Why does one earbud show red and the other doesn't?

Each earbud has its own independent battery. Asymmetric battery drain is normal — right earbuds typically drain faster since they host the main Bluetooth processor on many models. One can reach low battery before the other.

How long does it take for earbuds to charge from red (low) to full?

Most mainstream earbuds (Sony, Jabra, Anker) take 60–90 minutes for a full earbud charge when placed in a properly powered case. Fast-charge features (like Sony's 10-minute quick charge) can give 60–90 minutes of playback from a brief charge.

My earbuds show solid red even at full charge — is that normal?

Some older Anker and JLab models show red continuously while in the case, only turning off the LED when removed. This doesn't indicate a problem — it just means the LED doesn't change color on charge completion on your model. Verify in your manual or manufacturer's app.

Earbuds Solid Red Light (Low Battery or Charging)

Earbuds showing a solid red light — find out if it means low battery, charging, or an error, with brand differences for Sony, Apple, Beats, Bose, and more.

Solid

red

Quick info

Device typeEarbuds & Headphones

Colorred

PatternSolid

Locationearbud body or case

StateLow battery / charging

Visual description

A steady, non-blinking red LED on one or both earbuds, or on the front of the charging case. The exact location varies: on earbuds with a small LED dot on the stem or outer body, it glows solid red. On cases, it may be a small LED window or strip on the front. This is different from a flashing red (usually 'critically low battery, shutting down') or alternating red-blue (pairing mode).

What it means

Solid red on earbuds almost universally communicates one of two things depending on context:

Outside the case (earbuds in ears or on a surface): The earbud battery is low — typically below 20–30% charge remaining. You'll usually get audio warnings ('battery low') alongside this visual. At this level, expect 30–60 minutes of playback before automatic shutdown.

Inside the case / placed on a charger: The earbuds are actively charging. Many brands use red = charging, then transition to white or green when fully charged. Check whether the case itself is connected to power — if not, the case battery is dead and cannot charge the earbuds despite showing red.

Brand behavior varies significantly here — see the brand variations table.

Brand & model variations

The same light pattern can mean different things across manufacturers.

Brand / Model	What red solid means	Recommended action
Apple AirPods Pro, AirPods 3	Apple AirPods use an amber/orange light, not red. Solid amber = case charging. Flashing amber = pairing error. No LED on the earbuds themselves — all status is on the case.	Amber light = keep case connected to charger. See AirPods amber light page.
Beats Fit Pro, Studio Buds	Solid red LED = battery below 20%. Flashing red = critically low, will shut off within minutes. No solid red 'charging' state — Beats shows white LED while charging.	Place Beats in case immediately and connect case to power.
Sony WF-1000XM5	Red light inside the case = earbuds are charging. Red light on earbud body (in use) = low battery alert. Sony transitions from red → green when the earbuds reach full charge.	Charging red is normal — leave connected until green appears.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II	Bose uses amber (not red) for low battery warnings. Solid amber while charging. No distinct 'low battery' LED — Bose relies on voice prompts.	Voice announcement 'battery low' precedes shutdown on Bose.
Jabra Elite series	Red flashing = critically low battery, will shut down in under 5 minutes. Solid red inside case = charging in progress.	Solid red in case is fine — it will turn off when fully charged.

Diagnose your issue

Answer a few questions to narrow down the cause.

Diagnose Your Issue

Where are the earbuds when you see the red light?

Safe next steps

Ordered from least to most involved. Check each step as you go.

Determine whether you see red inside the case (charging) or on earbuds during use (low battery).
If low battery during use: finish up and place in case within 30–60 minutes.
If charging: ensure case USB cable is firmly connected, wait 15 minutes, and check that red light remains (indicating charge is flowing).
If case is plugged in but earbuds don't seem to be charging after 30 minutes: remove earbuds and clean the metal charging contacts on both earbuds and case with a dry cloth.
Reseat earbuds — they should click or magnetically snap into place.
If still no change, try a different USB cable and power adapter.

When it resolves on its own

Condition: Low battery warning while in use

Expected time: Solid red in-use warning: earbuds will auto-shutoff after 15–60 min depending on model and volume. Red charging light: transitions to green/white when fully charged, typically 60–90 minutes.

When to escalate

Stop troubleshooting and contact your ISP or manufacturer if:

Earbuds show red then immediately power off, even though they've been charging for 2+ hours.
Case is charged (green light on case) but earbuds return to 0% battery very quickly — battery degradation.
One earbud charges (red → green) but the other stays red indefinitely — charge contact or battery fault on one unit.