How to fix Xiaomi Mi True Wireless headphones: the full guide

Sudden silence in your favorite playlist or the refusal of one of your headphones to work is a familiar situation for many wireless speakers. When your wireless headphones stop connecting to your phone or sound quieter than usual, you should not immediately carry them to the service center. Often the problem can be solved by using simple software methods or basic electronics skills.

Xiaomi’s devices, including the popular AirDots and Mi True Wireless Earbuds, are reliable, but they are not immune to software failures or moisture. In this article, we’ll look at all stages of diagnostics, from a basic reboot to complex recovery procedures. You’ll learn to distinguish between software glitches and physical breakdowns.

Before you start taking action, you need to understand the nature of the malfunction, which will save time and avoid unnecessary costs for new components. We will look at the methods that are relevant to most models of the TWS (True Wireless Stereo) line manufactured by Xiaomi.

Primary diagnosis and verification of the charging case

The most common, but often ignored, reason for failure is the lack of charge. If the case is discharged, the headphones inside it do not charge, even if they have residual energy. Check the indicators on the case: if they do not light up when the cable is connected, the problem may be in the charger itself or the port.

Look carefully at the contacts. On the inside of the case and on the headphones themselves are metal pens through which current is transmitted. Over time, they become oxidized or covered with earwax and dust, which blocks charging. Gently wipe them with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, but do not wet the headphones themselves.

Sometimes the problem is that the device is not tightly attached to the contacts. Try to press the earphone slightly in the case or turn it around to make sure the magnets and connectors are connected. If the indicator catches fire, then it was bad contact. Leave the devices on charge for at least 30 minutes.

• 🔌 Checking the cable: Try another USB-cable and power supply, as the original accessory could fail.
• 🧹 Contact cleaning: Use a dry eraser or alcohol to clean gold contacts on headphones and in a case.
• 🔋 Indicator control: Make sure the LED changes color or flashes, signaling the charging process.

Software reset and Bluetooth reconnection

If the charge is fine, but the devices can't see each other or the phone, you need a full reset. In the world of TWS headsets, this is a standard procedure that eliminates 90% of software synchronization errors. You need to remove the old pairing from the smartphone memory to start with a clean slate.

Go to your phone's Bluetooth settings, find your Xiaomi Earbuds in the list, and select "Forget the device" or "Sever the pairing." Then put the headphones back in the case and close the lid (if you have one) or just leave them there for 10 seconds, which will break the connection between the ears themselves.

⚠️ Warning: Before resetting, make sure that the case and headphones are at least 20% charged. Interrupting the low-charge reset process can cause left and right channels to become out of sync.

Now the most important thing is to activate the reset mode. On most Xiaomi models, you need to press the touch panels on both headphones simultaneously for 15-20 seconds until the indicators flash red several times. On models without sensors (for example, some versions of AirDots), you need to quickly press the control button 5 times or press the buttons for 30 seconds.

Elimination of left and right channel dissynchronization

A common problem with a wireless stereo is that there's only one headphone running and the other one is silent, which means that the left and right modules are lost, and they're not merged into a stereo pair, and the phone sees them as two different mono devices, or connects to only one.

To fix this, you have to force a partner search, take both of the headphones out of the case at the same time, if they don't start flashing blue (or white) in pairing mode, they can't see each other, and try to put them back and take them out again, but within 2-3 seconds of removing the first and second.

If you don't have automatic pairing, use the manual method. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone, but don't connect to anything. Take out your headphones, wait for the flashing lights to go fast. Press 5 times on the right earphone sensor, then 5 times on the left. This often forces them to go into search mode for each other.

It's important to understand that the radio module in these compact devices is sensitive to interference. If you're resetting next to a router or microwave, the signal may be blocked.

Cleaning dynamic grid and eliminating quiet sound

When one earphone sounds much quieter than another, it is most often caused not by a broken speaker, but by banal pollution. Earwax, dust and pile from clothing pockets gradually clog the small-mesh speaker, blocking the sound wave.

You will need a soft toothbrush, cotton swabs and, preferably, a special cleaning gel (Blu-Tack) or just a sticky tape. Under no circumstances do not use sharp objects such as needles or pins, as you risk piercing the speaker membrane, after which recovery will be impossible.

Carefully walk with a dry brush across the net, sweeping the dirt out. If the contamination is severe, slightly (very slightly!) moisten the cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol, press it off and wipe the net. Alcohol evaporates quickly and disinfects, but it is important not to pour the liquid into the case.

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Use blue paint tape: glue a piece to the speaker grid and rip it off abruptly. This effectively pulls dust from the bottom of the grid without risking liquid damage to the membrane.

Hardware repair: when you need a soldering iron

If the software and cleaning methods didn't help, there's a hardware malfunction. Most often, the Xiaomi TWS battery fails. Symptoms: the headphone only works in the case, turns off after 5-10 minutes, or the case can't charge it to 100%.

Replacing the battery will require disassembling the body. AirDots and similar models don't have screws, the body is assembled on plastic latches and glue. You'll need a thin mediator or plastic card to gently open the seam. Act slowly so as not to damage the speaker plume, which can be soldered to the board.

Inside, you'll see a little pill-like battery with two wires, soldering here requires care: overheating can kill a new battery or damage the control board, replace it with a similar voltage (usually 3.7V) and dimensions, and then assemble the case and lock it with B-7000 glue.

⚠️ Warning: Lithium batteries are sensitive to heat. When soldering out an old battery, use a soldering iron no more than 40W and act quickly, or use preheating the body with a thermophen to facilitate access.

Firmware and Update Through the App

Some Xiaomi models support firmware updates, which can fix connection bugs or improve stability, requiring the official Mi Home or Xiaomi Earbuds app (for Android).

Connect your headphones to your phone, open the app, and find your devices on the list. If an update is available, the system will prompt you to install it. Do not open the case or turn off Bluetooth during the upgrade, otherwise the device may turn into a brick.

Updating the firmware often solves problems with game audio delay or unstable connection at a distance. If the app can't see the headphones, try clearing the app's cache in Android settings: Settings → Apps → Mi Home → Storage → Clear the cache.

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The firmware update is the final software milestone before the headphones are malfunctioned, and if that doesn't work, the problem is almost certainly hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)