Xiaomi headphones unsynchronization: why this happens and how to fix

You listen to music or watch videos, but the sound in Xiaomi headphones begins to “float”: left and right speakers play latency audio, bass and high frequencies are separated, and sometimes one headphone is completely silent for a split second longer than the other. This is a classic desynchronization – a problem faced by owners of both budget Redmi AirDots and flagship Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro. 80% of the time it is not hardware malfunctions, but software failures or incorrect settings.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible causes of sound layering, from the banal discharge of the battery to the firmware conflicts with the smartphone operating system. You’ll get step-by-step instructions with illustrations for each Xiaomi headphone model (including rare series like FlipBuds Pro or SoundPEATS under the Xiaomi brand), and also learn when a problem requires contacting a service center.

Why Xiaomi headphones are starting to “dissynchronize”?

The separation of sound between the left and right earphones is always a consequence of mismatch of time stamps when transmitting the audio stream. In Xiaomi wireless headphones, several components are responsible for synchronization:

• 🔋 Battery: If the charge in the headphones is different (for example, 80% and 30%), the chips can process the signal at different speeds.
• 📶 Bluetooth module: weak signal or interference causes the device to constantly “reconnect”, which knocks the synchronization.
• 🤖 Firmware: errors in the firmware of headphones or smartphones (especially relevant for MIUI 14+).
• 🎵 Codecs: Inappropriate audio codec (e.g., aptX on a device that does not support it).

According to Xiaomi service centers, in 2023-2026, most often out-of-synchronization occurs due to a conflict between the firmware of the smartphone and the headphones. For example, after the update to MIUI 15, many Redmi Buds 4 users complained about a delay of 0.3-0.5 seconds, the reason is a changed algorithm for processing Bluetooth audio in the new version of the OS.

Another common scenario is the “one-earphone effect”, where the right or left speaker starts to lag after a physical impact (fall, moisture), in which case the problem is usually hardware: the contact inside the case has gone away or the Bluetooth antenna is damaged.

Checking before repair: how to determine the cause

Before resetting the settings or carrying the headphones to the service, perform a diagnosis of 4 parameters:

1. Test on another device: connect the headphones to another smartphone/PC. If the problem disappears, it’s your phone’s fault.
2. Charge check: fully charge both headphones and case. Dissynchronization at 10-20% charge is the norm for most models.
3. Monitoring interference: move away from sources of radio interference (microwaves, 5 GHz routers, wireless charging).
4. Codec comparison: In the Bluetooth settings of your smartphone, check which codec is used (SBC, AAC, aptX).

If Xiaomi headphones only layer sound when playing video (for example, in YouTube or TikTok), but work well with music – the problem is the mismatch between frame rate and audio stream. This is treated by the settings of the player or smartphone (more on this below).

⚠️ Note: if the desynchronization occurred after the headphones fell or fluid hit, DO NOT try to disassemble them yourself. 90% of the time, this damages the microphone or speaker.

Method 1: Resetting headphone settings (correct algorithm)

The manufacturer recommends resetting Xiaomi headphones in case of any software failures, but do it strictly according to the instructions, otherwise you risk exacerbating the problem. For example, if you reset the headphones through the menu of the smartphone, and not hardware buttons, they can “forget” the connection profile.

Universal method for all models:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (usually located behind) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
3. Open the case cover - the headphones will automatically go into pairing mode.
4. Connect them to your smartphone as a new device.

For touch-controlled models (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro):

1. Get the headphones out of the case.


2. Touch and hold the touch panels on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds.




3. wait for the double sound signal (reset sound).




4. Reconnect.

After reset, Xiaomi headphones may temporarily lose some features (such as gesture customization), but the sound synchronization should be restored.

Method 2: Update the firmware through Mi Earphones

The official Mi Earphones app (available for Android and iOS) allows you not only to customize gestures, but also to update the firmware of the headphones. In 60% of cases, desynchronization is eliminated after installing the latest version of the firmware.

Instructions:

1. Install the Mi Earphones app from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Connect the headphones to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
3. Open the app and select your headphone model in the list.
4. Go to the Firmware Update section (usually at the bottom of the screen).
5. If a new version is available, click Update and wait for the process to complete (don’t turn off the headphones!).

If the application does not find updates, but the problem remains, try forcibly reinstall the firmware:

• 🔄 Turn off headphones from all devices.
• 📱 Remove them from the list of associated devices in Bluetooth settings.
• 🔄 Reset (see Method 1).
• 📱 Connect again and check for updates in Mi Earphones.

⚠️ Warning: Never interrupt the firmware update process! If Xiaomi headphones “hang” at the firmware stage, they can turn into a “brick” (stop turning on), in this case, only flashing through the Qualcomm Tool in the service center will help.

