What to do if one headphone Xiaomi Redmi Airdots quieter than another: a step-by-step guide

You’ve turned on your favorite playlist, but you’ve noticed that Xiaomi Redmi Airdots doesn’t play the sound evenly: one earpiece is louder and the other is barely audible? This problem is common to many wireless headphone users, and the causes can range from simple contamination of the speaker to software failures. Unlike wired counterparts, where faults are often associated with cable damage, the problem can be caused by a very different type of problem. TWS-Headphones (True Wireless Stereo) volume imbalance is usually caused by device settings, connection features or hardware nuances.

In this article, we’ll look at 7 proven ways to rebalance your Redmi Airdots — from simple actions like cleaning your headphones to deep Bluetooth settings and resetting to factory settings. Importantly, not all methods are universal, so we’ll show you which ones are suitable for specific models (like Redmi Airdots 2/3/Pro) and firmware versions. If you’ve tried something on the list, skip familiar steps and move on to more radical solutions.

1. Check the sound balance in the smartphone settings

The first thing to do is make sure that the problem is not with the phone itself, and many Android users (especially on MIUI) don’t even realize that the system has a separate balance controller between the left and right earphones, which can get lost after a firmware update or accidental change.

How to check:

• 📱 Open the Settings. → The sound on your smartphone Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco.
• 🔊 Find the Sound Balance or Headphone Settings section (in some versions) MIUI This item is hidden in Additional sound settings).
• 🎚️ Move the slider to the center - this will return the even distribution of sound between the headphones.

If there is no such item, try an alternative path:

1. Connect Redmi Airdots to your phone.
2. While playing music, click on the headphone icon in the notification panel.
3. In some firmware there is displayed a mini-panel with balance adjustment.

⚠️ Note: On iPhone, a similar setting is in Settings → Universal access → Audiovisual content → Stereo sound balance. If you're using Airdots with an iPhone, check this setting first.

2. Clean the headphones of dirt and sulfur

In 60 percent of cases, the volume imbalance in Redmi Airdots is caused by a banal contamination of the speaker or mesh of one of the headphones. Earwax, dust and even small villi can partially block the sound channel, which causes one earphone to play quieter, especially for models with an open design (for example, Redmi Airdots 2), where the mesh is not protected by silicone tips.

How to clean your headphones:

• 🧼 Use a soft toothbrush (preferably a baby toothbrush) with dry pile to gently remove dirt from the speaker grid.
• 💧 For persistent contaminants, moisten the cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol (at least 70%) and wipe the surface. Do not use water!
• 🔍 Check the microphone hole (if any) – clogging can also affect sound quality.
• 🌬️ After cleaning, allow the headphones to dry for 10-15 minutes before use.

If the mesh is heavily clogged, you can try blowing it with a compressed air can (used to clean keyboards), hold the balloon upright and don't bring it too close so as not to damage the speaker membrane.

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Do not use sharp objects (needles, toothpicks) to clean – they can tear the speaker membrane or damage the protective net.

3. Reconnect the headphones to the phone

Sometimes the problem is a faulty Bluetooth connection, such as if one of the headphones connected to the phone later than the other or if the synchronization between the Airdots themselves (in TWS mode) failed, in which case a full reconnection helps:

Instructions for Android:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Find Redmi Airdots and click on the icon ⚙️ (Or hold the name of the headphones).
3. Select to Disable or Forget the device.
4. Return the headphones to the case, close it for 10 seconds, then pull out and wait until they go into pairing mode (blinking white LED).
5. Connect again via the Bluetooth menu.

For iOS:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Bluetooth.
• 🔄 Click on the "i" next to Redmi Airdots and select Forget this device.
• 🔋 Turn off Bluetooth for 30 seconds, then turn on and plug your headphones back in.

⚠️ Note: If one headphone has stopped working after reconnecting, check if the mono mode has been activated (for example, after a failed firmware update.

4. Update the headphone firmware

Xiaomi regularly releases firmware updates for its TWS-Headphones that fix bugs with sound, improve sync and add new features. If your Redmi Airdots haven't been updated in a long time, it could have caused a volume imbalance.

How to update firmware:

• 📲 Install the official Mi Home app (for older models) or Xiaomi Earbuds app (for newer ones, such as Redmi Buds 4).
• 🔗 Connect your headphones to your phone via Bluetooth.
• 🔄 Open the app, find your headphones in the list of devices and check for updates in the firmware section.
• 📥 If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions.Do not turn off your headphones or close the app until the process is complete!

Important: For some models (like the Redmi Airdots 3 Pro), the only firmware update is through MIUI version 12 and up. If you have old firmware on your phone, upgrade it first.

