe away dirt and dust.
Use a microfiber cloth and isopropyl alcohol to clean the earbuds. Pay special attention to the charging contacts on the earbuds and inside the charging case. You can also use a brush or sandpaper to clean corroded contacts and persistent stains. But be gentle!
Once the buds and the case are clean, return each bud to the case individually and check whether the LED turns on when you put each earbud inside.
If it does, the issue was the accumulated dirt on the charging contacts. Let both buds charge to a hundred percent, and they should both be working properly.
How to Remove Dirt and Corrosion from the Earbuds’ Charging Contacts
Check the Defective Earbud
If the earbud is still not working, observe it for damage or corrosion. This will help you determine whether you should continue troubleshooting or contact Realme and ask for a replacement.
If you notice the current earbud has missing pieces, like a missing charging contact, your best option is to contact Realme customer support.
Also, ensure the charging case is in good condition, especially the compartment that houses the defective earbud.
If these parts are damaged, contact Realme’s customer support and they will guide you through the procedure of getting a replacement.
Charge the Earbuds and the Case
The most common culprit when one of the buds is not working is the battery. One of the common reasons why the battery is misbehaving is extreme discharge. The battery simply doesn’t have enough power to conduct basic operations.
You can solve this issue by placing both earbuds in the case and connecting the case to a charging source. Preferably, you will use a charging adapter and a power outlet.
Leave the buds charging for up to five hours before checking whether the earbud now works.
You can even leave the buds charging overnight and check them in the morning. Alternatively, you can leave only the defective bud charging in the case while the other one is outside.
Leave the earbuds (or just the faulty earbud) charging overnight, and check them in the morning.
When recharging the case, ensure you use the USB cable that came with the buds or a high-quality third-party cable.
If possible, use the original charging cable that came with the earbuds to charge them and the case.
You can use the Realme Link app (Android/iOS) to tell the battery percentage of each earbud and the case as long as the buds are connected to your device.
Factory Reset the Earbuds
If recharging and cleaning the buds doesn’t get them working, the next step is to factory reset the earbuds. The reset will clear any pairing information stored on the buds, so you will have to pair them afresh.
Clearing the pairing information will enable the earbuds to connect to your device and remove any bugs that might have been preventing the earbud from working.
You can reset your Realme Buds Air 2 by following the steps below:
- Place both earbuds in the case. Ensure each bud is sitting correctly in the case.
- Close the case and leave it that way for five to ten seconds.
- Open the charging case, but do not take the earbuds out.
- Press and hold the MULTIFUNCTION button on the case for ten seconds.
Pressing the button for 10 seconds will reset your Realme Buds Air 2. The earbuds have to be inside the case, and the case has to be open.
- Release it when you see the LED on the case flashing red and white.
When you see the LED flashing red and white, release the button.
- When the LED on the case stops flashing, close it and wait for the LED to turn green. Then, open the case and pair the earbuds with your device afresh. If they don’t go to pairing mode, press the MULTIFUNCTION button for 3 seconds.
Connect the Realme Buds Air 2 to a Different Device
If the earbud is still not working, try connecting them to a different device. This will help you determine if the problem is in the earbud or the device your buds are connected to.
Try connecting your Realme Buds Air 2 to a different device. If they are both working, the problem is in the first device. It could be a misconfigured audio setting (R/L Audio Balance, for example) or a firmware glitch.
Reset the earbuds before connecting them to the alternative device. Check if both buds work. You should proceed with the connection process even if one of the earbuds is unresponsive.
If they do work, the problem is likely with the initial device, and you should check its user manual or the manufacturer’s website for troubleshooting guidelines.
Pairing Realme Buds Air 2 with an Android Device (2 Options)
Drain the Battery on Both Buds, Then Recharge Them
Another solution that worked for some users was letting the batteries on both buds drain completely before recharging the earbuds. Once recharged, both earbuds should work if you are lucky.
Let the batteries on both buds drain completely. Then, recharge the earbuds.
So, leave the functioning earbud powered on until its battery is completely drained, then place both buds in the case and leave them charging.
You can leave them in the case and leave the case connected to a power source for a few hours.
If the bud does not become responsive, proceed to the next solution.
Check for a Firmware Update
Realme occasionally pushes firmware updates to its users. These updates are meant to improve the earbud’s efficiency and introduce new features.
The updates can also solve performance issues like the one you are experiencing right now.
So, you should ensure your earbuds have the latest firmware. Do this through the Realme Link app.
You can update the earbud’s firmware by following the steps below:
- Ensure you have the latest version of the Realme Link app.
- The charging case and the earbuds should have at least fifty percent power, but you can neglect this requirement since one of the buds is unresponsive.
- Place both earbuds in the case. Leave the case open, and ensure the earbuds are connected to your device.
- Open the Link app. If there is an update available, the app will prompt you to install it.
You should see a popup message informing you about available updates when you open the app.
- Open the Link app and select the connected earbuds.
- Click the two vertical dots in the upper right corner to reveal the device details menu.
- Select the Device Upgrade option, and the update will download if it’s available.
Once you click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner, you will see your current firmware version. Tap on the firmware version to initiate the update.
Updating the Firmware on Realme Buds Air 2
Contact Realme’s Support
Sometimes, one of the Realme Buds Air 2 earbuds can stop working because it’s damaged or worn out. The earbud can also stop working for other reasons that are hard to identify and difficult to solve.
In such cases, you should contact Realme’s customer support and notify them of your problem. You should let them know about the troubleshooting measures you have already tried.
The support team will even guide you on how to get a replacement if you qualify.
Alternatively, you can post your problem on the Realme community forum. Fellow users will let you know of solutions that worked for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: Why is one side of my earbuds not working?
- Answer: This phenomenon can be a result of various reasons. They include:
- The earbud is not powered on.
- The earbud has no power and needs to be recharged.
- The earbud is having trouble recharging because the charging contacts are dirty or damaged.
- A firmware misconfiguration or glitch is preventing the earbud from working.
- Question: How do you reset Realme Buds Air 2?
- Answer:
- Place both earbuds in the charging case and open it
- Press and hold the multifunction button on the charging case for ten seconds. Release it when the LED on the case starts flashing red and white.
Conclusion
Realme Buds Air 2 earbuds are convenient, but they also have issues that can be frustrating. A good example is a Realme Bud that won’t work or turn on. Luckily, with the right knowledge you can solve the issue. Hopefully, this article gave you the right fix for your faulty Realme earbud.
Always take good care of the earbuds to avoid random failures.
