Xiaomi's wireless headphones are a popular accessory that often accompanies us in the gym, on a run or in the shower. But what if they accidentally fall into the water, get caught in the rain or drown in the washing machine? IPX7, There are chances of salvation, the main thing is to act quickly and correctly.
In this article, we will discuss specific steps for different models (Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless, Buds). 3/4 Pro et al., explain why you can't dry your headphones with a hair dryer or battery, and how to check their performance after an incident, and you'll also learn when it's cheaper to repair your headphones than when you're buying new ones, and when you're better off going to the service center right away.
Spoiler: If Xiaomi headphones drown in fresh water, their chances of survival are higher than after seawater or sugary drinks.
First steps: what to do immediately after water hits
The speed of your action determines whether you can save the headphones, and the first 30 minutes are critical: the longer the water stays inside the case, the greater the risk of corrosion of the contacts and short circuit.
- ⏱️ Turn off the headphones immediately. If they've been turned on, hold the power button for 10 to 15 seconds until it's completely shut down.
- 🧻 Wet the moisture. Use paper towels or napkins to remove visible water from the surface. Don't rub, just get wet.
- 🔋 If water gets into the case, remove the headphones and dry both devices separately.
- 🚫 Don't turn on or charge. Even if the headphones "seem dry," there could be condensation inside. = risk of permanently burning the fee.
Important: If the headphones are drowned in seawater, soda or coffee, they should be washed with distilled water (or at least boiled water), salt, sugar and acids accelerate corrosion, so they need to be washed, after washing, dry again.
Disassembly of headphones: is it worth the risk?
Many Xiaomi models (such as the Redmi AirDots 2 or Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2) have adhesive body that is difficult to open without damage.
Before you start using the tools, assess the risks:
| Model headphones | Difficulty disassembling | Risk of damage | Do you need special tools? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi AirDots (1/2 gen) | Medium | High (glue) + lens) | Yeah (plastic mediator, tweezers) |
| Mi True Wireless Earbuds 2 | Tall. | Very high (ultrasonic welding) | Yeah (dryer, scraper) |
| Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro | Low. | Medium (latches, but no glue) | No (can be opened with your nail) |
| Haylou GT1/GT2 | Medium | Low (screws under rubber plugs) | Yeah. T5) |
If you're going to fight it out:
- Put the body in a plastic mediator (not a knife!) at the seam. Start from the side without the buttons.
- Take the top lid off carefully, and inside you'll see the battery, the speaker, and the circuit board with contacts.
- Dry the insides with isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — It displaces water and speeds up evaporation!
- Leave the headphones disassembled for 24-48 hours in a dry place (for example, next to silica gel).
What to do if the body does not open?
⚠️ Warning: If you have a lithium battery inside your headphones, don't dry them in direct sunlight or on a battery!
Drying methods: what works and what will kill headphones
The most common mistake is to dry your headphones with a hair dryer, microwave or heater, and this leads to:
- 🔥 Melting plastic (especially in models with a glossy body).
- 💥 Battery damage due to overheating.
- 🔌 Short circuit from uneven evaporation of moisture.
Effective drying methods:
Remove visible moisture with a napkin|Place in a sealed container with silica gel|Leave for 48-72 hours at room temperature|Do not turn on until completely drying|Check every 12 hours for condensation-->
Silicagel (shoesbox bags) is the best moisture absorber.
- 🍚 Raw rice works, but 2 times slower than silica gel. Headphones should be completely immersed in rice and closed container.
- ☀️ Natural drying – put your headphones on a shelf in a well-ventilated place (not in the sun!).
- 💨 Fan – If cold air blows (not hot!), you can speed up the process by 30%.
Drying time:
- Fresh water: 48-72 hours.
- Sea water/soda: up to 5 days (because of salts and sugar).
- Beer/alcohol: 3-4 days (alcohols evaporate longer than water).
💡
If you have a vacuum cleaner with blow function, you can gently blow the headphones with cold air for 5-10 minutes. Keep the nozzle at a distance of 10 cm so as not to damage the speaker membrane.
Checking the performance after drying
Take your headphones off immediately after drying. First, do a visual inspection.
- 🔍 Check the charging contacts on the case and headphones - is there a green coating (oxidation).
- 🔋 Check the battery (if disassembled) - swelling or leaks should not be.