Method 3: Configuring audio codecs on a smartphone

Not all smartphones work properly with codecs that Xiaomi headphones use. For example, aptX or LDAC can give a delay on devices with a weak Bluetooth module. The best option for most models is AAC (for iPhone) or SBC (for Android).

How to change the codec on Android:

1. Open Settings → Connected devices → Settings gear next to the headphones.
2. Select Additional → Audio codec.
3. Try alternately SBC, AAC, and aptX (if available).
4. After changing the codec, reconnect the headphones.

On the iPhone, the codec changes automatically, but you can force reset Bluetooth settings:

Settings → Bluetooth → Press the “i” next to the headphones → Forget this device

If the sound has gotten worse after changing the codec, but the synchronization has returned, try calibrating the headphones:

• 🎧 Play music with a clear bass (e.g. 40 Hz test track).
• 🔊 Listen to which earphone is lagging (usually noticeable at low frequencies).
• 🔧 In the Mi Earphones app, find the Sound section → Balance of channels and slightly reduce the volume of the “advanced” headphone.

💡

If your smartphone doesn’t support AAC or aptX, install the Bluetooth Audio Codec Changer app from Google Play, which allows you to force the desired codec to be enabled even on uncertified devices.

Method 4: Eliminating interference and optimizing Bluetooth

Xiaomi wireless headphones run at 2.4 GHz, which is overloaded with other devices: routers, wireless mice, smart lamps. If there are multiple signal sources within a radius of 5 meters, there can be a channel conflict, leading to desynchronization.

How to reduce interference:

• 📡 Switch router to channel 1, 6 or 11 (less loaded).
• 🔌 Disable other Bluetooth devices (fitness bracelets, keyboards).
• 📱 In the smartphone settings, turn on Adaptive Bluetooth mode (if any).
• 🏠 Move to another room (concrete walls weaken the signal).

For owners of Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro there is an additional dual connection function, which can cause delays.

Mi Earphones → Settings → Dual connection → Turn off

If the problem only occurs when watching the video, try to include delay compensation in the player:

• 🎥 On YouTube: Settings → Quality. → Extended. → Synchronization of sound.
• 📺 V VLC: Audio. → Synchronization → Delayed audio (select the value from the -200 before +200 miss).

💡

If the desynchronization is only manifested in a particular application (for example, in games or instant messengers), the problem is most likely in the application itself, not in the headphones.

Method 5: Hardware checks (if nothing helps)

If the software methods do not work, the cause of the desynchronization may lie in physical malfunctions:

• 🔋 Battery discharge: over time, the batteries in the headphones lose capacity unevenly).
• 🎛️ Antenna damage: If the headphones fell or got wet, the Bluetooth module contact could have moved away.
• 🔊 Wear of speakers: with prolonged use, the speaker membranes can deform, which leads to different response times.

You can only check the battery status:

1. Install the Mi Earphones app.
2. Connect the headphones and open the Battery Status section.
3. Compare the percentage of charge on the left and right earphones, and if the difference is greater than 10 percent, one of the batteries has degraded.

For the rest of the malfunctions, you'll need to disassemble, and here are the signs that the headphones need to be brought to the service:

• 🔴 The indicator on one of the headphones flashes red, even when it is in the case.
• 🔊 The sound in one earphone is much quieter than in the other (at the same volume).
• 📵 The headphone periodically turns off and makes a connection sound.

⚠️ Warning: If you decide to disassemble the headphones yourself, remember: Xiaomi uses glue to seal the case. If you open the microphone or speaker in a careless manner, the average cost of repair in the service is 800-1500. ₽ (model).

When is the smartphone to blame, not the headphones

In 20% of cases, the problem is not with the headphones, but with the smartphone or its firmware, especially for devices with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS) or older versions of Android (below 10).

Signs that the phone is to blame:

• 📱 Rasync appears only when connected to this smartphone.
• 🔄 The problem is with ALL wireless headphones, not just Xiaomi.
• 📶 Logcat has Bluetooth AudioGateway errors.

What to do:

1. Update your smartphone to the latest version.
2. Clear Bluetooth cache: Settings → Apps → Show system → Bluetooth → Storage → Clear cache
3. Turn off power saving for Bluetooth: Settings → Battery → Energy saving → More → Disconnect for Bluetooth
4. Try another launcher (sometimes shells like Nova Launcher conflict with Bluetooth stack).

For owners of Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco on MIUI there is another life hack: turn on the developer mode and activate the option Debug Bluetooth:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (click 7 times) → Return to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging Bluetooth

FAQ: Frequent questions about desynchronization