Samsung earbuds do not turn on or charge

If one or both of your Galaxy earbuds are not charging or turning on, the issue may be with the earbuds themselves or the charging case. Using a charger that isn't approved by Samsung may cause charging malfunctions; it's also possible that the earbuds may be damaged. You can try fully charging the case, checking the earbuds for damage, or restarting the earbuds.

Samsung earbuds do not turn on or charge

What charging issue are your earbuds having?

Samsung earbuds do not charge

Samsung earbuds do not turn on

Samsung earbuds do not charge

Note

Before using the earbuds for the first time, or if they have not been used for an extended period of time, you should charge them fully. The earbuds will power on when they are charging. Or, you could charge them for at least 10 minutes prior to use.

Make sure you're using an approved charger.

When charging, be sure to use the included USB cable and a Samsung-approved wall adapter (sold separately). Alternatively, the earbuds are compatible with select Samsung QI-compatible wireless charging pads or phones using PowerShare.

Check the case positioning if using a wireless charging pad.

When charging wirelessly, make sure to place the case directly on the center of the charging pad.

Check for case interference.

If there is a cover on the charging case, it may interfere with wireless charging. You may charge the case and earbuds with a USB cable, or remove the cover to charge wirelessly.

Make sure the earbuds are in the right spot inside the case.

Check to see if the earbuds are sitting properly inside the case. If they aren't fully in their correct spots, the charging contacts won't connect to charge the earbuds.

Check for debris on the charging contacts.

Make sure the charging contacts inside the case and on the earbuds themselves are clean and free of debris. Over time, dust, wax, or other debris can build up on the charging contacts and prevent charging. Check out our guide for how to properly clean your earbuds.

Check the earbud tips and/or wingtips.

If your buds have earbud tips and/or wingtips, make sure they are installed correctly. Otherwise, they may interfere with the earbuds sitting correctly inside the case.

Check the indicator light.

The indicator light on the outside of the case that signals the status of the case itself. The indicator light inside the case signals the status of the earbuds. If either flashes red, there may be an issue.

If external power is cut off, the red light on the outside of the case will flash. If the indicator lights are not functioning, try disconnecting and then reconnecting the charger from the case. Once reconnected, charge the case for at least 10 minutes.

Inspect the case, earbuds, and charger for damage.

If the earbuds are still not charging, check both the case and the earbuds for any damage. Damaged earbuds will not charge. However, if one earbud is damaged, the other earbud will continue to charge.

If the charging case or earbuds are damaged, you must purchase a new pair. You can also purchase a new USB cable or wall adapter if the items are damaged.

Contact Samsung if service is required.

If the charging case or the earbud(s) will not charge after troubleshooting, and the earbuds, charger, or wall adapter aren't damaged, service is required. Please call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG so that we can assist you.

Earbuds do not turn on

Important

Damaged products are not covered under warranty. You will need to replace the earbuds if the buds or case are damaged. Visit Samsung.com to purchase a pair of earbuds.

Inspect the earbuds and charging case for damage.

Inspect for a cracked or lifted case, and broken, bent, or loose parts.
If you see obvious damage, cracks, or small chips on the earbuds, this means that the earbuds have suffered from an external impact. This can impair the earbuds and their functions.
The earbuds are not impervious to water damage in any situation. Exposure to water, liquids, or chemicals can cause damage or issues with the earbuds.
Ensure the earbuds have been completely charged before use.

Inspect the touchpads and sensor.

If the earbud touchpads are unresponsive, insert them into the charging case and remove them after at least 7 seconds.
The earbud sensors should make contact with your ears when inserted. Make sure the sensors are clean and free of dust or earwax.
If the earbuds are not being detected when worn, remove the earbuds and then reinsert them.

Power off your earbuds.

If you have a Galaxy Buds model, skip this step, as they cannot be powered off. These steps only work with the Gear IconX.

Remove the wingtip and use a paper clip to press and hold the Power/Restart button (usually located next to the wingtip latch) for 10 seconds. The earbud will turn off. Repeat the same procedure for the other earbud to power it off.

Restart the connected device.

To restart the connected device, use the Power key or Side key. If the device has a power cord, disconnect the power cord. After it has completely shut down, power the device back on or reconnect the power cord.

Note

You must charge the earbuds if the indicator light doesn't flash when you restart them.

Restart your earbuds.

The steps for restarting your earbuds will vary based on the earbud model.

Galaxy Buds series: Insert the earbud(s) into the corresponding slots in the charging case, and then remove the earbud(s) after 7 seconds or longer. If the battery indicator for the earbuds or case doesn't flash when restarting the earbuds, charge both earbuds.
Gear IconX: Remove the wingtip from the latch and use a paper clip to press and hold the Power/Restart button (usually located next to the wingtip latch) until the indicator light flashes three times. The earbud will restart. Repeat the same procedure for the other earbud. If the indicator light on the earbud doesn't flash when restarting it, charge both earbuds.

After restarting the earbuds, insert them into your ears. If the earbuds do not turn on or make a sound when you insert them, adjust the earbuds to make sure they're detected.

Note

If the Galaxy Buds or Gear IconX are connected to multiple devices, it may be necessary to switch connections between the paired devices.

Resync the earbuds.

Remove the earbuds from the charging case and then reinsert them. Next, touch and hold both earbuds’ touchpads for 7 seconds or more while they are in the case. The earbud battery indicator light will flash green and return to its initial color. The earbuds will be coupled, and then you can try wearing them again.

Reconnect your devices.

Once the devices are powered on, they will automatically reconnect after a few moments. To manually check the connection, navigate to the device's Bluetooth settings, or open the Galaxy Wearable app if you're using a phone or tablet.

Request service.

If the earbuds are charged and you continue to experience issues with them after troubleshooting, service is required. Please call us at 1-800-SAMSUNG to request service.

Contact Samsung Support

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