Xiaomi’s Wireless Headphone Doesn’t Work: 7 Ways to Turn On and Restore

Why did one Xiaomi headphone stop working and the other didn’t?

When one Xiaomi wireless headphone (such as AirDots, Redmi Buds or FlipBuds) suddenly stops switching on or connecting, and the second one works normally, many users are familiar with the reasons for this, both software (firmware failure, battery discharge) and hardware (contact damage, speaker failure), in 80% of cases, the problem can be solved independently without going to the service center.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi wireless headphones work on the principle of "lead-follow": one headphone (usually right) is the main and synchronizes with the smartphone, and the second connects to it. If the "led" headphone does not respond, this does not always mean a breakage - often enough to restart or reset settings.

In this article, we will discuss 7 proven ways to bring a broken earphone back to life, from basic (charge check) to advanced (flashing through ADB).

1. Checking the underlying causes: charge, connection, physical damage

Before you start complex manipulations, make sure that the problem is not in trivial things.

• 🔋 Case and headphone charge: place both headphones in the case for 10-15 minutes. Case indicator should flash or burn (depending on the model). If there is no indication, the case is discharged.
• 🔌 Headphone contacts: Check the metal contacts on the headphones and in the case for oxidation or dirt.
• 🎧 Physical damage: inspect the earphone for cracks, dents, or moisture (if the model has no protection) IPX4 higher).
• 📱 Connect to your device: Remove your headphones from the list of associated devices in your Bluetooth settings and try to connect again.

If the headphone still doesn't turn on after this, then move on to the next step. Note that some Xiaomi models (like the AirDots Pro 2) have a hidden diagnostic mode that activates when you hold the button on the case for 10 seconds.

⚠️ Warning: If the earphone falls into water or has been subjected to severe mechanical stress (for example, stepped on it), do not try to turn it on again. This can lead to short circuit and final failure.

2. Resetting headphone settings to factory

Reset is a universal way to return the headphones to their original settings, which works for most Xiaomi models, including the AirDots 3 Pro, Redmi Buds 4 and others.

1. Place both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
2. Open the case cover and hold the pairing button (usually located on the back of the case) for 15-20 seconds.
3. The indicator on the case will flash red and white (or orange and white in some models) – this is a signal of a successful reset.
4. Close the case cover, wait 10 seconds, then open it again and try connecting to the headphones via Bluetooth.

If the reset didn’t help, try an alternative method for touch-controlled models (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4):

• 👆 Press and hold the touchpad on the broken earphone for 10 seconds.
• 🔄 Repeat the action 3-4 times in a row - it can "wake up" the headphone.

⚠️ Note: after reset, Xiaomi headphones may lose communication with the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app. You will have to reconfigure gestures, equalizer and other parameters.

3. Manual reconnection of headphones with each other

If one earphone is switched on but not synced with the other, the problem may be that the two are not connected, and the forced reconnection will help:

1. Remove both earphones from the case.
2. On a working headphone, hold the touchpad (or button) for 5 seconds until you hear the beep.
3. Repeat the action on a non-functioning headphone.
4. Place both headphones back in the case, close the lid for 10 seconds, then remove them.

For models that support Mi TrueWireless Stereo (e.g. AirDots 2 SE), an additional step may be required:

• 📱 Connect a working headphone to a smartphone via Bluetooth.
• 🔄 In Bluetooth settings, find the option “Separate headphones” (or “Use separately”) and turn it off.
• 🔄 Reboot the headphones by holding the button on the case for 10 seconds.

A critical feature of Xiaomi 2022-2026 models is that if the headphones do not sync within 5 minutes after being removed from the case, they automatically go into energy saving mode. To get them out of this state, you need to connect to charging for 30+ minutes.

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If Xiaomi headphones don’t sync after the firmware update, try rolling back the software version through the Xiaomi Wear app (Updates section).

4. Check and update firmware through Mi Home/Xiaomi Wear

Outdated or damaged firmware is a common reason one earbud stops working, and you can update it through the official Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear apps (depending on the model).

1. Install the Xiaomi Wear app (for new models) or Mi Home (for older models).
2. Connect a working headphone to the app (if the second one is not determined, use only one).
3. Go to the "Firmware Update" section.
4. If a new version is available, click Update and wait for the process to be completed (don’t remove the headphones from the case!).

For AirDots Pro 2 and later, the update may require you to connect the case to the charger. If the firmware is damaged and the earphone is not determined by the application, try resetting it through ADB (instructions in the next section).

5. Diagnostics and repairs via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods didn’t work and the earphone still doesn’t work, you can try low-level reset via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for models based on Qualcomm or BES chips (for example, AirDots Pro 2, Redmi Buds 3 Pro).

• 📱 Android-smartphone with unlocked debugging USB.
• 💻 Computer with installed ADB and Xiaomi drivers.
• 🔌 USB-Type-C Cable (to connect the case).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the case with headphones to the computer through a cable.
2. Open the command prompt (CMD) and type: Adb devices If the case is determined, proceed to the next step. If not, install drivers for Xiaomi Bluetooth Device.
3. Enter the command to reset: adb shell am broadcast -a android.bluetooth.adapter.action.RESET
4. Turn off the case, remove the headphones and try to connect again.

Models with a BES2300 chip (such as Xiaomi Buds 3) may require a special utility BES Toolbox, which can be downloaded on the XDA Developers or 4PDA forums.

⚠️ Warning: Wrong commands ADB If you're not sure what you're doing, you can get help from a professional.

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Resetting through ADB is a last resort, and in 90% of cases, standard methods (resetting a button on a case or updating a firmware) help.

6. Hardware malfunctions: when without repairs can not do

If none of the software methods worked, the problem is probably hardware, and here are the most common malfunctions and their signs:

The cost of repairs in Xiaomi service centers varies from 800 to 2500 rubles depending on the model and type of breakdown.

• 🔧 Replacement of the battery in AirDots 2: ~1,000 rubles.
• 🔊 Replacement of the speaker in Redmi Buds 3 Pro: ~1500 rubles.
• 📡 Bluetooth Module Repair in FlipBuds Pro: ~2000 rubles.

If the headphones are warranty, do not try to repair them yourself - this will void warranty obligations.

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Before visiting the service, take photos of headphones and case from different angles, which will help the wizard to quickly identify the problem, especially if it is associated with mechanical damage.

7. How to prevent repeated failures: operating rules

To avoid problems with Xiaomi wireless headphones in the future, follow these guidelines:

• 🔋 Charging: Do not leave headphones in the case on charging for more than 24 hours - this reduces the battery life.
• 💦 Moisture: Even if the model has protection IPX4, Avoid getting water into the case connectors.
• 📵 Bluetooth: Don’t connect your headphones to multiple devices at once – it can cause synchronization conflicts.
• 🔄 Updates: Check regularly for new firmware in the Xiaomi Wear app.
• 🧹 Cleaning: once a month, clean the contacts of headphones and case from dust and oxidation.

Storage: Do not leave headphones in direct sunlight or near heat sources (such as the dashboard of a car). Optimal storage temperature: 10-35°C.

If you use headphones for sports, choose models with IPX5 protection and higher (for example, Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro). They are resistant to sweating and rain, but still require careful care.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi headphones that don't work