I’ve been using my Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbuds for over a year, and I must admit I really like them. The features and performance they deliver are on par with much more expensive earbuds. Their impressive battery life, the number of customization options, and their IPX5 water-resistant rating make them a perfect choice for almost any activity.
However, like many other electronic devices, Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbuds have their quirks. And, like other electronics, they can give you a headache. The most common issue users experience with Liberty Air 2 earbuds is when one side/earbud is not working.
This issue is usually caused by a firmware glitch or has something to do with the pairing process of Liberty Air 2 earbuds. However, it could also be a sign of a more serious problem, like a dead earbud or dead battery.
In this guide, I will list all the probable causes and offer solutions to help you fix your malfunctioning Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbud.
Key Takeaways
- Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbuds have the primary earbud (right) and the secondary earbud (left). Only the primary earbud connects to your phone/laptop, while the secondary connects to the primary. Usually, the secondary earbud is the one that stops working.
- The easiest fixes you can try when one of your Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbuds is not working is restarting the connection and pairing the earbuds afresh, updating your earbuds’ firmware, and resetting the earbuds. If the earbud malfunction is caused by firmware glitches, one of these actions should fix it.
- If updating and resetting the earbuds doesn’t help, the problem might be your earbud’s battery. The battery might be low – recharging it should fix the issue.
- If the malfunctioning earbud won’t charge, try cleaning the charging contacts. If that doesn’t fix the problem, and the earbuds are still under warranty, you should contact the manufacturer’s support team.
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The Quirks of Pairing Liberty Air 2 Earbuds – Primary and Secondary Earbuds
While I do like Liberty Air 2 buds, the thing that bothers me the most about them is their pairing. With some devices, they pair flawlessly and without issues. With other devices, things can get weird.
One of the quirks of pairing Liberty Air 2 is that you will see two devices with the same name in the pairing list, and only one will have the status Connected. Okay, the names are not exactly the same – one device will be recognized as Soundcore Liberty Air 2, while the other will be Soundcore Liberty Air 2-L.
You will see two Soundcore Liberty Air devices under My Devices. Only one of those two will be connected.
According to Anker (the manufacturer), this is perfectly normal and has something to do with the way they work. You see, one of your Liberty Air 2 buds is the primary earbud (the right one), while the other is a secondary (slave) earbud. The primary earbud connects to your phone, while the secondary earbud connects to the primary. That’s why you see them as two separate devices, and why only one of those two is connected to your phone.
So, while the secondary earbud is not paired with your phone, they should both work when you put them in your ears. The secondary (left) earbud will say Connected only when using the left earbud alone (when the right earbud is inside the charging case, and the case is closed).
Soundcore Liberty Air 2-L will only be connected when using the secondary earbud alone (without the right earbud).
Having both of these devices connected at the same time is not normal, according to Anker. In this case, you need to forget both devices, reset your earbuds, and pair them afresh.
Having both Soundcore Liberty Air 2 devices connected at the same is not a normal thing. You need to forget both from My Devices, reset the earbuds, and pair them afresh.
On some devices, due to compatibility issues with the Qualcomm Bluetooth chip inside the earbuds, you may see a message “Connecting Unsuccessful” when you tap on Pair, but the earbuds will work and will be connected to your device. At least, that’s what Anker claims…
I hope you understand what I’m trying to say. The point is – Liberty Air 2 earbuds are a little bit odd when it comes to pairing. They may not work flawlessly with all Bluetooth-enabled devices.
So, to rule out pairing complications, I will quickly go through the standard pairing procedure for Liberty Air 2 earbuds.
When pairing for the first time, you need to open the case, and the earbuds will be in pairing mode. You don’t even have to take them out (although you can). The right earbud will flash white rapidly, and the left one will flash white slowly.
In pairing mode, the right/primary Liberty Air 2 earbud will flash rapidly, while the left will flash slowly.
On your phone, you need to enable Bluetooth and refresh the list of available devices. Tap on the first one that appears. It should be named Soundcore Liberty Air 2. Once the primary earbud is paired, you will see a popup message asking you to pair the left earbud (named Soundcore Liberty Air 2-L or just headset). Confirm that you want to pair it when the popup message appears. The right earbud will stop flashing rapidly after pairing.
After the pairing is complete, only one device will be connected, while the Liberty Air 2-L will not be connected. As discussed earlier, this is normal.
Pairing Liberty Air 2 for the First Time
When pairing Liberty Air 2 with a new device, I would recommend that you disable Bluetooth on previously paired devices to avoid the earbuds connecting to them automatically.
Place the earbuds inside the case and close the lid. Wait for a few seconds, and then open it. If the earbuds don’t go to pairing mode automatically, press the button on the bottom of the charging case for 3 seconds (while the case is open). The light on the right/primary earbud should start flashing white rapidly, indicating the earbuds are now in pairing mode.
To enable pairing mode manually, press the button on the bottom of the charging case for 3 seconds. The earbuds should be inside the case, and the case should be open. When the right earbud starts flashing white rapidly, the earbuds are in pairing mode.
