Why Xiaomi’s One Headphone Doesn’t Work and How to Fix It: The Complete 2026 Guide

Why Xiaomi’s headphones can stop working

The problem with one non-functioning headphone in wireless or wired Xiaomi Mi Earphones, Redmi Buds, Haylou or other models of the brand is one of the most common complaints of users. Most often, the malfunction is manifested as the sound is only in one earphone, the second is either completely silent or emits barely audible interference. In some cases, a broken earphone may not even be identified by the phone as a connected device.

The reasons for this behavior are diverse, from the banal discharge of the battery or contamination of contacts to serious hardware breakdowns. It is important to understand that the nature of the problem depends on the type of headphones (wired, TWS, with a neck strap), their age and operating conditions. For example, in Xiaomi AirDots, the left-handed “masterless” headset often fails, and in wired Mi Basic, the 3.5 mm connector or plug.

In this article, we will look at all the possible reasons why one Xiaomi earphone is not working, as well as give step-by-step instructions for diagnosis and repair. You will learn when you can solve the problem yourself, and when it is better to contact a service center.

1. battery discharge or charging problems (for wireless models)

If you have Xiaomi wireless headphones (like the Redmi Buds 3 Pro, Xiaomi Air 2 SE or Haylou GT6), check the battery first. Often users forget that each headphone has its own battery, and if one of them is more depleted, it can shut down or work intermittently.

How to check:

• 🔋 Check the charge level in the Mi Home or Haylou Fun app (if the headphones support status display).
• 🔌 Connect the headphones to the charging case for 10-15 minutes, then check whether the “silent” earphone has earned.
• 🔄 Try resetting your headphones (usually by holding the button for 10-15 seconds) and reconnecting them.

If you have a problem after charging, maybe the contact connector inside the case or the battery itself in the headphone is faulty.

• 🧹 Carefully clean the contacts in the case and on the headphone with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
• 🔧 Check if the contact pin on the headphone is bent (a common problem after falls).

⚠️ Note: If the headphone does not charge even after cleaning the contacts, do not try to disassemble it yourself without experience - Xiaomi often uses glue for sealing, and if you open the microphone or speaker sloppy, you can damage it.

2. Software failures and synchronization errors

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones (especially models with True Wireless technology) can be bugged by firmware failures or pairing errors, such as when the phone or headphones are updated, one of them may fall off and stop connecting.

What to do:

1. Reset your headphone settings: For most Xiaomi models, this is done by holding the touchpad on both headphones for 10-15 seconds (until the red/white light flashes).
2. Remove the device from the list of connected: Go to Settings → Bluetooth on your phone, find your headphones, click “Forget the device”, then connect again.
3. Update the firmware: For some models (such as the Xiaomi Air 2 Pro), updates are released through the Mi Home app.

If the headphones are connected, but the sound is only one, try:

• 🎧 Enable mono/stereo in Bluetooth settings (sometimes confused to "mono" after failure).
• 🔄 Reboot phone – sometimes the Bluetooth driver “hangs".

Remove headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices

Reset the headphones to factory settings

Update the firmware with Mi Home/Haylou Fun

Reboot your smartphone-->

Mechanical damage: wires, connectors, speakers

If you have wired headphones (such as Xiaomi Mi Basic, Mi Hybrid or Redmi Earphones), the problem most often lies in physical damage:

For wireless models, mechanical damage is also relevant:

• 💥 Falling from a height – can damage the microphone or speaker.
• 🌊 Getting moisture – even if the headphones have protection IPX4, Long-term exposure to water leads to corrosion of contacts.
• 🔥 Overheating – if you leave your headphones in the sun or near a heat source, the battery or board may be damaged.

⚠️ Attention: If after falling or getting water, the earphone stopped working, do not try to turn it on or charge it - this can short circuit and completely disable the device.

4.Problems with the phone's Bluetooth module

Sometimes the problem isn't with the headphones, but with the smartphone itself, and for example, a Bluetooth module might not work properly because of:

• 📱 Older versions of the old version MIUI There were supportive bugs AAC/aptX codecs.
• 🔄 Conflict with other devices – if a lot of gadgets are connected to the phone (smart watch, fitness bracelet, column), there may be a lack of resources.
• 🛠️ Hardware malfunctions – for example, after a phone crash.

How to diagnose:

1. Connect your headphones to another phone/PC. If both headphones are working, the problem is your smartphone.
2. Turn on Developer Mode and check Settings → Additional → Developer → Bluetooth Logs (if there are bugs, they will be there).
3. Reset network settings: Settings → System → Settings Reset → Reset settings Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth.

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If you have a smartphone on MIUI 12 and older, try disabling the dual Bluetooth connection feature in the settings – it sometimes conflicts with headphones.

5 Incompatibility of codecs or sound settings

In Xiaomi headphones (especially models with support for AAC, aptX, LDAC), the sound may disappear due to codec incompatibility. For example, if the phone tries to transmit sound in a format that does not support the headphone, one of the channels may fall off.

How to check:

1. Go to Settings → Sound → Bluetooth sound quality (on some MIUI firmware, this item may be called differently).
2. Try to manually select the SBC codec (the most versatile) instead of AAC or aptX.
3. Turn off functions like "Absolute Volume" or "Dynamic Quality".

The problem may also be in the sound balance settings:

• 🔊 Check if the balance slider is shifted left/right into Settings → Special facilities → Sound settings.
• 🎛️ Some players (such as Mi Music) have separate balance settings – reset them.

6. Hardware breakdowns: when without repairs can not do

If all the previous methods didn't work, it's probably a hardware problem, and here are the most common breakdowns that require repair:

Where to fix:

• 🏠 Xiaomi’s official service center – a warranty for repairs, but more expensive and longer.
• 🔧 Local workshops are cheaper, but check reviews (often using non-original parts).
• 🛒 Self-sustaining – only if you have soldering experience and the right tools (to replace a speaker or battery).

⚠️ Warning: If your headphones are warranty, do not open them yourself - this will cancel the warranty obligations.

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Before repairing, be sure to check the headphones on another device and reset them to factory settings - this will help to exclude software failures.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi headphones that don't work