I’ve had my Skullcandy Indy Evo for over a year, and to be honest, I’m quite impressed with the number of features and overall performance I got at such an affordable price.
Skullcandy is well-known for making great budget-friendly headphones and earbuds. Interestingly, these earbuds don’t look cheap at all. They are often packed with features like water resistance, active noise cancellation, EQ presets, companion app, solo and stereo modes, etc. Above all, Skullcandy earbuds are known for their funky design and great bass.
Unfortunately, none of the above-mentioned features matter when one of your Skullcandy earbuds is not working. That’s exactly what happened to me a week ago. At first, it made me frustrated, mostly because the basic troubleshooting steps didn’t work. But I don’t give up easily.
So, I did my research and found out two things. First, I was not alone – numerous users experienced the same problem with their Skullcandy earbuds. Second, there are many fixes you can try to bring the faulty earbud back to life. One of the solutions I found on forums actually worked for me.
This guide is a compilation of all the fixes and troubleshooting tips I found on the manufacturer’s website and various online forums. Hopefully, one of them will work for your earbud.
Key Takeaways
- Always start with simple fixes – restart the earbuds (turn them off and on) and restart the Bluetooth connection (unpair the earbuds, forget them from your phone, and pair afresh).
- Make sure that your phone and your Skullcandy earbuds are close to each other, especially when pairing them.
- Try connecting your Skullcandy earbuds to a different device to see if the problem persists. If both earbuds are working when connected to other devices, the source of the problem is your device. Check your phone’s audio balance, restart it, reset the Bluetooth settings, and reset your phone.
- Check for firmware updates. If there are no updates available, reset your Skullcandy earbuds.
- If the driver inside one of the earbuds is clogged with dirt and earwax, the earbud will be quieter, and you may get the impression that it’s not working. All you need to do is clean the earbud.
- Battery and charging issues might be the source of your problem. If one of your Skullcandy earbuds is not charging, you won’t be able to turn it on, and that will make you think the earbud is not working. Once you fix the charging issue, the faulty earbud will start working again.
- Finally, if you can’t fix the faulty earbud after going through all the suggested fixes, it’s time to contact Skullcandy.
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Why Is One of Your Skullcandy Earbuds Not Working?
Often, one of your Skullcandy earbuds might stop working because of a firmware glitch or a simple pairing issue. That’s the easiest thing to fix. You can try restarting the earbuds, un-pairing and forgetting them from your device, and then pairing them afresh. Furthermore, you could try updating the earbuds’ firmware or resetting the earbuds to factory default settings.
If the malfunction was not caused by a firmware glitch or a pairing issue, diagnosing the problem and finding the right fix will be trickier (but not impossible).
You could try connecting the earbuds to a different device to rule out your phone as the source of the problem. Then, you could try adjusting some audio settings, primarily audio balance, on your phone.
Furthermore, the driver inside your earbud might be clogged. In this case, you just have to clean the earbud properly, and it should start working again.
Rarely, one Skullcandy earbud might stop working because of a charging issue. Your case might refuse to charge one of the earbuds, and consequently, your earbud will refuse to turn on.
Finally, if one of the Skullcandy earbuds is not working after applying all the possible fixes, it’s time to accept the fact the earbud is dead.
Ways to Fix the Faulty Skullcandy Earbud
Restart/Reboot the Earbuds
This might be a bit too basic, but it’s important to try everything.
All Skullcandy earbuds will automatically turn off when you put them in the charging case and close the lid. When you open the case and take the earbuds out, the buds will turn back on.
Most (if not all) Skullcandy earbud models can also be turned off and on manually without putting them inside the charging case.
To turn the earbuds off, you have to press and hold the control buttons for 4-6 seconds (depending on the model). Some models will flash red before they turn off. On other models, the LED will just go off.
Press and hold the control buttons on both Skullcandy earbuds for 4-6 seconds to turn them off. LEDs on some models will blink red once to indicate the earbuds are turned off. On other models, the LEDs will just go off.
When the earbuds are off, press and hold the control buttons for 4-6 seconds again to turn them back on.
How to Manually Turn Your Skullcandy Earbuds OFF and ON
Restart the Connection
All Skullcandy earbuds work the same way. There’s the master earbud (LEFT) and the slave earbud (RIGHT). When you take them out, they will turn on. First, the right earbud will connect to the left one – they will sync with each other. Both earbuds will blink blue to indicate they are synced. Then, the left earbud will go to pairing mode, and the LED on it will flash blue and red.