Enable Bluetooth on your phone, tap on Soundcore Liberty Air 2, and tap Pair when asked to pair the left earbud.
Pairing Liberty Air 2 with a New Device
Ways to Fix Your Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Earbuds One Side Not Working
Try Using the Earbuds with a Different Device
As explained, Liberty Air 2 earbuds may misbehave when trying to pair them with incompatible devices. For starters, try pairing them with some other device to rule out compatibility issues.
If the earbuds pair successfully with other devices, the problem is probably caused by compatibility issues. If they won’t pair, or if they pair but one Liberty Air 2 earbud is still not working, let’s try other fixes.
Adjust Volume
I’m aware it sounds stupid and too obvious, but your issue may have been caused by the volume controls. The earbuds have touch-sensitive controls that can be used to increase/decrease the volume.
By default, tapping the left earbud once decreases the volume, while tapping the right increases the volume. These controls are customizable through the companion Soundcore app.
Let’s say you muted the volume at some point during the day and forgot about it. You returned both buds back into the case. Later on, you decided to take one out, let’s say the left one, and put it in your ear. The phone says Connected, but you don’t hear anything. You can’t increase the volume since the right earbud is used for that. It seems the left earbud is not working, but it’s just a volume issue. You need to take the right earbud out, put it in your ear, and tap it to increase the volume. Problem solved.
By default, tapping the left earbud once decreases the volume, and tapping the right increases the volume. If the earbuds are muted, and you are using only the left earbud, you won’t be able to increase the volume, and you may think the earbud is not working.
Controlling the Volume on Soundcore Liberty Air 2
Check the Distance
When using any Bluetooth earbuds, you should have in mind that Bluetooth works best when the distance between the earbuds and your phone is 10 meters (33ft) or less. Some Bluetooth earbuds may have a significantly longer range, but I would still keep them within the 33ft range.
This is particularly important when trying to pair the earbuds with your phone. If, while pairing the earbuds, you take them out of the case, don’t put them in your ears. Instead, put them next to each other and close to your phone.
Moving too far away from the Bluetooth source may cause connection issues, making you think the earbuds are not working. This can affect one or both of your earbuds.
Restart the Earbuds
When I say restart the earbuds, I actually mean restart your entire connection. Put the earbuds back in the case and close it. Then, go to your phone’s Bluetooth and forget the earbuds from My Devices/Paired Devices.
Forget Soundcore Liberty Air 2 from the list of paired devices.
Open the charging case and try pairing them again. If they don’t go to pairing mode automatically, put them in pairing mode manually by pressing the button on the bottom of the case for 3 seconds.
If restarting your connection doesn’t fix the issue, let’s try other solutions.
Update the Earbuds
To update your Soundcore Liberty Air 2, you need to download and install the SoundCore App (Android/iOS).
Once you open the app, it will search for your earbuds and should detect them automatically. If it doesn’t, you can select your earbud model manually. When the app connects to your earbuds, tap on three dots in the top-right corner. Then, tap on Update Firmware, and follow the on-screen instructions.
Updating Soundcore Liberty Air 2 – Step-by-Step Instructions
VIDEO TUTORIAL – Updating Firmware on Liberty Air 2
Earbud Might Be Clogged with Gunk and Ear Wax – Clean the Earbuds
Ear wax, gunk, and dirt build up over time. They could block the tiny drivers inside your earbuds, making the sound muffled or quieter. I don’t think it’s possible to completely block the sound, but it can become much more quiet, making you think one or both earbuds are not working.
Luckily, cleaning the earbuds is a simple task and doesn’t require special skills. Use a cotton swab and alcohol to clean the tips and drivers. If you notice dirt behind the mesh protecting the drivers, you could also try using something sharp, like a needle.
You should clean the earbuds regularly.
Empty Earbud Battery
The LEDs on the earbuds will not tell you when the earbud battery is low, but you can check it in your phone’s Bluetooth settings or through the Soundcore app.
Soundcore App – Battery Level Indicators
If the battery level on one earbud is critically low, the earbud will not work. Put it inside the case, and wait for it to charge fully.
If the earbud doesn’t want to charge, we are dealing with a different problem. However, the manifestation of the problem is the same – the earbud is not working.
Earbud Not Charging
Your Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbud may refuse to charge for a number of reasons. I will address the most common ones below.
Battery Not Charging Because of Wrong Placement – Adjust the Earbud Inside the Charging Case
With Liberty Air 2 earbuds, it’s practically impossible to insert them in the wrong slots. However, it is possible that the charging contacts (those on the earbud’s arm and inside the case) do not touch each other.
Try wiggling the earbud inside the case – it may help.
Battery Not Charging Because of Dirty Contacts – You Need to Clean Them
If the contacts on the earbuds or inside the case are dirty, the earbuds will not charge.
If the charging contacts are dirty, the earbuds will not charge.
Luckily, cleaning the contacts with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol should help. The contacts inside the case are tricky to clean as they are deep inside, but a cotton swab should do the job.
