You pulled Xiaomi Redmi AirDots or Mi True Wireless Earbuds out of your case, but only one of them detects the phone? TWS-In 80 percent of cases, the malfunction is caused by software failures, not hardware failures, which means that it can be fixed on its own without going to the service center.
In this article, we will examine all possible reasons why Xiaomi connects only one headphone – from the banal discharge of the battery to damage to the Bluetooth module. You'll learn how to diagnose a problem by the behavior of indicators, which settings to reset first, and when it really is worth carrying the device for repair. QCC3040 (Redmi Buds 4 Pro, which suffer from “one-way deafness” more often than others after firmware updates.
For convenience, we've put together a table of symptoms with probable causes and solutions that will help you navigate quickly, and if you don't want to read the theory, go straight to the step-by-step instructions for couple recovery.
How the problem manifests itself: symptoms and diagnosis
The first step is to identify the problem correctly. "Only one earpiece is connected" can mean different things:
- 🔴 Phone sees one headphone in the list of Bluetooth devices, the second is missing completely.
- 🔵 Both earphones are connected, but sound only goes through one (in the settings displayed as "Left / Right").
- ⚪ Indicators burn differently: for example, the left flashes white, and the right flashes red.
- 🔋 One earpiece discharges quickly, the second is working normally.
The most reliable way to diagnose is to check through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app. Go to the connected device section: if only one headphone is displayed, the problem is hardware (damaged Bluetooth module or contacts). If both are, but the sound goes through one, the stereo settings or firmware are to blame.
Pay attention to the behavior of indicators when extracting from the case:
| Color of indicator | Left earpiece | Right earpiece | Probable cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| White (blinks) | ✅ | ❌ | The battery of the right headphone is discharged or the contact in the case is damaged |
| Red (burns constantly) | ✅ | ❌ | Failure of the firmware of the right earphone or damage to the Bluetooth module |
| White + red | ✅ | ✅ | The headphones are not synchronized with each other (reset is required) |
| Blue (blinks) | ✅ | ❌ | Mono-connection mode is activated (for example, for calls) |
⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi headphones are older 2020 The problem is that of the year (e.g. Redmi AirDots S or Mi AirDots Youth), the problem may be related to battery wear. 2-3 One of the headphones stops charging due to battery bloating.
Top.-7 Reasons Why Only One Headphone Is Connected
We analyzed user reviews and service center data to rank the most common causes, first for software failures, second for mechanical damage.
- One of the headphones discharged (35% of the time), and the right earphone discharged more often because of the power circuit.
- Error synchronization between headphones (25%) occurs after interrupted connection or firmware update.
- Damage to contacts in charging case (15%) Oxidation or contamination of metal sites.
- Incorrect Bluetooth settings on the phone (10%), for example, activated "Mono" or "Calling Only" mode.
- Update firmware with errors (8%), especially relevant for models on the chip Qualcomm QCC3040.
- Physical breakdown of the speaker or microphone (5%), more often after falling or getting moisture.
- Incompatible with Android/iOS (2%) occurs when you connect to older smartphones.
Fun fact: Redmi Buds 3 Pro and Xiaomi Buds 4 use dual connectivity technology that sometimes conflicts with Bluetooth 5.0 on budget smartphones. If you have this model, try connecting to another device (like a tablet) – if the problem disappears, the phone is to blame, not the headphones.
Software solutions: resetting and flashing
In 70 percent of cases, the problem is resetting headphones to factory settings, and the procedure varies depending on the model, but the general principle is the same: you need to return the devices to the state of "out of the box."
For most Xiaomi models, the algorithm is as follows:
- Put both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
- Wait until the headphones go out (this means they are completely off).
- Press and hold the button on the case for 15-20 seconds (for Redmi AirDots) or 30 seconds (for Mi True Wireless).
- Indicators on the case and headphones will start flashing red and white – this is a signal of a successful reset.
- Remove the headphones from the case and connect them again via Bluetooth.
If the reset didn’t help, try updating the firmware through the official app:
- 📱 Install Mi Home (for Android) or Xiaomi Wear (for iOS).
- 🔍 In the Devices section, find your headphones and check for updates.
- ⚙️ If the update is available, connect the headphones to the charge and wait for the process to be completed (don’t turn off the case!).
⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the firmware update, this can lead to a complete loss of performance of the headphones. If the process is suspended during the Preparation for Update stage for more than 10 minutes, remove the headphones from the case, wait for them to turn off and try again.
