One Xiaomi earphone does not turn on: full instructions for diagnosis and repair

Xiaomi's wireless headphones are some of the most popular TWS- headsets on the market, thanks to their price-to-quality ratio. But even they're not immune to breakdowns. One of the most common problems is that one earphone stopped turning on, doesn't respond to charging, or doesn't connect to the phone, and the reasons can range from a trivial battery drain to hardware damage to the board.

In this article, we will look at all the possible scenarios why one Xiaomi AirDots, Redmi Buds or other headphone does not work, and what to do about it. It is important to understand that some problems are solved in 5 minutes (for example, resetting), and others require the intervention of a service center, we will help determine whether you should try to fix the headphone yourself or better immediately contact the specialists.

Before you start repairing, make sure that the problem is not the source of the sound (smartphone, tablet or PC). Try connecting the headphones to another device. If the second headphone is stable and the first one is not, move on to diagnosis.

1. Checking charging and contacts

The first thing you need to do is make sure that the earphone is charging, and users often confuse the failure with a dead battery.

🔹 Visual inspection: flash a flashlight on the contacts inside the case and on the earpiece itself. If they're oxidized (green/white plaque) or bent, it can block charging. Carefully clean them with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

🔹 Charging test: Put the earphone in the case for 10 to 15 minutes, then pull it out. If the headphone indicator doesn't light up and the case flashes red, contact or battery problem.

🔹 Case check: sometimes the case itself doesn't power the headphone. Try charging the case from another cable or socket. If the indicator on the case isn't on, it's the problem, not the headphone.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use abrasive materials (sandpaper, metal objects) to clean contacts. This can damage the coating and exacerbate the problem.

Try another cable to charge the case |

Wipe the contacts of the headphone and case with alcohol |

Check if the indicator on the case burns when connecting to charging |

Try charging the headphone in the case from another source (powerbank)-->

2. Resetting headphone settings

If the headphone is on but not connecting to the phone or is intermittent, a hard reset will help, a procedure that will return the headphones to factory settings and often resolve software failures.

🔹 For Xiaomi AirDots models (including Pro, SE, Youth):

🔹 For Redmi Buds (3, 3 Pro, 4 et al.):

After reset, reconnect your headphones through Settings → Bluetooth on your phone. If one earphone still doesn't turn on, move on to the next step.

3. Diagnostics of hardware breakdowns

If resetting and charging didn't work, the problem could be in the hardware: the battery, the speaker, the control board, or the Bluetooth antenna.

🔹 Battery: If the headphone turns on but immediately turns off or discharges in a few minutes, the battery is out of order. Xiaomi AirDots and Redmi Buds have no replacement batteries, but the service can re-sold a new one.

🔹 Speaker: If the earphone is on, plugging in, but there's no sound, maybe the speaker wire is off or it's damaged. Put a flashlight on the speaker grille, if you see rust or membrane ruptures, you'll need a replacement.

🔹 Control board: If the headphone doesn't respond to anything (no charge, no flash, no flash), it's likely that the board has burned, and this can be due to a voltage drop when charging or moisture hits.

🔹 Bluetooth antenna: If the earphone is switched on but not connected to the phone (or the connection is constantly breaking), the problem may be in the antenna, often after falls or severe compression of the earphone.

⚠️ Warning: If you don't have experience with a soldering iron, don't try to replace your battery or board yourself. 90% of the time, this causes the headphone to fail completely due to chip damage.

4. Firmware check and update

Sometimes one headphone stops working after a firmware update or because of a firmware failure. Xiaomi regularly releases updates for its TWS- headphones, but they don't always go smoothly.

🔹 How to check the firmware version:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app (depending on the model).
3. Go to the headphones section and find the Firmware Update item.

🔹 If the update is suspended:

• 📱 Turn off Bluetooth on your phone.
• 🔋 Put the headphones in the case and wait 10 minutes.
• 🔄 Perform a reset (see Section 2).
• 📲 Reconnect and try to update the firmware.

If the firmware is damaged and the earphone is not turned on, forced flashing over the PC can help, which requires special software (for example, Xiaomi Flash Tool) and firmware for your model, but this method is risky and can finally kill the earphone.

5. Moisture and dust protection: what to do after water hits

Many Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi Buds 3 Pro or Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro) have IPX4 or IP54 protection, which means they are splash resistant, but not completely submerged. If the headphone stops working after contact with liquid, act quickly:

🔹 Immediate action:

• 🚫 Don't turn on the earphone!
• 🧻 Wipe it with a dry napkin (not paper - it can leave the villi).
• 💨 Blow the holes (microphone, speaker) with compressed air (e.g., a canister for cleaning equipment).
• 🌞 Put the earphone in a dry, warm place (not on the battery!) for 24-48 hours.

🔹 What NOT to do:

• 🔥 Dry with a hair dryer – hot air can warp plastic and damage the board.
• 🧂 Rice is a myth, rice does not absorb moisture from electronic devices.
• 🔌 Connect to charging until the earphone is completely dry.

If the earphone didn't work after drying, it's likely that the contacts have oxidized or the board has failed, and only the service center will help.

💡

To check if the earpiece is dry, put it in a bag of silica gel (those balls that are put in shoe boxes) for 12 hours. Silica gel absorbs residual moisture better than just air.

6. When to contact the service center

If you’ve tried all the techniques in this article, but one Xiaomi earphone still doesn’t turn on, it’s time to turn to the professionals.

🔹 The control board has burned (the headphone does not respond to anything, not even charging).

🔹 The battery is swelling (seeing from the deformation of the case - it's dangerous!).

🔹 Spreading wires or microphones (microscope and soldering iron required) were severed.

🔹 The Bluetooth antenna is damaged (the headphone only connects 10 cm from the phone).

📍 Where to fix:

• 🏢 The official Xiaomi service centers are warranty repairs (if headphones are warranty) or paid. A list of centers can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service.
• 🔧 Informal workshops are often cheaper, but they run the risk of running into unskilled craftsmen.
• 📦 Warranty replacement – if the headphones are warranty (usually 12 months) and the problem is hardware, you are required to replace them or repair them for free.

💰 Cost of repair (example):

• Battery replacement: 800-1500 ₽.
• Repair fee: 1000–2500 ₽.
• Replacement of speaker - 1200-2000 ₽.
• Flashing: 500–1000 ₽.

⚠️ Warning: If the headphones are warranty, don't open them yourself! That will void the warranty. You better go to the service center right away with a check or a warranty card.

💡

Before visiting the service center, reset your headphones and check them on another device, which will eliminate software failures and save you time.

7. How to avoid breakdowns in the future

To make your Xiaomi last longer, follow the simple rules of care:

🔹 Charging:

• 🔌 Use only the original cable or a certified USB-Type-C.
• 🔋 Do not leave your headphones on charge for more than 2-3 hours, which reduces battery life.
• 🌡️ Avoid charging at extreme temperatures (below 0)°C or higher than 40°C).

🔹 Storage:

• 📦 Always put your headphones in your case when you're not using it.
• 🚫 Do not store them near magnets or devices with strong electromagnetic radiation (e.g. microwaves).
• 💧 If the headphones get wet, dry them before cleaning the case.

🔹 Operation:

• 🎵 Don't turn on the maximum volume for long - it overloads the speaker.
• 🧴 Clean your earbuds regularly from earwax and dust (with a cotton wand dipped in alcohol).
• 📵 Do not drop your headphones and sit on them (yes, this happens!).

Compliance with these rules will prolong the life of your headphones for 2-3 years or more.

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