If, for any reason, the earbuds don’t sync with each other and the left one goes to pairing mode, when you pair it with your phone, the sound will come out of the left bud only. To resync them, you can restart the earbuds or restart the entire connection.
Restarting the connection entails three steps:
- Unpair the earbuds from your device (phone, tablet, laptop).
- Forget the earbuds from your device.
- Pair the earbuds afresh.
Go to your Bluetooth settings and tap the “i” next to your Skullcandy earbuds. Disconnect the earbuds, and then forget them from your phone.
After forgetting the earbuds, you need to pair them from scratch. Put the earbuds inside the case, close the lid, wait for 10 seconds, then open the lid and take them out. They should go to pairing mode automatically.
If there are other Bluetooth devices nearby and the earbuds were previously paired with those devices, they will automatically connect. So, make sure the Bluetooth is disabled on other nearby devices to avoid this issue.
Once the earbuds are in pairing mode, you just have to connect them to your device.
Connecting Skullcandy Earbuds (Skullcandy Dime) to iPhone
Reset Your Skullcandy Earbuds
If restarting the earbuds and your Bluetooth connection doesn’t help, and one of your Skullcandy earbuds is still not working, you could try to reset the earbuds.
As with restarting the connection, you have to unpair them from your phone and forget the earbuds. You can even disable Bluetooth on all nearby devices.
Put both buds in the case and observe the LEDs on them. When both earbud LEDs light up solid red, indicating the earbuds are charging, you can proceed with the reset.
Depending on the model, the exact steps will vary.
Reset Method 1
When you take the earbuds from the case, you need to turn them off manually by pressing the buttons on both buds for 4-6 seconds. Once they are turned off, press and hold the buttons on both buds simultaneously for about 10 seconds to reset the earbuds. Then, put the earbuds back in the case, wait for both LEDs to turn solid red, and take the earbuds out. Resetting Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless Earbuds
Reset Method 2
While both buds are inside the case and the LEDs on both buds are glowing red, take the right earbud out and press the control button 4 times. This will turn the earbud off and reset it. Put the earbud back in the case. Now, take the left one, press/tap the control button 4 times, and put it back in the case. Wait for both LEDs to turn solid red before taking the earbuds out. Resetting Indy Wireless
Reset Method 3
When you take the earbuds from the case, you need to turn them off manually by pressing the buttons on both buds for 4-6 seconds. Once they are turned off, tap and hold the buttons on both buds simultaneously for about 15 seconds, until the LEDs turn blue. While the LEDs are blue, tap the buttons on each bud simultaneously two times to reset the earbuds. You don’t have to put the earbuds back in the case – they will automatically sync with each other after reset and go to pairing mode. Resetting Indy ANC
Reset Method 4
While both buds are inside the case and the LEDs on both buds are glowing red, take the left earbud out and press the control button 6 times. This will turn the earbud off and reset it. Put the earbud back in the case. Now, take the right one, press/tap the control button 6 times, and put it back in the case. Wait for both LEDs to turn solid red before taking the earbuds from the case. Resetting Skullcandy Sesh Wireless
Reset Method 5
Take both buds from the case and wait for them to emit a tone indicating they are on. Now, press and hold the buttons on both earbuds simultaneously for 3 seconds. The earbuds’ LEDs should flash red 2x and then blue 2x. A tone should indicate a successful reset. The earbuds will then automatically go to pairing mode. Resetting Skullcandy Mod
Reset Method 6
Take both buds from the case and wait until you hear a tone indicating the earbuds are on. Now, take the right earbud only and press and hold the control button on it for 3 seconds. This will reset both earbuds. Resetting Skullcandy Push Active
Reset Method 7
Take both buds out and turn them off manually by pressing and holding the buttons on both earbuds simultaneously for 5 seconds.
Now, while the earbuds are off, press and hold the buttons on both buds for about 12 seconds to reset them.
