Xiaomi Wireless Headphone Not Turned On: Full Repair Instructions

Why Xiaomi’s headphone is not turned on: the main reasons

You took out a Xiaomi AirDots headphone, Redmi Buds or Xiaomi FlipBuds, but it doesn't show signs of life? Don't panic, 80 percent of the time, the problem is solved without going to the service center. The main thing is to diagnose the cause correctly.

Wireless headphones may not turn on due to software failures (for example, after a failed firmware update), a discharged battery, mechanical damage or contact closure. Less commonly, a hardware defect is the failure of the power controller or Bluetooth chips. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, from the simplest to the most complex, with step-by-step instructions and visual hints.

Pay special attention to models with automatic shutdown function at low charge (for example, Xiaomi Air 2 SE) – they can “hang” in deep discharge mode if they lie uncharged for a long time. Also check if moisture has not got into the connectors – this is a common problem after training or rain.

1. Checking the charge of the case and headphones

The first thing you need to do is make sure that the case is charged. Even if the indicator on the case is on, it does not guarantee a sufficient level of energy to charge the headphones. Connect the case to the charger for 10-15 minutes, then try to remove and turn on the earphone.

How to check the charge of headphones without connecting to the phone:

• 🔋 Indicator on the case: if you connect to the USB The lights are red, below 30 percent, and the green light is above 80 percent. On some models (Redmi Buds 3 Pro), the lights flash orange at critical levels.
• 📱 Mobile app: in Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear, open the Headphones section - there is a percentage of each headphone charge separately.
• 🔊 Sound signal: when extracted from the case, the discharged earphone emits a low-frequency squeak (on models with support for voice prompts).

If the case is charged, but the earphone still does not turn on, try to force the charger:

1. Place the headphone in the case and close the lid.
2. Connect the case to the charger for 30 minutes.
3. Remove the earphone and hold the switch on for 10-15 seconds.

⚠️ Note: Do not use adapters with higher power to charge the case 5V/1A (This can damage the power controller, especially on budget models like Redmi AirDots.

2. Resetting headphones to factory settings

If the headphone doesn't respond to the on button but charging is confirmed, try a hardware reset.This procedure clears the temporary data and returns the settings to factory settings.The method works for most Xiaomi models, including the AirDots Pro 2 and Redmi Buds 4.

Resetting instructions:

Place both headphones in the case and close the lid |Put the case to charge (required!)|Hold the button on the case for 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white |Remove the headphones and try to turn them on again-->

On some models (for example, Xiaomi Air 2 SE) the reset is performed differently:

1. Remove the earphone from the case.
2. Hold the touchpad on the headphone for 30 seconds until the double signal sounds.
3. Repeat for the second headphone (if there is a problem with the pair).

After reset, the headphones will automatically go into pairing mode (the indicator will flash white). Connect them to the phone again via Settings → Bluetooth.

Diagnostics of mechanical damage

If the earphone stopped turning on after falling, getting moisture or severe compression, the problem may be mechanical.

• 💧 Moisture inside: condensate under the speaker grid or on the board (visible through a magnifying glass).
• 🔧 Cracks on the body, especially near buttons or connectors.
• 🔋 Battery bloating – the headphone case may slightly inflate in the battery area.

How to make an express diagnosis:

For models with moisture protection (Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro), water is not always fatal - just dry the earphone in rice or silica gel for 24 hours. Do not use a hair dryer or microwave - this will damage the fee.

⚠️ Note: If the headphone fell from a height of more than 1 meter, the plume of the speaker or antenna could depart, in this case, repair is possible only in the service with a microscope and soldering station.

4. Problems with firmware and updates

Firmware failures are a common reason for Xiaomi headphones to “brick” especially after an automatic update. In 2023, for example, Redmi Buds 4 Active users complained of freezing after upgrading to version 4.7.1 when the headphones stopped turning on.

