Why Xiaomi headphones one is charging and the other is not: 7 reasons and how to fix

Did you put Xiaomi AirDots, Redmi Buds or Xiaomi Earbuds on charge, but an hour later you found that one earphone was fully charged and the other one was still discharged? 15-20% users of Xiaomi wireless headphones — and it's not always connected to a breakdown. 60% cases are to blame for contamination of contacts or software failures that can be eliminated independently for the 10-15 minute.

In this article, we will look at all the possible reasons why one Xiaomi earphone does not charge, from the banal oxidation of contacts to hardware malfunctions of the power controller. You will get step-by-step instructions from the photo, the table of compatibility of models and cases, and answers to frequent questions. If after diagnosis it turns out that the earphone needs repair, we will tell you how to save on the service and what to do to prevent the problem from recurring.

1. Checking for obvious reasons: contacts, case and cable

Start with basic diagnostics, 40 percent of the time, the problem is solved without the earbuds being disassembled, and the first thing you need to do is look at the contact areas on the earbud and inside the charge case, and even microscopic particles of dust or fat can interrupt the charging circuit.

Take a magnifying glass or turn on a flashlight on your smartphone and carefully examine:

• 🔍 Contacts on the headphone - usually this 3-5 They should be clean, without green oxidation and scratches.
• 🔌 Contacts in the case – check the spring connectors (they can be bent or covered with plaque).
• 🔋 Case battery status – if the indicator on the case flashes red or doesn’t burn at all, the problem may be in the charger itself.

If you find contaminants, clean the contacts carefully with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol (at least 90%). Never use acetone or solvents - they destroy the protective coating of the contacts! A soft toothbrush (new, unused) will do for mechanical cleaning.

💡

If there is no alcohol at hand, you can use a regular eraser for pencils - it removes oxides from metal surfaces well.

Also check:

• 🔌 Cable and power supply - try charging the case from another adapter (preferably the original Xiaomi with output) 5V/1A).
• 🔄 Headphone position in the case – some models (for example, Redmi Buds 3 Pro) require precise alignment of magnets to activate charging.
• 📱 Bluetooth Connection Status – Disconnect the headphones from the phone while charging (sometimes background processes interfere with the correct operation of the power controller).

2. Resetting headphone settings: when it helps and how to do it right

If mechanical cleaning doesn't work, the next step is a software reset, which returns the headphones to factory settings and often resolves charging problems caused by firmware failures or connection conflicts.

The instructions are universal for most models Xiaomi/Redmi, but there are nuances:

Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.|Make sure the case is charged at least 30 times%|Disconnect Headphones from All Devices in Bluetooth Settings|Prepare a needle or paper clip to press the reset button (if any)

-->

The discharge process itself:

1. Get both earphones out of the case.
2. Press and hold the touchpad (or physical button) on the idle earphone for a while. 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white (on some models only red).
3. Put the headphones back in the case and close the lid.
4. Wait. 1-2 minutes, then check the charging.

For models with a reset button inside the case (for example, Xiaomi Air 2) SE):

1. Open the case and find a small hole on the side (usually near the bottom). USB-port).
2. Insert the needle and hold for 10 seconds until the indicator blinks.
3. Close the case and wait for the automatic reboot of the headphones.

After reset, the headphones may require re-synchronization with each other.

1. Get both earphones out of the case.
2. Press and hold the touchpads on both headphones simultaneously for 5 seconds.
3. Wait for the double beep – this means that the headphones are paired.

Diagnostics of battery and power controller

If neither the cleaning nor the reset work, the problem is likely to be the hardware, and Xiaomi’s headphones are made up of three key charging components:

• 🔋 Battery (usually lithium-polymer, capacity) 40-60 mic).
• 🛠️ Power controller (a microchip that controls charging/discharge).
• 🔌 Charging contacts (spring or magnetic connectors).

Check the state of the battery at home can be in two ways:

Method 1: Visual inspection (only for collapsible models)

If your headphones can be carefully disassembled (such as Redmi AirDots or Xiaomi Air 2), do so using a plastic mediator.

• 🔍 Battery Bloating – If the headphone case is deformed, the battery must be replaced.
• 💧 Traces of electrolyte leakage - white plaque on the board or corrosion of contacts.
• 🔥 Darkening or melting of elements on the controller board.

Method 2: Multimeter Test

To do this, you will need a multimeter in voltage measurement mode (DC 20V). Connect the probes to the battery contacts:

• 🔋 Normal voltage of charged battery: 3.7–4.2V.
• ⚠️ Critical voltage (requires replacement): Below 3.0V.
• ❌ Chain break: voltage 0V (battery or controller is defective).

If the battery is normal but not charging, the problem is the power controller. 30-50% The cost of new headphones, so the feasibility of repair depends on the model.

💡

In 80% of cases, the failure of the power controller occurs due to voltage surges when using non-original chargers.

