What to do if the right headphone Xiaomi does not turn on: a complete guide to diagnosis and repair

You pulled Xiaomi headphones out of your case, but the right one refuses to turn on, blink or make a sound? The problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi Airdots, Mi True Wireless or wired Mi Basic. In 80% of cases, the malfunction is not due to hardware failure, but to software failures, battery discharge or mechanical damage to contacts. This article will help accurately diagnose the cause and bring the earbud back to life - without going to the service center.

We’ll look at all possible scenarios, from trivial discharge to complex hardware breakdowns, with a focus on models with separate power buttons (like the Redmi Buds 3 Pro), where the right earphone often falls asleep due to synchronization errors, and how to distinguish a temporary failure from a fatal Bluetooth controller failure, saving time and money for unnecessary repairs.

1. Checking for obvious causes: battery, case and physical damage

Start with basic checks — they take 2-3 minutes, but eliminate 50% of the possible problems. The first thing to do is make sure that the earphone is charged. Even if the indicator on the case is green, this does not guarantee the right earphone charge. In Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE and Redmi Buds 4 models, there is often a bug when one of the headphones does not charge due to oxidized contacts.

Take a magnifying glass or flashlight and inspect the charging contacts on the headphone and inside the case. Oxidation (green/white coating) or pollution (dust, pile) interrupt the current supply. Clean them with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, and try again charging. If the headphone still does not respond, try charging it from another case or through the USB-cable (for models with Type-C connector).

• 🔋 Battery discharge: place the headphone in the case on 10-15 Check the charging indicator (should flash red/orange).
• 🔌 Case problems: try charging the powerbank headphone via cable (if the model supports it).
• 🔍 Mechanical damage: Check the integrity of the body, if there are cracks or dents after falling.
• 💧 Moisture: If the earphone is wet, let it dry for 24 hours in rice or silica gel.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use abrasive materials (sweet sandpaper, needles) to clean your contacts, this will damage the coating and exacerbate the problem).

2.Reset and reconnect: how to "wake up" the right earphone

If the headphone doesn't blink when it's removed from the case or if it's not detected by the phone, it could be a software sync failure, a problem for automatic-connected models (like the Xiaomi Mi Air 2 Pro), where the right earphone plays the role of a "master" in the pair, and if it fails, it can "hang" in standby mode.

To reset, perform a hard reset:

1. Place both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (or touchpad on the headphone) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white.
3. Remove the headphones from the case – they should automatically go into pairing mode (white light flashes).
4. Remove the old pair from the list of Bluetooth devices on your phone and reconnect.

For Redmi Buds 3 Lite and similar models with separate buttons on each headphone:

1. Hold the button on the right earphone for 10 seconds (up to a double beep).


2. Repeat for the left earpiece.




3. Place both in the case for 5 seconds, then pull out - they sync automatically.

Make sure your headphones are charged (>30%)

Remove the device from the phone’s Bluetooth settings

Check that the cover is not discharged (indicator >1 strips)

Use the original charging cable (if applicable)-->

3.Diagnostics of hardware breakdowns: when repairs are inevitable

If the reset didn't work, and the earphone doesn't show signs of life (it doesn't blink, it doesn't make sounds, it doesn't warm up when charging), there's a possibility of hardware failure.

For Xiaomi Mi True Wireless 2 models, and a recent problem is that the battery contacts fall off because of falls. If you're disassembling the headphone yourself, look at the thin wires that go from battery to board. They can be soldered back, but it requires experience with a soldering iron and a microscope.

⚠️ Warning: If the earphone is swollen (the body is deformed) or emits a chemical smell, immediately stop attempts to repair! This is a sign of decomposition of the lithium polymer battery, which can lead to fire.

4. Features of repair of wired headphones Xiaomi Mi Basic

For wired models (Mi Basic, Mi Hybrid), the diagnostic algorithm is different. If the right earphone doesn't make sound, but the left earphone does, the problem may be:

• 🎧 Breakage of the 3.5 mm plug wire or Type-C connector.
• 🔊 Breakdown of the speaker (often after moisture hits).
• 🔌 Oxidation of contacts on the control board (in the area of the volume regulator).

To localize the cliff:

1. Connect your headphones to your phone and turn on the music.
2. Carefully bend the wire at the base of the plug and headphone jack.
3. If the sound appears/disappears when bending, the cliff is confirmed.

Temporary repairs may include:

1. Wrap the problem area with a tape (fixes the wire, but does not eliminate the cliff).


2. Use a soldering iron to solder torn veins (experience is required).




3. Replace the plug 3.5 mm (the detail costs ~ 100 rubles, sold in radio stores).

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If the Mi Basic headphones with a microphone don't work on a PC but work on a phone, the problem is with the sound card drivers. Update them through Device Manager or install Realtek Audio Driver.

5. Software glitches: firmware, Bluetooth and compatibility

Sometimes the right-hand Xiaomi earphone doesn't turn on due to firmware conflicts or Bluetooth stack errors on the phone. For example, after the MIUI 14 update, many users found that the Redmi Buds 4 Pro headphones only connect in mono mode.

• 📱 Reset Bluetooth settings on your phone: Settings → Bluetooth → ⚙️ → Reset the settings.
• 🔄 Firmware rollback: if the problem appeared after the update MIUI, Try to revert to the previous version through Recovery.
• 🤖 Use another device: Check the headphones on the second phone/tablet to rule out a problem from the sound source.

For models with Mi Earphones app support (e.g. Mi Air 2 SE):

1. Install the app from Google Play.
2. Connect the headphones and check for firmware updates.
3. Calibrate the sound in the application settings.

⚠️ Note: If the headphones are connected as LE Audio (in Android 13)+), But the sound is only going to one channel, disable this function in Settings. → For developers → Disable Bluetooth LE Audio.

Alternative methods: from repair to replacement

If all of the above methods have not worked, consider the following options:

• 🔧 Repair in the service center: official centers Xiaomi take for battery replacement ~1,500–2,500 rubles, for the replacement of fees – from 3,000 rubles.
• 🛒 Buying parts: AliExpress sells speakers, batteries and boards for popular models (for example, boards for Redmi Buds 3 Pro).
• ♻️ Replacement warranty: If the headphones are less than 12 months old, go to the store with a check. Xiaomi often goes to meet even without a check if you have a serial number.
• 🆕 Upgrade: if repairs are more expensive than 50% of the cost of new headphones, it is more logical to buy a new model (for example, Redmi Buds 5 for a new headphone). ~3,000 rubles.).

For self-repair, we recommend the channel “Charge Technique” on YouTube – there are detailed deconstructions of Xiaomi headphones with step-by-step instructions.

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Before buying parts, check the compatibility with the serial number (printed on the headphone or case). For example, the boards for Redmi Airdots 2 and Redmi Airdots 2S are not interchangeable!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's broken right earphone