Why One Xiaomi Wireless Headphone Doesn’t Work and the Second Does: A Complete Diagnostic and Repair Guide

Did you pull Xiaomi AirDots, Redmi Buds or Xiaomi FlipBuds out of your case, but one of them is stubbornly silent, flashing red or not detected by the system at all? TWS-Headphones: According to service center statistics, up to 30 percent of calls are due to a malfunction of one of the two modules, and the causes can be either trivial battery discharge or serious hardware breakdowns.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible scenarios for why one Xiaomi headphone stopped working and the other one is functioning normally, how to tell a software failure from a physical malfunction, what manipulations you can do yourself, and when you should contact the service, and we’ve collected unique data on typical breakages of specific models (for example, why Redmi Buds 3 Pro often lose communication after a firmware update).

1. Checking the underlying causes: power, connection and mechanical damage

Before you disassemble your headphones or reset your settings, eliminate obvious problems. Start with visual inspection and charge check.

Step 1: Make sure the earbud is charged, and even if the light on the case is green, it doesn't guarantee that both earbuds have enough power.

• 🔴 Red flashing - discharged (you need to put in the case for 10-15 minutes).
• 🟢 Green constant – charged, but contact problems are possible.
• 🟠 Orange flashing - charging error (clean contacts with alcohol!).
• ⚫ Does not burn at all - either a dead battery or a break in the chain.

Step 2. Check the physical condition of the earpiece.

• 🔍 Contacts on the headphone and in the case - whether there is oxidation or contamination (clean with a cotton swab with isopropyl alcohol).
• 🎧 Dynamics - whether there is any visible damage to the mesh or membrane (blow into the hole: if you hear noise, the membrane is intact).
• 🔌 Charging connector in the case – not bent pin (relevant for Xiaomi AirDots Pro 2).

Step 3: Reconnect the headphones to the device, remove the gadget from the list of conjugated in the Bluetooth settings of the smartphone, then:

1. Put both headphones in the case for 5 seconds.
2. Take them out, and the switching signal should sound.
3. Press the button on the case (or the sensor on the earphone) for 10 seconds before flashing white/red.
4. Connect again via Bluetooth menu.

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If the Xiaomi headphone is not determined when connecting, try to turn on the developer mode on your smartphone and manually add the device to the device. MAC-address (indicated on the sticker under the case cover).

2. Software failures: resetting settings and firmware update

If the hardware is fine, but one earphone still doesn’t work, the problem may be in firmware or conflict with the device. TWS-Xiaomi headphones (especially models with support for Mi TrueWireless Stereo) often suffer from bugs after updates.

Resetting headphone settings:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the lid and press the button on the case for 15-20 seconds (for Redmi Buds 3 Lite - sensor on the headphone).
3. Wait for the flashing of red and white color - this is a signal of a successful reset.
4. Reconnect the headphones.

Firmware update: Outdated software may cause synchronization problems.

• 📱 Use the official Mi Earphones app (available for Android and iOS).
• 🔄 In the “Update” section, check the current firmware version.
• ⚠️ Don't interrupt the process! for Xiaomi Air 2 SE Update up to 5 minutes.

Make sure the case is charged at 50%+

Connect the headphones to the smartphone

Close all background applications

Do not remove the headphones from the case before the process is complete.

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Features for specific models:

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If after reset, one Xiaomi headphone still does not work, but the indicator is lit green - the problem is in the hardware (microphone, speaker or board).

3. Problems with synchronization between headphones (master-slave)

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones are master-slave: one module (usually the right one) connects to the smartphone, and the second one syncs to the first one. If communication between them is broken, one earphone can be silent.

How to check the synchronization:

1. Get both earphones out of the case.
2. The right earphone should flash white (connect to the phone), the left - red (search for the presenter).
3. If the left flashes white, it is a role error (reset is needed).

Manual synchronization:

• 🔄 Put the headphones in the case, close the lid for 10 seconds.
• 📱 Pull them out and pinch the sensors on both headphones for 10 seconds (for AirDots 3 – 15 seconds).
• 🔗 Wait for a double beep – this means successful synchronization.

Causes of synchronization loss:

• 📵 Abrupt Bluetooth shutdown on your smartphone while working.
• 🔋 Discharge of one of the headphones up to 0% (the slave loses communication).
• 📲 Conflict with other Bluetooth devices (e.g. Mi Band smartwatches).
• 🔄 Failed firmware update (relevant to Redmi Buds 4).

