One headphone Xiaomi does not connect over Bluetooth: reasons and solution

The problem of one Xiaomi earphone refusing to connect over Bluetooth is familiar to many Mi True Wireless Earphones, Redmi AirDots or Haylou models. The situation is especially annoying if the headphones used to work synchronously, and now the left or right module is silent, flashes red or is not detected by the phone at all. In 80% of cases, the malfunction is due to software failure, not a physical failure - and it can be fixed on its own without contacting the service.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why one Xiaomi earphone doesn’t connect to Bluetooth, from a simple battery drain to a firmware failure. You’ll get step-by-step instructions with illustrations (for Mi Basic 2, Redmi Buds 3 Pro, Haylou GT6 and others), as well as a compatibility table with different versions of MIUI. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden features of the developer menu that help restore communication between the headphones in 95% of cases.

1. Checking the underlying causes: battery, charging and physical damage

Before digging deep into the Bluetooth settings, rule out obvious issues. Start by visually inspecting the headphones:

• 🔋 Battery discharge: one earphone could have discharged faster than the other. Check the charge indicators on the case - if one of them does not burn or flashes red, the problem is the power supply.
• 🔌 Charging contacts: Often, oxidation or contamination of contacts in a case causes one earphone to fail to charge. wipe them with an alcohol wipe.
• 🎧 Physical damage: cracks in the body, moisture or impacts can disrupt the Bluetooth antenna.

If the Xiaomi earphone doesn’t charge at all, try brushing your contacts with a toothpick (carefully!) or using another cable/power supply. For models with a Type-C (Redmi Buds 4, Mi Earphones 3), check if the case jack is bent.

⚠️ Warning: If after cleaning the contacts, the earphone started charging, but still does not connect, do not try to disassemble it yourself. Xiaomi models use adhesive joints, and if you open the contacts sloppy, you can damage the Bluetooth antenna.

2.Reset Xiaomi headphones to factory settings

The most effective way to get back synchronization is hard reset, and the procedure is different for different models, but the general principle is the same: erase all the stored connections and return the headphones to the “out of the box” state.

For most Xiaomi/Redmi/Haylou models, the instructions are as follows:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (or touchpad on the headphones) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white (or only red for older models).
3. Open the case cover – the headphones should automatically go into pairing mode (blinking white light).
4. Remove the headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices on your phone and connect them again.

For models with touch control (Mi True Wireless 3, Redmi Buds 4 Pro) reset is performed differently:

1. Get the headphones out of the case.


2. Press the touch panels on both headphones for 10 seconds




3. Wait for the double beep and the flashing of indicators

Make sure both earphones are charged at least 30 times%|

Remove the device from the phone's Bluetooth settings|

Try resetting on another phone (Android/iOS)|

Check if the "Low Lag" mode is enabled in the sound settings-->

⚠️ Note: After reset, Xiaomi headphones can be temporarily defined as two separate devices (e.g., Mi). Earphones_L mi Earphones_R). Do not connect them separately - wait until they synchronize with each other (indicators blink synchronously).

3. Update the firmware of headphones through Mi Fit or Xiaomi Wear

If the reset didn’t work, the problem could be with outdated firmware. Xiaomi regularly releases headphone updates to fix synchronization errors.

• 📱 Mi Fit – for Mi True Wireless, Haylou (until 2022).
• 📱 Xiaomi Wear – for new models (Redmi Buds 4 Pro, Mi Earphones 3).

Instructions for updating:

1. Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.
2. Open the Mi Fit/Xiaomi Wear app and go to the device section.
3. Put it on the gear icon (⚙️) → Firmware update.
4. If a new version is available, click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off the headphones!).

For Haylou GT6 and newer models, the update may require a PC connection via Haylou Fun software.

4. Bluetooth setup on Xiaomi phone

Sometimes the problem isn’t with the headphones, but with the Bluetooth settings on Xiaomi’s smartphone itself, especially for MIUI 12-14 devices, where there are hidden restrictions on accessory connectivity.

What to check:

• 📵 Airplane Mode: Even if it's off, sometimes the Bluetooth module is dropped. Turn on and off the plane mode.
• 🔄 Bluetooth Cash: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points (⋮) → Show system-based → Bluetooth, then press Clear Cache.
• 🛠️ Developer Menu: Activate It (Tap 7 Times on Version) MIUI in the phone settings), then turn on the Bluetooth debugging option.

For models of phones Xiaomi on Android 13+ (for example, Redmi Note 12, Xiaomi 13) can help reset network settings:

→ SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resets Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings

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If your Xiaomi phone doesn’t see the headphones at all, try connecting them to another device (like a laptop or tablet) if they are detected, the problem is with your smartphone’s Bluetooth settings, not the headphones.

5.Chronicity problems between left and right headphones

If one Xiaomi headphone connects to the phone and the other is silent but charged, the problem is headphone synchronization, which is typical for models with Master-Slave architecture (for example, Redmi AirDots 2), where one headphone is “main” and the second is “subject”.

How to reconnect:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid for 20 seconds.
2. Pull them out and wait until the indicators start flashing in synchrony (usually white).
3. If synchronization is not restored, press the touch panels on both headphones for 8-10 seconds until you hear an audible signal.

Haylou GT1/GT2 models may require “forced” synchronization.

1. Only connect the "main" headphone (usually right-handed). to the phone


2. Remove the second headphone from the case and bring it to the first at a distance of 1-2 cm.




3. Hold the button on the case for 5 seconds - the connection signal should sound.

⚠️ Warning: If the headphones are still out of sync after all the manipulations, check if the phone is activated in Low Latency (in Bluetooth settings). MIUI.

6. Hardware malfunctions: when without service can not do

If none of these things work, there may be hardware breakdowns, and here are some signs that the headphones need repair:

• 🔊 No sound even after resetting and connecting to another device.
• 🔋 One of the headphones is not charged despite cleaning contacts.
• 📡 Bluetooth antenna damaged (visible cracks, headphone not detected by any device).
• 💧 Infection of moisture (corrosion on the board, the headphone “hises” when working).

The cost of repairs in Xiaomi service centers:

Before contacting the service, check whether the warranty is valid (for Xiaomi headphones it is usually 12 months). If the headphones are purchased in official stores (Mi Store, Svyaznoy, M. Video), repairs are free.

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If Xiaomi headphones are warranty, DO NOT disassemble them yourself - this will void warranty obligations. Contact an authorized service center with a check or confirmation of purchase.

7. Alternative ways of connecting (if nothing helps)

If the standard methods don’t work, try the non-obvious solutions:

• 📱 Connecting through third-party apps: for example, Bluetooth Auto Connect (Play Market) sometimes “sees” headphones when a full-time Bluetooth manager MIUI ignore them.
• 🖥️ PC Connection: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi True Wireless) 2) better synchronized with Windows/macOS, than Android.
• 🔄 Change the firmware region: if you have a Xiaomi phone with global firmware (MIUI Global, try to switch to Global. MIUI China EEA (It's sometimes a solution to Bluetooth problems.

For advanced users: If headphones are defined as two separate devices, you can try “forced” to link them through ADB:

adb shell settings put global bluetooth_avrcp_version 1.6

This command resets the AVRCP protocol, which is responsible for synchronizing audio streams. Root rights are required.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi headphones