If your Skullcandy earbuds won't pair, the fix is almost always one of four things: your earbuds aren't in pairing mode, your device has a stale Bluetooth connection, the earbuds need a reset, or a charging issue is preventing them from powering on correctly. This guide walks you through every fix step by step and applies to all Skullcandy true wireless earbuds. 

STEP 1: MAKE SURE YOUR EARBUDS ARE IN PAIRING MODE 

This is the most common reason Skullcandy earbuds won't show up on a device. Earbuds can power on without entering pairing mode, especially if they've previously been paired to another device and are trying to auto-reconnect to it. 

For most Skullcandy true wireless earbuds, entering pairing mode works like this: remove both earbuds from the charging case. They will power on automatically. You should hear a voice prompt saying "Ready to pair" or “Pairing”; this means they are discoverable and ready to connect. 

Once in pairing mode, open Bluetooth settings on your phone or device, find your Skullcandy earbuds in the list of available devices, select them, and accept any Pair or OK prompts. A voice prompt will say "Connected" to confirm a successful pairing. 

If your earbuds power on but do not enter pairing mode automatically, they are likely trying to connect to a previously paired device. You can initiate manual pairing by holding the L or R MFB button for 3s or until you hear the “Ready to par” or “Pairing” voice prompt. 

STEP 2: FORGET THE EARBUDS ON YOUR DEVICE AND RE-PAIR 

If your earbuds were previously paired to your phone and the connection is failing, not appearing, or dropping immediately, the quickest fix is to clear the old pairing and start fresh.   

On your device, go to Bluetooth Settings, find your Skullcandy earbuds in the paired devices list, and select "Forget" or "Unpair."  Once removed, put your earbuds into pairing mode manually — the most universal method across Skullcandy earbuds is to place both earbuds back into the charging case, close the lid for a few seconds, then remove both earbuds. If the earbuds does not enter automatic pairing confirmed with pairing voice prompt, wait up to 10s as it searches to try connect with previously paired devices.  If it cannot pair to any previously pair devices, it will enter pairing mode automatically and you should hear the pairing voice prompt.  If you are still not hearing the pairing voice prompt after 10s, then enter pairing mode manually by holding either MFB for 3s.   

Then go back to your Bluetooth settings, select your earbuds from the available devices list, and complete the pairing as a new device. This clears any corrupted pairing data and gives you a clean connection. 

STEP 3: PAIR TO A SECOND DEVICE USING MULTIPOINT PAIRING 

Many Skullcandy earbuds support Multipoint Pairing, which allows simultaneous connection to two devices at once, for example, your laptop and your phone, without needing to disconnect from one to use the other. 

If you want to add a second device while your earbuds are already powered on and connected to one device, press and hold either earbud for about 3 seconds until you hear "Ready to pair".  Then go to your second device's Bluetooth settings, find your Skullcandy earbuds, and complete the pairing normally. 

Once connected to both devices, your earbuds will automatically reconnect to the two most recently paired devices every time you power them on. If you prefer to pair to only one device at a time, you can disable Multipoint Pairing in the Skullcandy or Skull-iQ app. 

STEP 4: RESET YOUR SKULLCANDY EARBUDS 

If your earbuds still won't pair after the steps above, a factory reset clears all stored pairings and returns the earbuds to their out-of-box state. This resolves the majority of persistent pairing and connection issues across all Skullcandy true wireless earbuds. 

The general reset process for most Skullcandy true wireless earbuds: 

  1. Go to your device's Bluetooth settings and forget or unpair your Skullcandy earbuds, then turn Bluetooth off. 
  2. Remove both earbuds from the charging case so they power on. 
  3. Press and hold both earbud buttons simultaneously for several seconds (typically 4 to 6 seconds) until you hear two tones or a confirmation sound. 
  4. The LEDs will flash to indicate a successful reset and the earbuds will re-enter pairing mode automatically. 
  5. Turn Bluetooth back on your device, select your Skullcandy earbuds as a new device, and complete the pairing. 