5. Check the sound uniformity settings in the applications

Sometimes the problem isn’t with the headphones, but with the settings of the specific app you’re listening to music through, like Spotify, YouTube Music, or VLC, which have their own equalizers and balance regulators that can conflict with system settings.

Where to look:

• 🎵 Spotify: Settings → Reproduction → Equalizer (turn it off or reset to factory settings).
• 📺 YouTube/YouTube Music: In the playback settings, check if Mono mode is activated.
• 🎬 VLC: Settings → Audio. → Normalization of sound (turn off if it is on).
• 🎮 Games: Some mobile games (for example, PUBG Mobile) have separate audio settings in the settings menu.

It is also worth checking whether the phone is activated mode of one earphone (for example, to save charge). MIUI It can be done through:

Settings → Special features → Sound settings → Monoaudio

6.Reset the headphones to factory settings

If previous methods didn't work, it's time to resort to a hard reset, which will delete all user settings, including device pairing data, and return the headphones to a "out of the box" state, the procedure differs depending on the model:

For Redmi Airdots 1/2:

1. Place both headphones in the case and close it.
2. Open the case and hold the button on its back for 20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
3. Close the case for 10 seconds, then take out the headphones - they should automatically go into pairing mode.

Redmi Airdots 3/Pro and Redmi Buds 3/4:

• 🔋 Make sure there is a charge in the case (the indicator is green or orange).
• 📱 Open the case cover and hold the reset button (located inside the case) for 15 seconds until the headphone indicators start flashing white quickly.
• 🔄 Close the case, wait 30 seconds and reconnect the headphones.

⚠️ Note: After reset, the headphones may temporarily lose sync with each other (for example, the right earphone will not automatically connect to the left). In this case: Remove both earphones from the case. Hold the buttons on both earphones for 5 seconds until you hear the beep. Put them back in the case for 10 seconds, then reconnect. 7 Check the hardware health of the headphones If none of the software methods worked, the problem may be hardware: 🔋 A discharged battery in one of the headphones: even if the case shows a full charge, one of the headphones could discharge unevenly. 🔊 Damage to the speaker: if the earphone is not only quieter, but also distorts the sound (wheezing, crackling), the membrane may have been torn. This often happens after falls or moisture is ingested. 📡 Bluetooth module malfunction: If one headphone is permanently disabled or connected with a delay, the problem may be in the antenna. 🔌 Bad contact in the case: check if the "quiet" earphone charges when placed in the case (the indicator should burn red). How to diagnose: Connect the headphones to another device (for example, a laptop or tablet). If the imbalance remains, the problem is in the headphones. Change the headphones (try to put the right in the left ear and vice versa). If the quiet headphone stays quiet regardless of the side, it's the point. Check the headphones in ringing mode - if the balance is normal, and the music is not, the problem is the media settings. If you have confirmed a hardware fault, contact Xiaomi's service center.Redmi Airdots headphones have a 12-month warranty from the date of purchase. You'll need a repair: 🛒 Check or confirmation of purchase (electronic check, data from the card). 📦 Original packaging (preferably, but not necessarily). 📱 IMEI Headphones (can be found on the box or in Bluetooth settings). 💡If headphones are warranty, DO NOT disassemble them yourself - this will void warranty obligations. FAQ: Frequent questions about the sound imbalance in Redmi Airdots: Can you repair the speaker in Redmi Airdots yourself? Theoretically, yes, but in practice, it's extremely difficult. TWS-And the first thing you need to do is to have your headphones soldered to the board, and you need to have soldering equipment and accuracy to replace them, and the original parts for the Redmi Airdots are not sold separately. If you don't have microelectronics experience, you should go to the service. Why is one headphone quieter after the firmware update? This is a well-known problem with some firmware versions for Redmi Airdots. 2/3. In most cases, a rollback to a previous version or a reset helps. If the update was released recently, check the forums (for example, check the forums, 4PDA) — How do I check if I have a fake Redmi Airdots? Fakes often have trouble balancing sound due to low-quality speakers: 📦 Inscriptions on the package: the original has no typos, the font is clear. 🔊 Sound: Counterfeiting often lacks bass, and maximum volume is lower. 📱 Mi Home app: Original headphones are automatically identified, fakes are not. IMEI The box and the Bluetooth settings should match. Can the sound imbalance be related to the Bluetooth version of the phone? Yes, but indirectly. If your smartphone supports Bluetooth 4.2 and your headphones support Bluetooth 5.0, you may have problems syncing, especially with a large number of connected devices nearby. Try: Turn off Bluetooth on other devices nearby. Reboot your phone and headphones. Enable Priority in Bluetooth settings (if any). What if one headphone is still quieter after all the manipulations? If you have tried all the methods from the article, there are three options: Contact the service center (if the headphones are guaranteed).