The right bud has gone silent like a Finn in an elevator. The red light blinks, but no sound comes out. The left bud plays on like nothing happened. Frustrating, but don't throw in the towel just yet – this is usually fixable without a trip to the repair shop.
Why is the right bud mute?
In the NL25 earbuds, the right one is the so-called primary earbud. It connects to your phone and relays audio to the left one. If this connection between the buds drops out – say, from a drop, Bluetooth interference, or a software hiccup – the right bud can get stuck in a state where it flashes red but plays no sound.
A red flash usually means the bud is trying to pair and can't find its mate. The buds have just gotten confused about who's talking to whom.
How to fix it
1. Factory reset
This is the first and most important step:
- Place both buds in the charging case
- Open the case lid (remember: the opening groove is on one side – don't pry it from the hinge side)
- Hold down the button on the bottom of the case for 5 seconds
- The LEDs on the buds will flash – reset done
- Close the lid and wait a couple of seconds
2. Re-pair
- Open the case lid with the buds inside
- Go to your phone's Bluetooth settings and remove the old NL25 pairing completely (forget device)
- The buds will automatically enter pairing mode
- Search for "NL25" on your phone and connect
3. Check the basics
- Clean the charging contacts on the right bud (the contact pins inside the case) with a dry cloth or cotton swab. Earwax and dust are the enemies of charging.
- Make sure there isn't still a factory protective film on the right bud's contacts. Yes, this has happened more often than we'd care to admit.
- Try charging the case for about 15 minutes before doing the reset, if the case has been sitting empty.
4. Test Vincent van Gogh mode
The NL25 also works with one bud at a time. Take just the right bud out of the case and see if it connects to your phone on its own. If it connects and you hear sound, the problem is with the inter-bud pairing – and a factory reset will sort it. If the right bud doesn't play sound even on its own, it might be a hardware issue.
If nothing helps
If a factory reset doesn't bring the right bud back to life, the unit needs servicing. Send us:
- A photo of the earbuds (preferably both buds and the case)
- Your order number or the email address used for the order
- A short description of what happened (did the bud drop, get caught in the rain, or just stop working out of the blue)
Shoot us a message at info@valco.fi or through our support page. Our service team in Kajaani will take care of it. We don't throw earbuds in the bin here – that's the whole point.
And if the bud fell out of your ear before it stopped working: try a different size tip. Memory foam tips stay in your ear way better than silicone ones, especially if your lifestyle involves more movement than lying on the couch.
