Xiaomi wireless headphones stopped charging: what to do and how to return to work

Xiaomi wireless headphones are a popular accessory because of the combination of price, sound quality and functionality. But even the most reliable equipment can fail, and one of the most common problems is not charging. If your Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless or other model stop charging, don't rush to throw them away or carry them to the service: 80% of the time, the problem can be solved by yourself.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why Xiaomi headphones don’t charge, from the banal contamination of contacts to serious hardware malfunctions, how to diagnose a problem, which manipulations should be tried first, and when to contact specialists, and we’ll also give step-by-step instructions with photos and videos, checklists for check-ups and tips for prevention so that such situations do not happen again.

Important: If Xiaomi headphones not only don’t charge, but also don’t turn on, aren’t detected by the phone or make extraneous sounds, this may indicate a complex breakdown. In this case, try the methods from this article first, and if they don’t help, go to the section on hardware malfunctions.

1. Verification of power supply and cable

The first thing to rule out is problems with the charger, and people often blame the headphones when the power supply or the power supply is to blame. USB-Here's how to check the cable:

• 🔌 Try another power supply. Use a charger from a Quick Charge-enabled smartphone (e.g., Xiaomi, Samsung or OnePlus). 5W.
• 🔗 Replace. USB-It is better to take the original cable from Xiaomi or certified cable. USB-Type-C/Micro-USB (Cheap cables often have damaged veins.
• 💻 Connect the case to a computer or power bank, and if you're charging, the problem is with the power outlet or the power supply.
• 🔋 Xiaomi cases usually have an LED: if it doesn’t burn when connected to charging, there is a problem with power or contacts.

If the cable and the power supply are not charging after you change, then you should move on to the next step, and pay special attention to the cable, which is the cause of the problem in 30% of cases, especially if the insulation at the connector is damaged.

2. Cleaning the contacts of the case and headphones

Over time, the chargers of the case and headphones accumulate dust, sweat, skin fat and even oxides (if you store the device in a wet room), which leads to poor contact and, as a result, no charging, cleaning the contacts can return to work.

You'll need:

• 🧴 Cotton swabs (better wooden, not plastic).
• 💧 Alcohol (isopropyl or medical 90%+). Do not use vodka or cologne!
• 🔍 Loop or flashlight for contact inspection.
• 🧲 Toothpick or soft brush (for example, for drawing).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the case from charging and remove the headphones.
2. Wet the cotton swab in alcohol and gently wipe the contacts on the case (usually 2-4 golden dots in headphone nests).
3. Do the same with the contacts on the headphones themselves (they are located on the inside, next to the speaker).
4. If you see persistent contamination, gently tuck them with a toothpick (do not scratch!).
5. Let the contacts dry for 10-15 minutes (alcohol evaporates quickly, but it is better not to rush).
6. Try recharging your headphones.

Take a picture of the location of the contacts before cleaning |

Use only alcohol (not water!)|

Don't push your contacts too hard |

Check the headphones for charging 15 minutes after cleaning-->

If you haven't been charging after cleaning, check the contacts for mechanical damage, such as scratches, chips or blackening (a sign of oxidation), in the latter case, a pencil eraser can help - gently rub the contacts to remove oxides.

⚠️ Warning: Never use abrasive materials (paper sandpaper, metal brushes) or acetone-based liquids to clean, which will damage the contact coating and exacerbate the problem.

3. Resetting headphones to factory settings

Sometimes the reason for the lack of charging is a software failure in the headphone power controller, which can occur after a failed firmware update, abrupt disconnection from charging or conflict with the connected device, in which case hard reset helps.

The instructions depend on the headphone model. Here are the universal ways for popular Xiaomi lines:

After reset, try charging your headphones. If the problem was a software failure, you should charge. If not, move to the next section.

⚠️ Warning: Reset removes all stored headphone settings (e.g., device binding in Mi Home) and may require re-pairing with the smartphone after the procedure.

4. Diagnostics of the case battery and headphones

If the headphones don't charge, the problem can lie in a dead or broken battery, both in the case and in the headphones.