Since button sequences and hold times can vary slightly by model, check the product support page at support.skullcandy.com for your specific earbud's exact reset steps. 

STEP 5: CHECK YOUR CHARGING CASE AND BATTERY 

Earbuds that haven't charged properly may power  on inconsistently or fail to enter pairing mode. Before diving deeper into troubleshooting, rule out a charging issue entirely. 

Check that the charging contacts on both earbuds are clean and free of debris. Make sure both earbuds are seated properly in the case.  Products with earbud LEDs will display charging LED patterns. Charge on a flat surface, so the USB-C cable sits securely in the charging port. Use the skullcandy supplied cable or a high-quality cable to charge the earbuds.  If the charging LED does not appear right away after plugging in, wait a few seconds as it can occasionally take a moment to register. 

Most Skullcandy earbuds feature Rapid Charge technology, meaning just 10 minutes of charging delivers several hours of playtime. A quick top-up before re-pairing can resolve issues caused by unexpectedly low battery. 

STEP 6: CHECK APP PERMISSIONS AND FIRMWARE 

If you use the Skull-iQ or Skullcandy app with your earbuds, an app-side issue can occasionally interfere with Bluetooth connectivity on your device. 

Try powering your earbuds off and back on, then force-close the app completely. Re-open the app and reconnect. On Android devices, make sure both Bluetooth and Location permissions are enabled for the app — Android requires Location access for any app that uses Bluetooth, and if this permission was declined, the app won't be able to connect. 

Also check for available firmware updates inside the app. Firmware updates regularly include fixes for pairing and connection bugs, and installing the latest version is one of the most effective ways to resolve intermittent Bluetooth issues. 

STILL NOT WORKING? CONTACT SKULLCANDY SUPPORT 

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, the problem may be covered under Skullcandy's 1-year limited warranty. Visit skullcandy.com or the support page at support.skullcandy.com to reach out to their team before filing a warranty claim. Most pairing issues can be resolved quickly without a replacement. 
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FAQ

Why won't my Skullcandy earbuds connect to my phone?

The most common causes are the earbuds not being in pairing mode, a stale Bluetooth pairing saved on your device, or low battery. Start by forgetting the earbuds in your device's Bluetooth settings, removing them from the charging case to trigger pairing mode, and re-pairing as a new device. 

How do I put Skullcandy earbuds into pairing mode?

For most Skullcandy true wireless earbuds, remove both earbuds from the charging case. They will power on automatically and say "Ready to pair" while the LEDs pulse. If they don't enter pairing mode automatically, place them back in the case, close the lid for a few seconds, and remove them again. 

How do I reset my Skullcandy earbuds?

First forget the earbuds from your device's Bluetooth settings. Then remove both earbuds from the case, press and hold both earbud buttons simultaneously for 4 to 6 seconds until you hear two tones. The earbuds will reset and re-enter pairing mode. Exact button sequences vary by model — check support.skullcandy.com for your specific product. 

Can I pair my Skullcandy earbuds to two devices at once?

Yes, many Skullcandy earbuds support Multipoint Pairing. While already connected to one device, press and hold either earbud for about 3 seconds to enter pairing mode, then connect to your second device normally. Your earbuds will automatically connect to both devices on future power-ons. 

Why do my Skullcandy earbuds keep disconnecting?

Frequent disconnects are usually caused by Bluetooth interference, low battery, being out of Bluetooth range (typically around 30 feet), or outdated firmware. Try resetting the earbuds, updating firmware via the Skull-iQ or Skullcandy app, and keeping your paired device nearby. 

(typically around 30 feet), or outdated firmware. Try resetting the earbuds, updating firmware via the Skull-iQ or Skullcandy app, and keeping your paired device nearby.  Do Skullcandy earbuds have a warranty?

Yes. All Skullcandy products come with a 1-year limited warranty. Contact Skullcandy support before filing a claim as most pairing and connection issues can be resolved quickly through their support team.