Why Xiaomi Redmi phone only connects 1 wireless headphone: full diagnosis

Why Xiaomi Redmi smartphone “can’t see” the second headphone

You took your wireless headphones out of your case, turned on Bluetooth on Xiaomi Redmi, but only one ear is sounding, and the other earpiece is silent or flashing blue? TWS-Devices (according to the Mi Community service for 2023) can be attributed to both smartphone settings and hardware faults in headphones.

60% of the time, headphone synchronization failures are to blame, when the headphone (usually the right one) can’t catch the second one. The remaining 40% are due to MIUI software constraints, Bluetooth profile conflicts, or physical damage, and in this article, we’ll look at all possible scenarios, from basic checks to hidden Redmi settings that aren’t written about in the official instructions.

1. Checking basic settings: what to do first

Before you dig deeper, rule out the obvious reasons. Start by rebooting both devices: turn off the headphones (if you have a power button) and restart the Xiaomi Redmi. Once turned on, try reconnecting. If it doesn't work, move on.

Make sure the headphones are fully charged. A low charge on one of the headphones can block its connection. Check the indicators: if one flashes red, it's a discharge signal. Connect the case to charge for 10-15 minutes and try again.

• 🔋 Case and headphone charge: flashing red light = discharge, permanent blue = full-load.
• 🔄 Reboot: Remove the headphones from the case, press the reset button (if any) for 5-10 seconds.
• 📱 Flight mode: Turn it on and off on your smartphone – it will reset temporary Bluetooth errors.

2. reset Bluetooth settings on Xiaomi Redmi

A common cause of the problem is a Bluetooth profile conflict, and a smartphone can "remember" headphones with connection errors, and every time you try to restore the wrong connection, to fix this:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Find your headphones in the list of conjugate devices and tap on ⚙️ (gear).
3. Choose to Remove this device (or Forget it).
4. Return the headphones to the case, then remove them again - they should automatically go into pairing mode (blinking white/blue light).
5. Connect again via the Bluetooth menu.

If after resetting headphones again connect one at a time, try updating the firmware MIUI. In versions below 12.5, there was a bug with support. TWS-protocol for some headphone models. Update solves the problem in 30% of cases.

Remove the headphones from the list of devices |

Turn off and turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone |

Reboot the headphones (remove from the case for 30 seconds)|

Check the charge of the case and headphones-->

3. Headphone firmware problems: how to update manually

Many users are unaware that Xiaomi’s wireless headphones (like Redmi Buds 3 or AirDots Pro) have their own firmware that can only be updated through the branded Mi Earphones app.Outdated firmware can cause problems connecting a second headphone.

Instructions for updating:

1. Install the Mi Earphones app from Google Play (or AppGallery for Huawei).
2. Connect your headphones to your phone (even if only one works).
3. Open the app – it will automatically prompt you to update the firmware if a new version is available.
4. Don't interrupt the process! Wait for a successful update.

4. Hardware malfunctions: how to check headphones

If the software methods didn't work, the problem could be a physical failure of one of the headphones.

• 🎧 The speaker is damaged: if the second headphone does not emit sounds even when connected to another device.
• 🔌 Oxidation of contacts: in the case or on the headphones themselves (check for the presence of a green plaque).
• 📡 Bluetooth antenna: if the headphone is connected, but the sound is interrupted or absent.

For diagnosis:

1. Try connecting your headphones to another smartphone (not Xiaomi), and if the problem recurs, it's the headphones.
2. See if the light on the silent headphone is on when you connect, and if it's not, you might break the battery or the board.
3. Shake the earphone – if you hear noise inside (for example, a detached speaker), repairs are required.

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to disassemble the headphones yourself - most Xiaomi models have adhesive joints, and after opening they will lose moisture protection.

5 Conflicts with other Bluetooth devices

Xiaomi Redmi (especially Bluetooth 5.0 models) may experience problems connecting multiple devices at the same time, for example, if a fitness bracelet or smartwatch is already connected to the phone, they can block the proper operation of the headphones.

What to do:

• 📵 Turn off all unnecessary devices in the Bluetooth menu.
• 🔄 Reboot the smartphone after disconnecting.
• 🎧 Connect the headphones first - sometimes the order of pairing matters.

If you are using Redmi Note 10/11 or older models, check the dual audio settings:

1. Go to Settings. → Bluetooth → Additionally (⋮) → Double audio.
2. Turn off the option if it is active – it may interfere with a stable connection TWS-headphone.

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If you often connect your headphones to different devices (laptop, tablet), they can “forget” the main headphone, in which case resetting through a long press of a button on the case (10-15 seconds before flashing red / white).

6. Hidden MIUI settings for Bluetooth

There are hidden parameters in MIUI that can affect how Bluetooth works, like the number of connected devices or the priority of audio codecs, to change them:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the Bluetooth partition and change: Bluetooth codec → select SBC (most stable). Absolute volume → turn off (may cause conflicts). Audio latency → set Balanced.

After the changes, restart your phone and try reconnecting your headphones. If the problem persists, reset to the factory settings.

⚠️ Note: Change the codec to AAC or aptX can improve sound, but sometimes it causes connection breaks.

7.When to contact the service: signs of malfunction

If none of these methods worked, it's probably a hardware problem.

• 🔴 One of the headphones does not turn on (does not flash, does not respond to charging).
• 🔊 The sound is there, but it is very distorted (wheezing, interruptions).
• 🔋 The headphone discharges in 10-15 minutes (battery malfunction).
• 📱 The phone doesn’t see headphones at all, although they work with other devices.

Cost of repair TWS-Xiaomi headphones in official services:

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If headphones are guaranteed, do not try to repair them yourself - this will cancel the warranty obligations. Official Xiaomi service centers in Russia work by pre-registration through the website. mi.com/ru/service.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting headphones to Xiaomi Redmi