SMOKIN’ BUDS USER GUIDE, TROUBLESHOOTING & FAQs
INITIAL SET UP & PAIRING SUPPORT:
Quick Start Version: (First time pairing out of the box)
- To pair to your device for the first time, remove the stickers covering the charging points on both earbuds, place them into the charging case, make sure both LEDs show red, and then remove both earbuds from the case.
- A tone will indicate your earbuds have powered on and a voice prompt will say “Ready to Pair” as the earbud LEDs will begin to pulse red/blue, both buds are now in pairing mode.
- Open up your device’s Bluetooth settings and look for “Smokin’ Buds” in your list of available Bluetooth devices.
- Select “Smokin’ Buds” and accept the “Pair” or “OK” prompt that appears on your screen. When pairing is complete, a voice prompt will say “connected.”
Pair to a 2nd device (after 1st time pairing, while earbuds are powered on and in a disconnected or connected state)
- Enter into Pairing Mode while your earbuds’ Bluetooth is connected or dis-connected by simply pressing the touch sensor on either bud for 3 seconds, release when you hear the voice prompt “Disconnected” and then you’ll hear “Ready to Pair”.
- If you are currently connected to a device and have it nearby, you can also manually disconnect the Bluetooth on your device and your buds will enter directly into Pairing Mode as well.
- This will also disconnect you from your previously paired device and your earbud LEDs will begin to pulse red/blue.
- Open up your device’s Bluetooth settings and look for “Smokin’ Buds” in your list of available Bluetooth devices.
- Select “Smokin’ Buds” and accept the “Pair” or “OK” prompt that appears on your screen. When pairing is complete, a voice prompt will say “connected.”
- *Important to note that after powering your earbuds off and back on, the most recently paired device will automatically pair to your Smokin’ Buds.
QUICK START GUIDE - USER CONTROLS
Smokin’ Buds media controls are ready to keep you connected and in control of your Bluetooth enabled device.
We’ve also incorporated a simple feedback tone feature that allows the user to hear each time they have tapped the capacitive touch sensor on their earbud (located on the Skullcandy Logo), and when tapping more than one time in sequence, you will hear ascending tones to give you better control of your media. They are very subtle and do not disrupt your listening, easy to hear even while playing music, and the quick sensor response tone will help you quickly learn your way around the controls on your device.
Auto Power On & Power Off:
- Remove your earbuds from the case and you will hear the power on “ping” tone and the LEDs will turn blue for 2 seconds. This will indicate they have automatically powered on.
- When your earbuds are placed correctly into the charge case, they will always be powered off as long as the case battery is charged. The LEDs will show solid RED to indicate they are powered off and charging.
- If your earbuds still have a full charge when being placed back into the charge case, the LEDs will flash red to indicate they’ve powered off and then show blue for 5 seconds.
- PRO TIP: If your earbuds are not automatically powering OFF or charging when placed into the case, or powering ON when removed from the case, please ensure that the case battery isn’t completely drained. If the case battery is dead the earbuds will not register that they have been placed into the case, and your earbuds will not automatically power off and begin to charge. Give that case a charge and you should be good to go.
Manually Power On: Either earbud
- Press and hold the touch sensor on both earbuds for 1 second (1 second hold)
Manually Power Off: Either earbud
- Tap the touch sensor on either or both earbuds twice, and then press and hold for one second (2x tap, then 1 second hold)
Play/Pause: Either earbud
- To play or pause your audio, tap the touch sensor on either earbud once (1x tap)
Answer/Hang Up Call: Either earbud
- To take or end a call, tap the touch sensor on either earbud once (1x tap)
Reject incoming Call: Either earbud
- To reject an incoming call, press the touch sensor on either bud for 1 second (1 second hold)
Volume Up: Either earbud
- To turn up the volume, double tap the touch sensor on either earbud (2x tap)
Volume Down: Either earbud
- To turn down the volume, triple tap the touch sensor on either earbud (3x tap)
Activate Assistant: Either earbud
- To Activate your device’s native assistant, press and hold the touch sensor on either earbud for 1 second (1 second hold)
EQ Mode Toggle: Either earbud
- To toggle between EQ Modes, quadruple tap the touch sensor on either earbud (4x press)
Bluetooth Pairing: Either earbud
- To enter into Pairing Mode on your device, press and hold the touch sensor on either earbud for 3 seconds (3 second hold)
PRESET EQ Modes
To help you get the best sound quality from your content, Smokin’ Buds features 3 preset EQ modes:
- Music Mode
- Podcast Mode
- Movie Mode
To switch between EQ modes, tap the touch sensor on either earbud 4 times.
