Why Xiaomi Mi wireless headphones do not work – the full instructions for troubleshooting

Xiaomi Mi wireless headphones are some of the most popular accessories due to the combination of price, sound quality and functionality. But even the most reliable equipment sometimes fails: one earphone does not turn on, both do not connect to the phone, the sound is interrupted or absent. If your Mi True Wireless Earbuds, Mi AirDots or other model stop working, do not rush to carry them to the service center. 80% of the time, you can solve the problem yourself in 5-15 minutes.

In this article, we'll look at all the possible causes of malfunctions, from the trivial (battery dead) to the complex (board damage), how to diagnose a malfunction, what to do if the headphones don't respond to buttons, don't sync with each other or are not determined by the phone. And for the Mi Air 2/Pro, Mi Buds 3/4 and other current gadgets, we'll give you specific solutions that don't work with older versions.

Before you start repairing, check the obvious: is the case charged, is the contacts contaminated, is Bluetooth on your smartphone. If that's not the problem, read on.

1. Xiaomi Mi headphones not included: reasons and solutions

If Xiaomi Mi headphones don’t respond to button pressing and don’t show signs of life, the problem can lie in three components: battery, charging contacts or firmware.

The first thing you need to do is put your headphones in your case for 10 to 15 minutes, even if the charging indicator is not on, sometimes the discharge is so deep that the power controller blocks the onset to the minimum charge level, and if the headphones do not work after that, go to the diagnostics.

• 🔋 The battery of the case or headphones is drained. Connect the case to charge for 30 minutes, then check the indicator. If it does not light up, the problem is in the cable, the power supply or the battery itself.
• 🔌 Oxidation or contamination of contacts. Check the metal pads on your headphones and in your case. If you have green plaque or dust, gently clean them with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
• 📱 If the headphones previously worked but stopped turning on after the upgrade, a reset is required (instructions in the next section).

⚠️ Warning: Never use abrasive materials (paper sandpaper, metal brushes) to clean contacts - this will damage the coating and worsen conductivity.

If the Mi Air 2 SE or Mi Buds 3 Pro headphones don’t turn on even after charging, try a forced reset:

1. Put both earphones in the case.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (if any) or touchpad on the headphones for 15-20 seconds.
3. Wait for the red/white light to flash (color depends on the model).

2 Headphones do not connect to the phone: step-by-step instructions

One of the most common problems is that Xiaomi Mi headphones do not appear in the list of available Bluetooth devices or connect, but immediately turn off. The reasons can be either software (failure in the firmware of the phone or headphones) or hardware (damaged Bluetooth module).

Algorithm of action:

Make sure that Bluetooth is on on your phone.

Reboot your smartphone

Remove headphones from the list of associated devices

Check if the indicators on the headphones burn when extracted from the case

Try connecting to another device (laptop, tablet)

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• 📵 Reset Bluetooth settings on your phone. Go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth, find your headphones, press the gear and select "Forget the device." Then try connecting again.
• 🔄 For Mi Air 2 Pros and newer models, remove the headphones from the case, hold the touchpads for 10 seconds until the red light flashes. For older models, press the button on the case.
• 🖥️ Checking on another device. If the headphones don't connect to any gadget, the problem is that if they do, look for the reason in the phone (update the firmware, reset the network settings).

The Mi Buds 3 Pro and Mi Air 2S models have an automatic reconnection problem. If the headphones only connect after manual selection in the Bluetooth list, update the firmware through the Mi Earphones app (available on Google Play and AppGallery).

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If Xiaomi Mi headphones are connected but only sound in one, try clearing the Bluetooth cache on your phone. Go to Settings → Apps → Show Everything → Bluetooth and click Clear Cache.

3.One earphone does not work: how to sync a pair

A situation where one Xiaomi Mi headphone is turned on and the second one is not, or they do not sync with each other, typical for models with independent connection (for example, Mi Air 2 Pro), the reason usually lies in the failure of pairing between the right and left headphones.

How to restore synchronization:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Remove them and hold the touchpads on both headphones for 10-15 seconds until the lights blink.
3. Wait until the headphones automatically mate (the indicators will start burning synchronously).
4. Connect to them via Bluetooth on your phone.

If synchronization does not occur:

• 🔄 Check to see if the infrared sensors on the headphones are contaminated (the little black dots next to the touch panels.
• 📲 Install the Mi Earphones app and check the firmware version. For Mi Buds 4 and later, manual updates are available through the app.
• 🔋 If one headphone is discharged more than the other, put both in a case for 1-2 hours to equalize the charge.

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi Mi headphones do not support mono (only one headphone).If you try to use them separately, they will automatically search for a second one to sync.

