One headphone Xiaomi does not work: the reasons and repairs with their own hands

You listen to your favorite music or watch a movie, and suddenly one Xiaomi headphone stops working — the sound disappears, distorts or appears in only one channel. The problem is familiar to many owners of both wireless Redmi AirDots and wired Mi Basic or Hybrid Pro. Most often, the malfunction is not associated with a serious breakdown, and it can be fixed by yourself in 10 to 30 minutes.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why a single Xiaomi headphone doesn’t work, from a trivial battery drain to a damaged contact. You’ll learn how to diagnose a problem, what settings to check in your smartphone, and when to actually carry a headset to the service. And for the most common models (AirDots 3 Pro, Buds 4, Mi True Wireless 2), we’ll give you specific solutions that work in 90% of cases.

Take your time to buy new headphones! Follow our instructions in order, from simple steps to complex ones. Most users solve the problem in stages 2-3.

1. Check basic settings: sound, balance, connection

Before disassembling or carrying your headphones for repair, make sure that the problem is not in your device settings. Often one earphone does not work due to software failures, not hardware breakdowns.

Start with a check:

• 🔊 Volume on smartphone/PC: it is possible that the sound was accidentally reduced to zero or turned off the speaker in the availability settings (for example, the “mono-audio” function on the iPhone).
• 🎧 Sound balance: in sound settings (Settings) → Sound. → Balance L/R) could have gone left or right.
• 📱 Bluetooth Connection: If you’re talking about wireless headphones, check if both headphones are connected to the device (sometimes one “falls off” and requires re-synchronization).

On Android, go to Settings → Connected Devices → Headphones and make sure both headphones are displayed as connected. On iOS, check the list of devices in Control Point (up/down swipe).

Important! If you use headphones with a Xiaomi smartphone, upgrade the phone's firmware. In some versions. MIUI (for example, MIUI 12.5) were bugs with connection TWS-headset.

2.Reboot and reset headphones

If the basic settings didn’t work, the next step is a software reset, which is especially true for wireless models where firmware failures or connection conflicts can cause a single headphone to fail.

Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi AirDots (and similar models):

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Wait until the indicator on the case goes out (this means that the headphones are completely switched off).
3. Press and hold the button on the case for 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
4. Open the case cover - the headphones will automatically go into pairing mode.
5. Connect them to the phone again via Settings → Bluetooth.

For wired models (Mi Basic, Hybrid Pro) reset is not required - just reconnect the plug to another device or clean the connector (more about this below).

Disable headphones from all Bluetooth devices

Charge the case to 100% (for wireless models)

Make sure the headphones are clean and not wet

Prepare a second device for the test (tablet, PC)

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A critical mistake many users make: reset headphones are done without first removing them from the list of associated devices, which leads to a conflict of profiles and exacerbates the problem. Before reset, be sure to "forget" the headphones in the Bluetooth settings!

3. Cleaning of contacts and connectors

One of the most common reasons why one Xiaomi earphone doesn’t work is contamination of contacts, and dust, sweat, earwax, or moisture can disrupt the connection, especially in wireless models where contacts in the case are responsible for charging and synchronizing.

How to clean contacts:

• 💧 Wet cleaning: For persistent contaminants, use isopropyl alcohol (not regular vodka!). Apply a drop on a cotton cotton-coat disc and wipe the contacts, then let dry for 10-15 minutes.

For models with a Type-C connector (Mi Dual Driver), check the port for debris. Often the problem lies in oxidized contacts - they can be cleaned with a stripe or alcohol.

Warning: Never use metal objects (needles, knives) to clean, which can damage the contact coating and make the problem worse, and avoid aggressive liquids (acetone, gasoline).

4.Battery and charging check

In Xiaomi wireless headphones, each headphone has its own battery. If one headphone doesn't work, it may just run out or its battery fails. Here's how to check this:

Symptoms of a discharged headphone:

• 🔋 The indicator on the case flashes red when connecting the problem headphone.
• 🎵 The sound is interrupted or disappears within minutes of being connected.
• 📱 In a mobile application (for example, Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear) displays a low charge of one of the headphones.

Decisions:

1. Put both headphones in the case and charge for at least 1 hour (even if the indicator shows 100%).
2. Try charging the case from another cable/power supply – possibly the problem is the charger.
3. If the headphone is not charged at all, check the contacts in the case (see the section on cleaning).

