Xiaomi headphones connect one by one: causes and solutions

Did you pull out a Xiaomi headphone, but one of them refuses to connect, and the other one works as if nothing had happened? Or are both earphones defined as separate devices but not synchronized with each other? TWS-Headphones from Xiaomi - from budget Redmi Buds to flagship Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro. In 80% of cases, the malfunction can be eliminated independently without contacting the service center.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why headphones connect one at a time, from a simple battery discharge to hardware breakdowns. You’ll learn how to diagnose a problem, which settings to check first, and what to do if factory reset didn’t help. And for complex cases, we’ve prepared a unique manual manual headphone synchronization manual through the engineering menu (works on 2022 and newer models).

Why Xiaomi Headphones Connect One at a Time: The Main Reasons

The problem of one-way connection TWS-It is important to understand that the left and right headphones in the pair Xiaomi work on the principle of “lead-follow”: one of them (usually the right) is a master device, and the second is a slave. If the connection between them is broken, you get the effect of a “one working earpiece".

Here are the key factors that lead to such a failure:

• 🔋 Battery discharge – one of the headphones has run out to 0% and cannot synchronize, especially for models with asymmetrical energy consumption (for example, Xiaomi Buds). 3T Pro, where the right earphone discharges faster).
• 📱 Firmware failure is an error in the headphone firmware after an update or improper shutdown, often manifested after interrupted synchronization with the phone.
• 🔄 Loss of communication between headphones – the “master” device cannot find the “slave” due to interference, physical damage to the antenna, or a failure in the Bluetooth protocol. 5.2/5.3.
• 🧹 Contact contamination – oxidation or moisture on contact areas in the case or on the headphones themselves (typical for Redmi AirDots) 2/3 after intensive use).
• 🛠️ Hardware failure: a Bluetooth module, microphone or battery in one of the headphones fails.

Before you start the repair, try a quick diagnosis:

1. Put both earphones in the case for 30 seconds, then pull them out.
2. Check the indicators: if one earphone flashes red and the second flashes white, the problem is synchronization.
3. Hold the headphones close together (at a distance of 1-2 cm) – sometimes this helps to restore communication.

Resetting Xiaomi headphones to factory settings

60 percent of the time, the whole headphone reset is solved, and the procedure varies depending on the model, but the general principle is the same: delete all the stored connections and return the devices to the "out of the box" state.

Instructions for most Xiaomi/Redmi models (2020–2026):

Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.|Hold the button on the case (or touchpad on headphones) for 15-20 seconds|Wait for the red and white lights to flash at the same time|Get your headphones out of your case – they should sync automatically-->

For touch-controlled models (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro):

1. Get both earphones out of the case.
2. Touch and hold the touchpads on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds.
3. The indicators should go out, then flash red and white - this is a signal of a successful reset.
4. Put the headphones back in the case for 30 seconds, then reconnect.

If the reset didn’t help, move on to the next step – manual synchronization.

💡

After reset, try connecting your headphones to another smartphone (for example, on iOS if you have Android, or vice versa).

Manual synchronization of headphones through the engineering menu

This method works for Xiaomi models on the Qualcomm QCC3040/QCC3046 chip (e.g. Redmi Buds 4 Active, Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro) and requires a special sequence of actions. If a standard reset does not help, try this method:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the cover of the case, but don't take out the headphones.
3. Press and hold the button on the case 3 times in a row (with an interval of 1 second between presses). After the third hold (5-7 seconds), the indicators should flash purple.
4. Take the headphones out of the case – they should automatically sync.

For models on the BES2300 chip (e.g. Redmi AirDots 3):

1. Get both earphones out of the case.
2. Touch the touch panel on the right earphone 5 times in a row (with an interval of 0.5 seconds).
3. Wait 10 seconds – the indicator should flash green, signaling the entry into synchronization mode.
4. Put the headphones back in the case for 10 seconds, then pull out - they should connect as a pair.

If the indicators do not respond to these actions, the problem may be in the firmware or hardware.

Checking and cleaning contacts in the case and headphones

One of the most common causes of one-way connectivity is oxidation or contamination of contacts. In Xiaomi headphones, charging and synchronization are done through spring contacts in a case, and if they are covered with dust, moisture or corrosion, one of the headphones may not charge or sync.

