Why Skullcandy Earbuds Keep Disconnecting

Use this guide when Skullcandy earbuds or headphones connect fine, then drop out, cut out or pause mid-song. Earbuds that never show up or never pair are a separate fault, listed under Still not working? near the end. Charging, reset and model questions start at Skullcandy earbuds fixes.

Every Skullcandy figure and setting below comes from its Product Help pages for each model. Owners of other brands can go to the cross-brand guide for earbuds that disconnect and reconnect.

Why Do My Skullcandy Earbuds Keep Cutting Out?

Skullcandy's Product Help pages point to five causes of drop-outs:

• Distance and surroundings: Skullcandy gives a range of "up to 30+ feet (10+ meters)" and adds that "your connection experience may vary based on your environment".
• A second paired device taking over: on Dime 3, Rail ANC and Crusher ANC 2, a phone or Zoom call on the other device pauses your audio, and "an important notification prompt tone" from it pauses streaming briefly.
• Low battery: Dime 3 and Rail ANC warn with a "Battery Low" voice prompt, and Dime 3 powers off once the battery is depleted.
• The two earbuds losing their link: audio drops on one side, and Skullcandy's fix is a re-sync.
• Old firmware on app-compatible models: Push Active's page says the latest firmware "will alleviate the majority of troubleshooting issues".

How to Fix Skullcandy Earbuds That Keep Disconnecting

Skullcandy's pages don't give one order for drop-outs, so these fixes start with range and Multipoint and end with a reset.

Fix 1: Move Closer and Clear the Path

Skullcandy's range figure comes with a caveat about your surroundings, so check distance first:

1. Keep your phone within 30 feet (10 meters) of your Skullcandy earbuds.
2. Move closer when the audio starts breaking up, because Skullcandy says the connection "may vary based on your environment".
3. Play the same audio in another spot to see whether the drops follow the location.

Fix 2: Manage Multipoint

Multipoint keeps your Skullcandy earbuds paired with two devices at once, and calls or alerts on the second device can interrupt what you're playing. Skullcandy's rules and the switch:

1. Know what pauses you. On Dime 3, Rail ANC and Crusher ANC 2, a call on the second device takes priority, and a notification tone pauses the stream until "streaming will resume normally".
2. Turn it off on Rail ANC, Method 360 ANC and Crusher ANC 2. In the Skullcandy App, find the tile for Multipoint Pairing, tap it and set "Multipoint Pairing" to "OFF".
3. Turn Bluetooth off on the second device if you use Dime 3. Dime 3 doesn't work with the Skullcandy App, so its page offers no Multipoint switch.

Adding a third device changes which two stay connected: Skullcandy says the device "first paired to your earbuds will be disconnected". Our guide to headphones with Bluetooth multipoint explains which earbuds support it and when it causes problems.

Fix 3: Charge Your Skullcandy Earbuds

Skullcandy earbuds warn you before the battery runs out, so charge at the first warning:

1. Charge when you hear "Battery Low". Dime 3 says it with about 40 minutes of play time left, then every 10 minutes until it powers off; Rail ANC says it at about 15% and again at about 8%.
2. Seat both earbuds in the case so their lights turn solid red, which shows they're charging.

Fix 4: Update the Firmware (App-Compatible Models)

Firmware updates come through the Skullcandy App, and Skullcandy's Push Active page ties the latest version to fewer faults:

1. Open the Skullcandy App and tap the "Update" button on your earbuds' Product Card.
2. Meet Skullcandy's four conditions first: at least 25% battery on the earbuds, a network connection and at least 30% battery on the phone, and both earbuds connected.

Fix 5: Re-Sync Them and Pair Again

A re-sync relinks the two earbuds, and pairing again gives your phone a fresh connection:

1. Put both earbuds in the case until their lights come on, then take them out together. On Rail ANC and Push Active, close the lid for 2 seconds first.
2. Re-sync them if one side keeps dropping. On Dime 3, turn Bluetooth off on your device, then press both earbud buttons four times at once; four quick blue flashes confirm the sync. The guide for a left or right Skullcandy earbud not working has the other models.
3. Forget the earbuds in your Bluetooth settings and pair them again, choosing the plain name, not the entry ending in "-LE".

Fix 6 (Last): Reset Your Skullcandy Earbuds

A reset clears the earbuds' paired-device list, so you'll pair them with each device again afterwards. To factory reset Skullcandy earbuds, use your model's control; Dime 3, for example, needs both earbud buttons held for 6 seconds until you hear two tones.

Disconnecting From a Laptop, Android Phone or With Headphones

The fixes above apply everywhere, with three differences by device.

Disconnecting From a Windows Laptop

Put your Skullcandy earbuds in pairing mode and connect Skullcandy earbuds to a Windows PC again from its Bluetooth settings. Skullcandy says its app "will not have app support with your PC, iPad and MacBook", so turn Multipoint Pairing off from the app on your phone if the phone keeps taking over.

Disconnecting on Android

Check which entry your phone is connected to. An entry ending in "-LE" is the Tile connection, and Skullcandy says it "will not allow for audio and calls"; pair Skullcandy earbuds with an Android phone using the plain name. If the Skullcandy App keeps losing the earbuds, give the app Bluetooth and Location permissions.

Skullcandy Headphones Cutting Out

Crusher Evo and Hesh Evo headphones share the earbuds' range of "up to 30+ feet (10+ meters)". Crusher ANC 2's page gives no range figure, but it follows the same Multipoint rules: a call on the second device takes priority, and you can turn Multipoint Pairing off in the Skullcandy App.