Did you pull out of your Xiaomi Airdots 2 case, turn on your favorite playlist, but it only comes from your right earphone? Or does the left earphone not respond to the connection at all? This problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi wireless headphones, and its causes can range from simple battery discharge to hardware malfunctions. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios why the left Airdots 2 earphone stopped working, and give step-by-step instructions for restoring its functionality, from simple actions to complex technical manipulations.
It is important to understand that Xiaomi Airdots 2 (also known as Redmi Airdots 2 or Mi True Wireless Earbuds 2 Basic) is built on the basis of the chip Realtek RTL8763B, which is responsible for synchronization between the headphones. If the communication between the left and right earphone is broken, this can be due to software failures and physical damage.
We analyzed user reviews on 4PDA, Mi Community and service centers, and conducted our own tests, resulting in a comprehensive guide that will help even if:
- 🔇 The left earphone does not make sound, but connects to the phone;
- 🔌 The headphone does not turn on or charge in the case;
- 🔄 The problem occurs periodically (it works, then it does not);
- 📱 The phone only sees one headphone (right).
1. Checking basic settings: what to do first
Before disassembling the headphones or resetting them to factory settings, make sure the problem isn't in the obvious minutiae. Start by diagnosing the connection and checking the smartphone's settings.
Open Bluetooth Settings on your phone and find your Mi True Wireless Earbuds device 2 (If the left earphone is displayed as a separate device (e.g, LE_Airdots_2_L), This is a signal that the synchronization between the headphones is broken, and normally there should be one device, the right earpiece, which is the master, and the left earpiece automatically connects to it.
Also check:
- 📵 Mono mode (one-way sound) in Bluetooth or player settings;
- 🔊 Sound balance in accessibility settings (on Android: Settings) → Special opportunities → Sound settings → Stereo balance);
- 🔋 Headphone charge - the left could discharge faster than the right (especially if the case is defective).
⚠️ Note: iPhones sometimes have a bug where the headphones are connected as two separate devices. To fix this, forget both earphones in Bluetooth settings, then connect the right one first, and after it's successfully synchronized, the left one.
If the basic settings are fine but the problem remains, move on to the next step - reboot and reset the headphones.
2. Reset and reset headphones: step-by-step instructions
The most effective way to get your left earphone back on track is to hard reset, which resets all sync settings and returns the headphones to factory status, and it's important that you reset Airdots 2 to your phone.
How to reset:
- Put both headphones in the case and close the lid for 10 seconds.
- Pull out the headphones and hold the buttons on both for 15-20 seconds until the lights start flashing red and white alternately.
- After blinking, release the buttons - the headphones are automatically synchronized with each other.
- Connect the right earphone to the phone via Bluetooth (the left will connect automatically).
If the left earphone still does not work after reset, try an alternative method:
Make sure both earphones are charged|Get the headphones out of the case.|Press the buttons to 20.+ flash|Connect the right earphone first|Check the sound in both headphones-->
If the reset didn’t work, the problem could be in the firmware or hardware. On forums, users often complain that after updating the firmware through the Mi Home app, one of the headphones stops working, in which case the firmware rollback or manual firmware will help (see section 5).
⚠️ Note: Do not use third-party applications like Bluetooth Auto Connect or Reset Earbuds to reset your headphones. These can damage your firmware, especially if the headphones don’t support such manipulations.
3. charging problems: why the left earphone isn't charging
One of the most common causes of a left earphone not working is charging problems. The Airdots 2 case has two contact sockets (one for each earpiece), and over time they can become oxidized or contaminated, and there may be malfunctions in the power controller inside the case.
How to check the charger:
- 🔋 Take out the left earphone from the case and look at the indicator: if it does not flash red when connected to the case – the contacts do not touch;
- 🧹 Clean the contacts on the headphone and in the case with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol (do not use needles or metal objects!);
- 🔌 Try charging the case from another cable or power supply (sometimes a problem in the USB-Type-C cable).
If the left earphone is not charged after cleaning the contacts, check its voltage with a multimeter (if you have experience with electronics). Normal voltage on the Airdots 2 battery is 3.7-4.2V. If the voltage is below 3.0V, the earphone will not turn on.
| Symptoms. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The indicator does not burn when charging | Oxidation of contacts or chain break | Cleaning contacts with alcohol, checking the case |
| The headphone is charged, but discharges quickly | Battery wear (capacity < 50%) | Replacement of the battery (soldier iron required) |
| The case does not charge the headphones, but it charges itself. | Failure of the charging controller in the case | Repair or replacement of the cover |
| The headphone warms up when charging | Short circuit or bloated battery | Disconnect immediately, check the battery |
Critical information: If the battery in the headphone is swollen (as seen by the deformation of the body), you can not continue to use it. This can lead to fire, in which case you need a complete replacement of the battery or earphone.
