You took Xiaomi AirDots, Redmi Buds or Xiaomi FlipBuds out of your case, turned on the music, and suddenly you found that the sound came from only one headphone, a situation that many owners of the brand's wireless technology know. The problem can be both a banal connection failure and a serious speaker breakdown. In this article, we will analyze all the possible reasons why one Xiaomi earphone does not work, and give step-by-step instructions for diagnosis and repair, from simple reset to replacement of components.
It's important to understand that the malfunction algorithm depends on the model of the headphones and the nature of the problem. For example, if the earphone doesn't turn on at all, that's one thing, and if it connects but doesn't make sound, it's another thing. We structured the material so that you can quickly find a solution to your situation, and let's start with the most obvious reasons and gradually move on to the complex ones.
1. Checking basic settings: why the headphone can "silence"
Before disassembling headphones or carrying them to the service, make sure that the problem is not in the settings of your smartphone or the gadget itself. Often users spend time looking for a breakdown when it was enough to restart Bluetooth or change the sound settings.
Here are the first steps to be taken:
- 🔊 Check the sound balance. On Android, go to Settings → Special Features → Stereo Sound Balance. On iOS: Settings → Universal Access → Audiovisual Content → Monoaudio Balance. The slider should be in the middle.
- 📱 Reconnect your headphones. Remove them from the list of paired devices and reconnect them. On Xiaomi/Redmi smartphones, go to Settings → Bluetooth, tap the gear icon next to the headphones, and select "Forget the device."
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and headphones. Sometimes it helps to switch off/on a Bluetooth module on your phone or tablet.
- 🎧 Check Monoaudio mode. On your iPhone, it can activate automatically. Turn it off in the same Universal Access settings.
If you don't have a sound after this manipulation, move on to the next section, and pay special attention to the charging indicators: if one earphone doesn't blink when you're removed from the case, the problem may be the battery or the contacts.
2. Resetting headphones to factory settings: instructions for all models
If the basic settings don't work, the next step is hard reset, which clears all the time data and returns the headphones to a boxy state, and the way you reset depends on the model.
| Model headphones | How to perform a reset | Signs of successful discharge |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi AirDots (1/2/3 gen), Redmi Buds 3/4 | Put both earphones in the case, close the lid. Press and hold the button on the case for 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes red/white. | The indicator on the case flashes white, the headphones disappear from the list of conjugated devices. |
| Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro | Press and hold the touchpads on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds until you hear the beep. | The headphones emit a voice message “Reset complete” (on some firmware). |
| Redmi Buds 5 Pro, AirDots Pro 2 | THREE times quickly tap the left and right earphone touchpad simultaneously (within 2 seconds). | The indicators on the headphones flash red, then white. |
After reset, reconnect the headphones. If one of them still doesn't work, the problem may be the firmware or the hardware.
⚠️ Warning: On some models (e.g. AirDots 3 Pro), the reset erases the firmware data. After the procedure, you may need to update the software via the Mi Home or Xiaomi Earbuds app.
1. Charge the case and headphones to at least 30%
2. Remove headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices on your smartphone
3.Put both headphones in the case and close the lid
Prepare a stopwatch (to accurately count the time of holding the button)-->
3. Charging problems: why one earphone is discharged or not charged
One of the most common causes of a broken earpiece is a power problem.
- 🔋 A discharged battery in one of the headphones (even if the case is charged).
- 🔌 Oxidized or contaminated contacts between the earphone and the case.
- 🔄 Faulty charging controller in case or headphone.
- 🔥 Bloated battery (visually visible when you disassemble the headphone).
How to diagnose:
- Take the headphones out of the case and look at the charging indicators. If one of them doesn't blink, the problem is contacts or the battery.
- Try to clean the contacts in the case and on the earpiece with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
- Put the headphones in the case and check after 10 minutes: if one of them is not heated (light heat is normal), most likely, no charging.
If the headphone is not charging at all, try to reflash the case (for models with updated software) or contact the service. The batteries in Xiaomi headphones usually last 2-3 years, after which they require replacement.
How to disassemble Xiaomi headphone to check the battery
4. Software failures: firmware updates and software conflicts
Xiaomi’s wireless headphones run on its own software, which sometimes crashes, especially for active noise-canceling models (FlipBuds Pro, AirDots 3 Pro). If one earphone connects but only one sound comes from one, the problem may be:
- 📲 Outdated firmware (especially after smartphone upgrades)
- 🔄 Conflict with the phone's Bluetooth stack.
- 🎛️ Failure in audio profile settings (e.g., after connecting to another device).
How to update firmware:
- Install the official app: For AirDots/Redmi Buds: Mi Home (available on Android and iOS). For FlipBuds Pro: Xiaomi Earbuds (Android only).
Connect the headphones to the app and check the “Firmware Update” section.
If an update is available, make sure the case is at least 50% charged and follow the instructions on the screen.
