Why Xiaomi’s second Bluetooth headphone doesn’t connect: full diagnostics and repairs

The problem of one Xiaomi headphone connecting over Bluetooth and the other is silent or undetected is found in 37% of users of the brand’s wireless headsets (according to service centers for 2023), the reasons are rooted in software failures and hardware defects, from a trivial battery discharge to damage to the synchronization antenna. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, including the rare cases when the fault is not the earphone itself, but a smartphone or even a Wi-Fi router.

Xiaomi devices (AirDots, Buds, FlipBuds) feature the use of the TWS (True Wireless Stereo) synchronization protocol, where the main headphone (usually the right one) controls the connection of the left one. If the connection between them breaks, the second earphone stops responding. In 60% of cases, the problem can be solved independently, but there are also critical malfunctions that require repair.

Before you bring the headset to the service, check out 5 basic points:

1. Battery discharge or charging problems

The most common reason why Xiaomi's second headphone doesn't connect is because it has different charge levels. The main headphone (usually the right one) can have 80% charge and the left one can have 0% charge, which causes it to not turn on or sync.

• 🔋 Case Indicators: When you connect your headphones to charge, both LEDs should blink. If one doesn't burn, there's a problem with the contacts or the battery.
• ⚡ Clean contacts: wipe metal pads on headphones and in the case with an alcohol napkin.
• ⏳ Charging time: Leave the headphones in the case for 1-2 hours, even if the indicator shows "full charge.

If after full charging the second headphone still does not turn on, try a forced reset:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (if any) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator changes color to red/white.
3. Take out your headphones and try to connect again.

Check the charge indicators on the case|Wash your contacts with alcohol|Charge the headphones 2.+ hour|Reset the case by holding the button|Try another one. USB-cable-->

Critical case: if the headphone is not charging at all (the indicator is not burning), this may indicate a power chain break or a bloating battery, in which case a replacement of the battery at the service center is required.

2. failure of synchronization between headphones (TWS-pair)

True Wireless Stereo (TWS) technology assumes that one headphone (master) controls the second (slave). If the connection between them is broken, the second headphone will not respond, a common problem for the Xiaomi AirDots 2 and Redmi Buds 3 models.

How to restore a couple:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid for 30 seconds.
2. Remove them and hold the touchpads on both headphones for 10-15 seconds until the red/white light flashes.
3. Wait until the headphones are automatically synchronized (the indicators should burn the same).
4. Connect to them via Bluetooth on your smartphone.

If synchronization does not occur:

• 📱 Try connecting to the headphones from another device (tablet or second smartphone).

Attention! If the headphones are connected separately after reset, but do not work in pairs, this may indicate damage to the sync chip in the slave earphone, in which case only repair will help.

3. Bluetooth problems on a smartphone

In 20% of cases, the Bluetooth module of the smartphone is not the fault of the earphone itself, and this is especially true for Android 11-13 devices, where there are bugs that support A2DP (protocol for streaming audio).

What to do:

• 📱 "Forget the device in Bluetooth settings and connect again: Settings → Bluetooth → Click on the headphones' name. → "Forget this device"
• 🔄 Reset your network settings (this will remove all stored Bluetooth devices and Wi-Fi networks): → System system → Reset → Resetting network settings
• 🛠️ Update the firmware of the smartphone – in new versions often fix bugs with Bluetooth.
• 📵 Turn off Wi-Fi while you connect – sometimes interference from the router blocks the connection.

If the problem persists, check the headphones on another device. If they work, it's the smartphone. For Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco, resetting the Bluetooth cache will help:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → All applications.
2. Find Bluetooth in the list of system applications.
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear the cache.

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Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 14+ have a hidden Bluetooth diagnostic feature. To enable it, type in the Phone app code ##232338## and select "Bluetooth Test".

4. Hardware malfunctions of headphones

If software methods have not helped, the problem may be physical damage:

How to diagnose a hardware malfunction:

1. Light a flashlight into the speaker grille - if rust or moisture is visible, the earphone requires drying.
2. Shake the headphone – if you hear an extraneous noise (for example, rattling), it may be a detached element of the board.
3. Try connecting the headphone to a 3.7V RAM (through tweezers to the battery contacts). If it doesn't charge, the power controller is the problem.

Attention! If your earphone falls into water or is hit hard, don't try to disassemble it yourself, which causes a 90 percent total failure due to static electricity or damage to the plumes.

5. Interference from other devices

Bluetooth operates at 2.4 GHz, which is used by other devices, such as Wi-Fi routers, microwaves, wireless mice, and if there are many such devices within a radius of 5 meters, the communication between the headphones can be broken.

How to reduce interference:

• 📶 Switch the router to 5 GHz (if it supports).
• 🔌 Disable unnecessary Bluetooth devices (fitness bracelets, speakers).
• 📍 Move closer to the smartphone (maximum distance for the smartphone) TWS — 10 meters without obstacles).
• 🛡️ In the Bluetooth settings of the smartphone, turn on the “Sound Quality Priority” mode (if any).

Use Wi-Fi analyzers like WiFi Analyzer to check for interference, and if you have many devices on channels 1-6, switch to channel 11 or 13.

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If the second headphone is turned off in the subway, elevator or near the microwave, external interference is to blame, in which case only a change of location or disconnection of other devices will help.

6. Firmware and updates

Xiaomi headphones (especially Buds 3 Pro and newer) have built-in software that sometimes requires updating. If the firmware is outdated, there may be problems with synchronization.

How to update firmware:

1. Install the official Xiaomi Wear or Mi Home app.
2. Connect the headphones to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
3. Open the app → find your headphone model → check for updates.
4. If the update is available, plug the headphones into charging and wait for the process to complete (don't turn it off!).

If the update doesn’t help or the app doesn’t see the headphones:

• 📱 Try another smartphone (on Android 10)+ iOS 14+).
• 🔄 Reinstall the Xiaomi Wear app.
• 🛠️ Reset the headphones to factory settings (see Section 2).

Attention! Do not interrupt the process of updating the firmware - this can lead to "bricking" the earphone (complete loss of performance). If the update is suspended, wait for the battery to run out (the earphone will turn off itself), then try again.

7. Fake or non-original model

The market is flooded with fake Xiaomi headphones, which are indistinguishable from the original but have cheap components.

• 🏷️ There is no serial number on the case or headphones.
• 🔊 The sound quality is worse than the original (wheezing, lack of bass).
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge (original holds 4-5 hours, fake - 1-2).
• 📦 Packaging without hologram or with typos in the text.

How to check the originality:

1. Download the Xiaomi Authenticity Check app and scan QR-box-code.
2. Check the serial number at mi.com/global/verify.
3. Compare the weight of the headphones with the original (for example, AirDots 3 weighs 4.1 g, fakes – 3.5-3.8 g).

If you confirm that the headphones are fake, contact the seller for a refund. Repair of such devices is pointless - they break after 2-3 months.

8.When to contact the service center

If you've tried all the methods, but the second headphone still doesn't work, it's time to bring the headset for repair.

• 🔧 The headphone does not turn on even after full charging.
• 🔊 The sound is distorted (wheezing, crackling) or completely absent.
• 📡 The headphone is connected, but immediately switched off (antenna problem).
• 💥 On the body visible traces of impact, moisture or overheating.

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

Important: In informal services, repairs may cost less, but there is a risk of installing non-original spare parts. Xiaomi official centers give a warranty of 6 months for repairs.

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If the headphones are warranty (usually 12 months), do not disassemble them yourself - this will void the warranty.

FAQ: Frequent questions