Hardware malfunctions: speaker, microphone, board

If neither reset nor reconnect helped, it's probably a physical breakdown, and let's look at the typical malfunctions and their signs.

Dynamic damage:

• 🔊 There is a sound, but distorted (wheezing, crackling) - perhaps a membrane is torn.
• 🔇 Complete absence of sound when the microphone is working - break of contacts speaker.

🔧 Solution: Disassemble the earphone and check the integrity of the wires (saw iron and experience required).For Xiaomi Air 2 speakers sold on AliExpress for the first time. ~300–500 ₽.

Miracle of microphone:

• 🎤 The headphone is connected, but the interlocutor does not hear you.
• 🔇 In the settings of the smartphone, the microphone is determined, but the signal level is 0.

🔧 Solution: Clean the microphone hole with a needle (not metal!) or replace the microphone (cost) ~200 ₽).

Problems with fees:

• 🔥 The headphone warms up, but does not turn on - short circuit.
• 🔋 Fast discharge (in 10-15 minutes) – bloated capacitors.
• 📡 Not catching Bluetooth - the chip burned BCM43015 (It is also a good idea for Redmi Buds 3).

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Before disassembling the headphone, take a picture of the location of all the details and contacts. In Xiaomi AirDots, the fee is attached to two-way tape - use a plastic spatula to avoid damaging the tracks.

Self-repair or service?

⚠️ Warning: If you are not sure about your soldering skills, do not disassemble Xiaomi headphones with a sealed body (for example, FlipBuds Pro). Damage to the O-ring will lead to moisture and final breakage.

5. Case problems: charging and power distribution

Often the headphone itself is not the fault, but the charging case. If the contacts in the case have oxidized or the charging controller has failed, one of the headphones may not charge or turn on.

How to check the case:

1. Connect the case to the charging and look at the indicator: 🔴 Flashing red – charging error (controller problem). 🟢 Burning green - case charged, but may not transmit current to headphones.

Put the headphones in the case and move them - if the indicator on the problem module lights up, but immediately goes out, then bad contact.

5V/1A

Typical case malfunctions:

How to fix contacts in the case:

1. Carefully tuck the plastic case cover (use a mediator).
2. Clean the contacts with a stripe or alcohol.
3. If the contacts are bent, straighten them with tweezers.
4. For reliability, you can apply a little solder to problem areas.

Conflict with other devices:

If you have other Xiaomi gadgets connected (such as the Mi Band or the Mi Speaker speaker), they can interfere with the work of the headphones.

1. Disable all other Bluetooth devices.
2. Turn on the plane mode for 10 seconds, then return Bluetooth.
3. Update the firmware of the smartphone (in MIUI 14 corrected bugs with TWS-headphone).

7. Recovery after moisture is injected

Even if your Xiaomi headphones have protection IPX4 (Like Redmi Buds 4 Active, moisture can cause contacts to corrosion or short circuit. Act quickly - the longer the water inside, the higher the risk of permanent damage.

Emergency measures:

1. Remove the headphones from the case immediately and do not turn them on.
2. Wipe the external moisture with a dry cloth.
3. Put the headphones in a silica gel container (boxes of shoes) for 12-24 hours.
4. Do not use a hair dryer or battery – it can melt the internal components!

What to do after drying:

• 🔋 Check charging - if the headphone does not take current, then the contacts have oxidized.
• 🔊 If the sound is distorted, it is likely that moisture has fallen on the speaker (replacement is needed).
• 📡 If Bluetooth does not catch, the chip is burned (repair will cost you a lot of money). ~1000 ₽).

Prevention:

⚠️ Note: Do not store Xiaomi headphones in wet areas (bathroom, kitchen). Even protected models lose their tightness over time due to the wear of seals.

8. When to contact the service and how much it will cost

If all of these methods did not help, most likely, the problem requires professional intervention. Consider when it is worth carrying headphones for repair, and when it is cheaper to buy new ones.

Cost of repair in the service center:

Where to fix:

• 🏠 Xiaomi’s official service is a 6-month warranty, but expensive (diagnostics) ~500 ₽).
• 🛒 Independently – only if you have experience of soldering and tools.

When to buy new ones:

• If the model is outdated (for example, the 2019 Redmi AirDots).

How to choose a replacement:

If you are buying new headphones, pay attention to:

• 🔋 Operating time – at least 5 hours on a single charge (Xiaomi Buds 4 – up to 6 hours).

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