☑️ Checklist before resetting headphones
Hardware malfunctions: what can be repaired on your own
If the software methods didn't work, the problem is probably hardware, so let's look at the typical breakdowns and how to fix them.
1. Oxidation of contacts in the charging case
Over time, the metal contacts in the case become oxidized or contaminated, causing one of the headphones to fail to charge.
- 🧼 Take a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol (at least 70%).
- 🔍 Carefully wipe the contact areas in the case and on headphones.
- 🌬️ Let me dry. 10-15 minutes before connection.
Do not use abrasive materials (such as sandpaper) – this will damage the contact coating!
Battery damage
If one headphone discharges in 10-15 minutes or does not hold a charge at all, the problem is the battery. For Xiaomi models, this is a typical malfunction after 2-3 years of use. You can check the battery status through the AccuBattery (Android) or CoconutBattery (iOS) application, but this will require a special adapter to connect the headphones to the phone.
Independent battery replacement is possible, but requires soldering work. The cost of a new battery for Redmi AirDots is about 300-500 rubles, for Mi True Wireless - 600-800 rubles. The service center will take 1000-1500 rubles for a replacement.
3. Breakdown of Bluetooth module
If the headphone is not determined by any device (phone, laptop, tablet), most likely, the Bluetooth chip has failed. This breakage is not repairable at home - you will need a replacement board, which will cost 70-80% of the cost of new headphones.
How to check the Bluetooth headphone module?
Phone settings that interfere with stereo sound
Sometimes the problem isn't with the headphones, but with the smartphone settings.
- 📵 Mono mode in Bluetooth settings. Some Xiaomi smartphones (such as the Redmi Note 10 Pro) have a separate option to enable mono mode. → Bluetooth → Headphone settings and make sure you select Stereo".
- 🔊 Sound balance. In accessibility settings (Settings) → Special facilities → Sound) check if the balance slider is shifted left or right.
- 🔄 Conflict with other Bluetooth devices: If you have a smartwatch, a fitness bracelet or a speaker on your phone, they can clog up your Bluetooth channel.
- 📱 Energy saving mode on Android 12+ In the mode of energy saving can turn off codec support AAC or aptX, which results in loss of stereo sound.
On the iPhone, check out:
- Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
- Press the "i" icon next to your headphones.
- Make sure the "Connect as stereo" option is enabled.
💡
If the headphones connect as “Phone Headset” instead of “Music”, manually select the A2DP profile in the Bluetooth settings (on Android).
Features of repair for popular models
Some Xiaomi models have unique "diseases" and we've collected the most common cases.
| Model | Typical problem | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi AirDots (1st generation) | The right earphone stops charging due to wear of contacts | Replacement of contact group or case (cost ~ 500 rubles) |
| Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 | Reset does not work through a button on the case | Use the combination: 5 times press the touch panel of the left earphone |
| Redmi Buds 3 Pro | After updating the firmware, the sound disappears in one headphone | Remove the firmware through Mi Home (PC required) |
| Xiaomi Buds 4 | The left earpiece is connected as a monoheadset | Manually select the A2DP profile in Bluetooth settings |
For Redmi Buds 4 Pro and Xiaomi Buds 4 with support for LDAC, there is a separate instruction for restoring stereo sound:
- Turn off the headphones from all devices.
- Put them in the case and wait for the shutdown.
- Press and hold the touchpads on both headphones for 10 seconds.
- The indicators will start flashing purple – this means that the recovery mode is activated.
- Connect the case to the charge and wait for the automatic reboot (about 2 minutes).
⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi headphones with support LDAC Can conflict with smartphones on MediaTek Helio (e.g. Redmi) 9A POCO M3). In this case, when connecting, select a codec AAC instead LDAC.
How to Prevent a Problem in the Future
To avoid repeated failures, follow these guidelines:
- 🔋 Charge your case to 100% at least once a week, even if you don't use headphones.
- 📱 Update your firmware regularly through Mi Home, but don’t install the beta version.
- 🧴 Clean contacts once a month with a cotton swab with alcohol.
- 🚫 Do not use headphones at a lower temperature. -10°C or higher +40°C.
- 🎧 Store in a case, rather than throwing headphones into a bag or pocket.
If you frequently connect your headphones to different devices (phone, laptop, tablet), use the Quick Switch feature in Mi Home. This reduces the number of reconnections and reduces the risk of synchronization failures.
💡
The most common cause of a failure is a deep discharge of one of the headphones. Always put both earphones in the case after use, even if one of them has not yet died.