• 🔋 Case doesn't charge from the grid: Connect the case to the charger and pay attention to the indicator. If it doesn't burn at all, there's a problem with the case battery or the power controller. Try to wake the battery: connect the case to the charger on the battery. 1-2 Sometimes, when the lights don't respond, the batteries that are deeply discharged don't take charge immediately.
• 🎧 Headphones don't charge from the case: Place the headphones in the case and close the lid. If the indicator on the case flashes red, the case recognizes the headphones, but the charging is not going (possibly the problem is in the contacts or headphone batteries). If the indicator does not respond, the case does not “see” the headphones (problem in contacts or controller).

How to check the status of the battery:

1. If the case is charged, but quickly discharged - its battery is worn out (life of lithium polymer batteries - 2-3 years).
2. If the headphones are charged but work less than 1-2 hours, their batteries have degraded.
3. Use the Mi Home app or Xiaomi Wear (if supported by your model) to see the percentage of charge of the headphones and case.

If the battery of the case or headphones is swelling (as seen by the deformation of the case), do not try to charge the device! This is dangerous: the risk of fire or explosion. Immediately disconnect from power and dispose of according to the rules for lithium-ion batteries.

5. Checking for hardware malfunctions

If all the previous methods didn't work, it's probably a hardware problem, and here are the most common malfunctions and their signs:

If you don't have experience in electronics repair, you should contact a service center, but you can do some manipulations yourself:

• 🔧 Replacement of the headphone battery: Batteries for Xiaomi can be found on AliExpress or in specialty stores (for example, search for "battery for Redmi AirDots 2"). Replacement will require a hairdryer (to soften the glue), a plastic mediator and a soldering iron (to disconnect the old battery).
• 🔌 Repair of the case connector: If the connector USB-C Or Micro-USB is wobbly, soldered or glued, and before soldering, be sure to clear the board of the remaining solder with alcohol.

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Before disassembling the case, take a picture of the location of all the parts and wires, which will help to properly assemble the device back, also use an antistatic bracelet or periodically touch grounded objects to avoid static discharge, which can damage the board.

Cost of repair in the service:

• Replacement of the headphone battery: 500-1500 ₽.
• Replacement of the case battery: 800-2000 ₽.
• Repair of the charging controller: 1000-2500 ₽.

6. Alternative charging methods

If the case is not charged through a standard connector, but the battery is still alive, you can try alternative methods:

• 🔄 Wireless charging: Mi Air models 2S, Buds 3 Pro and newer support Qi charging. Place the case on a wireless charging station (e.g., Xiaomi or Samsung). If charging is going on, the problem is the case connector.
• ⚡ Direct battery charging (for advanced users): Disassemble the case and find battery contacts (+ and −). Connect to them a stabilized power source with voltage 3.7-4.2V no more 0.5A. Dangerous! Incorrect connection can lead to fire.
• 🔌 Using a different case: If you have a second case from the same model, try charging the headphones in it. If you're charging, the problem is in the first case.

⚠️ Warning: Direct charging of the battery without a controller can cause overheating and bloating of the battery. Use this method only as a last resort and under constant supervision.

7. When to contact the service center

If you’ve tried all the methods, but Xiaomi headphones still don’t charge, it’s time to contact the experts.

• 🔥 Case or headphones heat up when trying to charge.
• 💥 The battery is swollen or from the case / headphones smells of burning.
• 🔌 Headphones are not determined by the case even after cleaning contacts and resetting.
• 🔋 The case charges, but does not give charge to the headphones (the indicator does not blink when placing the headphones in the case).

Where to repair:

• 🏢 Official Xiaomi service centers: Warranty repair (if the headphones were purchased less than a year ago). Use original parts. List of centers: mi.com/ru/service.
• 🔧 Informal workshops: Cheaper, but parts quality can be worse.Look for workshop reviews before appeal.

The cost of diagnosis in official services is usually 300-500 ₽. If it costs more to repair 50% from the cost of new headphones, it makes sense to consider buying a new model.

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Before visiting the service, back up your data (if the headphones are synced with the Mi Home app) and reset it to factory settings, which will speed up the repair process and protect your personal information.

FAQ: Frequent questions about charging Xiaomi headphones