The charging cable is unplugged, but the case is flashing its lights like a discount disco ball. Sound familiar? Don't worry – this is usually completely normal behaviour, not a sign that your case is heading to the great beyond.
Why does the case blink after unplugging the cable?
The case's electronics don't just shut off at the snap of a finger. When you unplug the charging cable, the case checks the charge level of the buds and shows it with the lights. This blinking typically lasts from a few seconds up to about twenty seconds.
Four lights means full charge. Fewer lights, less juice. The case is just giving you a status update – think of it as a fuel gauge, but for your headphones.
If the blinking lasts over a minute or the lights behave erratically (flashing randomly, not turning off at all), then it's worth looking into.
How to check things out
- Just wait it out. Let the case finish its little light show. If the lights turn off on their own within 10–30 seconds, everything's fine. Carry on with your life.
- Check the charging port. Have a peek into the USB-C port. Dust, lint, or other gunk in there? Carefully clean it out with a dry toothpick or a small brush. Cases that live in pockets collect lint like a magnet.
- Try a different cable. Cheap cables die first. If charging works fine with another cable, the cable was the culprit.
- Reset the case. Open the lid and press the case button for about 5 seconds. The lights will blink for a moment – this is normal. Close the lid, wait a couple of seconds, and open it again. Check if the lights now behave normally.
- Check the buds. Place both buds in the case and make sure they're sitting properly in place. If a bud is crooked or the charging contacts aren't lining up, the case might be trying to charge thin air and getting confused about it.
When the blinking is NOT normal
If the case does any of the following, there might be an actual fault:
- Lights blink non-stop and won't turn off at all
- The case blinks rapidly in red or in an unusual pattern
- The buds won't charge even though the case has power and the lights are on
- The case gets noticeably hot during charging
If nothing helps
If resetting and cleaning didn't do the trick and the case keeps acting weird, drop us a message at info@valco.fi. Include your order number, model, and a brief description of the problem. A photo or video of the case's little light dance helps us diagnose things faster.
We've got our own repair shop in Kajaani where devices actually get fixed. We don't just bin them and order new ones from China – that'd be too easy and boring.
But yeah: most of the time, that blinking is just a perfectly normal battery level notification. The case just wants to tell you how it's doing. Like your grandma asking if you've eaten – it just means well.