Your default EQ setting is “Music Mode”, which is great for general listening.
Podcast Mode removes most of the bass response and is great for podcasts or audio books.
Movie Mode boosts dialog and detail in your audio, creating an enhanced immersive experience.
CHARGING:
When fully charged, there will be up to 8+ hours of play time in the earbuds and you will get 12+ hours in the charging case, reaching up to 20+ total hours of play time.
EARBUDS:
- To charge your earbuds, place them in the charging case and the LEDs will turn solid red for 5 seconds to indicate they are charging. You can close the case lid at any time.
- When placing your earbuds back into the case, if their LEDs show BLUE for 5 seconds, your earbuds still have a full charge.
- Rapid Charge: 10 minutes of charging will provide 2+ hours of play time.
- You will hear the “Battery Low” voice prompt with about 40 minutes of play time remain, and again every 10 minutes until the battery automatically powers off once depleted.
- Once you hear the “Battery Low” voice prompt, the LEDs on both earbuds will also show RED for 4 seconds every 10 minutes to provide a low battery visual indicator as well.
- *Important to note, if your earbuds are not automatically powering OFF and charging when placed into the case, or automatically powering ON when removed from the case, please ensure that the case battery isn’t completely drained. If the case battery is dead the earbuds will not register that they have been placed into or removed from the case. Give that case a charge and you should be good to go.
CASE:
- The Smokin’ Buds charging case can be independently charged whether the earbuds are in it or not.
- Plug in the provided USB-C Rapid Charge cable and connect to a computer, wall charger, power bank or 12-volt adapter in a car.
- A 10-minute charge of the charging case via your USB-C cable will provide 2+ hours of battery play time.
- To check the charging case battery life, plug in the charge cable. The single LED located next to the USB-C charging port will turn on to indicate the current case battery level.
- Solid Red = 0%-25%
- Solid Yellow = 26%-75%
- Solid Green = 76%-100%
BUDS OR CASE NOT CHARGING PROPERLY?
Issue: Not seeing the red LED indicator on the buds when you’ve placed your Smokin’ Buds back into the charging case, or the charge case LED turning on when your USB-C cable is plugged in?
Solution:
- Check to see if any debris is blocking the charging pins at the bottom of the case, on the earbud, or in the USB-C plug or port.
- Check to see if the removable in-ear gels have been twisted or are falling off. This could be keeping the buds from sitting correctly in the case. If you’re having a hard time closing the lid completely, it is likely because the earbuds are not set correctly or the eargels are interfering.
- Make sure the charging cable is properly inserted into a suitable power source.
- Check the battery level LED on the charging case to ensure the case is holding a charge.
- IMPORTANT – If your earbuds are not automatically powering OFF or charging when placed into the case, please ensure that the case battery isn’t completely drained. If the case battery is completely dead, the earbuds will not recognize they are in the case and will not automatically power off and begin to charge, and they will not power ON when removed from the case.
ACTIVATE YOUR VOICE ASSITANT
Who do you ask for help? Siri? Bixby? Google Assistant? Unlike proprietary earbuds, Skullcandy earbuds work with any assistant.
Simply press and hold the touch sensor on either earbud for 1 second to activate your device’s native assistant.
SOLO MODE:
Sometimes you want to be able to hear your music, but still hear what’s going on around you. When you want to do that, you can use just one earbud.
We call this Solo Mode. Both the left and right earbud of Smokin’ Buds can be used in solo mode.
To use Solo Mode when you’ve previously paired to your earbuds, simply remove either earbud from the charge case and it will function with both phone calls and music.
If you are initially pairing only one earbud, simply follow the same initial pairing steps above and you’re good to go.
To use both earbuds again, simply remove the other bud from the case at any time, you will hear the power on “ping” tone, and your audio will begin to seamlessly stream back into Stereo Mode.
FIT:
Smokin’ Buds fit comfortably and securely in your ear. Here’s how to get the best fit.
First, place the bud in your ear at an angle, then rotate minimally to the front or back to secure in place. Your earbud should feel comfortable and stable.
For optimal acoustic performance, you also want to be sure your ear gel creates a nice seal just inside your canal.
Smokin’ Buds comes with 3 sizes of eargels to help you find the best fit. Try each size provided to see which fit works best for you.
Having Trouble? Don’t return to the store and let us help!
No audio in one ear?
Let’s re-sync your earbuds by first placing both of them into the charge case and ensure that both of the LEDs turn red. Then simply remove both earbuds together. If the stereo audio stream hasn’t been fixed, please follow the instructions below.
Step One:
- On your device, open the Bluetooth settings and turn Bluetooth OFF.
