Misplaced an earbud? Listed here are 4 alternate options to purchasing a brand new pair

Trendy wi-fi earphones are gentle and tiny, making them as straightforward to lose as they’re handy to make use of. This is applicable to any mannequin, from the most cost effective amongst price range buds to the finest wi-fi earbuds. I misplaced a set at the back of a taxi, and so produce other folks, judging by what number of instances I’ve noticed lone earbuds on the tracks at practice stations.

For those who’re fortunate, you will finally discover a misplaced earphone between the cushions of your sofa. Even in case you’re not, you are not caught with a elaborate, nugatory paperweight. There are a number of methods to discover a single lacking earbud, and acquiring a alternative might be an possibility. Let’s discover learn how to go about that.

4

Use the producer’s app to seek out the lacking earbud

Discover its location on a map or by taking part in a sound

Most brand-name units of wi-fi earbuds include a companion app. For instance, Samsung has its Galaxy Wearable app, and Bose has Bose Join for Android and iOS. These apps allow you to tweak equalizer settings or carry out software program updates. They might additionally embrace options for finding a lacking earbud or a complete set the place their present or final identified location is pinpointed on a map. In case you have a Sony mannequin, it could solely work with Google’s Discover My System service.

There’s one huge caveat to this strategy. For those who set up the companion app after you’ve got misplaced your earphones with their charging case, the app could also be unable to find them. I can not verify this is applicable to each mannequin, however that is the case with my Samsung Galaxy Buds FE. Nevertheless, if I’ve one of many earbuds linked to my telephone, I can use the Samsung Wearable app to see when the opposite earbud is in vary. Then I could make the misplaced one beep as quickly as it’s.

Make your earbuds ring

Companion apps usually have a function that makes one or each earbuds beep so long as they’re discoverable and have sufficient battery cost. Because the tiny drivers of the earphones make the sound, it’s not very loud and might be not possible to listen to on a busy avenue. Nonetheless, it is highly effective sufficient for locating an earbud behind the couch.

Alternatively, you possibly can play music at most quantity or obtain a frequency generator app and set it to supply a high-pitched sq. wave. In my expertise with the Galaxy Buds, a frequency generator could make louder sounds than Samsung’s app when set to about 4,000 to six,000Hz.

Watch out with third-party Bluetooth system finder apps

Whereas researching, I discovered a number of apps on the Google Play Retailer designed to seek out lacking Bluetooth units. The a number of I examined upset me in some ways. Their location and distance estimates had been unreliable, with solely BLE Scanner giving me considerably helpful data through its radar function. It is common for these apps to include tons of irritating and deceptive advertisements. Making issues worse, some use darkish patterns to lure customers into $15-a-week subscriptions after a three-day free trial. For those who determine to strive one, monitor your Play Retailer subscriptions web page.

3

Retrace your steps

Stroll again and verify if the earbud reconnects

If no apps assist, retrace your steps. Take into consideration the place you final had each earbuds with you and stroll again to that spot. Think about using the Google Maps Timeline if you cannot keep in mind the precise route you took. This is learn how to entry the function when you have it enabled:

1. Open Google Maps and faucet your profile image within the upper-right nook.
2. Faucet Your Timeline. This provides you a historical past of the locations you visited on a specific day.

Whereas strolling again, maintain your telephone’s Bluetooth menu open. In case your misplaced earbud is close to, it ought to reappear and reconnect. Maintain your different earbud inside its case to forestall it from connecting to your telephone. The vary of Bluetooth units is barely round 30 to 100 ft in perfect circumstances, and your earphones would possibly take just a few seconds to ascertain a connection. Do not go too quick, like in a automotive or on a motorcycle, while you’re trying to find a lacking earbud this manner.

2

Purchase a alternative earbud

Some corporations will promote you a single earbud however at a value

If you cannot discover your misplaced earbud, contemplate shopping for a alternative. Nevertheless, there are a lot of obstacles to consider. Chances are you’ll must take the buds and their case to a service heart the place a technician can pair them. For example, Sony clarifies on its web site that “solely an Licensed Service Middle can configure your earbuds’ settings to align their firmware variations.”

Extra importantly, shopping for a alternative from the unique producer might value about as a lot as shopping for a brand new set. Samsung Australia lists the costs of spares on its web site (in Australian {dollars}), they usually’re virtually as costly as a brand new pair from Amazon. For those who’ve had your wi-fi earphones for just a few years or they’re exhibiting indicators of battery degradation, it might be wiser to go along with a brand new pair and recycle your previous electronics.

Third-party on-line shops and eBay sellers supply spare earbuds and charging cradles at decrease costs. Suggestions on Reddit seems to be constructive. Nonetheless, proceed at your personal threat in case you take this route. Discover out in case your mannequin permits customers to couple alternative earbuds manually, which is doable with some Samsung Galaxy Buds fashions.

1

Promote your earbud and case

Then, use the cash to purchase a brand new set

As a final resort, promote your earbud and its case to get again as a lot worth from them as doable. So long as they’re in good situation, they might be usable for elements or to finish one other set. You would possibly want to wash them first, and our information on learn how to look after wi-fi earphones will assist.

When it is time to ship your earbuds off to their subsequent proprietor, do not hassle with big-box retail shops and their trade-in packages. They will not offer you any cash for a single earbud. As an alternative, a extra worthwhile possibility might be to place it on eBay, the place single earbuds go for $20 to $40, relying on the situation. Then, make investments the worth you get again in a brand new pair of wi-fi earphones. Our listing of the finest low cost wi-fi earbuds has many nice choices.

Do not lose your wi-fi earbuds

Wi-fi earphones are superior and have revolutionized how we take pleasure in music on the go. However the celebration stops while you lose one, so it is best to keep away from that scenario. To recap, set up your mannequin’s companion app and allow its loss-prevention options earlier than it is too late. Familiarize your self with the strategies it affords for locating a lacking earbud. If you must re-pair your earbuds after which have points as a result of your earbuds maintain disconnecting, we clarify why it occurs and what you are able to do to repair it.