Why Won’t My Beats Headphones & Earbuds Turn Off? (5 Fixes)

If your Beats headphones won’t turn off, you only have two choices. You either fix them, or you simply wait until the battery is drained to zero and turn them off that way. Both the headphones and earbuds have their own advantages but none of that really matters if they aren’t functioning the way they should.

Headphones typically charge by plugging them directly into a USB or USB-C cable. Earbuds charge when placed inside of their case. Only the headphones should remain on (if you don’t turn them off) when plugged in.

Earbuds should turn off in the case. However, you’ll know they’re still on if you get a phone call and, unbeknownst to you, the voice on the other end is coming through your earbuds while you’re screaming into the phone.

So, how do we fix this irritating error? Fortunately, there are a few possibilities.

5 Fixes To Beats Headphones & Earbuds Not Turning Off?

1. Force Reset Them

Now, we’re talking about earbuds and headphones in general here, at least within the Beats lineup. That covers a great deal of territory, including Beats Studio, Beats Solo, Beats Fit Pro, Powerbeats Pro, and Beats Flex, along with all of the versions within each series.

You’ll need to have your manual handy or you need to jump online and pull up the digital version of your Beats manual. Jump on Google and type in the word “Beats,” followed by its type within the series, followed by “User Manual.”

For instance, Google the term Beats Studio 3 User Manual, and you should gain access to a digital version of the manual that came with your Beats. This will tell you how to reset them, as most of them are slightly different.

For the most part, however, you can plug any of the Beats headphones or earbuds into a power outlet and hold the reset button down for a minimum of 20 seconds.

If you are trying to reset earbuds, be sure they are in the case. Plug the case into a power outlet and press and hold the reset button on the case.

Once 20 seconds is up, release the button and try to turn them off again. That won’t reset them but it’s kind of a soft reset that may clear up a software glitch if that’s what you’re dealing with.

2. Make Sure They are Updated to Their Current Firmware

Keeping your firmware updated is imperative. If it lags behind, some of the new features introduced on your iPhone or whatever device you are using with the Beats may not work with the Beats, which might mess them up in turn.

For the most part, Apple releases updates that just hang out in place until you connect your Beats to an iPhone. But, not everyone uses their Beats with Apple devices.

You can download the Beats app in those cases, such as with an Android device.

The Beats app will ensure that your Beats headphones or earbuds are up-to-date by releasing the firmware whenever they connect. However, you know how “automated” stuff is. It’s fantastic and it works great until it doesn’t.

It’s always a good idea to have a manual update backup and, in this case, that backup is you. For Beats connected to an iOS device, do the following to check that the latest software is available and updated:

1. Open the Settings app on your iOS device
2. Select “Bluetooth”
3. Select your Beats device
4. You can check from here to make sure your Beats have the latest firmware

For those using Android devices or a non-Apple smartwatch, you’ll have to access the Beats app to check on the latest firmware.

1. Open the Beats app
2. Check the notifications within your Beats app
3. Available software updates arrive via notifications
4. While updating, keep your Beats app open
5. Once the update is complete, you can close the app again

Since Apple purchased Beats, they are essentially different versions of AirPods, and they work almost seamlessly with iOS devices. You don’t have to do much to keep them on track, with the occasional check on the Bluetooth Settings.

3. Disconnect Your Beats from Android or iOS Device

If you have multiple Bluetooth audio devices that you frequently connect with your Android or iOS device, those devices could interfere with the Beats’ ability to connect, which may affect the Beats negatively as well.

One of the easiest ways to fix this is to remove the Beats from your device and pair them again. For iOS devices, this is a fairly straightforward task.

1. Open the Settings Menu on your iOS device
2. Select Bluetooth
3. Select the “i” symbol for your Beats from the menu of connected or remembered devices
4. At the bottom, select “Forget this Device”
5. Place your Beats headphones in their case (if you have the headphones, don’t do anything)
6. Place your Beats in pairing mode
7. Once the Beats pop up on your iOS device, select them and pair
8. Try to turn off your Beats

The process is essentially the same on an Android device. You still have to delete the Beats from the phone and pair them again.

1. Open the Settings Menu
2. Select Connected Devices
3. Select Connection Preferences
4. Select Bluetooth
5. Select either your Beats or a small gear icon next to them
6. Select Forget or Unpair to remove the Beats from your Android device

Once they are removed, as with an iOS device, simply place your Beats in pairing mode, reconnect them, and try to turn them off again.

4. Try Turning Your Beats Off from the App

IOS devices don’t have the same app as Android since the Beats are essentially integrated with your iOS device. However, you can try to do the same thing by downloading the Beats Pill app.

Either way, both apps feature a “turn-off” option within the app. Jump on either app and open the Settings menu. Select your Beats headphones from the Settings menu. On the next screen, you should see an option for turning them off from the app.

Use this option and see if this works to turn it off. If nothing else, you can try the unpair and pair option again before trying the turn-off option within their respective apps.

5. Remove the Battery

Keep in mind that this is a last-resort option and you should not do it at all if your Beats are still under warranty. In fact, you might want to go ahead and file a warranty claim if none of the above options do the trick and the problem is ongoing.

Depending on the Beats you have, there are a variety of video tutorials out there for removing the battery, from the large headphones to the small earbuds. Just realize that you’ll need to be very careful and have the right tools for the job.

All you need to do is remove the battery for a few seconds. Then, you can replace the battery and put the headphones/earbuds back together again. Power them back up and see if you can turn them off at this point.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you never run across this problem, or, at the very least, the headphones or earbuds eventually drain the battery and work just fine when recharged. In fact, that could have been a sixth option—simply allowing the battery to burn out.

Either way, hopefully, one of the above options will get your Beats back in good working order so you can listen to your favorite tunes, worry-free.