How to clean contacts:

• 🧴 Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher) and do not use water or wet wipes!
• 🔍 Gently wipe the gold contacts on the headphones and the spring contacts inside the case.
• 🌬️ After cleaning, dry the contacts with a dryer in cold mode or leave for 10-15 minutes at room temperature.
• 🔋 Check the charge: put the headphones in the case and watch the indicators. Both should burn red (charge) or green (full charge).

If the problem persists after cleaning, check the physical condition of the contacts:

• 🔍 Check the springs in the cover - they should be elastic and not bent.
• 🔧 If the spring is bent, gently correct it with a plastic blade (not metal!).
• ⚠️ If the contacts are blackened or covered with green coating (oxidation), it may be necessary to replace the cover.

💡

Cleaning contacts helps in 30% of cases when the headphones connect one at a time. If the problem persists, go to checking the firmware or hardware.

Update the firmware headphones through Mi Home or Xiaomi Earbuds

Outdated or damaged firmware can cause synchronization problems. Xiaomi regularly releases updates for its products. TWS-Headphones that fix connection errors. Check the relevance of the firmware through the official application:

For Redmi Buds/Xiaomi Buds (2021–2026):

1. Install the Xiaomi Earbuds app (for Android) or Mi Home (for iOS/Android).
2. Connect your headphones to your phone (even if they work one at a time).
3. Open the app and select your headphones from the device list.
4. Go to the Settings section → Update the firmware.
5. If a new version is available, click Update and wait for the process to complete (don’t turn off the headphones!).

Redmi AirDots 2, Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2

• Updating the firmware is possible only through Mi Home.
• In the application go to Profile → Headphones → Software update.
• If the update button is inactive, your firmware is already up to date.

Important: during the firmware update:

• 📵 Don't turn off your headphones from your phone.
• 🔋 Make sure the cover is at least 50 times charged%.
• 📶 Connect your phone to stable Wi-Fi (update can weigh up to 5-10 MB).

💡

If the firmware update is interrupted, put the headphones in the case for 1 minute, then repeat the procedure. 90% of the time, the process will resume from the same place.

Diagnostics of hardware faults

If all software methods have been tried, but the headphones are still connected one at a time, the problem may be in the hardware.

For self-diagnosis:

1. Try connecting the "defaulting" headphone separately to the phone, and if it's defined as a standalone device, it's a problem synchronizing the pair.
2. Check the resistance of contacts with a multimeter (should be within 0.5-1.5 ohms). If the reading is infinity - a chain break.
3. Put a flashlight in the earbud's audible hole, and if the speaker is damaged, you'll see ruptures or membrane deformation.

Warning:

⚠️ Don't disassemble headphones yourself if you don't have microelectronics experience! Xiaomi earphones use adhesives and brittle plumes that are easily damaged, and this will lead to a loss of warranty (if it's still valid).

Alternative ways to connect if nothing helps

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

• 📱 Connecting via another phone: sometimes the problem lies in the Bluetooth cache on the main device. Try pairing the headphones with another smartphone (preferably on another OS - if you have Android, try the iPhone, and vice versa).
• 🔄 Forced reboot case: Remove the battery from the case (if possible) for 1 minute, then insert back.This will reset the charging controller.
• 🎧 Use in mono mode: some models (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro) support each headphone separately. Connect the "working" earphone and check if the second is defined as a separate device.
• 🔌 Charging from another source: connect the case to another charger (preferably Quick Charge-enabled.

For owners of Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and Redmi Buds 4 Active, there is a hidden forced synchronization feature:

1. Put both earphones in the case.
2. Open the lid and close it three times quickly and open it (within 3 seconds).
3. The indicators should flash yellow - this is a signal for the start of synchronization.
4. Wait until the lights start to burn white (usually 10-15 seconds).

Warning:

⚠️ If the headphones were purchased less than 14 days ago and the problem is not resolved, contact the store for replacement under warranty. Xiaomi service center may refuse repair if the device was opened or there are traces of fluid (even if they are not the cause of breakage).

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi headphones