Why Xiaomi’s wireless headphone doesn’t work: full diagnostics and repairs

Xiaomi's wireless headphones are some of the brand's most popular gadgets, thanks to a combination of price, sound quality and functionality, but even they are not immune to failure: one earphone stops working, the connection is constantly breaking, the sound is distorted. In 80% of cases, the problem can be solved without going to the service center - just know where to look for the cause.

In this article, we will analyze all possible malfunctions of Xiaomi headphones (AirDots, Buds, FlipBuds, etc.), from the banal to the rare. You will learn how to distinguish a software failure from a hardware defect, which settings to check first and when it really is time to carry the gadget for repair. And also unique life hacks that you will not find in standard instructions (for example, how to revive a dead earphone through an engineering menu).

Before you start your diagnosis, answer one question:

1. The earphone does not turn on or respond to buttons

If one or both Xiaomi headphones are completely dead – the indicators do not burn, do not respond to presses, are not determined by the phone – the problem can lie in three things: a discharged battery, sticking contacts or a firmware failure.

Start with the simplest:

• 🔋 Check the case charge. Connect it to the charger for 30 minutes -- even if the indicator doesn't burn, maybe the battery is dead. Use the original cable. USB-C Type-C (Chinese "nouneim" cables often do not provide sufficient current).
• 🔄 For most Xiaomi models, it's a combination of pressing the button on the headphone on the headphone. 15-20 seconds (before the red/white light flashes). 4 Pro – Touch both touch panels simultaneously.
• 🧲 Check the contacts in the case. Take a toothpick or a plastic card and clean the metal contacts gently on the headphones and inside the case. №1 "unexpected death" of headphones after a long downtime.

If the headphone still does not show signs of life:

⚠️ Note: Do not try to disassemble the headphone yourself - in 95% In cases, this leads to damage to the plumes or microphone. If the gadget is warranty, contact the Xiaomi service (the list of centers is available on the website). mi.com/service).

2.The earphone is plugging in, but there's no sound.

A situation where the Xiaomi headphone successfully connects to the phone over Bluetooth, but the sound is only in one or no sound, usually associated with audio output settings or hardware problems of the speaker.

First, eliminate programmatic reasons:

• 📱 Check the sound settings on your phone. Go to Settings. → Sound. → Output and make sure you select Stereo mode (not Mono or Left/Right only").
• 🔄 Reconnect your headphones. Remove them from your Bluetooth device list, then re-pair. Xiaomi sometimes helps reset Bluetooth settings on your phone: Settings: → System system → Reset → Resetting network settings.
• 🎧 Check the sound balance. MIUI There is a separate balance regulator between the left and right earphone (Settings) → Sound. → Balance audio. Move the slider to the middle.

If the sound is still gone:

⚠️ Note: Headphones Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro and Buds 4 Pro have the function "Adaptive noise cancellation" (ANC). If it's on, but the microphones are dirty, the earphone can "think" you're in a quiet environment, and turn off the sound. ANC in the Mi Earphone app.

Hardware causes of lack of sound:

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If there is a sound but is very quiet, try turning off the Safe Volume feature in your phone settings (Settings) → Sound. → Safe volume level. On some Xiaomi models, it artificially limits the volume for headphones.

3. The earphone is constantly disconnected or the connection is broken.

Intermittent connectivity is one of the most common problems with wireless headphones, and in Xiaomi’s case, it may be the phone’s settings and the hardware limitations of the headphones themselves that are to blame.

Start by diagnosing a Bluetooth connection:

• 📶 Check the distance to the phone. The optimal distance for stable communication is up to 10 meters without obstacles. Walls, furniture and even the human body can degrade the signal.
• 🔄 Switch to another Bluetooth profile. MIUI Go to Settings. → Bluetooth → Settings (⚙️) → Select “Priority of Stability” instead of “Priority of Quality".
• 📱 Update your phone and headphone firmware. Go to the Mi Earphones app and check for updates for your model. MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

If the problem persists, try these steps:

Turn off battery savings for Mi Earphones app|Remove all other Bluetooth devices from your phone’s memory|Try connecting your headphones to another phone.|Turn off Wi-Fi during the test (sometimes the channels cross)-->

Specific problems for different models:

• AirDots 2/3: Often shut down because of overheating of the chip. 10-15 minute.
• Buds 4 Pro: Can break communication when activated ANC In the subway or elevator (even if you're not wearing headphones!) turn off noise cancellation in these conditions.
• FlipBuds: Communication problems occur when the case charge is low (less than the case charge). 20%). Charge the case to 100%.

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If the headphones are turned off when talking (such as in Zoom or WhatsApp), the problem may be in the microphone settings. In the Mi Earphones app, select the "Mic Priority" mode instead of "Music Priority".

4. The earpiece makes extraneous sounds (cracking, hissing, wheezing)

Extraneous noise in Xiaomi headphones is divided into two types: software (related to codecs or settings) and hardware (damage to the speaker or board).