- 🎧 Light a flashlight into the speaker grille - if condensate is visible inside, dry further.
If everything is visually clean, start testing:
- Charge the case. Connect the case to charge for 10 minutes. If the indicator is on, good. If not, check the cable and port.
- Charge your headphones. Place them in the case for 30 minutes. If the headphones light up, move on to the next step.
- Connect to your phone. Try syncing your headphones with Mi Home or Bluetooth. If one earphone doesn't connect, the problem may be contacts.
- Sound check. Play the music at medium volume.
If the headphones are turned on but do not play the sound, the problem may be:
- 🔌 Oxidized contacts between the speaker and the board (needs cleaning with alcohol).
- 🔋 Damaged battery (earphones discharge in 5 minutes).
- 📡 Bluetooth antenna (if the signal is interrupted at a distance of 1 meter).
💡
If the headphones are working after drying, but they discharge quickly, this is a sign of damage to the battery. In 80% of cases, it can be replaced by yourself (the cost of the battery). ~300-500 rubles.).
What to do if the headphones are not turned on
If after all the manipulations, the headphones do not show signs of life, do not rush to throw them away.
| Symptoms. | Probable cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Indicators do not burn, charging does not go | Short circuit on board | Disassembly + purification |
| Case is charging, headphones are not | Oxidation of contacts in the case | Cleaning with eraser or alcohol |
| Headphones warm up when charging | Battery damaged. | Battery replacement (in-house or in-service) |
| One earpiece is working, the other isn't. | Breaking the wire between the speaker and the board | Solding or earphone replacement |
If you are not ready to disassemble headphones yourself, contact the service.The cost of repairs in official centers Xiaomi:
- 🔧 Cleaning from oxidation: 500-1000 rubles.
- 🔋 Battery replacement: 800-1 500 rubles (for one headphone).
- 🎧 Replacement of the speaker: 1,200–2,000 rubles.
- 📱 Repair of fees: 1,500–3,000 rubles (depending on damages).
If the headphones are older than 2 years or their price is up to 2 000 rubles, repairs may not be cost-effective. ~1,500 rubles. new and repairs will cost 1,200-1,800 rubles.
⚠️ Note: Xiaomi's official services may be denied warranty repairs if they detect signs of disassembly or water ingress.
Preventing: How to Protect Headphones from Water in the Future
Even if you've managed to resuscitate your headphones, you should consider protecting yourself from repeated incidents.
- 🛡️ Use a protective case IPX4+. Xiaomi Mi Sports Bluetooth Earphones have sweat protection, but not immersion protection.
- 🏊 Avoid swimming with headphones, even models with headphones. IPX7 (Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro is not designed for long stays under water.
- 🚿 In the shower, use special waterproof headphones (for example, JBL Endurance or Sony WF-SP800N).
- 🔋 Don't leave your headphones in the bathroom. Steam and condensate can get in even through microslits.
If you often exercise or are in the rain, look for certified models. IPX7:
- Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro (IP54 — Splash protection, but not from immersion).
- Haylou GT5 (IPX5 — waterproof).
- Redmi Buds 4 Active (IPX4 — sweat-proof).
Important: Protection IPX7 It doesn't mean that headphones can be thrown into the water intentionally, but over time, the rubber seals wear out, and the tightness decreases.
💡
Apply a thin layer of silicone lubricant before training (for example, WD-40 Specialist) on the earphone sealing gums, which will prolong their water resistance.
When to save useless: signs of irreversible damage
Unfortunately, the headphones are not always resuscitated, and here are the signs that the device is not repairable:
- 🔥 The smell of burning when connected to charging is a sign of a burned board.
- 💧 Bloated battery (headphone case split or deformed).
- 🔕 Complete lack of response to charging and buttons after a week of drying.
- 🎵 Strong distortion of sound (as if the speaker is underwater) even after cleaning.
- 📵 Permanent communication breaks less than 1 meter from the phone.
In such cases, there are two options:
- If the model is outdated, pay attention to the current analogues: Xiaomi Buds 4 (from 3,500 rubles., ANC, IP54). Redmi Buds 4 Pro (from 2,500 rubles, 12 mm dynamics). GT6 (1 800 rubles., IPX5).
Use headphones for spare parts
Avito
If your Xiaomi headphones drowned in seawater and went more than 24 hours without drying, the chances of recovery are close to zero - salt has already corroded the contacts.