How to connect both headphones Xiaomi Redmi: 7 proven ways

Why Xiaomi Redmi’s One Headphone Doesn’t Connect – The Main Reasons

You took out a new Xiaomi Redmi Buds or Redmi Airdots, turned them on, but the sound is only in one headphone? This problem is familiar to many owners of wireless headsets of the brand. Most often it occurs due to a failure of synchronization between left and right earphones, improper Bluetooth settings on your smartphone or mechanical damage. But do not rush to carry the device into service — in 90% of cases, the problem can be solved by yourself in 5-10 minutes.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why Xiaomi Redmi might refuse to connect both headphones at the same time, and provide step-by-step instructions for each model – from the budget Redmi Buds 3 Lite to the flagship Redmi Buds 4 Pro.

Before you start taking action, check out three basic points:

• 🔋 Battery charge: both earbuds must be charged at least 30%. If the indicator on one of them does not burn, the problem may be in the discharged battery.
• 📱 Device compatibility: Your smartphone (or other device) must support Bluetooth 5.0 or later. On older versions (4.2 and below), stereo connectivity may be problematic.
• 🎧 Physical damage: Check the headphones for water, dirt or mechanical defects in the contact area of the charging case.

If all is well with these points, we move on to diagnosis and solution of the problem.

Method 1: Resetting headphones to factory settings

The most versatile method that works for all Xiaomi Redmi models is a complete reset, which cleans the memory of the headphones, removes all stored connections, and returns the device to the “out of the box” state.

Instructions for most models:

1. Place both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
2. Wait 10 seconds, then open the lid.
3. Press and hold the touchpad on both headphones simultaneously for 15-20 seconds.
4. The indicators will flash red and white, which is a signal of a successful reset.

For the Redmi Buds 4 Pro and Redmi AirDots 3 Pro, the process is slightly different:

After discharge:

• 📱 Remove headphones from the list of saved Bluetooth devices on your smartphone (Settings) → Bluetooth → Xiaomi Redmi → Forget the device).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone (this will clear the cache of the Bluetooth module).
• 🎧 Take the headphones out of the case and plug them back in.

💡

If the headphones don’t sync after reset, try connecting them to another device (tablet, laptop) to help determine if the problem is in the headset or in your smartphone.

Method 2: Forced synchronization of left and right headphones

Sometimes Xiaomi Redmi headphones lose communication with each other, but each of them connects to the phone separately, in which case forced synchronization will help:

Algorithm of action:

1. Get both earphones out of the case.
2. Press and hold the touchpad on the right earphone for 5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white.
3. Repeat the same for the left earpiece.
4. Place both headphones back in the case and close the lid for 30 seconds.
5. Take them out and wait for automatic synchronization (the indicators should flash synchronously).

If the synchronization has not occurred:

• 🔌 Try connecting the headphones to another charger (possibly, the case undercharges one of the headphones).
• 📦 Check if the case cover is tightly closed – sometimes contacts do not work due to dust ingress.

Method 3: Update the firmware headphones

The manufacturer regularly releases firmware updates for Xiaomi Redmi Buds/Airdots, which fix connection errors. If your headphones are not synced, they may have an outdated version of the software. Check the relevance of the firmware through the official Xiaomi Earbuds app (available for Android and iOS).

Step-by-step:

1. Install the Xiaomi Earbuds app from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Connect your headphones to your smartphone (even if only one works).
3. Open the app and select your model in the list.
4. Go to the Firmware Update section.
5. If a new version is available, click Update and wait for the process to be completed (don’t turn off the headphones!).

Important nuances:

• 🔋 Make sure the charge of the headphones and case exceeds 50% – when discharged during the update, the device may fail.
• 📶 Connect your smartphone to stable Wi-Fi – the update weighs up to 10-15 MB.
• ⏳ The process can take up to 5-7 minutes – do not interrupt it.

💡

The firmware update solves the problem of unsynchronized headphones in 70% of cases, especially for models older than 2022.

