The short answer: earbuds usually fall out because the tip is the wrong size, the seal is weak, or the bud sits at the wrong angle. Your two ears can also need different sizes. The free fix is to run your fit test, try every tip size in each ear on its own, and seat the bud with a small twist. If that fails, try foam tips, wing tips or ear hooks. For most people who still lose buds while moving, the Soundcore Sport X20 is our pick.
We did not test any of these products. Everything below comes from the makers and the sources at the end.
Why earbuds fall out
- Wrong tip size. Too small and the tip wobbles out. Too big and it feels pressured and can push itself out, says Shokz.
- Ears that do not match. Apple says your left and right ears may need different sizes.
- Wrong angle. Ear canals curve, so a bud pushed in at the wrong angle never sits well.
- Jaw movement. Talking and chewing change the canal and slowly break the seal.
- Sweat, oil and wax. They make silicone slippery, and Comply says wax can stop a tip from seating.
- Hard impact. Running or jumping can break a fit that relies on suction alone.
Shokz and Comply sell fit products, so read their advice as vendor claims.
7 fixes, free ones first
- Run the fit test. On AirPods Pro 1 and 2, open Settings, then Bluetooth, tap the info button next to your AirPods and pick the Ear Tip Fit Test. AirPods Pro 3 have an Acoustic Seal Test and need iOS or iPadOS 26 or later. If the result is poor, adjust the bud and test again before you change size. Soundcore's Sport X20 has a Fit Test in its app, and SoundGuys notes some other earbuds do too.
- Try every tip size, one ear at a time. Apple says start with medium. Go larger if it is loose and smaller if it feels too big. Shokz suggests a tug, a chew and a short walk to test each size. Mixing sizes is fine.
- Seat the bud properly. Anker says to pull the top of your ear up and back, insert the bud, rotate it slightly to seat it, then let go. Shokz says to change the angle instead of pushing deeper.
- Clean and dry. Wipe the nozzles and tips and dry your ears. Comply says tips lose effectiveness with regular use, so replace worn ones.
- Try foam tips. Foam squeezes small, then expands to fill the canal, so compress it before you insert it, says Anker. SoundGuys says foam blocks more noise than silicone, while silicone is more durable and easier to wash. Nozzle sizes differ, so use the maker's fit guide.
- Add wings or hooks. SoundGuys says wing tips and silicone ear stays help buds stay put during vigorous activity like workouts. Your model must support them.
- Switch to earbuds built to stay in. The picks below use a wing tip, an ear hook or an open-ear fit.
The picks side by side
| Soundcore Sport X20 | Beats Powerbeats Fit | Shokz OpenFit 2+ | Comply TrueGrip MAX | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fit style | In-ear with ear hook | In-ear with wing tip | Open-ear with ear hook | Foam ear tip |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IPX4 (buds and case) | IP55 (buds) | Not an earbud |
| Battery per charge | 12 hours (7 with ANC on) | 7 hours (6 with ANC on) | 11 hours | Not an earbud |
| Noise cancelling | Yes, adaptive and manual | Yes, adaptive | None listed | Not an earbud |
All figures are maker claims from Soundcore, Beats and Shokz.
What each pick fixes
Soundcore Sport X20. Fixes: earbuds slipping out when you run or lift. The hooks rotate up to 30 degrees and extend 4mm, so you can tune them to your ear. Soundcore says this locks the buds in during running and jumping. It still seals in the canal, so tip size matters.
Beats Powerbeats Fit. Fixes: buds that slide out without a hook. A flexible wing tip tucks under the ridge of your upper ear. Beats says it is nearly 20% more flexible than the older Beats Fit Pro wing tip. It comes with four tip sizes, XS to L.
Shokz OpenFit 2+. Fixes: buds that never seal in your ear. It sits outside the ear canal, so there is no seal to lose. The trade-off is that it does not block outside noise.
Comply TrueGrip MAX. Fixes: silicone tips that slide out. Comply says its foam resists sweat and wipes clean. Comply claims about ten times the durability of standard foam, while Amazon's listing claims twice the lifespan of standard TrueGrip tips. Both are Comply's own claims. The pack we link is made for AirPods Pro 1 and 2, not AirPods Pro 3. Pick your size on the Amazon page.
Which should you buy?
- Don't buy anything yet. Run fixes 1 to 4. They cost nothing, and Apple's own advice is about size and angle.
- Winner for most people: Soundcore Sport X20. It has adjustable hooks, noise cancelling and the highest water rating here. It also costs less than the Beats and Shokz pairs. Prices change, so check the live price. It is on our best workout earbuds list too.
- You own AirPods Pro 1 or 2: Comply TrueGrip MAX. Try foam before you buy new earbuds.
- You want wing tips instead of hooks: Beats Powerbeats Fit. The Amazon listing says it works with iPhone and Android.
- You can never get a seal, or want to hear traffic: Shokz OpenFit 2+.
Check Comply TrueGrip MAX price on Amazon
Check Soundcore Sport X20 price on Amazon
For more choices, see our best wireless earbuds.
What to skip
- A bigger tip than fits. Apple says to go smaller if a tip feels too big or uncomfortable.
- Tips that do not list your earbuds. SoundGuys says nozzle sizes vary, and Apple says to use the tips made for your model.
- Open-ear buds if you need silence. They do not seal.
FAQ
Why do my earbuds fall out of just one ear? Apple says left and right ears may need different sizes. Test each ear on its own.
Why do earbuds fall out when I run? Shokz says jaw movement, sweat and impact can break a suction fit. Try wing tips, hooks or foam.
Do AirPods Pro fall out because of the tips? Often, yes. Run the Ear Tip Fit Test (Pro 1 and 2) or the Acoustic Seal Test (Pro 3), then try another size.
Are my earbuds too big or too small? Too small wobbles. Too big feels pressured and pushes out. If no size works, try another style or ask the maker about an exchange.
Other tech news this week
- Samsung Galaxy Buds On. Samsung's first clip-on, open-ear earbuds are on sale in South Korea. SamMobile (Oct 28) says U.S. sales start in early November, with no exact date yet.
- Noise Master Buds Open. The clip-on open-ear earbuds were set to go on sale in India on Oct 27, with Sound by Bose tuning and an IPX4 rating (Business Today).
- OnePlus Buds Pro 4. OnePlus listed them on its global site on Oct 31, claiming twice the noise reduction of the last model. No global price or date yet (ProPakistani).
Sources
- Apple: Choose your AirPods Pro ear tips
- SoundGuys: How your in-ears fit matters a lot
- SoundGuys: How to find the best ear tips
- Anker: Earbuds keep falling out? 6 ways
- Shokz: How to keep earbuds from falling out
- Comply: Why your earbuds keep falling out
- Comply: TrueGrip MAX
- Soundcore: Sport X20
- Beats: Powerbeats Fit
- Shokz: OpenFit 2+
- SamMobile: Galaxy Buds On in the US
- Business Today: Noise Master Buds Open
- ProPakistani: OnePlus Buds Pro 4
Image: Soundcore. As an Amazon Associate, BeastCompare earns from qualifying purchases.
