Xiaomi Earbuds Basic 2: Complete Diagnostics and Repair Guide

You took a Xiaomi Earbuds Basic 2 out of your case, and one earbud refuses to work? Either it doesn't turn on at all, or it plugs in, but it only sounds in one ear, or it periodically falls off while listening to music. The problem is common — and the causes can be both software failures and hardware malfunctions. In this article, we'll look at all possible scenarios, from basic checks to deep diagnostics, so you can bring the headphones back to life without going to the service center.

It's important to understand that the Earbuds Basic 2 is a budget model with a simplified electronic stuffing, so some problems (like the failure of the microphone in one earpiece) can be related to the design features. But 80 percent of the time, the fault is fixed on its own in 10 to 15 minutes. Let's start with the simplest and gradually move on to more complex methods.

Basic diagnosis: Checking the obvious

Before you disassemble your headphones or reset your settings, make sure that the problem isn’t in the trivial stuff, and users often overlook the basics while spending time looking for complex solutions.

First, check the battery power, and even if the indicator on the case is green, it doesn't guarantee that both earbuds are charged the same way.

• 🔴 Red flashing - discharged (you need to charge 10-15 minutes).
• 🟢 Green constant - fully charged.
• 🟡 Yellow/orange: partial charge (can only be used for connection, but not for reproduction).

If one headphone is discharged more, connect the case to the charger and wait until both indicators light up green.

Second, check the physical connection. The Earbuds Basic 2 has charging contacts on the inside of the headphone legs. Sometimes they become oxidized or contaminated, leading to poor contact with the case. Take a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, and carefully wipe the contacts on both headphones and in the nests of the case. Pay special attention to the central point contact, which is responsible for synchronizing the headphones with each other.

2. Resetting headphones to factory settings

If the basic check didn’t work, the next step is hard reset, which clears all stored connection settings and returns the headphones to a “out of the box” state. For Xiaomi Earbuds Basic 2, the reset algorithm is different from other Xiaomi models, so follow the instructions carefully.

Here's a step-by-step process:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Connect the case to the power source (charger or Power Bank).
3. Open the case cover and hold the button on the case for 15-20 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white alternately.
4. Close the lid and wait 30 seconds.
5. Take out the headphones and try to reconnect them.

After reset, the headphones should appear in the list of available Bluetooth devices as Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic. 2 (plainly LE_Basic_2). If one headphone is still not identified, move on to the next section.

⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse resetting your headphones with resetting your Bluetooth settings on your phone! Removing your device from the list of connected devices on your smartphone is not equivalent to resetting the headphones themselves.

3. Problems with synchronizing headphones with each other

Xiaomi Earbuds Basic 2 is a master-subscriber: one headphone (usually the right one) is the main one and connects to the phone, and the second one is a secondary one, synchronizing with the first one. If the communication between them is broken, the sound will only go in one ear.

To restore synchronization:

• 🔄 Reboot both headphones: Put them in the case, close the lid for 10 seconds, then pull out and hold the touchpads on both headphones for 5 seconds until you hear the beep.
• 📱 Connect only to the main earbud: in the Bluetooth settings of the phone, delete the device, then manually select the right earbud (if it is the main one.
• 🔌 Check firmware: outdated software can cause sync problems. Update firmware through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app.

If the left earphone does not connect after this, the problem may be in the hardware, for example, in Earbuds Basic 2, the antenna module in the led earphone often fails due to mechanical damage (falls, bumps), in which case disassembly will be required.

4. Hardware malfunctions: what breaks most often

If the software methods didn’t help, the problem is likely to be the hardware. In Xiaomi Earbuds Basic 2, typical hardware malfunctions are related to:

The most common problem is that the wire breaks in a flexible loop, where the headphone is connected to the leg, and because of the constant micromotion, the copper veins are rubbed and the contact disappears. If you notice that the sound only appears in a certain position on the headphone, it's almost certainly the fault. For a temporary solution, you can lock the wire in the "working" position with tape, but this will not eliminate the problem for long.

It's not easy to get a good diagnosis, it's glued together, it's miniature, if you're not sure about your skills, you should go to the service, it's 800 to 1,500 rubles for repairing a wire break, it's 1,000 rubles for a speaker replacement.

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Before disassembling, take a picture of each stage on your phone, which will help you put the earpiece back together correctly. Use a plastic mediator instead of a screwdriver so you don't scratch the body.

5. Problems with firmware and compatibility

Sometimes one earbud stops working after updating the firmware or connecting to a new device. 2 Xiaomi’s proprietary firmware is used, which may conflict with some versions Android/iOS.

To check the firmware version:

1. Install the Xiaomi Wear app (for Android) or Mi Home (for iOS).
2. Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.
3. Open the app, find the Devices section → Earbuds Basic 2 → Settings → Software Update.
4. If you have an update, install it. If the firmware is already up to date, try rolling back to the previous version (if you have one).

You may also have problems connecting to Android 12+ or iOS 16+ devices due to changes in Bluetooth protocols.

• 📱 Disable the function “Low latency audio” (in Bluetooth settings on Android).
• 🔄 Use compatibility mode (some Xiaomi firmware has a Legacy Mode option for headphones).
• 🔌 Connecting through third-party applications, such as Bluetooth Auto Connect.

⚠️ Note: If after updating the firmware headphones stopped working at all (do not turn on, do not charge), this may indicate a "brick" - a critical firmware error. In this case, only flashing through a service cable (the cost of the service - from 1000 rubles) will help).

6. Recovery after moisture is injected

Xiaomi Earbuds Basic 2 has no official water protection (IP-If the earphone stops working after rain, sweating or washing your hands, act quickly:

The rescue algorithm:

1. Turn off the headphone immediately (hold the touchpad for 5 seconds).
2. Please: 🌬️ Place the headphone in a silica gel container (boxes made from shoes) for 12–24 hours. 💨 Use a cold hair dryer (at minimum speed) for blowing for 5-10 minutes. 🚫 Do not use rice – it leaves dust and is not effective.

Check the contacts

If the headphone does not turn on - disassemble it and check the board for short circuits (visually looking for blackened elements).

If the earphone turns on after drying, but the sound is distorted (wheezing, quiet sound), most likely, the moisture damaged the speaker. In this case, only a replacement will help. The cost of a new speaker for the Earbuds Basic 2 is about 400-600 rubles, but it is difficult to find the original part, so you often have to buy donor headphones on AliExpress.

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If the headphone gets into water, do not try to turn it on or charge it for at least 12 hours! a short circuit at a wet board is guaranteed to bring the device down.

7. When to contact the service and how much it costs

If you’ve tried all the methods in this article, but one headphone still doesn’t work, it’s time to think about professional repair. Here are the approximate prices for services for Xiaomi Earbuds Basic 2 (for Moscow and regions for 2026):

Should you repair the Earbuds Basic 2? It all depends on the nature of the breakdown:

• ✅ Makes sense: if the problem is in the contacts, wire or firmware (repair will cost less than buying new headphones).
• ❌ Inappropriate: if the Bluetooth module or motherboard burned (repair will cost almost as new headphones).

Xiaomi’s official service in Russia does not repair the Earbuds Basic 2 (the model is considered “budget” and non-repairable). Contact private workshops with good reviews. Before visiting, check if they have experience with this model - some services refuse to take up repairs due to the miniature size of parts.

FAQ: Frequent questions about a broken headphone