If you don’t wipe the earbuds dry after workouts, the sweat could cause corrosion. Cleaning corrosion from the contacts will require a bit more aggressive tools. You could try using a toothbrush (or even sandpaper) to brush the corrosion off the charging contacts. Removing the corrosion from the contacts inside the case will be tricky.
How to Clean Liberty Air 2
Battery Not Charging Because of the Charging Case Malfunction
It is unlikely, but your earbud may refuse to charge because of the charging case malfunction. There isn’t much you can do if your charging case is misbehaving. You could try using a different charger. The recommended power rating for a charger is 5V/0.5A. You could also try charging the case wirelessly.
If those things don’t help, you could try resetting the earbuds (which will be explained in the next chapter) or disassembling the charging case and checking all the flat cables – some of them may be loose or disconnected.
Reset the Earbuds
I like leaving the reset for the end, although it doesn’t hurt if you try it the moment you notice the earbud is not working. While resetting some other electronic devices (like PCs or routers) to factory default settings is an invasive procedure that erases all kinds of settings, resetting your earbuds will only erase saved pairing information and maybe some adjustments you made in the Soundcore app (customized controls and EQ settings).
Before resetting the earbuds, it’s recommended to forget the earbuds from your phone and disable Bluetooth on all devices that were previously connected to the earbuds.
Now, let’s reset them. You need to put the earbuds back inside the case but don’t close it. Without removing the earbuds, while the case is open, press the button on the bottom of the case and hold it for 10 seconds. While holding the button, look at the LED indicators on the earbuds. They should flash red three times.
Don’t close the case – just look at the LEDs. One earbud (the right one) should be flashing white rapidly, while the other should be flashing white slowly. This means the reset was successful, and the earbuds are ready to be paired with your device.
While the earbuds are inside the case, and the case is open, press the button on the bottom of the case until you see the LEDs on the earbuds flashing red three times.
Resetting Soundcore Liberty Air 2
The Earbud Battery Might Be Dead – Contact Soundcore
If none of the fixes listed above help, you are probably dealing with a dead earbud. The battery inside the earbud might be dead, or some other part inside the bud might be damaged.
You could try opening the earbud and replacing the battery, but I wouldn’t recommend this as Soundcore Liberty Air 2 are not the most serviceable earbuds out there. Opening them without damaging the plastic or internal parts requires lots of patience.
If your earbuds are still under warranty, it’s smarter to contact Soundcore and ask for their help. They may even send you a replacement. Opening the earbuds or trying to take apart the charging case will void your warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: Why is only one of my Soundcore earbuds working?
- Answer: You could be having issues with one of your Soundcore earbuds because of earbud firmware glitches. In this case, you could try restarting your connection (forget the earbuds from the list of paired devices and then re-pair), updating your earbuds, or resetting the earbuds.
- The issue can also be caused by the earbud battery. If the battery is critically low, you need to charge it. If the earbud won’t charge, you could try cleaning the charging contacts (inside the case and on the earbuds).
- Question: How do I troubleshoot my Soundcore Liberty Air 2 left earbud not working?
- Answer: If your left Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbud is not working, try restarting your connection, updating the earbuds, and resetting them.
- If those simple solutions don’t work, you should check if the earbud battery is low and charge it. If the earbud won’t charge, you need to clean the charging contacts. If there’s corrosion on the contacts, you need to find a way to remove the corrosion.
- Question: How to reset my Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbuds?
- Answer: While the earbuds are inside the case, and the case is open, press the button on the bottom of the case for approx. 10 seconds. The LEDs on the buds should flash red 3 times. After that, the right earbud should start flashing white rapidly, and the left one should be flashing white slowly.
- Question: Why is my left Soundcore earbud not charging?
- Answer: The most common culprit when your left Soundcore earbud is not charging are dirty or corroded charging contacts. You need to clean them, and see if that helps.
- If cleaning the contacts doesn’t help, try resetting the earbuds.
- One of your Soundcore earbuds could also refuse to charge because of a charging case malfunction, or because of the earbud malfunction (dead battery, damaged/loose flat cables inside the earbud, damaged PCB).
- Question: How do you reset one Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbud?
- Answer: You can’t reset just one – you can only reset both.
- Question: Why won’t my right Soundcore earbud connect?
- Answer: It could be because the distance between the earbuds and your source device is too large or because the distance between the left and right earbuds is too large. While pairing the earbuds with your phone, keep them close to each other.
- Other causes include firmware glitches, in which case you could try restarting the connection, updating the earbuds, or resetting the earbuds.
- Question: How do you sync both Soundcore earbuds?
- Answer: The left earbud (secondary earbud) should sync with the right one (primary earbud) automatically. There’s no way to do this manually. If they don’t sync, you have to repeat the pairing process and forget the earbuds from your phone. You could also try resetting your Soundcore earbuds.
Conclusion
Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbuds offer an amazing set of features and great sound output at an affordable price. However, they are not perfect. Occasionally, you will experience connection issues, charging issues, and other malfunctions. That’s inevitable.
If one of your Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbuds is not working, use this guide to figure out what is causing the problem and hopefully fix the issue.
