How to turn both Xiaomi headphones on: a complete guide to recovering stereo sound

Why is one Xiaomi headphone not working and the other is silent?

You have pulled Xiaomi headphones out of the case, but the sound comes from only one thing - the classic situation faced by owners of Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless Earbuds and others. TWS-The reasons can be different, from a simple battery discharge to a software failure in the firmware. 2-3 minutes, but it is important to understand what is the "silence" of one of the headphones.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can turn on both headphones, from basic reboots to manual synchronization through an engineering menu, and how to prevent these kinds of failures in the future, and which Xiaomi models are most likely to suffer from “one-way deafness.” If you’ve tried standard methods (like resetting a button on a case) and they haven’t helped, don’t rush your headphones into service. 90% of the time, the problem is solved by yourself.

Before proceeding to the instructions, make sure that:

• 🔋 Both headphones are charged (indicators on the case are green or white).
• 📱 Bluetooth on the smartphone is turned on and the headphones are displayed in the list of devices.
• 🔊 The sound is not turned off on the smartphone itself (check the volume slider and the Do Not Disturb mode»).

Method 1: Forced reboot of headphones

The fastest and most versatile method is the hardware reset, which works on all Xiaomi models, from the budget Redmi AirDots to the flagship Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro. The idea is to “reset” the current state of the headphones and make them synchronize with each other again.

Instructions:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Wait 10 seconds, then open the case.
3. Press and hold the touchpad on both headphones simultaneously for 15-20 seconds (until the indicators start flashing red and white).
4. Close the case, wait 30 seconds, then remove the headphones – they should automatically connect in stereo mode.

If after the reset, one headphone still does not work, try to connect it separately:

Make sure the headphone is charged (the indicator burns when removed from the case)

Try to connect it manually through the Bluetooth menu of the smartphone

Check the sound in mono mode (if it works – the problem is synchronization)

Repeat the reset for this headphone separately-->

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and later, the touchpad may not respond to prolonged pressing. In this case, use the reset button on the case (usually located on the back panel under the lid). Press it 5 times at 1 second intervals, this will trigger the reset procedure.

Method 2: Manual synchronization through the engineering menu (for advanced)

If standard reset didn’t work, the problem could be a disconnection between the master and slave headphones, in which case forced synchronization via a hidden menu will help, a method that is suitable for models on Qualcomm chips (most Xiaomi and Redmi headphones).

Step-by-step:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the case and remove only the right earpiece (usually the master).
3. Press the right earphone touchpad 3 times in a row at 1 second intervals. The indicator should flash purple (synchronization mode).
4. Remove the left earphone – it should automatically connect to the right (the indicators will light up white).
5. If synchronization has not occurred, repeat steps 2-4, but start with the left earpiece.

On some models (for example, Redmi AirDots 3 Pro) you need to use a combination of taps to enter the engineering menu:

Press and hold the touch panel on the right headphone 10 seconds → release → press 2 times → hold 5 seconds

Method 3: Update the firmware through Mi Fit / Xiaomi Wear

Outdated firmware is a common cause of stereo malfunction. Xiaomi regularly releases updates to its headphones to fix sync bugs.

Instructions for Mi Fit (Android/iOS):

1. Connect the headphones to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
2. Open the Mi Fit app (or Xiaomi Wear for new models).
3. Go to the Profile section → My devices. → [Your headphones].
4. Click on the firmware update (if available).
5. Follow the instructions on the screen. Don't turn off the headphones during the process!

Important nuances:

• 🔄 Update can take up to 10 minutes. Headphones should be in a case with the lid open.
• 📵 If the update is interrupted, try again or reset your headphones (Track 1).
• 🔋 Make sure the case charge is at least 50% or the process may end in error.

⚠️ Warning: If your headphones stop turning on after the firmware update, complete a full reset (Method 1) and repeat the update. In rare cases, a rollback to the previous version of the software via the Xiaomi Flash Tool (PC required) helps).

Method 4: Verification of compatibility with a smartphone

Sometimes the problem isn't with headphones, but with a Bluetooth smartphone, especially with older phones (before Android 10) or custom firmware devices.

List of potential problems:

• 📱 Android (below 8.0) - does not support the protocol LE Audio is required for the TWS-headphone.
• 🔄 Conflict with other Bluetooth devices (fitness bracelets, smart watches, speakers).
• 🛠️ Energy-saving settings that turn off Bluetooth in the background.
• 🔧 Unoriginal firmware (MIUI Global vs China, custom ROM).

Decisions:

1. Upgrade your smartphone to the latest version of MIUI or Android.
2. In Bluetooth settings, disable all unnecessary devices.
3. Turn off the power saving mode for the Mi Fit application (Settings → Battery → Application Energy Consumption).
4. If you use custom firmware, check for Bluetooth 5.0+ compatibility.

💡

On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12+, turn on the developer mode and activate the Bluetooth Debugging option (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times Press → Developer Settings → Bluetooth Debugging).

Method 5: Hardware diagnostics (if nothing helps)

If all software methods have been tried and one earphone still doesn't work, the problem may be hardware.

For self-diagnosis:

1. Check the charging contacts on the headphone and in the case - they should be clean and not oxidized.
2. Try connecting the headphone to another smartphone (preferably on iOS or another Android).
3. Light a flashlight into the speaker's grille - if the membrane is torn or deformed, a replacement will be required.

⚠️ Attention: Disassembly of headphones Xiaomi without experience is fraught with damage to plumes or microphone. If you are not sure of their abilities, contact an authorized service. The cost of repairing the speaker or replacing contacts usually does not exceed 1000-1500 RUB, which is cheaper than buying new headphones.

Prevention: How to avoid problems in the future

To Xiaomi headphones last a long time and do not lose synchronization, follow these rules:

• 🔋 Charge the case to 100% at least once a week – this prevents deep discharge of the headphone battery.
• 🧼 Clean the contacts with a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol (1 time per month).
• 📵 Do not use headphones at temperatures below 0°C or higher than 40°C.
• 🔄 Update your firmware via Mi Fit when notifications appear.
• 🎧 Store in a case - do not leave headphones outdoors (dust and moisture spoil contacts).

Critical information: Xiaomi headphones with Qualcomm QCC3040 and later chips (such as Xiaomi Buds 4) automatically reset if you lie outside the case for more than 24 hours.

💡

Regularly cleaning contacts and updating firmware reduces the risk of synchronization problems by 80%.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi headphones