Reset Method 8
While the earbuds are turned on, press and hold the VOL UP (+) and VOL DOWN (–) simultaneously till the LED changes color (blue/red). Now, press and hold the track control button until the earbuds turn off (approx. 3-4 seconds). This will reset your earbuds. Take both buds from the case and wait for them to turn on. When you hear a voice prompt, you can proceed. Quickly press the buttons on either bud (or both buds, depending on the model) 2x, and then, on the third press, press and hold for about 2 seconds. You should see the LEDs on both buds flashing red 2x and then blue 2x. On some models (like Dime), the LEDs will immediately start flashing blue as the earbuds sync with each other. A voice prompt will notify you the earbuds have been reset successfully. Resetting Skullcandy Dime EarbudsReset Method 9
Update the Earbuds
Only a few Skullcandy earbud models support the Skullcandy app. They include Sesh ANC, Indy Evo, Indy Fuel, Indy ANC, Mod, and Push Ultra.
The only two models with existing updates, at the moment, are Sesh ANC and Indy ANC. So, if you have one of these two models, try updating them and see what happens.
It goes without saying that you need to download and install the Skullcandy app onto your phone, connect the earbuds to the app, and then update them.
Updating your Skullcandy earbuds through the Skullcandy app might fix the faulty Skullcandy earbud.
Try Connecting Earbuds to a Different Source Device
The culprit of your issue might be your phone or whatever device you are trying to connect your earbuds to.
So, try connecting the same earbuds to a different device. Ideally, it should be a device that wasn’t previously connected to your earbuds.
If the earbuds can connect to other devices but not your phone, the problem is probably in your phone.
If your phone is the source of the problem, you could try the following three things:
- Restart your phone.
- Reset your phone’s network settings.
- Reset your phone.
Check the Audio Balance on the Source Device (iOS/Android)
Most people don’t even know that iOS and Android devices have the Audio Balance feature.
If you somehow accidentally enter this setting and move the balance toggle all the way to the left or right, the sound will only come out of one earbud. Although unlikely, this could be the source of your problem. So, check the Audio Balance on your phone and make sure the toggle is in the middle.
On iOS devices, the Audio Balance feature is found in Settings – Accessibility – Audio/Visual.
On Android devices, the Audio Balance feature is found under Hearing Enhancement settings.
Stay Within Bluetooth Range
While most modern earbuds and phones have a much greater Bluetooth range than those made a few years ago, moving too far away from the source device could still cause connection issues. These issues might affect one or both of your earbuds.
Keep your earbuds close to each other and close to your source device, especially when trying to sync the earbuds and pair them with your device. If you have to move away from your phone, don’t exceed the traditional Bluetooth range of 33ft.
While the earbuds may have a much longer advertised Bluetooth range, many factors can affect this range and cause connection issues, even if you are within the advertised range. To avoid such issues, keep your earbuds close to each other and to your source device.
Clogged Earbud Driver – Clean It
Not cleaning your buds regularly will cause gunk, ear wax, and other dirt to build up on the ear tips and the mesh protecting the driver inside the earbud.
Dirt might even penetrate through the mesh and clog the driver, resulting in one earbud being significantly quieter than the other. This might make you think that one of your earbuds is not working.
The solution to this problem is simple. You need to clean your earbud, especially the ear tip and mesh that protects the driver. Use something sharp (like a needle or a toothpick) to eliminate as much dirt as you can, but be careful – you don’t want to cause more damage.
If you apply too much pressure, you might damage the mesh that protects the driver inside.
One Earbud Significantly Quieter than the Other – Easy Fix
Drain the Batteries on Both Earbuds and the Case and Charge Them
I found this fix on Reddit, and it actually worked for me. I don’t exactly know what caused my left Skullcandy earbud to stop working, but leaving both buds outside and leaving the case open until they were all fully discharged, and then charging them from 0 to 100% solved the issue and brought my earbud back to life.
If you can’t turn the earbud on and can’t tell its battery level, just keep it out of the case for a few days.
Leave the buds out of the case until they are completely discharged. Then, charge them from 0 to 100%. You could also try charging them overnight.
Earbud Won’t Charge
If one of your Skullcandy earbuds doesn’t charge when you put it in the case, it’s only natural for that earbud to refuse to turn on since its battery is completely empty. To conclude, one of your earbuds is not working because of the charging issue.
Observe the earbuds while putting them in the charging case. If the LED on one of the earbuds doesn’t turn red, it means the earbud is not charging.
