Why both Redmi headphones don’t work and how to fix it: the complete guide

You took out the new Xiaomi Redmi wireless headphones, plugged them into your smartphone, but it only sounds in one ear? Or suddenly both earphones stopped working after the upgrade? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi Airdots, Redmi Buds and other models of the brand. 90% of the time, it's not because of a breakdown, but because of the wrong settings or synchronization failure.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why both Redmi earbuds don’t work, from the banal battery discharge to the hidden Bluetooth settings. You’ll learn how to return stereo sound in 2 minutes (even if the headphones aren’t determined by the system), what buttons to press to reset, and what to do if the problem repeats after each connection, and a unique way of forced synchronization through the MIUI engineering menu that isn’t written about in the official instructions.

1. Checking the underlying causes: why is one earphone silent

Before you dig deep into the settings, rule out the obvious problems.

• 🔋 A discharged battery – one earphone could discharge faster (especially if it was lying apart from the case).
• 🎧 Mechanical damage – check the speaker grid for dirt or moisture.
• 📱 Bluetooth error – the smartphone could “forget” one of the headphones after the update.
• 🔄 Unsynchronized headphones – they may not be paired correctly with each other.

Start with the simplest:

1. Put both headphones in the case for 30 seconds – they should automatically charge and sync.
2. Get them out and check the indicators: both should blink at the same time (if not, mating is a problem).
3. Hold your headphones to your ear: sometimes there is a sound, but it is very quiet (check the volume control on your smartphone).

⚠️ Note: If the indicator on one of the headphones does not burn at all, do not try to turn it on - this is a sign of hardware failure (the controller is burned out or the contact has gone.

2.Reset Redmi headphones to factory settings

If the basic check didn't work, do a hard reset, which removes all the connections you've saved and returns the headphones to the boxy state, and is suitable for all Redmi Airdots, Buds and Earbuds models:

For the Redmi Buds 3/4 Lite and Earbuds S models, the process is slightly different:

1. Get the headphones out of the case.
2. Press and hold the touchpads on both headphones for 10 seconds (until the red light flashes).
3. Put them back in the case, close the lid for 5 seconds, then open.

After reset, the headphones should appear in the list of available Bluetooth devices as Mi True Wireless or Redmi. Buds_XXX. If they don’t show up, move on to the next section.

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After reset, first connect the headphones to the Xiaomi smartphone (if any). devices on MIUI are better synchronized with branded accessories.

3. Forced synchronization of headphones with each other

Sometimes when you reset, the headphones connect to the phone, but the sound is only in one, which means they're not synchronized with each other.

Method 1. Through the case (for most models):

1. Put both earphones in the case.
2. Close the lid, wait 5 seconds, then open.
3. Press and hold the button on the case for 10 seconds (until the headphones start flashing synchronously).

Method 2. Manual synchronization (for Redmi Buds) 3/4):

1. Get the headphones out of the case.
2. Touch and hold the touchpad on the right earphone for 5 seconds (until you hear the beep).
3. Repeat the same for the left earpiece.
4. Wait 10 seconds – the headphones should automatically connect.

⚠️ Note: If the synchronization of the sound disappears through the 1-2 Seconds is a problem in the Bluetooth codec. Go to Settings. → Bluetooth → Settings gear next to the headphones → Audio codec and select SBC instead AAC or.

4. Bluetooth settings on a smartphone: hidden settings

Sometimes the problem isn't with the headphones, it's with the phone settings, especially if you're using Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO on MIUI.

• 📵 Turn off Bluetooth, then turn it back on (sometimes a simple module reboot helps).
• 🔄 Remove the headphones from the list of devices and connect again (click "Forget this device").
• 🛠️ Reset network settings in Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth.
• 📱 Update. MIUI — In older versions there were bugs with Bluetooth 5.0 support+.

For Xiaomi owners, there is a hidden feature – the developer mode for Bluetooth:

1. Activate Developer Mode (click 7 times on the MIUI version in your phone settings).
2. Go to Additional Settings → Developer Settings → Bluetooth Settings.
3. Turn on AVRCP 1.6 and turn off Bluetooth A2DP Hardware Offload.
4. Reboot the phone.

5. Problems with firmware and updates

If the headphones stopped working after a MIUI update or headphone firmware is a classic version conflict. Xiaomi regularly releases updates for its accessories, but sometimes they break compatibility.

How to check the version of the headphone firmware:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app.
3. Find your headphones in the list of devices and open their card.
4. In the "About the device" section, there will be a firmware version line.

Up-to-date firmware versions for popular models (June 2026):

• Redmi Airdots 3 Pro – 1.7.0.3 or later
• Redmi Buds 4 — 2.0.1.8;
• Redmi Earbuds S — 1.4.0.7.

If the version is outdated:

1. Open Mi Home → Profile → Settings → Firmware update.
2. If the update is not available, remove the headphones from the app, then add again.
3. Connect to the Internet via mobile data (sometimes updates are not loaded over Wi-Fi).

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If your headphones stop working after you update your firmware, reset (Section 2) and reconnect them, which solves the problem 80 percent of the time.

6. Hardware malfunctions: when it is time to service

If none of these things worked, it could be the hardware problem.

• 🔴 The indicator on one of the headphones does not burn at all (even when charging).
• 🔊 There is a sound, but it is intermittent or with a strong noise (problem with the speaker or contacts).
• 🔋 The earphone is discharged 10-15 minutes (battery is faulty).
• 📶 Headphones are permanently turned off at a distance of less than 1 meter (a problem with the Bluetooth antenna).

What you can do on your own:

1. Clean contacts in the case and on headphones with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
2. Check the case - if it doesn't charge the headphones, the problem could be in its battery.
3. Connect to another phone (preferably on iOS or another Android) to rule out a smartphone problem.

If headphones are guaranteed, contact the Xiaomi service center. Without a warranty, repair can cost 50-70% of the cost of new headphones, so it is often more profitable to buy a new pair.

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to disassemble headphones yourself – in Redmi Buds and Airdots, glue joints are used, and after disassembling them it is almost impossible to collect back without special equipment.

7. Alternative ways of connecting (if nothing helps)

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

Method 1. Connect via "Hearphone Mode" (for MIUI):

1. Go to Settings → Special features → Headphones.
2. Turn on the Mono-audio option, then turn it off.
3. Reboot the phone.

Method 2: Forced connection via ADB (for advanced users):

adb shell settings put global bluetooth_a2dp_forced true


adb reboot

This command forcibly turns on the A2DP profile (responsible for stereo sound) after you reboot your phone, try reconnecting your headphones.

Method 3: Use of third-party applications:

• Bluetooth Auto Connect automatically reconnects devices.
• SoundAssistant – allows you to manually select an audio device.
• Developer Options – for fine-tuning Bluetooth codecs.

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If the headphones are defined as "HFP" rather than "A2DP," call somewhere and answer. Sometimes this forcefully switches the profile to stereo.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi headphones