One Xiaomi earphone does not turn on, and the second works: 7 ways to return stereo sound

You pulled Xiaomi headphones out of your case, but one of them stubbornly refuses to turn on while the other one works like nothing happened? This problem is familiar to many owners of wireless headsets - from budget Redmi Buds to flagship Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro. The reasons can lie in both the banal battery discharge and serious hardware malfunctions. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios why one Xiaomi headphone does not respond to presses, and what to do about it - from the simplest reboot to repair with a solder.

It's important to understand that if the headphone is not showing signs of life (the indicator does not blink, does not make sounds, does not detect the phone), this is not a sentence. In 60% of cases, the problem can be solved independently in 10 to 30 minutes. But there are also pitfalls: for example, some Xiaomi models (for example, AirDots Pro 2) block the work of one earphone at a critically low charge of the case — even if the earphone itself is charged.

1. Checking the obvious: charge, connection and physical damage

Start with basic checks -- they take a minute, but they rule out 40 percent of the possible causes.

• 🔋 Case and headphone charge level. Connect the case to charge for 10-15 minutes, then check if the indicator lights up on the dead earphone when removed. Some models (for example, Redmi Buds 3 Pro) do not turn on if the case charge is below 15%.
• 🔌 Contact quality. Check the metal contacts in the case and on the earpiece, which should be clean, free of oxidation or contamination.
• 🎧 Physical damage, check if there are cracks, dents or traces of moisture on the earphone, if the body is deformed, the problem may be a plume break or battery damage.

If the headphone is not responsive to charging, try a forced reset: press the button (or touchpad) for 15-20 seconds. In models with a Type-C connector (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4), the reset sometimes works when you connect to charging + holding the button.

Pay attention to the indicators: if one headphone flashes red when extracted from the case, and the second does not, this may indicate a battery discharge below the critical level (less than 2.8V), in which case you will need to “accelerate” the battery with an external power source (more about this in the section on repair).

2. Resetting settings and reconnecting to the phone

If the earphone is on (the indicator flashes) but not connecting to the phone or only working in mono mode, the problem may be a software failure.

1. Remove the headphones from the list of devices in your phone's Bluetooth settings. On Android: Settings → Connected Devices → Xiaomi [model] → Forget.
2. Reset your headphones: For models with a button: press it for 10-15 seconds before the indicator double blinks. For touch models (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 3T): touch and hold the touchpad on both headphones for 10 seconds at the same time.

Reconnect.

If one earphone still doesn't connect after reset, check if it's defined as a separate device. For example, Windows may only display one headphone, in which case delete the driver in Device Manager and reconnect.

Make sure your headphones are charged more than 30 times%|

Close all Bluetooth-enabled apps (music, games, instant messengers) |

Turn off Bluetooth on other devices (laptop, tablet)|

Check that the headphones are no more than 1 meter away from the phone.-->

3. Diagnostics of hardware malfunctions

If the reset didn't work and the earphone doesn't show signs of life, it's probably the hardware problem.

For diagnosis, you will need:

• 🔧 Multimeter – to check the voltage on the battery (must be 3.7-4.2V).
• 🔍 Loop - to inspect the board for breaks or burned elements.
• 📱 Test device – another phone or PC to check the connection.

If you're not sure about your skills, don't take out the headphone -- the risk of damaging the board or speaker is very high. In some models (like the Xiaomi AirDots 3), the board is soldered to the case, and it's easy to tear it off if you open it neatly.

⚠️ Warning: If the earphone smells like a burn or the body is swollen, don't plug it into charging! These are signs of battery bloating, which can lead to fire.

4. Software failures and firmware

Rarely, one earbud will stop working because of a firmware failure, and this is true for models that support ANC (active noise cancellation) or flash through the application (for example, Xiaomi Earbuds S).

• The headphone is turned on, but not synchronized with the pair.
• The Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app only displays one headphone.
• The sound is interrupted or distorted.

To fix this:

1. Install an official app for your model (e.g. Xiaomi Earbuds for Buds 3/4).
2. Update the firmware through the app (if available).
3. If the update doesn’t help, reset to factory settings through the app.

For some models (such as the Redmi Buds 4 Pro), there is a hidden diagnostic menu to open it:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open the Xiaomi Wear app.
3. Go to Device Settings → Diagnostics → Equipment Test.
4. Check the status of both headphones.

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If the Xiaomi Wear app doesn’t have a diagnostics section, try connecting your headphones to your iOS device — sometimes more options are available there.

5. Repair with your own hands: when it is justified

If you're sure that the hardware is the problem, and you're willing to take a chance, you can try fixing the headphone yourself.

Case 1: Oxidation or contamination of contacts

Symptoms: the headphone is charged unstablely, periodically switches off.

Decision:

1. Wipe the contacts in the case and on the headphone with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol (at least 70%).
2. If the oxidation is strong, use an eraser to clean the contacts.
3. Check if the spring contacts in the case are bent - they can be gently bent with a needle.

Case 2: Breaking the plume dynamics

Symptoms: There is a sound, but very quiet or with interference.

Decision:

• Disassemble the headphone (gently tuck the body with a plastic spatula).
• Check if the plume has moved away from the speaker or board.
• If the plume has moved, press it back or fix it with B-7000 glue.

Case 3: Battery discharge below critical level

Symptoms: the headphone does not turn on, but after connecting to charging, the indicator does not burn.

Decision:

1. Connect the headphone battery to an external power source (e.g. LP4065) with a current limit of 50–100 mA.
2. Charge 10-15 minutes, then try to turn on.
3. If the battery is not “reviving”, it needs to be replaced.

⚠️ Note: When replacing the battery, use only original or compatible batteries with similar parameters (capacity, voltage.

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Self-repair is justified only for budget models (up to 3000). ₽). For flagship headphones (for example, Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro) it is cheaper and safer to contact the service.

6. When to contact the service center

There are situations where self-repair is not only useless, but also dangerous.

• 🔥 The headphone warms, smells of a burn or the body is swollen (risk of fire!).
• 🎛️ Bluetooth module damaged (the headphone is not determined by any device).
• 🔊 The speaker emits wheezing or does not work at all (possible break of the coil).
• 🔋 Battery swelling or leaking (hazardous to health!).

The cost of repair in official Xiaomi services:

Before the service visit:

1. Check if the warranty period has expired (usually 12 months for Xiaomi).
2. Check whether the problem is a warranty case (for example, factory defect).
3. Make a backup of the settings (if the headphones are synced with the app).

Official Xiaomi service centers in Russia can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service. Average repair time — 3–7 during the peak periods (before the New Year) may be delayed 2 week-long.

7. Alternative solutions: what to do while the headphone is in repair

If one headphone is not working and there is no time to wait for repairs, you can temporarily use the headset in mono mode or connect alternative devices.

• 🎧 Mono mode: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi AirDots 3) allow you to use one headphone independently:

External speaker

Bluetooth

3.5mm jack

Built-in phone speaker

Dynamician

If you often encounter wireless headphone problems, consider buying a spare pair or a model with replaceable batteries (such as the Baseus WM01).

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In the Xiaomi Wear app, you can configure notifications about the low charge of the headphones. Enable the option of Discharge Warning in the device settings to avoid sudden shutdown.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi headphones that don't work