Charging issues can be caused by various things. Worst case scenario – your earbud battery (or some other internal part, like PCB) is damaged, and there’s no other option but to buy new earbuds. However, there are other potential causes that can be fixed easily.
Wrong Earbud Placement
There are L/R marks on the earbuds and the case, indicating where your left and right earbuds should go. When inserted correctly into the corresponding slots, the earbud LEDs should turn red.
Each earbud must be placed inside its corresponding slot.
Additionally, if the earbuds are in their corresponding slots, but the LED on one of them is not red, the earbud’s silicone tip might be interfering with the case, preventing proper contact between the charging pins and contacts on the earbuds. Readjust the ear tips and see if that helps.
Dirty or Stuck Charging Contacts
For your Skullcandy earbuds to charge, there has to be a firm contact between the charging pins in the case and those on the earbuds.
If the contacts are dirty or corroded, it will be impossible to charge the earbuds.
Check the state of the charging contacts. If they are dirty or corroded, clean them.
The solution to this issue is quite simple. You need to clean them. If they are just dirty, use isopropyl alcohol and a lint-free cloth to clean them. Let them dry off before putting the earbuds back inside.
Cleaning True Wireless Earbuds – Detailed Instructions
To remove persistent smudges or corrosion, you could use a toothbrush (BUT BE GENTLE). Corroded pins can even be treated with sandpaper.
Cleaning Charging Contacts with Sandpaper
If one of the earbuds still won’t charge after cleaning the contacts, you could try applying a small amount of WD40 on the charging pins. It sounds crazy, but it actually worked for some users.
Applying WD40 might help with charging issues.
Furthermore, if the charging pins inside the case get stuck, it will be impossible to charge the earbuds until you somehow unstuck them. You could try using a needle or a piece of wire to pull the charging pin. Sometimes, you may even have to take the charging case apart to unstuck the pin.
If the charging pin is stuck, the earbud will not charge.
The Earbud Might Be Damaged – Contact Skullcandy
If none of the fixes suggested above help, one of your Skullcandy earbuds is likely dead. Maybe the battery died or the PCB got damaged. Whatever the cause, there isn’t much you can do about it.
Unlike some other earbuds, Skullcandy buds are almost impossible to take apart without damaging the plastic. So, replacing a damaged part inside the earbud is not an option.
If your earbuds are under warranty, you could try contacting Skullcandy, and you may get a replacement unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How to fix a Skullcandy earbud that doesn’t work?
- Answer: It depends on the cause of the problem. Most firmware glitches and pairing issues can be fixed by restarting the earbuds, restarting the Bluetooth connection between the earbuds and your device (unpair, forget, repair), updating or resetting the earbuds. Furthermore, try connecting your Skullcandy earbuds to a different device to rule out the possibility of your phone causing the problem. Additionally, check your device’s audio balance settings.
- One Skullcandy earbud may refuse to turn on because of the charging issues that can be fixed by examining the charging pins inside the charging case and contacts on the earbuds. If they are dirty/corroded, you need to clean them.
- Question: How do you reset Skullcandy earbuds?
- Answer: Different reset procedures apply to different Skullcandy earbud models. In this article, I have listed the exact reset procedures for all available earbud models made by Skullcandy. Scroll up and find reset instructions for your earbuds.
- Question: Why is only one Skullcandy earbud charging?
- Answer: It could be because of the wrong earbud placement or because some part of the earbud (ear tip, for example) is interfering with the case, preventing contact with the charging pins inside the case. Furthermore, dirty, wet, corroded, or stuck charging contacts could prevent your earbud from charging. Firmware glitches are another common cause of charging issues.
- Question: How do you sync Skullcandy earbuds?
- Answer: When you turn both earbuds off and back on, the earbuds should automatically sync with each other. If restarting the earbuds doesn’t sync them, you could try resetting them.
- Question: Can you use one Skullcandy earbud at a time?
- Answer: Yes, most Skullcandy earbuds support the Mono mode. You need to connect both earbuds to your phone, and once they are connected, you can put one of the earbuds back in the case and use the other one.
Conclusion
One Skullcandy earbud not working is a common issue. Many users have experienced it and tried all kinds of things to fix it. I did my best to gather all the fixes that worked for those users and make this comprehensive guide.
Hopefully, the troubleshooting tips listed above helped you identify the problem and find the right solution.
What fix worked for you?
