Why Xiaomi Earbuds Headphones Don’t Connect and How to Fix It

Did you take out the new Xiaomi Earbuds, turn them on, but hear the sound in only one headphone? Or did you get both of them stop working at the same time after the firmware update? This problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi wireless headphones, from the budget Redmi Earbuds Basic to the flagship Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro. In 90% of cases, the reason lies not in the breakdown, but in the wrong synchronization between the headphones or smartphone.

In this article, we'll look at all possible scenarios, from basic phone connections to manually resetting headphones, how to make both headphones work in sync, what settings to check in MIUI, and what to do if the problem recurs after the upgrade, and unique life hacks that you won't find in the official manual, such as how to tie headphones to two devices at the same time.

1. basic connection Xiaomi Earbuds to the phone

Before you look for complex solutions, make sure you connect your headphones to your smartphone correctly.Even experienced users sometimes miss key steps.

For most models (Redmi Earbuds 3/4, Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro) the algorithm is the same:

1. Take both headphones out of the case - they should automatically turn on (the indicator will light up).
2. Press the button on the case (or touchpad on the headphones) for 3-5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white and red (pairing mode).
3. On your phone, open Settings → Bluetooth and select Xiaomi Earbuds from the list of available devices.

Important: If the headphones have been connected before, first remove them from the list of associated devices (Bluetooth Settings) → ⚙️ → Forget the device. This will reset the current binding and allow the process to start over.

2. Why one headphone does not connect: top-5 cause

If the sound is only in one headphone after the connection, the problem is usually due to one of these reasons:

• 🔋 The case or headphones are discharged. Even if the indicator is on, the charge level could fall below the critical (less than 10%).
• 🔄 The headphones are synchronized, they're connected to the phone, but they don't "see" each other.
• 📱 The phone's firmware conflict is particularly relevant to MIUI 14+ Android 13+.
• 🎧 Mechanical damage to contacts in the case or on headphones (oxidation, dirt).
• 🔊 Phone settings: Mono mode is on or the balance is left/right.

A critical mistake many users make is that they try to reconnect the headphones to the phone instead of first synchronizing them with each other, and it's like trying to call a radio without setting the overall frequency, the signal just won't get through.

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Before diagnosing, check the sound balance: open any audio player (such as Mi Music), click on the speaker icon and make sure the slider is in the middle. If it moves left/right, the sound will only go into one earpiece.

3. How to sync Xiaomi headphones with each other

If both headphones are connected to the phone but work separately (for example, in the left sound, and the right is silent), you need to reset their connection and repair.

Put both headphones in the case and close the lid for 10 seconds.

Take them out and wait for the automatic on (flicker indicator)

Make sure the case is at least 30% charged (the indicator on the case is green or orange)

Turn off Bluetooth on all devices that your headphones have previously connected to-->

Now do the reset:

1. Put both headphones in the case and open the lid.
2. Press the touch panels on both headphones simultaneously for 15-20 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white alternately.
3. Get the headphones out of the case – they should automatically synchronize (the indicators will light up in blue and go out).
4. Connect them to the phone again (see section 1).

If the indicators don't flash red/white, then the reset didn't happen. Repeat the steps, holding the buttons longer (up to 30 seconds). For models with mechanical buttons (for example, Redmi Earbuds Basic), press the button on the case.

4. phone settings that interfere with the work of the headphones

Often the problem is not the headphones, but the settings of the smartphone, especially if everything worked before, and after updating the MIUI or resetting the phone, one earphone stopped connecting.

Check these parameters:

For MIUI 14+ owners: Newer firmware versions have a bug that only allows headphones to connect in HFP (for calls) rather than A2DP (for music) mode to fix:

1. Open Settings → About the phone and 5 times click on the MIUI version to turn on the developer mode.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option to turn off the absolute volume of Bluetooth and turn it on.

5. Connectivity Features for Xiaomi AirDots Pro 2 and Buds 3/4 Pro

Flagship models (Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro, Buds 4 Pro, AirDots Pro 2) have additional features that can interfere with standard connection, for example, they implement automatic change of device (if you connected them to a laptop and phone), which can “hang” when trying to sync.

For these models, extended reset is valid:

1. Open the lid and press the touchpad on the case for 30 seconds until the indicator starts flashing purple.

If you have a Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro with LE Audio support, make sure the phone is on developer mode and activated with the option to turn on LE Audio (Settings → For developers). Otherwise, the headphones will connect in outdated mode, which can cause sound problems.

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For models with ANC (active noise cancellation) after reset, you need to reset the noise reduction level in the Mi Earphones application. Otherwise, one of the headphones may seem “silent” due to different settings.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Many users make the problem worse by making these mistakes:

• 🔄 Reconnecting the headphones to the phone without dropping them between them is like trying to connect two different devices -- they're not synchronized.
• 📵 They use headphones at a distance. 10 Keep the devices within range to keep the phone stable. 1-2 meters.
• 🔋 Charging the case from powerful adapters (18W+). It could damage the power controller. Use charging. 5V/1A.
• 🎵 Turn on the music until full sync, wait for the voice message "Connected" or the stable blue indicator.

Case in point: A Redmi Earbuds 3 user complained that the right earphone only worked if you were lying on your right side, and it turned out that the right earphone contacts had oxidized in the case, so you just had to clean them with a blower.

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If the headphones start to glitch after falling or getting moisture, put them in a case and leave them for a day in a bag with silica gel (it comes in boxes from shoes or appliances), this will help dry the internal components.

7.If nothing helps: diagnosis and repair

If after all the manipulations, the headphones are still out of sync, there may be a problem with the hardware.

⚠️ Note: If only one headphone is displayed in Bluetooth settings when connecting to your phone (for example, Xiaomi Earbuds-L, and Xiaomi Earbuds-R is missing), this is a sign of a Bluetooth module failure in the right/left earphone. Self-repair will not help here - you need a replacement board.

Try these steps to diagnose:

1. Connect your headphones to another phone (preferably on iOS or another Android) and if the problem recurs, it's the headphones.
2. Check if the indicator is on the silent earphone when removed from the case, if not, a problem with power or contacts.
3. Install the nRF Connect app (for Android) and check if both headphones are detected in the list of devices.

If the headphones are warranty, contact the service center Xiaomi. for models older than a year, repairs can cost you in the future. 1500-3000 ₽ (Replace your battery, Bluetooth module or contacts; in some cases, it is cheaper to buy new headphones, such as Redmi Earbuds. 4 stand up 2500 ₽.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions