There could be many reasons why your earbuds keep disconnecting from time to time. This happened to me when I was using earbuds from Soundcore, they disconnected for a second or so and then connected back to the main device. So to troubleshoot the issue, I had to go through every potential reason behind this. And this guide is all about preventing your earbuds from disconnecting from time to time.
If your earbuds are disconnecting, then
- Make sure there’s enough battery life left on the master earbud (right one) as it’s responsible for establishing the connection with your device.
- Check if you are within the Bluetooth range of the device you are connected to. Some earbuds can keep disconnecting if you are more than 30 feet away from the source.
- Maybe there’s a compatibility issue between your earbuds and your device. Ensure that the firmware of your earbuds is up to date. On a PC, outdated or corrupted Bluetooth drivers can lead to connectivity problems with earbuds.
- Physical damage to the earbuds or their charging case can affect their connectivity. So make sure your earbuds are in good shape.
- Extreme temperatures or high humidity can affect the performance of earbuds and lead to disconnects.
7 Reasons Why Your Earbuds Keep Disconnecting From Your Device
So let’s go through each of these reasons one by one. Along with this, I will write about the possible fixes to overcome the problem.
Low Battery
A lower battery is responsible for triggering the Bluetooth disconnectivity problem in earbuds or headphones. Wireless earbuds come with tiny built-in batteries that need to be recharged.
If you use earbuds frequently, then it’s obvious that they will drain the battery faster than normal. Now there are two different ways an earbud will let you know it’s running out of battery, via audio message or by disconnecting in intervals.
In some cases, a lower battery can even result in one earbud working only and the other one not producing any audio at all.
Make sure you fully charge your earbuds before you connect them to your device. And if your earbuds are 100% charged and you are still facing the disconnectivity problem, then let’s move on to the next reason.
Bluetooth Range
Although the latest Bluetooth earbuds have a decent range for connectivity, some brands still suggest staying within 10m or 30ft circle of the device you are connected with.
This doesn’t mean that if you move away from the 30ft circle you’ll be disconnected completely, not at all. However, moving away from the sweet spot of 30 feet might result in frequent Bluetooth disconnection between your earbuds and device.
So one of the reasons why your wireless earbuds are disconnecting from the main device is because you are out of the Bluetooth range. For higher connectivity, it’s better to stay closer to the audio source.
Bluetooth Settings
Sometimes, the Bluetooth adapter on your main device is either disabled or its settings are changed from the Power Management tab.
Before pairing your earbuds, make sure the Bluetooth adapter on your device is turned on. If you are using a PC, then you can check this by typing Bluetooth in the search bar at the bottom.
If your Bluetooth Settings are working fine, then maybe there’s something you need to fix in the Power Management tab. Sometimes, the low-power state settings can disable the Bluetooth to save power.
To do this, follow the steps below:
- Right-click on Start, and then select Device Manager.
- In Device Manager, click the arrow next to Bluetooth, and select your Bluetooth Adapter.
- Right-click on your Bluetooth earbuds and select Properties.
- Select the Power Management tab, and see if there is a check next to Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power. Uncheck it, and save the settings.
Compatibility
Every day new brands are entering the audio market and we now have hundreds of brands selling earbuds. Likewise, there are multiple devices like tablets, laptops, desktops, smartphones, etc. on the other end to support wireless connectivity.
Some earbuds don’t work with a specific device and may require you to download a third-party app to connect them.
So, from a broader perspective, it’s not common to see compatibility issues when connecting earbuds with different devices. Sometimes, a device supporting Bluetooth 3.0 can have issues connecting with earbuds that support BT 5.0.
| Bluetooth version | Release date | Backward compatible with |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth 1.0 | 1999 | No |
| Bluetooth 1.1 | 2000 | No |
| Bluetooth 1.2 | 2003 | No |
| Bluetooth 2.0 | 2005 | Yes |
| Bluetooth 2.1 | 2007 | Yes |
| Bluetooth 3.0 + HS | 2009 | Yes |
| Bluetooth 4.0 | 2010 | Yes |
| Bluetooth 4.1 | 2013 | Yes |
| Bluetooth 4.2 | 2014 | Yes |
| Bluetooth 5.0 | 2016 | Yes |
| Bluetooth 5.1 | 2019 | Yes |
| Bluetooth 5.2 | 2020 | Yes |
| Bluetooth 5.3 | 2021 | Yes |
In the same way, if the Bluetooth drivers on your main device are outdated, then this could cause a connection conflict between your earbuds and the device.
Similarly, if your earbuds are years old and you try to connect them with a Bluetooth 6.0 compatible device, they can catch up with disconnectivity issues.
I always try to update my device and earbud drivers to avoid any connection conflicts. So always try to update the firmware to avoid such conflicts in the future.
External Interference
If you are trying to connect your earbuds where there are a lot of other Bluetooth-enabled devices, then you may experience Bluetooth connection drops. As you know the operating frequency of Wi-Fi routers, microwaves, cordless phones, and other wireless devices is the same as that of Bluetooth devices.
So in an environment where you have a lot of devices connected via Bluetooth, signal interference is a normal thing to occur. This can prevent the newly paired devices from establishing a secure connection with the main source.
One way to fix this is to disable all the other devices and then pair your earbuds. Also, if there’s any obstacle between your earbuds and the audio source like a wall or hard plastic, then this can weaken the Bluetooth signals and cause disconnects.
Background Apps
Background applications or processes on the paired device may interfere with the Bluetooth connection.
On a PC, the background applications hardly affect the Bluetooth connection quality. This issue is more common when pairing your earbuds with a smartphone or tablet.
I highly recommend disabling the background applications that work with the help of a Bluetooth connection. You can simply “Force Stop” them by heading over to the Manage Apps section on your phone.
Physical Damage
Physical damage to the earbuds or their charging case can affect their connectivity. If your earbuds have fallen, exposed to higher temperatures, or liquid, then this means they have suffered from physical damage.
If your headphones fall, then this could have a significant impact on the internal batteries connected to the PCB of your earbuds. Upon impact, the batteries become detached from the PCB, resulting in disconnectivity issues.
Also, extreme temperatures or high humidity can affect the performance of earbuds. Exposing your earbuds to liquid or dust if they are not IPX-rated can also impact their connectivity.
So, a loose connection or malfunctioning part inside the earbuds can cause frequent Bluetooth disconnectivity. If that’s the case, I would recommend you repair or replace your earbuds.
Conclusion
In today’s fast world, earbuds are essential to carry around with you. Connectivity issues are always there but you don’t have to worry as this guide will help you fix them.
If your earbuds disconnect from your device most of the time, then start by checking the batteries. Make sure the batteries of both of your earbuds are fully charged.
Also, try to stay within the Bluetooth range of your device, sometimes moving away could cause sudden disconnects as well. Later on, it’s better to see if your device doesn’t have any compatibility issues with the earbuds you are using.
Lastly, make sure your earbuds are not broken or exposed to higher temperatures or liquids. Loose PCB connection or exposure to liquids can cause the earbuds to work improperly or disconnect from the main device.
I’ve been writing about gadgets for over 7 years now. I have a strong taste for music, no matter if it’s pop or classic. My passion for music has enabled me to come closer to audio equipment. I like writing and sharing my personal experience with audio equipment that passes by me.