- Remove both earbuds from the charge case and ensure they are both powered ON.
- Tap the touch sensor on both earbuds 6 times simultaneously. The earebud LED will slowly flash red/blue as they re-sync, followed by four quick blue flashes that will indicate a successful true wireless sync between your earbuds.
- On your device, open the Bluetooth settings again and turn ON. Then select your previously paired “Smokin” Buds”.
- The LEDs on both earbuds will blink blue one time, and a “Connected” voice prompt will indicate a successful pairing to your device.
If you still do not have audio streaming in both earbuds, or you are having pairing issues, please proceed to Step Two below and reset your earbuds to get them streaming correctly.
PAIRING ISSUES? Reset your earbuds by clearing the device paired list with the following instructions.
Step Two:
- Remove Smokin’ Buds from your Bluetooth Paired Device list settings, and then turn Bluetooth OFF.
- Remove BOTH earbuds from the case, a tone and will indicate your earbuds are powered ON.
- Press and hold the touch sensor on BOTH the right and left earbuds for 6 seconds until you hear 2 tones.
- The LED on both earbuds will flash PURPLE 5 times, a tone will indicate a successful reset, and a voice prompt will say “Ready to Pair” as your earbuds flash red/blue and enter back into Pairing Mode.
- On your device open your Bluetooth settings and turn Bluetooth ON. In the available devices select “Smokin’ Buds” and accept the “Pair” or “OK” prompt that appear on your screen. When pairing is complete, a voice prompt will say “connected”.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QESTIONS
Playtime / BATTERY life & CHARGing:
Battery life and play time are very important to me. How long does the Smokin’ Buds battery last?
- There is up to 8 hours of play time in the earbuds and an additional 12 hours or battery in the case, allowing 20 hours of total play time.
- Ear buds = 8+ Hours
- Charging case = 12+ hours
- Total play time = 20+ Hours
What is the total charging time for Smokin’ Buds via included USB-C charging cable?
- 1 hour of charging the case to 100% via USB-C cable.
- 1 hour of charging your earbuds in the case to reach 100% capacity.
Does Smokin’ Buds have some sort of fast charge?
- YES! – Smokin’ Buds has Rapid Charge technology via the provided USB-C cable and internally for the earbuds.
- 10 minutes of the earbuds charging in case = 2+ Hours Playtime
- 10 minutes of the case charging via USB-C = 2+ Hours Playtime
Can I charge Smokin’ Buds with my Skullcandy Power Accessories/PC/Laptop?
- Yes. Pretty much all USB-A to USB-C charging cables will work to charge your Smokin’ Buds charging case.
How do you change between EQ settings, and what’s the difference?
- When you’re paired to your Smokin’ Buds you can toggle between the EQ Modes by tapping the touch sensor on either earbud 4 times. A voice prompt will notify you of the EQ Mode as you toggle through your options: Music Mode (default), Podcast Mode, and Movie Mode.
CONNECTION:
Are Smokin’ Buds compatible with the Skullcandy App?
- No, Smokin’ Buds is not compatible with the Skullcandy App.
What is the Bluetooth range of Smokin’ Buds?
- You will be able to listen up to 30+ feet (10+ meters) away from your paired device, though your connection experience may vary based on your environment.
Can I connect Smokin’ Buds to a computer?
- Yes, as well as to a phone, tablet, MP3 player, laptop, and other devices with a Bluetooth connection.
Can I use Smokin’ Buds with a PS4/Xbox One/Switch?
- Xbox One: No
- Switch: Yes
- PS4/5: No (but they will if you have a separate Bluetooth transmitter dongle)
Which version of Bluetooth does Smokin’ Buds use?
- Bluetooth® version 5.2
When on a call or listening to my content, will I hear audio in one or both earbuds?
- Smokin’ Buds has stereo (both bud) calling and streaming so you’ll always hear the caller or your content in both ears.
- Although, you do have the option to use only one earbud (left or right side) if you prefer Solo Mode in some situations.
Can I use Siri/Google Assistant/Alexa with my Smokin’ Buds?
- Yes. When paired to your device, you can activate your native voice assistant feature at any time by holding the touch sensor on either earbud for 1 second.
Are Smokin’ Buds ok to use while working out?
- Absolutely! Smokin’ Buds has a very stable fit and they are sweat and water resistant (IPX4). Just be sure to dry off your earbuds before putting them back into the charging case.
Warranty:
Please be sure to reach out to customer service before filing a claim, we can likely help you quickly troubleshoot and solve your problem***
What happens if my earbuds break or are lost?
- If it is a manufacturer's defect, Skullcandy has you covered with a 1-Year Limited Warranty.