For models with a replaceable battery (Mi Hybrid Pro), you can try the calibration of the battery:

1. Discharge the headphones until completely shut down.
2. Charge them 100% without interruptions.
3. Repeat the cycle 2-3 times.

⚠️ Warning: If a Xiaomi headphone is swollen or an electrolyte is leaking from it, do not try to charge or disassemble it - it is dangerous.

5. Diagnostics of hardware breakdowns

If the software methods didn't work, the problem is probably hardware.

Frequent hardware failures:

• 🔊 Discussion: the sound is completely absent or severely distorted (wheezing, crackling) often occurs after falling or getting moisture.
• 🔌 Wire break (for wired models): the sound is lost when the cable is moving or in a certain position.
• 📡 Bluetooth module malfunction: the headphone does not connect or permanently disconnects.
• 🔋 Power controller failure: the headphone does not charge, although the contacts are clean.

How to diagnose:

1. Check on another device: connect the headphones to another smartphone, tablet or PC, if the problem remains, a malfunction in the headphones.
2. Multimeter test (for advanced users): Check speaker resistance (should be 16-32 ohms for most Xiaomi models).
3. Visual inspection: Look for cracks in the body, traces of oxidation or physical damage.

Redmi AirDots 3 Pro and Xiaomi Buds 4 have a problem with a microphone module that can block sound in one headphone, in which case only replacing the module in the service will help.

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If you move the wire, you get a sound, you lose it, it's 100% of the vein. Try to lock the cable in the "working" position with tape, but you'd better replace the cord or headphones.

6. Repair with their own hands: disassembly and soldering

If you are confident in your skills, you can try to repair the headphones yourself. Xiaomi's disassembly of headphones requires accuracy and special tools, but in most cases is real at home.

What you need:

• 🔧 Set of screwdrivers (cross, flat, flat, T5 for some).
• 🧲 Tweezers and sucker for a careful opening of the body.
• 🔥 soldering iron (power not more than 30 W) and solder.
• 📸 Lupus or magnifying glass for working with small details.

Step-by-step instructions for Redmi AirDots:

1. Carefully tweezer or mediator headphone cover (usually it is on the latches).
2. Disconnect the battery to avoid short circuit.
3. Check the integrity of the wires going from speaker to board.
4. If you break a cliff, clean up and solder your contacts. Use a thin solder for the speaker.
5. Put together the headphone, making sure that all the details are in their places.

Wired models (Mi Basic) most often require replacement of the plug or cable, and the 3.5 mm plug can be bought from the radio store and soldered independently:

1. Cut off the old plug, leaving 1-2 cm of cable.




2. Clear the wires (usually 3-4 veins: left channel, right channel, earth, sometimes microphone).




3. solder the veins to the new plug according to the scheme (red - right, green / blue - left, copper - earth).




4. Insulate the compounds with thermal shrinkage or tape.

⚠️ Note: when disassembling Xiaomi Buds 4 or AirDots 3 Pro, be careful with the antenna module - it is easy to damage.

7. When to contact the service center

Not all problems can be repaired by yourself. Contact Xiaomi Service Center if:

• 🔧 You took out the headphones, but did not find an obvious malfunction.
• 🔥 On the board, burnt elements or traces of a short circuit are visible.
• 💦 The headphones were in the water and did not recover after drying.
• 🎵 The sound disappears periodically, and you can't determine the pattern.
• 🔋 The battery is swollen or the headphone does not hold a charge for more than 10-15 minutes.

The cost of repairs in official Xiaomi services (for 2026):

Before the service visit:

1. Make sure your model is still warranty-worthy (usually 12 months from the date of purchase).
2. Bring a check or a guarantee card with you.
3. Reset the headphones to factory settings (if they are turned on).

Addresses of official Xiaomi services in Russia: they can be found on the website mi.com/ru/service (Choose your own city).

8. Prevention: how to prolong the life of headphones

To avoid problems in the future, follow these guidelines:

• 📦 Storage: Keep your headphones in your case, avoid high temperatures (do not leave them in the sun or near the battery).

For models with ANC (active noise cancellation, for example, Xiaomi Buds 4) it is important:

• Turning off noise cancellation when it is not needed reduces the battery load.
• Update the firmware through the Xiaomi Wear app (software failures can affect the operation of the ANC).

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The most common reason for the failure of headphones Xiaomi — mechanical damage (falls, cable bends) and contamination of contacts. 80% of problems are solved by cleaning and resetting settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions