Sound only coming out of one side

I have a several wireless speakers and ear buds, all with 2 channel capabilities (e.g. My Kove Commuter 2 speaker lets me separate them into 2 speakers to play sound from each). Everything was going great but recently I became unable to hear sound from both speakers at the same time. Even my earbuds have the same issue.


Also, when I go into Bluetooth, I used to see just one instance of the speakers/headphones, now I see 2. I can connect to both simultaneously, but still sound only comes out of one.


Any thoughts?

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Posted on Aug 28, 2026 12:16 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Aug 28, 2026 1:10 PM

Hi there


Please try this


Forget Both Entries: Go to your iPhone Settings > Bluetooth, tap the "i" icon next to both instances of your device, and select "Forget This Device". Turn your iPhone's Bluetooth off and back on. 


Factory Reset/Re-sync the Speakers or Earbuds:

  • For devices like the Kove Commuter 2, make sure they are unpaired from your phone, turn off your phone's Bluetooth, and press/hold the specific hardware buttons (often Volume Up and Volume Down simultaneously, or the power/pairing buttons on both halves) to force them to find each other first before pairing to a phone.
  • For earbuds, put them both back in the charging case, take them out, and perform the manufacturer's specific multi-tap or touch-hold reset sequence so they re-link to each other. 

Pair Fresh to the iPhone: Once the two physical speakers/buds chime or indicate they have successfully re-linked to one another, turn your iPhone Bluetooth back on and pair to the single newly discovered name. 

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 28, 2026 1:10 PM in response to bodo2g

Hi there


Please try this


Forget Both Entries: Go to your iPhone Settings > Bluetooth, tap the "i" icon next to both instances of your device, and select "Forget This Device". Turn your iPhone's Bluetooth off and back on. 


Factory Reset/Re-sync the Speakers or Earbuds:

  • For devices like the Kove Commuter 2, make sure they are unpaired from your phone, turn off your phone's Bluetooth, and press/hold the specific hardware buttons (often Volume Up and Volume Down simultaneously, or the power/pairing buttons on both halves) to force them to find each other first before pairing to a phone.
  • For earbuds, put them both back in the charging case, take them out, and perform the manufacturer's specific multi-tap or touch-hold reset sequence so they re-link to each other. 

Pair Fresh to the iPhone: Once the two physical speakers/buds chime or indicate they have successfully re-linked to one another, turn your iPhone Bluetooth back on and pair to the single newly discovered name. 

Aug 28, 2026 11:09 PM in response to bodo2g

If you're only hearing sound in one channel (left or right), it's likely due to poor recording quality caused by faulty cables or subpar instruments.


Let us understand Mono and Stereo closely.


  1. Mono vs. Stereo Audio:
    1. Mono (Monaural) Audio: A single audio channel where the same sound is sent to both the left and right speakers (or ears) at the same frequency and intensity. There’s no spatial differentiation in the sound.
    2. Stereo Audio: Two distinct channels (left and right) capture and play different sounds, allowing for a perception of directionality and space. This creates a more immersive experience.
  2. How Stereo Recording Works on an iPhone:
    1. iPhones with stereo recording capability (like recent Pro models) use multiple microphones to capture sound from different directions.
    2. Sounds coming from the left side of the iPhone are primarily recorded in the left channel, and sounds from the right side are recorded in the right channel.
    3. This separation creates a stereo effect when played back through stereo speakers or headphones, making it feel like sounds are positioned in a 3D space.
  3. For True Stereo Effects:
    1. You must record in stereo (using a stereo microphone setup).
    2. You must transmit in stereo (the file must preserve the left and right channel separation).
    3. You must playback in stereo (using stereo speakers or headphones that can reproduce the left and right channels separately).
  4. Why Listening on a Single Speaker is Still Mono:
    1. If you listen to a stereo recording through only one speaker, you lose the directional separation, and the audio effectively becomes mono again.
    2. Even if the stereo signal is combined into one channel, it no longer has spatial positioning, making it indistinguishable from mono-playback.


Practical Example:

  • If you record a street scene in stereo, footsteps on the left should sound more dominant in the left channel, and cars on the right should be more dominant in the right channel.
  • If you listen with two stereo speakers, you’ll perceive the depth and separation.
  • If you listen with only one speaker, both channels are mixed, and it sounds like a flat mono recording.


This is why stereo sound requires the full chain—recording, transmission, and playback in stereo—to retain the stereo effect.


If you're only hearing sound in one channel (left or right), it’s typically a result of issues during the recording process. This can be caused by poor-quality cables, faulty connections, or low-grade instruments that do not properly transmit a balanced audio signal. Ensuring high-quality recording equipment and checking for secure connections can help prevent this issue.


if a recording is only playing on one channel (left or right), there are several ways to correct it after recording using third-party apps or software. This cannot be corrected on an iPhone.

Sound only coming out of one side

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