Why Do My Earbuds Keep Falling Out?

If your earbuds keep falling out, you're not alone. Here are a few reasons why your earbuds might not stay put and a few ways to keep them in place.

When it comes to portability and convenience, earbuds are a top choice for music lovers around the world. After all, it’s not very comfortable to run around (literally and figuratively) with over-the-ear headphones, and earbuds are a lot more portable.

However, there is one very big inconvenience present in a lot of off-the-shelf earbuds—they tend to fall out. From improperly sized tips that are too big for your small ears to earbuds that are simply too heavy, here are a few of the reasons your earbuds might be falling out.

You Have the Wrong Fit in One Ear

You’ve probably noticed that these days most manufacturers offer different sizes of rubber tips with their earbuds. That’s because ears come in different shapes and sizes.

Some people have larger ears that require a bigger eartip to stay put, while others have smaller ears that need smaller tips to fit snugly. If you’re like most people, you probably guess which tip size works best for you and use that same size for both your left and right ears.

But your left and right ears aren’t identical. It’s a lot like ring sizes. Many people have variations in ring size from finger to finger. It’s not uncommon for your ring finger to be a slightly different size on each hand. Instead of picking a ring size that works with one finger and assuming it will work with every finger on both hands, you should get each finger sized separately. Otherwise, some rings might fall right off your finger.

If your earbuds are falling out of one ear and not the other, this might be your problem. Try changing the earbud tip for the side that falls out most often and see if that helps.

UE FITS never fall out

The Fit is Too Generic

Even with different-sized earbud tips, almost no off-the-shelf earbuds offer true customization. You might see packaging that promises earbud tips will supposedly match to the shape of your ears over time, but in reality, off-the-shelf rubber tips lose their shape over weeks and months of use, making the fit loosen. And, as you probably guessed, loose tips won’t stay put in your ears.

Those rubber tips at least account for different ear sizes. Plastic earbuds are even worse. With hard plastic earbuds that have a generic fit, you don’t even get the option of trying different sizes for your tips. In this case, if they don’t fit, then they don’t fit. There isn’t much you can do other than try to find another brand that might fit your ears better.

This problem is especially tough for people who have small ears. Finding earbuds for small ears that don’t immediately fall out is a struggle. If the ear tips aren’t small enough to go into your ears—and instead just rest on your outer ear—they’re less likely to stay in during even light physical activity.

As a result, those of us with smaller ears often resort to trying to force in earbuds that are too big, which can cause pain and muffled sound. The best earbuds for small ears are actually made for small ears and won’t fall out nearly as much, plus they’re more comfortable and will sound less muffled.

The Wires Are Pulling Them Out

Unless you’re using true wireless earbuds, your wires might be the reason your earbuds are falling out.

When wires are dangling from your earbuds, they’re adding a lot of weight that your earbuds might not have been designed to withhold. It’s probably not a big deal if you’re sitting on the bus or behind a desk. But if you’re walking around or even moving your arms while you’re wearing wired earbuds, you might accidentally tug on your earbuds and pull them out—an event that’s quite familiar to runners.

They Aren’t Designed for Physical Activity

Earbuds are a popular choice for those who like to exercise with music, and it’s easy to understand why. After all, the alternatives are no music, over- or on-ear headphones or carrying a personal boom box around with you. Which, to be honest, sounds fun but cumbersome.

The problem is, not all earbuds are great for active lives. Some wired or Bluetooth earbuds have little plastic loops that wrap around the tops of your ears to secure your fit. That enables the weight of your earbuds (and wires) to rest on the top of your ear rather than being precariously supported in your ear. That’s not dissimilar to how our UE CSX earphones and UE PRO IEMs work, though both of those lines have the added benefit of a custom fit, which secures them further.

However, some consumers who are looking for off-the-shelf earbuds that stay in place might find the plastic wrap of these fitness earbuds uncomfortable. Unlike our CSX earphones and PRO IEMs, many of these “secure” options are hard, stiff plastic. If your ears are sensitive (and many are), you might be trading the discomfort of earbuds that constantly fall out for physical pain.

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UE FITS are Different

It seems like a lot of the issues with normal earbuds that causes them to fall out are, well, very fixable. So, we fixed them.

Let’s start with incorrectly sized tips. With UE FITS, you don’t need to worry about matching tip sizes to your ears. FITS’ tips mold to the exact shape of your ear so they can “lock” into place without falling out. And if you have bigger or smaller ears, we can send you tips that will better fit your ears at no extra cost.

As for lack of customization, UE FITS offers an almost-instant custom fit via patented Lightform technology. Unlike soft rubber tips that lose their shape, FITS uses a photopolymer that conforms to the exact shape of each ear in just 60 seconds.

The result isn’t as squishy as soft rubber, but not as hard as generic plastic earbuds, and the customization means your earbuds essentially lock into place. That means they stay put and never lose their shape, whether you’re headbanging behind your desk or are tackling a 10k trail run.

What about those wires? Wait, what wires? UE FITS are true wireless earbuds, so there are absolutely no wires or controls dangling from your earpieces. That means pulling and tangling wires is one less thing you have to worry about when wearing FITS.

Finally, UE FITS is made for activity. By now, you’ve learned that the custom molding process means your earbuds are perfectly shaped to your ears. In a way, they lock into place so you don’t have to worry about them falling out, no matter what. From spin classes to your own personal at-home aerobics routine, FITS will stay put because that’s what they were designed to do.

Are you ready to experience earbuds that stay put no matter what? UE FITS offers a Custom Fit Guarantee and a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Order your FITS today!