⚠️ Warning: Don't interrupt the update process! If the firmware flies, the headphones may stop turning on, which would require flashing through Fastboot (power users only).
If the update didn’t work, try changing your Bluetooth profile on your smartphone:
- On Android: go to Settings → System → Developer → Bluetooth Audio Codec and select SBC (most compatible).
- On the iPhone, there are no such settings, but you can try connecting the headphones to another device (for example, a MacBook or Android tablet) and check the sound.
5. Hardware breakdowns: what breaks most often
If neither reset nor upgrade helped, it's likely the problem is the hardware. Xiaomi headphones are most likely to fail:
| Component | Signs of breakdown | Can I repair it myself? |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic (membrane) | There's a sound, but it's distorted (wheezing, crackling) or very quiet, and you can see the ruptures of the membrane when you look at it visually. | ❌ Seedling equipment and a new speaker are required (price ~500–1500 ₽). |
| Bluetooth module | The earphone doesn't connect at all, the light doesn't flash. The second earpiece is working fine. | ❌ Re-sweetening of the module or replacement of the board is required. |
| Charging contacts | The headphone is not charged in the case, but works from an external source (if you connect directly). | ✅ Can be cleaned with alcohol or replaced with spring contacts. |
| Microphone | The sound is coming, but the interlocutor does not hear you (relevant for models with microphones in each headphone). | ✅ Sometimes cleaning the microphone holes with compressed air helps. |
Self-repair only makes sense if contacts are contaminated or the body is mechanically damaged. To replace the speaker or board, you should contact the service center. The cost of repair in official Xiaomi services starts from 1,200 ₽ (battery replacement) and comes to 3,000 ₽ (board replacement).
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Before disassembling the headphone, take a picture of the location of all the plumes and contacts. This will help to properly assemble the device back and avoid new breakdowns.
6. Features of models: why does not work left or right earphone
In some Xiaomi models, one of the headphones (usually the right one) is the master and the second is the slave headphone. If the lead headphone fails, the second one may not connect at all.
- 🎧 Xiaomi AirDots (1/2 gen): The right earphone is the lead. If it doesn't work, the left one won't connect.
- 🎧 Redmi Buds 3/4: The lead headphone is automatically determined when you first connect, and if you reset the settings, the role may change.
- 🎧 FlipBuds Pro: Both headphones are equal, but if a firmware failure occurs, one can “hang” in standby mode.
How to determine the lead headphone:
- Put both earbuds in a case, and only get one out, and if he connects to the phone, that's the host.
- If neither connects separately, the problem is in the case or firmware.
In offline models (such as the AirDots 3 Pro), each headphone can be used separately. If one doesn’t work in mono mode but works in pairs, the problem may be with the Bluetooth profile settings.
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If the master earphone is not turned on, the slave will not work even with a working speaker, in which case repair or replacement of the master earphone is required.
7.When to contact the service: signs of serious breakdowns
Not all problems can be solved by yourself. Contact the service center if:
- 🔥 The earphone overheats or smells like a burn (a sign of a short circuit).
- 💧 On the board, traces of oxidation or corrosion are visible (for example, after moisture enters).
- 🔊 The sound is completely absent, but the earphone plugs in and blinks.
- 🔄 Headphones are not defined by any device (including PC).
The cost of repairs in unofficial services may be lower, but there is a risk of getting substandard parts.
- 🏙️ Moscow: 10 Letnikovsky St. (Mi Service Service Center).
- 🏙️ St. Petersburg: Marshal Govorov str., 35.
- 🏙️ Regions: Addresses can be found at mi.com/ru/service.
Before the service visit:
- Take a photo or video of a problem (such as how the headphone blinks when connected).
- Check by phone if there are spare parts for your model.
- If headphones are guaranteed, bring checks and a box.
⚠️ Warning: The Xiaomi headphone warranty is usually 12 months, but does not cover mechanical damage (e.g. cracked body) or damage from moisture (unless the model has IPX4 protection and above).
8. Alternative solutions: what to do if repair is not advisable
If the cost of repair is comparable to the price of new headphones, consider alternatives:
- 🔄 Buy one headphone. AliExpress or Avito often sells used headphones piece by piece. For example, the right-handed Redmi Buds 4 can be found for 800-1,200 ₽.
- 🎁 Use the trade-in program. Some stores (like Svyaznoy or M. Video) accept old headphones as a payment for new ones.
- ♻️ Recycle. Some cities have electronics reception centers (e.g. Ecotechnics) that offer discounts on new headphones.
If you decide to buy new headphones, pay attention to models with moisture protection (IPX4 and above) and a guarantee of at least 18 months.
- Redmi Buds 5 - improved noise reduction and autonomy up to 30 hours.
- Xiaomi Buds 4 – Supports LC3 codec for better sound.
- FlipBuds Pro is an active noise reduction and support for aptX Adaptive.
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Before buying, check the compatibility of the headphones with your smartphone. For example, FlipBuds Pro reveals the full potential only with devices on Android 10+ or iOS 14+.