4. Software failures: update and rollback of firmware
Xiaomi Airdots 2 firmware is automatically updated through the Mi Home app, but sometimes these updates result in loss of sync between the headphones. If the left earphone stopped working after the update, try rolling back the firmware or installing it manually.
For manual firmware updates:
- Download the latest firmware version for Airdots 2 from Xiaomi’s official website or a trusted forum (e.g. 4PDA).
- Rename the firmware file to fw1507.bin (for Airdots 2).
- Put the file at the root of the phone’s internal memory.
- Connect the right earphone to the phone and wait for the automatic update (the indicator will flash blue).
If the automatic update does not work, use the forced mode:
1. Hold the button on the right earpiece for 10 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
2. Without releasing the button, connect the earphone to the phone.
3. Run the firmware through Mi Home (section "Firmware Update").If the left earphone never worked after the upgrade, the firmware may be damaged, in which case only the firmware through the programmer (a soldering iron and experience with chips is required).
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Before updating your firmware, back up the current version. Download the nRF Connect (Android/iOS) app and save the headphone memory dump.
5. Hardware malfunctions: what can be repaired independently
If neither the reset nor the firmware helped, the problem is likely hardware. Xiaomi Airdots 2 most often fails:
- 🔋 Battery (losing capacity or swelling);
- 🎛️ Dynamics (break of membrane or contacts);
- 📡 Bluetooth antenna (contact soldered);
- 🔌 Charging contacts (oxidation or breakage).
The easiest thing you can fix at home is a broken speaker.
- Carefully open the headphone case (use a plastic mediator to avoid damaging the latches).
- Check the circuit from the board to the speaker with a multimeter in vertebrae mode.
- If contact is broken, solder the wire back (use low-temperature solder and flux).
If the problem is in the Bluetooth antenna, it can be temporarily “resuscitated” by pressing the contact to the board (but this is not a long-term solution), and full repair will require replacing the antenna or the entire board.
⚠️ Warning: When disassembling Airdots 2, be careful with the lithium battery. It can lead to a fire. If you are not sure about your skills, you should contact the service.
What to do if the headphone falls into the water?
6. When to contact the service: the cost of repair
If all of the above methods fail, there are two options:
- Independent replacement of components (battery, speaker, board);
- Contact the service center.
The cost of repairing Xiaomi Airdots 2 in services (2026):
| Type of repair | Cost (₽) | Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery replacement | 800–1 200 | 1–2 |
| Repair of charging contacts | 500–900 | 1 |
| Replacement of the speaker | 1 000–1 500 | 2–3 |
| Replacement of the board (chip + antenna) | 1 500–2 500 | 3–5 |
| Flip through the programmer | 600–1 000 | 1 |
Should Airdots 2 be repaired? If the cost of repair exceeds 50% of the price of new headphones (about 2 000-2 500) ₽ In 2026, it's more logical to buy a new pair, but if it's a firmware or a contact problem, it's cheaper to repair it.
Xiaomi’s official service centers rarely take up repairs of Airdots 2, as it is a budget model.
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If the headphones are warranty (up to 12 months from the date of purchase), contact the store or official Xiaomi service.The warranty applies to factory defects, but not to mechanical damage or moisture.
7. Alternative solutions: if repair is not feasible
If you can't restore the left Airdots 2 headphone, but the right one works properly, you can use it in mono mode.
- Connect the right earphone to the phone as usual.
- In Bluetooth settings, select Device Settings → Use as a mono-earhead (the name may differ).
- In a player (such as Spotify or YouTube Music), enable Mono audio mode in your audio settings.
You can also buy a separate left-hand headphone on AliExpress or Avito (cost is about 500-800). ₽). However, please note that:
- 🔄 The headphones should be one revision (for example, V1.2.3), otherwise they're not synchronized;
- 🔋 The battery in the used headphone can be worn out;
- 📦 When buying from AliExpress, check reviews – often sell non-original parts.
If you’re looking to upgrade your headphones, consider newer models:
- 🎧 Xiaomi Buds 4 (best price/quality ratio);
- 🎧 Redmi Buds 4 Active (budget alternative);
- 🎧 Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro (with noise-making and LDAC).