Earbuds always falling out? Try these 4 fixes

If you’re anything like us, you love the comfort and convenience of wireless earbuds. Like their wired predecessors, many find one major obstacle between tranquility and a constant annoyance: Why won’t these things stay in my ears?

Until you find the right pair of earbuds, it’s difficult to describe how awesome they are. Tap or click for the best wireless earbuds for music and podcast lovers.

You don’t need to struggle with earbuds not staying put. Here are four simple tips to help you make the most of wireless earbuds as a part of your professional, academic or athletic workflow.

1. Double-check the instructions they came with

Are you wearing them in the wrong ears? Are you plugging them in backward or even upside-down?

Few earbuds will arrive on your doorstep without a pamphlet showing you the correct way to wear them. All but the most generic will usually be designed to hug the natural curvature of the human ear, and these shapes aren’t exactly congruent in all directions.

Many are guilty of shoving earbuds in without checking to ensure the little “R” and “L” labels match their ear. 

2. Keep your earbuds clean

Are dirty earbuds harder to use? Surprisingly, this is often the case. Earwax and other grime may prevent earbuds or silicon tips from clinging to the skin of your middle ear. Like any electronic device, you’ll want to exercise caution and the manufacturer’s best practices when maintaining them to avoid damage.

A puffer or canned air will help you dislodge dust and dirt particles from nooks, crannies and vents. Toothpicks, cotton swabs, and any included brushes or other tools can then be used to deal with anything stuck to the earbuds in a layer.

Sanitizing them using waterless methods like UV sanitation can eliminate germs from their surfaces. Avoid moisture-based solutions unless the manufacturer deems their use safe enough for consumers.

Try to make this habit a regular part of your weekly routine. Failing to do so won’t just make your buds more challenging to use. You might also find yourself the victim of a nasty ear infection. An ounce of prevention can go a long way.

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Review: Comparing iPhone 13 cases from Casetify, OtterBox and Speck

If I felt I had a choice, I would leave my iPhone 13 Pro Max as naked as the day it came out of the box. There’s just this appreciation I have for the design, the muted graphite color and the way the premium phone feels when not encased in a bulky protective shell.

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Cool little bags

One of my favorite little pleasures is returning to the car after a long hike, popping open my cooler and grabbing an ice-cold drink — ah-h-h. Recreate that bliss at the beach, on a boat or even at your desk with these little coolers — all chosen for their awesomeness by the folks at Consumer Reports.

  • Best status-cooler alternative: YETI, Stanley and Hydro Flask coolers make all the best-of lists — and their coolers can cost over $200. The nine-can Titan ($32.99) has features that rival the status coolers (deep-freeze insulation, padded and adjustable shoulder strap, a no-zip flip top) without the name-brand markup.
  • Best backpack cooler: If you can’t (or don’t want to) wait to get back to your car before popping open a cold one, swap out your regular daypack with this backpack cooler ($29.99). Its waterproof interior can hold up to 28 cans and keep ‘em cold for 16 hours. The outside pockets hold your keys, phone and granola bars. 
  • Best for the golf course: A cooler so genius that it was on “Shark Tank,” the Caddyswag ($25.99) fits six cans of seltzer or soda or whatever and slides perfectly into your golf bag’s external pocket. This will be a slam dunk Father’s Day present for a lot of you, I’m sure. 
  • Best for style: A hip cooler? Yup. They call it retro, but I just call it cool. Igloo’s neon ‘90s cooler (17% off, $24.99) is hot pink, teal and highlighter yellow with a carrying handle and a shoulder strap. Keep nine LaCroix ice cold for enjoying anywhere you want to be refreshed and stylin’. 
  • Best for lunch: PackIt’s freezable lunch bag ($23.99) is both a bag and an ice pack all in one. The bag flattens down to practically nothing so you can store it in even the most packed freezer, then just grab it, pack it and you’re on your way. Cool color options, too.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

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The shine wears off AI and ChatGPT

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Is AI’s writing style all that good? Here’s why it’s losing its luster, in 60 seconds. 

Underwater drone: An UUV (uncrewed underwater vehicle) called Manta Ray just underwent testing off the coast of California. Shaped just like its namesake, the massive Manta Ray can glide below the waves with almost zero wake. It can also be taken apart and reassembled in the field, Ikea-style, for easy transport. Check it out in action!

Missing a Windows-style Start menu on your Mac? The free XMenu app gives you options to add a menu with applications, documents, folders and more, whether you’re nostalgic for the classic Apple menu or the functions of your former Windows machine.