Method 4: Check Bluetooth settings on a smartphone

Sometimes the problem isn’t with the headphones, but with your smartphone’s Bluetooth settings, especially for Android 12+ and iOS 15+ devices, where there are audio optimization features that can conflict with the headset.

What needs to be done:

1. Open the settings → Bluetooth on your smartphone.
2. Find Xiaomi Redmi and click on the settings gear (or “i” on the iPhone).
3. Turn off the options: 🔊 Absolute Volume (Absolute Volume) – on Android. 🎵 Dual Audio (Dual Audio) – on Samsung. 📱 Autoconnection – if the headphones connect to multiple devices.

Reboot your smartphone and reconnect the headphones.

For iPhone owners:

• 🍎 Go to Settings. → Universal access → Audiovisual content.
• Turn off the Monoaudio option – it can force one of the headphones to be turned off.

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Some MIUI firmware (e.g., Xiaomi Redmi Note 12) has a bug that only connects Bluetooth devices in SCO (low sound quality) mode. To fix this, turn on developer mode and turn off AVRCP 1.6 in Bluetooth settings.

Method 5: Clearing contacts and checking the case

If Xiaomi Redmi headphones don’t sync, but each one works separately, the problem may be contaminated contacts or a faulty charging case, and over time, oxidation, dust or moisture accumulates on metal pads, which disrupts communication between devices.

How to clean contacts:

1. Take the headphones out of the case and inspect the gold contacts on the bottom.
2. Take a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol (or regular vodka) and gently wipe the contacts.
3. Dry the headphones for 10-15 minutes before use.
4. Check the contacts inside the case – they may also be contaminated.

Case check:

• 🔌 Connect the case to the charge and make sure the indicator is lit red (charging is going) or green (full charge).
• 🔋 If the indicator doesn’t burn, try another charger or cable (preferably the original one from Xiaomi).
• 📦 Check if the magnets are loose in the case - they fix the headphones in the correct position for charging.

⚠️ Note: Do not use abrasive materials ( sandpaper, metal brushes) to clean contacts - this will damage the protective coating and worsen conductivity.

Method 6: Connect through the Xiaomi Earbuds app

The official Xiaomi Earbuds app not only updates the firmware, but also allows you to manually control the synchronization of headphones. If standard methods did not help, try this method:

Instructions:

1. Install and open the Xiaomi Earbuds app.
2. Connect your headphones to your smartphone (even if only one works).
3. In the main menu of the application, find the headphone settings section or additionally.
4. Select the option to Reset the pair connection (or Restore the stereo mode).
5. Follow the instructions on the screen – usually you need to confirm the reset and wait for the headphones to reboot.

If there is no such option in the appendix:

• 🔄 Try to turn off and turn on Bluetooth again on your smartphone.
• 📱 Reinstall the app – sometimes cleaning the cache helps.
• 🌐 Check if your model supports this feature (e.g. Redmi Buds 3 Lite has limited settings in the app).

Method 7: Hardware diagnostics and service

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be hardware, and here are some signs you should contact the service center:

• 🔴 One of the headphones does not turn on at all (does not respond to pressing, the indicator does not burn).
• 🔊 The sound is there, but very quiet or distorted (may indicate damage to the speaker).
• 🔋 The headphone discharges in 10-15 minutes (battery malfunction).
• 📡 Headphones are connected, but communication is constantly cut (problem with Bluetooth module).

Where to repair:

• 🏢 Xiaomi service centers – warranty repair (if the headphones were purchased less than a year ago).
• 🔧 Unofficial workshops – cheaper, but without a guarantee (the average price of repairing one headphone is 800-1500). ₽).
• 🛒 Warranty replacement – if the problem occurred within the first 14 days after purchase.

⚠️ Warning: Before visiting the service, reset your settings and check the headphones on another device. This will help avoid unnecessary costs - sometimes the problem lies in the smartphone, not in the headset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi Redmi headphones