Programmatic reasons:

• 🎵 Codec problems. Xiaomi headphones support AAC, SBC And aptX (on new models) if the phone automatically selects. SBC, You can get distorted, you can force them to turn on. AAC: 1. Enable the developer mode on the phone (7 times click on "Version") MIUI" in settings). 2. Go to Settings → Additionally. → Developer options. 3. Find Bluetooth Audio Codec and select AAC.
• 📱 Conflict with uniform distribution of sound. MIUI There's a bug that causes the headphones to wheez when you turn on the Mi Sound Enhancer. → Sound. → Improvement of sound.

Hardware causes:

• 🔊 Membrane damage speaker. If the crack is amplified at high frequencies, it's likely that the membrane is torn or deformed. It's not repairable -- just a speaker replacement.
• 💧 Moisture is ingested, even if the headphones are protected. IPX4 (Like Buds 3 Pro, prolonged exposure to sweat or rain can cause contact corrosion.Put the earbud in a silica gel bag for 24 hours.
• 🧲 Magnetic interference: If cracking only occurs in certain places (such as near a microwave or router), external sources of interference are to blame.

For accurate diagnosis:

⚠️ Warning: Connect the headphone to another device (like a laptop or tablet) If the crackle persists, it's a problem in the headphone. If it disappears, it's the phone settings that are to blame.

5. The earphone doesn't charge in the case

If one of Xiaomi’s headphones doesn’t charge in the case and the other one works fine, the problem is usually in the contacts, battery or power controller.

Diagnosis by step:

1. 🔍 Check the contacts. Take a magnifying glass and check if the metal contacts (both on the earpiece and in the case) are oxidizing, dirt or mechanically damaged. Clean them with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
2. 🔋 Check the case. Connect the case to the charger and see if the headphone charge indicator is on, and if it's not, the problem is the contacts of the case or its battery.
3. 🔄 Put the non-working headphone in the socket for the second headphone in the case, and if it starts charging, the problem is the socket contacts.

Frequent reasons for specific models:

• AirDots (1-2 Generation: Contacts in the case often bend. Carefully bend them back with tweezers.
• Buds 3/4 Pro: There's a micro-switch in the case that detects the presence of the earpiece, if it's stuck, the case can't see the earpiece, tap the case, or blow it in compressed air.
• FlipBuds: Charging problems occur at low temperature (below) +5°C) Warm the case in your hands before charging.

If nothing worked,

6. The earphone connects to only one device

Sometimes Xiaomi headphones are "tied" to one phone and refuse to connect to other gadgets (BLE), Which Xiaomi uses for fast pairing.

How to break the "tether":

• 📱 Remove the headphones from the memory of every device they've ever connected to. Even if the device is off or far away, it can block new pairing.
• 🔄 Do a full headphone reset. For most models, hold the button for 30 seconds (until the light flashes red-blue-red). For Buds 4 Pro, hold both touchpads for 20 seconds.
• 🔗 Put the headphones in the case, open the lid and press the button on the case for 5 seconds (until the white indicator flashes).

If the headphones are still not connected to the new device:

• 🖥️ Check compatibility. Some old phones (like Bluetooth phones) 4.0) Xiaomi protocols are not supported.The minimum version of Bluetooth for AirDots — 4.2, for Buds 3/4 Pro — 5.0.
• 📟 Update the firmware on your headphones. Mi Earphones may have an update available to fix pairing issues.

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Xiaomi headphones can only "forget" previous devices after a complete reset. The usual removal from the Bluetooth list on the phone does not always help.

7.Mic problem (interviewer can't hear)

If your voice is not transmitted during calls or the interlocutor hears you intermittently, the problem may be in the earphone microphone, phone settings or even in network conditions.

Diagnosis by step:

• 🎤 Check the microphone on another device, connect your headphones to your laptop, record your voice through the standard Voice Recording app. If the sound is clear, the phone is a problem.
• 📱 Enable monopoly mode. MIUI The headphone microphone is in conflict with the main microphone of the phone. When you call, tap the audio icon and select "Hearphones".
• 🔇 Clean the microphone.In Xiaomi headphones, the microphone is usually located on the bottom of the case. gently blow it or clean it with a soft brush.

Frequent reasons for different scenarios:

For models with ANC (Buds 3 Pro, Buds 4 Pro):

⚠️ Warning: If the microphone starts to work worse after falling or getting moisture, do not try to dry the earphone with a hairdryer or on a battery - this will accelerate corrosion. Use silica gel or special moisture-absorbing bags.

8.When to contact the service center

Not all Xiaomi headphone problems can be solved on your own. Here are 5 signs that it’s time to carry the gadget for repair:

• 🔥 The headphone warms up while working (a sign of a short circuit).
• 💧 After getting moisture, it took more than 48 hours, but the headphone does not work.
• 🔊 The speaker emits a constant high-frequency squeak (amplifier defect).
• 🔋 The earphone is discharged 10-15 minutes (battery malfunction).
• 📡 Bluetooth module is not defined by any device (chip burned).

Cost of repairs in Xiaomi service centers (2026):

Before the service visit:

Passport (for warranty repair)|Check or guarantee card|Case from headphones|The phone to which the headphones were connected-->

If your headphones are warranty (usually 12 months), repairs will be free, but note: the warranty does not cover mechanical damage, moisture and attempts to repair yourself.

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Before handing over the headphones to the service, reset them to the factory settings through the Mi Earphones app. This will speed up the diagnosis and eliminate problems with the settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi headphone malfunctions