One Xiaomi headphone doesn’t work, and the second one works: what to do in 2026?

You listen to music or talk on the phone, and suddenly one Xiaomi headphone stops working, and the second continues to play sound properly. The situation is familiar to many owners of wireless and wired headphones of the brand — from budget Redmi Buds to flagship Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro. The reasons can be very different: from banal clogging of the speaker to serious hardware breakdowns.

In this article, we'll look at all the possible reasons why one Xiaomi earbud is silent, and give you step-by-step diagnostic and repair instructions, how to tell a software failure from a physical malfunction, what settings to check first, and when to contact a service center. And if the connection problem is, learn how to sync your headphones again without losing sound quality.

Importantly, some methods are only suitable for wireless models (for example, resetting through a button on the body), while others are universal for wired headphones. We will note these nuances in each section.

1. Diagnosis of the problem: why is one earphone silent?

Before trying to fix your headphones, you need to understand what exactly is going on. Here are the main reasons why one Xiaomi earphone might not work:

• 🔊 Clogging speaker – dust, earwax or moisture block the sound.
• 🔋 Discharged battery (for wireless models) – one headphone could discharge faster.
• 📱 Synchronization failure – headphones “disconnected” with each other or with a smartphone.
• 🔌 Wire problems (for wired models) – worn cable or oxidized contacts.
• 🛠️ Hardware failure – damaged speaker, microphone or control board.
• 🔄 Software glitch – firmware error or conflict with the device.

To narrow down the possible causes, answer the questions:

• 🎧 Both earphones connect to the phone, but one does not make a sound?
• 🔌 The problem is only manifested with one device (for example, only with a smartphone, but not with a laptop)?
• 🔋 Have you recently charged your headphones? (for wireless models.)
• 💧 Whether the headphones were wet or hit?

If one earphone is not fully defined by the system (the indicator does not flash, does not appear in the list of devices), the problem is more hardware. If it connects, but there is no sound, it is the software or clogging. Next, we will analyze the solutions for each case.

Quick Decisions: What to Do First

Start with simple steps – they help in 60% of cases and do not require the decomposition of headphones.

🔄 Restart the headphones and device

Yeah, it's corny, but it works a lot.

1. Put both earphones in the case.
2. Close the lid and wait 10 seconds.
3. Take out your headphones and try to connect again.

For wired headphones:

• Disconnect them from the device.
• Reboot your smartphone/PC.
• Put the headphones back on.

🔊 Check the sound balance.

Sometimes the problem is with the settings of the smartphone.

1. Open the settings → Sound → Sound Balance.
2. Make sure the slider is in the center.

On the iPhone:

1. Go to Settings → Universal Access → Audiovisual content.
2. Check the Balance Stereo setting.

🔋 Charge your headphones (for TWS)

If one earpiece is more depleted than the other, it can shut down. Put both earbuds in the case for 15 to 20 minutes, even if the indicator shows a charge. Sometimes the contacts of the case become dirty, and the charging goes unevenly.

💡

If Xiaomi headphones don't charge in the case, wipe the contacts on the headphones and inside the case with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

📱 Reconnect the headphones to the device

Remove the headphones from the list of associated devices and connect again:

1. On Android: Settings → Connected devices → Headphones → Forget the device.
2. On iPhone: Settings → Bluetooth → (i) next to the headphones → Forget this device.
3. Turn on the pairing mode on the headphones (usually hold the button for 3-5 seconds).

If after these steps the problem remains – move on to a deeper diagnosis.

3. Cleaning headphones: remove clogging and moisture

One of the most common causes of silence in one earphone is clogging the speaker or getting moisture. Dust, earwax or condensate can block sound without damaging the electronics. Here's how to clean Xiaomi headphones without the risk of breaking them.

🧹 Dry cleaning of the dynamics

You'll need:

• A soft toothbrush (new or clean).
• Cotton swabs (better with a plastic rod).
• A flashlight (to illuminate the speaker grid).

Instructions:

1. Carefully remove the mesh from the speaker (if it is removable). In most Xiaomi models, it is mounted on the latches.
2. Hold the headphone to the light and inspect the speaker for debris or moisture.
3. With a soft brush, sweep the dust off the speaker surface. The movements should be light and circular.
4. With a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol (not in water!), wipe the contacts and body around the speaker.

💧 Removing moisture (if the headphones are wet)

If Xiaomi headphones stop working after rain, sweating or washing, act as follows:

1. Do not connect headphones to the charger or device.
2. Wet the external moisture with a napkin.
3. Put the headphones in a sealed bag with silica gel (or rice) for 12-24 hours.
4. After drying, check the work.

⚠️ Warning: If the sound is distorted after drying (wheezing, crackling), it's a sign of membrane damage, in which case cleaning won't help - you need a replacement speaker.

🔍 Microphone check (for models with microphone)

If one earphone not only doesn't play sound, but it doesn't transmit voice when you're calling, the problem may be the microphone.

1. Connect the headphones to your smartphone.
2. Open the recorder and record a few seconds.
3. Listen to the recording – if the voice is heard in only one headphone, the microphone of the second is faulty.

The microphone may become contaminated or oxidized. Use a cotton swab with alcohol to clean, but don't press hard.

4 Connection problems: synchronization and Bluetooth

If one Xiaomi headphone connects to the phone but there is no sound, or it lags/interrupts, the problem may be synchronization between the headphones or Bluetooth settings.

🔗 Resetting the pairing of headphones with each other

Xiaomi wireless headphones (such as Redmi AirDots or Mi True Wireless Earphones) work on the principle of the headphones. TWS (True Wireless Stereo: One earpiece is master and the other is slave, and if the communication between the two is broken, the sound may disappear.

