The right AirPod stops connecting because the earbud, the case, or your device has lost track of the pairing — usually due to a dead battery, interference, or a software glitch
When only your right AirPod connects, your left one works fine, and the right one either shows up as unpaired or connects and then drops, the problem is almost always one of three things: the right earbud's battery is too low to stay connected, the pairing between that earbud and your device has corrupted, or the case itself isn't charging that earbud properly. The good news is that none of these requires a trip to Apple or a replacement — most fix themselves in under five minutes.
The reason it happens to one earbud and not the other is that each AirPod is a separate device. Your phone or laptop pairs with both of them at once, but they can fail independently. If your right one is the problem, it's almost certainly because that specific earbud either ran out of battery or lost its connection to the case.
Key Takeaways
- Check the battery level of your right AirPod in your device's Bluetooth settings — if it shows below 10 percent, put it back in the case to charge for at least 15 minutes.
- Forget the AirPods entirely from your device's Bluetooth menu and re-pair them by holding the case button until the light flashes white, then selecting them in Bluetooth settings.
- Make sure the right earbud is actually charging inside the case by looking for a small light indicator on the case itself, which should glow amber while charging.
- Restart your phone or laptop after re-pairing, because sometimes the device's Bluetooth stack needs a fresh start to recognize both earbuds again.
Check the battery level of your right AirPod first
Open the Bluetooth settings on your phone or computer and look for your AirPods in the list of connected devices. Tap or click on the information icon next to them — usually a small circle with an "i" in it. You should see the battery percentage for each earbud listed separately.
If your right AirPod shows 10 percent or lower, that's your answer. Put it back in the case when ready and let it charge for at least 15 minutes. The earbud may have been too drained to stay connected, even though it was technically still paired. Once it reaches 20 percent or higher, take it out and try connecting again.
If the battery shows as 0 percent or doesn't appear in the list at all, the right earbud may not be charging inside the case. Move to the next section.
Verify the right earbud is actually charging in the case
Look at the small light on the front or back of your AirPods case — the exact location depends on which generation you own, but it's always a small LED. When you place the right earbud inside and close the lid, that light should turn amber within a few seconds, meaning the case is actively charging it. If the light stays white, green, or off, the earbud isn't charging.
First, make sure the earbud is sitting flush in its slot. Sometimes it sits at a slight angle and doesn't make contact with the charging pins. Take it out, look inside the case at the two small metal dots in that slot, and wipe them gently with a dry cloth. Then place the earbud back in, making sure you hear or feel a small click.
If the light still doesn't turn amber, the case itself may not have enough battery to charge. Plug the case into a USB-C or Lightning cable (depending on your model) and leave it connected for 30 minutes. Then try placing the right earbud back in. If the light turns amber now, your case was straightforward drained.
Forget and re-pair your AirPods from scratch
Go to your device's Bluetooth settings and find your AirPods in the list. On iPhone or iPad, tap the information icon and select "Forget This Device." On Mac, click the X next to them. On Android or Windows, look for a "Forget" or "Unpair" option in the Bluetooth menu.
Now hold your AirPods case in front of you with the lid open. Press and hold the small button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds until the light inside flashes white. This resets the case and both earbuds to factory settings. You should see the light alternate between white and amber for a few seconds, then settle on white.
Go back to your device's Bluetooth settings and look for your AirPods in the list of available devices. Tap or click on them to pair. Your device will connect to both earbuds at once. Once the pairing completes, check your Bluetooth settings again to confirm both the left and right earbud now show up with battery percentages.
Restart your device after re-pairing
Even after a successful re-pair, your phone or computer's Bluetooth system sometimes needs a fresh start to recognize both earbuds reliably. Turn off your device completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Once it finishes starting up, go to Bluetooth settings and confirm both earbuds are still connected.
This step matters because the Bluetooth stack — the software that manages wireless connections — can get stuck in a state where it "remembers" the old pairing even after you've forgotten it. A full restart clears that memory.
What to do if the right earbud still won't connect
If you've checked the battery, confirmed the case is charging, re-paired from scratch, and restarted your device, and the right earbud still won't connect, the earbud itself may have a hardware problem. This is rare, but it happens — usually because of water damage, a manufacturing defect, or a failed battery inside the earbud.
At this point, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store with your case and both earbuds. Bring proof of purchase if you have it. Apple typically replaces a single defective earbud for a fee that varies by model, usually between $50 and $70, though if your AirPods are still under warranty they may replace it for free.
Prevent this from happening again
Keep your AirPods case charged. A case that's completely drained can't charge the earbuds, which then lose their connection. Plug the case in once a week, or whenever the light turns red or amber.
Avoid letting either earbud drop below 10 percent battery before putting it back in the case. Once an earbud gets very low, it becomes unstable and may disconnect even if it's still technically paired.
If you're in an area with a lot of wireless interference — like a crowded office with many Wi-Fi networks, or near a microwave — move away from the source. AirPods use Bluetooth 5.0, which is pretty robust, but extreme interference can still cause drops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does only the right AirPod disconnect when the left one works fine?
Each earbud is a separate device, so they can fail independently. The right one probably has a lower battery, isn't charging properly in the case, or lost its connection to your device. The left one is fine because it's in a different physical location and may have a better battery charge or connection signal.
Will resetting my AirPods erase any of my settings?
Resetting the case and earbuds erases the pairing with your devices, but not your personal data — AirPods don't store personal information. Once you re-pair them, they'll work exactly as before. You may need to re-enable features like automatic ear detection in your device's settings if you had customized them.
Can I use just the left AirPod while the right one charges?
Yes. Take the right earbud out and put it in the case to charge. Your left AirPod will continue to work on its own, though audio will come from only one ear. Once the right earbud reaches 20 percent or higher, take it out and it should reconnect automatically.
What if the case light never turns on at all?
The case battery is completely dead. Plug it into a USB-C or Lightning cable and leave it connected for at least one hour. The light should turn on during charging. If it still doesn't light up after an hour, the case itself may have a hardware failure and you'll need a replacement.
Do I need to unpair my AirPods from all my devices before re-pairing?
No. Forgetting them from one device doesn't affect their pairing with others. You can forget them from your phone, re-pair, and they'll still be paired with your Mac or iPad. However, if the right earbud isn't connecting on multiple devices, re-pairing on all of them gives you the best chance of fixing the problem.