4.Sound problems: cracking, interruptions, low volume

If the Xiaomi Mi headphones are plugged in, but the sound is distorted, interrupted, or too quiet, the problem may be both the headphones themselves and the signal source.

• 🎵 Low volume. Check the Equator settings in the Mi Earphones app or system player. Mi Buds 3 Pro models have Bass Amplifier mode available.
• 📶 Sound interruptions. This is a problem with a weak Bluetooth signal. Try: Bring the phone closer to the headphones. Disable other Bluetooth devices (fitness bracelets, smart watches). Switch the sound quality in the headphone settings to Stability Priority.
• 🔊 Crack or wheezing, most often caused by damage to the speaker (moisture, falling) or codec conflict. Try turning off Absolute Volume in Bluetooth settings (for Android).

For Mi Air 2 Pro and later, LDAC (High-Quality Sound Transmission) is available, but it can cause stuttering on weak smartphones to turn it off:

1. Open Mi Earphones.
2. Go to the sound settings. → Sound quality.
3. Choose AAC or SBC over LDAC.

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If the cracking only appears at high volume, it may indicate damage to the speaker membrane, in which case repairs are required at the service center.

5 Headphones do not charge: diagnosis and repair

If the indicator on the case is burning, but the Xiaomi Mi headphones are not charging, the problem may be:

• Contacts (oxidation, pollution, mechanical damage).
• Headphone or case battery.
• Power controller (firmware failure or hardware breakdown).

Step-by-step diagnostics:

1. Check if the charge indicator on the case is on when you connect to the network, if not, the problem is in the cable, power supply or battery of the case.
2. Check the contacts on the headphones and in the case, if oxidized, clean them with alcohol.
3. Try charging headphones from another case (if possible).
4. If the case is charging but does not transfer charge to the headphones, try resetting the power controller: put the headphones in the case, connect the case to the charge and hold the reset button (if any) for 30 seconds.

For the Mi Air 2 Pro and Mi Buds 3 Pro models, the problem with uneven charging of the headphones is relevant. If one charges faster than the other, try:

• Completely discharge both headphones (before disconnection).
• Charge them in the case to 100% without interruption.
• Repeat the procedure 2-3 times to calibrate the controller.

⚠️ Note: If the Xiaomi Mi case swells or deforms, you can not continue to use it - this is a sign of a battery failure that can lead to fire.

6. Resetting settings and flashing headphones

If nothing else has worked, there are two radical methods: hard reset and firmware: one that will bring the headphones back to factory settings, and the other that will update or restore the software.

Hard reset:

1. Put the headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (or touch panels on headphones) for 20-30 seconds.
3. Indicators should flash red and white (colors depend on the model).
4. After resetting, the headphones will automatically go into pairing mode.

Reflashing: Relevant for Mi Air 2 Pro, Mi Buds 3/4 and later.

1. Install the Mi Earphones app (available for Android and iOS).
2. Put the headphones on the phone.
3. Open the application and go to Settings → Firmware Update.
4. If a new version is available, follow the instructions on the screen.

For Mi AirDots (1st generation) and Redmi AirDots, the official firmware is not available through the app, in which case only a reset or call to the service will help.

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If after updating the firmware headphones stopped working, try to roll it back by connecting the headphones to the PC through the Mi Flash Tool (instructions are available on the 4PDA and XDA-Developers forums).

7 Mechanical damage: what can be repaired on your own

If the Xiaomi Mi headphones stopped working after a fall, moisture or physical impact, it is a mechanical failure.

• 💧 Water hit. If your headphones get wet: Turn them off immediately (if they react to buttons); get wet with a napkin and put it in a dry place for 24 to 48 hours; don't use a hair dryer or heat; it will damage the battery; after drying, check the work; if the sound is distorted, the speaker is damaged.
• 🔨 If the earphone is broken or cracked, but the electronics are intact, you can glue the body with cyanoacrylate glue (like Super Moment). Don't use epoxy, it can damage the board.
• 🔊 If the sound is quieter or there is a wheezing, the speaker wire may have gone, and repairs will require a soldering iron and soldering skills.

For models with active noise cancellation (Mi Buds 3 Pro, Mi Air 2 Pro), moisture is especially dangerous - microphones and ANC sensors are sensitive to corrosion. If after drying, noise cancellation does not work, contact the service.

⚠️ Note: Disassembly of headphones Xiaomi Mi is deprived of warranty. If the device is warranty, do not try to repair it yourself - contact an authorized service center.

FAQ: Frequent questions about malfunctions of Xiaomi Mi headphones