A method comprising: determining (502, 518), by a first wireless ear bud previously connected to a second wireless ear bud and configured to operate in a secondary role, that the first wireless ear bud is not connected to the second wireless ear bud; determining, by the first wireless ear bud, a status of the first wireless ear bud; when the status of the first wireless ear bud indicates an in-ear status, performing, by the first wireless ear bud, an uncoordinated role swap without coordinating with the second wireless ear bud; when the status of the first wireless ear bud indicates an out-of-ear status: attempting to re-connect with the second wireless ear bud up to a predetermined number of times; and after the predetermined number of times, performing the uncoordinated role swap; wherein performing the uncoordinated role swap includes: re-configuring the first wireless ear bud to operate in a primary role; and using a device address of the second wireless ear bud to establish a wireless connection with a source device; and establishing a second wireless connection between the first wireless ear bud and the second wireless ear bud, after waiting for the second wireless ear bud to be rejected by the source device and to reconfigure to operate in the secondary role without coordinating with the first wireless ear bud. determining (502, 518), by a first wireless ear bud previously connected to a second wireless ear bud and configured to operate in a secondary role, that the first wireless ear bud is not connected to the second wireless ear bud; determining, by the first wireless ear bud, a status of the first wireless ear bud; when the status of the first wireless ear bud indicates an in-ear status, performing, by the first wireless ear bud, an uncoordinated role swap without coordinating with the second wireless ear bud; when the status of the first wireless ear bud indicates an out-of-ear status: attempting to re-connect with the second wireless ear bud up to a predetermined number of times; and after the predetermined number of times, performing the uncoordinated role swap; attempting to re-connect with the second wireless ear bud up to a predetermined number of times; and after the predetermined number of times, performing the uncoordinated role swap; wherein performing the uncoordinated role swap includes: re-configuring the first wireless ear bud to operate in a primary role; and using a device address of the second wireless ear bud to establish a wireless connection with a source device; and establishing a second wireless connection between the first wireless ear bud and the second wireless ear bud, after waiting for the second wireless ear bud to be rejected by the source device and to reconfigure to operate in the secondary role without coordinating with the first wireless ear bud. re-configuring the first wireless ear bud to operate in a primary role; and using a device address of the second wireless ear bud to establish a wireless connection with a source device; and establishing a second wireless connection between the first wireless ear bud and the second wireless ear bud, after waiting for the second wireless ear bud to be rejected by the source device and to reconfigure to operate in the secondary role without coordinating with the first wireless ear bud.