4. Problems with firmware and headphone synchronization

Sometimes one headphone fails to charge due to firmware failure or loss of sync between headphones. QCC3040 (Redmi Buds 3 Pro, Xiaomi Air 2S) and newer chips.

Signs of software failure:

• 🔄 The headphone is charged only after repeated extraction / insertion into the case.
• 📵 The indicator on the headphone flashes white, but charging does not go.
• 🔊 The earphone is heard interference or it is disconnected through 1-2 seconds after connection.

Decisions:

1. Update your firmware through the official Mi Home or Xiaomi Earbuds app (available for Android). To do this: Connect your headphones to your smartphone. Open the app and go to Device Settings → Software Update. If the update is available, install it and restart the headphones.
2. Reconnect your headphones: Remove the headphones from the Bluetooth list on all connected gadgets. Reset (see section 2). Reconnect the headphones from the right one (which is usually the lead one).

If the firmware is critically damaged (for example, after an interrupted update), the headphones may stop turning on altogether, in which case only flashing through the service center using a programmer will help.

💡

Before updating the firmware, make sure that the case is 100% charged. Interrupting the process can lead to the "bricking" of the headphones.

5. Charging Case Faults: How to Check and Repair

In 25% of cases, the problem lies not in the headphones themselves, but in the charging case. For example, in Redmi Buds 3 Pro, the charging control chip often fails, and in Xiaomi Air 2, spring contacts are oxidized.

Conduct a case diagnosis:

1. Check the input voltage: Connect the case to the charge and measure the voltage on USB-It's a multimeter port. 5V ± 0.2V. If there is no voltage, the problem is in the cable or power supply.
2. Output contact test: Put the earphone in the case and measure the voltage on the spring contacts–4.2V. If there is no voltage, the case fee is faulty.

Check the case battery.

• Disassemble the case (carefully putting the cover with a plastic card).
• Measure the voltage on the battery case - should be at least 3.5V.

Typical malfunctions of Xiaomi cases:

• 🔌 Breaking tracks on the board (often after falls).
• 🔋 Bloating of the case battery (see by deformation of the case).
• 🛠️ Failure of the charging controller (case does not charge itself and does not charge the headphones).

Case repairs are cheaper than headphones – an average of 500-1000 ₽. If the case is not recoverable, you can buy a new one separately (for example, for Redmi AirDots it is worth it). ~800 ₽).

External factors: moisture, overheating, mechanical damage

Xiaomi headphones have spray protection according to the standard IPX4 (some-model — IPX5), But that doesn't mean they're resistant to submersion or condensation.

Signs of moisture intrusion:

• 💧 The headphone stopped charging after rain, training or shower.
• 🔊 The sound became muffled or wheezing appeared.
• 🔋 The charging indicator flashes red and goes out.

If the earphone is wet, act on the algorithm:

1. Turn it off the charge immediately.
2. Wet with a napkin the visible moisture.
3. Put the headphone in a silica gel container (packages of shoeboxes) for 24-48 hours.
4. Do not turn on the earpiece until it is completely dry.

💡

Never dry your headphones with a hairdryer or on a battery – it can melt the internal components!

Other external factors:

• 🔥 Overheating – if the headphones were lying in the sun or near a heat source, the power controller could fail.
• 💥 Blows – even a minor drop can damage battery soldering connections.
• 🧲 Magnet exposure – strong magnetic fields (such as those from speakers) can disrupt compass and sensors.

If the headphone has been mechanically affected, examine it for:

• 🔍 Cracks on the body (especially near the seam).
• 🔊 Extraneous sounds when shaken (may indicate detached parts).
• 🔋 Uneven heating (one earphone is hotter than the other).

7.When to contact the service: signs of serious breakdowns

If all of the above methods have not worked, most likely, your headphones need professional repair, here are the exact signs that you can not do without a service center:

• ⚡ The headphone does not turn on at all (no reaction to buttons, no indicator on).
• 🔥 The battery swelled (seen by the deformation of the body or slits).
• 💥 There was a smell of burning when charging or working.
• 📉 The headphone discharges in 5-10 minutes after full charging.
• 🔌 Case does not charge any of the headphones (the problem in the control board).

The cost of repair depends on the model and type of malfunction:

Where to repair:

• 🛠️ Xiaomi service centers – 6 months warranty, but more expensive by 20-30%.
• 🔧 Local workshops are cheaper, but check reviews (the risk of poor-quality soldering).
• 📦 Self-repair – only if you have experience with soldering iron and microelectronics.

💡

Before handing over for repair, back up your headphone settings (if they are saved in the Mi Home app), as you may need to re-configure after repair.

⚠️ Note: If your headphones are warranty (usually 12 months), don't disassemble them yourself! this will void the warranty. Contact your Xiaomi Authorized Service Center with a check or confirmation of purchase.

FAQ: Frequent questions about charging Xiaomi headphones