You press the button. Nothing. You press again, longer this time. Still nothing. You do a factory reset because someone on the internet told you to. That doesn't help either. Your VMK20 is just sitting on the desk like an expensive coaster.
Been there. Let's go through what actually works.
Why the factory reset didn't help
A factory reset clears Bluetooth pairings and settings. It does absolutely nothing if the problem is a dead battery, a frozen circuit, or a hardware fault. It's a bit like trying to fix an empty fuel tank by resetting the trip meter.
The most common reason for a VMK20 "won't turn on" issue is simply the battery. The headphones might look like they're charged (LED flashes blue), but the battery level has dropped so low it's not enough to boot up. The other common culprit is the Bluetooth chip getting stuck.
How to fix it
Try these in order. Don't skip straight to step four.
1. Charge properly
- Plug in a USB-C cable and let the headphones charge for at least 30 minutes before you try turning them on
- Preferably use a computer USB port or a 5V charger – some fast chargers don't always recognise headphones correctly
- If the LED doesn't light up at all during charging, try a different cable – USB-C cables break surprisingly often
2. Do a proper reset (the AUX trick)
- Plug a 3.5mm AUX cable into the jack on the bottom of the headphones
- This completely disconnects the Bluetooth chip – it's the VMK20's "real" reset
- Unplug the cable and try turning on normally using the MFB button (right side)
3. Check the ANC button
- The VMK20's ANC runs on a separate circuit. It can be on even when the headphones are "off"
- Press the ANC button on the left ear cup and check if the green LED turns off
- ANC drains the battery in the background, and if it's been left on, the battery may have been completely drained
4. The combo move
- Plug in the AUX cable
- Plug in the USB-C charging cable
- Let it charge for 30 minutes
- Unplug the AUX cable
- Unplug the charging cable
- Turn on
This forces the circuit to reset and makes sure enough juice has gone into the battery.
If nothing works
If the headphones still won't come back to life after all this, it's most likely a hardware fault – the battery or the circuit board has given up the ghost. Electronics break sometimes, that's just how it goes.
Send us:
- A photo of the headphones (just so we can see the model and condition)
- Order number or proof of purchase
- A short description of what you've already tried
The address is info@valco.fi. Our service team in Kajaani will fix the unit. During the warranty period (24 months) it's sorted at no extra cost. Outside warranty we'll still repair them – you'll just need a repair kit.
We don't throw headphones in the bin. That's why we have our own repair service, not just a "buy new ones" attitude. Although selling new ones would fund that Death Star a lot more efficiently.