How to restore firmware:

1. Make sure that the headphones are at least 50% charged (use the case).
2. Install the latest version of the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app.
3. Connect the headphones to the phone and wait for the update notification.
4. If the update does not start automatically, go to the Device Profile → Software Update.

If the headphones are not determined by the phone:

• 📱 Try connecting from another device (tablet or second smartphone).
• 🔄 Reset the network settings on your phone (Settings) → System system → Reset → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth).
• 🖥️ Use a PC with Mi Bluetooth Assistant (official firmware utility).

For Xiaomi Air 2 Pro and newer models, recovery mode is available:

1. Put the headphones in the case.


2 Hold the button on the case for 10 seconds until the indicator starts flashing blue.




3. Connect the case to the PC via USB-C and launch the Mi Flash Tool.

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If your headphones start to run out quickly after the upgrade, roll back the firmware via Xiaomi Wear: go to your device settings → “Roll back the update.” This option is available within 48 hours of the update.

5. Checking compatibility with the phone

Sometimes Xiaomi headphones don’t turn on or plug in due to incompatibility with the Bluetooth version on the phone. For example, Redmi Buds 3 Pro requires Bluetooth 5.2, and older smartphones (such as the Redmi Note 5) have Bluetooth 4.2 installed.

How to check compatibility:

If your phone doesn’t support the Bluetooth version you want, your headphones can:

• 🔘 Turn on but not connect (the indicator flashes white, but the phone doesn't see the device).
• 🔊 Connect, but the sound is interrupted or absent.
• 🔋 Discharge quickly due to constant synchronization attempts.

Decisions:

• 📲 Update your phone’s firmware (sometimes new protocol support is added).
• 🔄 Use headphones with another device (tablet, laptop).
• 🛠️ Buy an external Bluetooth adapter (e.g. Avantek) USB Bluetooth 5.0).

6. Repair in the service center vs. independent

If all of the above methods didn't work, it's probably a hardware problem.

• 🔧 The earphone is physically damaged (cracks, dents, traces of oxidation inside).
• 🔋 The battery is swollen or does not hold the charge (the headphone works only connected to the case).
• 🎧 One earphone is completely dead (does not respond to charging, reset, is not determined by the system).
• 📡 Bluetooth module problems (earphone is turned on but not connected to any device).

The cost of repairs in official Xiaomi services (data for 2026):

Self-repair is only feasible if you have experience with small electronics, and you will need to replace the battery or chips:

• 🔬 Soldering station with temperature up to 350°C.
• 🛠️ Selected for small equipment (iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit).
• 🧲 Suction cup for removal of adhesive covers.
• 🔋 New battery (for example, Redmi AirDots is suitable) J105-C40M 3.7V 40mAh).

⚠️ Note: Disassembling Xiaomi headphones often results in loss of water protection (if any).After self-repair, avoid using headphones in the rain or in the gym.

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Before contacting the service, check the warranty: official Xiaomi headphones have a warranty period of 12 months. If the defect is production (for example, a fallen contact), repair will be free.

7. Alternative ways of inclusion (for experienced users)

If standard methods do not work, you can try undocumented techniques that sometimes help to “reanimate” the headphones.

Method 1: Warming up the board (for headphones that do not respond to charging):

1. Place the headphone in the case and connect to the charging.
2. Heat the case with a hair dryer (temperature 50–60°C) for 2-3 minutes.
3. Try to remove and turn on the earpiece.

This method helps if the problem is cold soldering of the contacts of the battery.

Method 2: Connect via ADB (for debugging-enabled models):

1. Install Platform Tools on your PC.


2. Connect the case to the USB and execute the command:




adb devices




3. If the device is determined, try sending a reboot command:




adb reboot bootloader

Method 3: Test mode (for Xiaomi Air 2/Pro):

• Hold the touchpad on the headphone for 10 seconds until 3 signals sound.
• Place the headphone back in the case and close the lid.
• After 30 seconds, remove it - it should turn on in test mode (the indicator flashes green).

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi headphone malfunctions