To reset the synchronization:

Get both earphones out of the case.

Hold the button on both headphones for 10-15 seconds (until red/white flashes)

Put the headphones back in the case and close the lid.

In 10 seconds, take it out and plug it back in.-->

If after resetting the headphones do not sync, try to change the lead headphone:

1. Connect to the phone only the right earphone (put the left in the case).
2. Wait for the connection and check the sound.
3. Repeat with the left earpiece.

📶 Bluetooth problems: codec and interference

Sometimes the sound is lost because of incompatibility of codecs (sound compression algorithms) or interference from other devices.

• 🔄 Switch the codec in Bluetooth settings (on Android: Settings) → Connected devices → Headphones → Additionally. → Audio codec. Try it. SBC or AAC ptX.
• 📵 Disable other Bluetooth devices nearby (fitness bracelets, speakers, keyboards).
• 📱 Update the headphone firmware (if available).For Xiaomi, this is done via the Mi Home app or Xiaomi Earphones.

⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi headphones connect to the phone, but the sound is interrupted every 5-10 seconds, the problem may be a faulty battery of one of the headphones. Try to use them separately - if the "silent" earphone quickly discharges, its battery requires replacement.

🔌 Problems with wired headphones: connector and cable

If you have Xiaomi wired headphones (such as Mi Hybrid or Redmi Hi-Res Audio), check out:

• 🔍 3.5 mm connector — often oxidized or contaminated.
• 🔗 Cable inflection — worn wires can interrupt the signal. Pull the cable at the base of the headphone and the connector — if the sound appears / disappears, the problem is the wire.
• 🔧 Contacts inside the connector – if one headphone works only at a certain position of the plug, the contacts need to be cleaned or soldered.

For a temporary solution, you can fix the plug in the nest with tape, but this will not eliminate the cause.

5. Software failures: firmware and settings

If the hardware didn't work, the problem could be the firmware of the headphones or the device settings, and we'll figure out how to fix that.

🔄 Resetting headphones to factory settings

For most Xiaomi models, the reset is done as follows:

1. Put both earphones in the case.
2. Hold the button on the case (or on the headphones themselves) for 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
3. After resetting, the headphones will automatically disconnect from all devices.

For wired models, the reset is not provided - you will have to clean or repair.

📲 Update of the headphone firmware

Xiaomi regularly releases updates for its headphones, fixing bugs with sound.

1. Install the Mi Home or Xiaomi Earphones app (depending on the model).
2. Put the headphones on the phone.
3. Open the app and go to My Devices section → Headphones → Firmware update.
4. If a new version is available, follow the instructions on the screen.

⚠️ Warning: Don't interrupt the upgrade process! If Xiaomi headphones are depleted during firmware, they can turn into a "brick" and require flashing through the PC.

🎛️ Sound settings on the device

Sometimes the problem is not the headphones, but the settings of the smartphone or PC.

• 🔊 Mono-audio: on iPhone go to Settings → Universal access → Audiovisual content → Monoaudio and turn off this option.
• 🎵 Equalizer: Some settings (like Bass) can eat up sound in one channel.
• 🔕 Do Not Disturb: On Android, check if Quiet Mode or No Sound is enabled.

If you use headphones from a Windows PC, update the sound card drivers:

1. Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
2. Find the section Sound, gaming and video devices.
3. Right-click on your sound card and select Update Driver.

6. Hardware breakdowns: when parts need to be replaced

If none of the previous methods worked, it's probably a hardware problem, and here are the most common breakdowns and their signs:

🔧 Self-Repair: What You Can Do at Home

If you're willing to take a chance, some breakdowns can be repaired on your own, such as:

• 🔨 Replacement speaker: repair kits for popular Xiaomi models (such as Redmi AirDots) are sold online.
• 🔋 Battery replacement: If the headphone is quickly discharged, you can buy a new battery (for example, for Mi True Wireless Earphones 2, a battery 301230 is suitable).
• 🔌 Wire soldering: for wired headphones when cable breaks.

⚠️ Attention: Disassembly of Xiaomi headphones is not warranty. If the device is warranty, contact the service center. Also be careful with lithium batteries - if damaged, they can ignite!

For rationing, you'll need:

• The soldering iron (power 20-30 W).
• Slink and flux.
• Tweezers and magnifiers (the speakers and contacts are very small).

🏥 When to contact the service center

Take the headphones for repair if:

• 💥 You are not sure about your rationing skills.
• 🔋 Headphones warranty (usually 12 months for Xiaomi).
• 🔊 The problem is the Bluetooth microchip (the headphone is not defined at all).
• 💦 Headphones have been in the water and are not turned on.

The cost of repairs in Xiaomi service centers:

• Dynamic replacement: 800–1500 ₽.
• Battery replacement: 1000–2000 ₽.
• Diagnosis: 300-500 ₽.

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If Xiaomi headphones are warranty, don’t open them yourself! In most cases, a faulty headphone will be replaced for free.

7. Prevention: how to prolong the life of headphones Xiaomi

To avoid problems in the future, follow these guidelines:

• 🧼 Clean your headphones once a week with a soft brush.
• 🚫 Do not pull the wire (for wired models).
• 🔋 Don’t discharge your headphones to zero – charge when the charge drops below 20%.
• 💧 Avoid moisture, even if the model has protection. IPX4, Don't swim in them.
• 📦 Keep it in a case – it protects against dust and shocks.

For wireless models, it is also important:

• 🔄 Update the firmware through the official application.
• 📵 Do not connect to multiple devices at the same time – this can cause sync failures.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi's broken headphone