Why Xiaomi’s Headphone Doesn’t Turn on: 12 Reasons and Ways to Fix It

You pulled Xiaomi headphones out of your case, but one of them refuses to turn on or connect to your phone? The problem is familiar to many owners of Mi True Wireless, Redmi Buds or Airdots wireless headphones. 80 percent of the time, the malfunction is due to software failures, a discharged battery or mechanical damage to contacts. But how exactly to determine the cause and return stereo without contacting the service?

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why one Xiaomi earphone doesn’t turn on, charge or connect, from a simple battery discharge to a Bluetooth module breakdown. You’ll get step-by-step instructions for diagnosing, resetting, and even repairing at home. And if the problem turns out to be hardware, you’ll find out whether to carry headphones to the service or buy new ones cheaper.

1. Checking for obvious causes: battery, case and connection

Before you disassemble your headphones or reset your settings, eliminate the simplest problems. Start with a visual inspection:

• 🔋 Battery discharge: one earphone could discharge faster than another (especially if used separately). Check the indication on the case - if the light bulb under the "dead" earphone is not burning, the problem is charging.
• 🔌 Dirt on the contacts: oxidation or dust on the metal "legs" of the earphone / case block charging.
• 📱 Connection failure: sometimes the headphone is turned on but not determined by the phone. Try connecting to another device (laptop, tablet).

If the earphone doesn't respond to buttons at all and doesn't charge, move to the next section. If it blinks but doesn't connect, the problem may be with the firmware or Bluetooth settings.

2.Reset Xiaomi headphones to factory settings

Software reset helps in 60% of cases when one earphone does not turn on due to a failure of synchronization with the case or phone.

1. For Mi Airdots/Redmi Buds (buttons): Put both earphones in the case. Press and hold the touch button on the working earphone for 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes red/white. Pull out the dead earphone from the case and hold the 10 second button.

Important: after reset, Xiaomi headphones may lose communication with previously paired devices, you will have to reconnect them through Settings → Bluetooth.

3. Diagnostics of hardware breakdowns: what can be repaired yourself

If the reset didn't work, the problem could be a physical malfunction.

To disassemble headphones Xiaomi you will need:

• 🔧 Plastic mediator (so as not to scratch the body).
• 🔥 Fryer (for softening glue).
• 🧲 Magnetic screwdriver (screws in headphones are tiny!).

⚠️ Note: Disassembly of headphones Xiaomi cancels the warranty. If the device is warranty - bring to the service center. Self-repair is only justified for models older than 1.5-2 years.

4. Problems with firmware and headphone synchronization

Xiaomi headphones are based on Qualcomm or BES chips, which require periodic firmware updates. If one headphone does not turn on after an update or reset, you can:

• 🤖 Incompatibility of software versions: for example, the left earphone has been updated, and the right one has not.
• 🔄 Synchronization failure: headphones "can't see" each other.
• 📵 Lockdown MAC-Address: One of the headphones “forgot” the phone.

To update the firmware:

1. Download the official software for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website.
2. Connect your headphones to your PC via Bluetooth (use a 5.0+ adapter).
3. Run an update utility (e.g., QFlash Tool for Qualcomm chips).

If the firmware crashes, the headphones can stop turning on completely or emit cyclical beeps, in which case only flashing the service will help.

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Before updating the firmware, fully charge the case and headphones. Interrupting the process can turn the headphones into a “brick”.

5. Features of models: why the left or right earphone fails

In some Xiaomi series, one of the headphones (usually the right one) is the master and the second one is the slave. If the master fails, the pair stops working.

For models with ANC (active noise cancellation) (for example, Redmi Buds 4 Active) is characterized by problems with the microphone of one of the headphones. If there is sound, but the microphone does not work, check the settings in the Mi Earphones application (ANC Settings tab).

6.When repairs are not feasible: cost and alternatives

If the diagnosis showed hardware breakdown (burnt chip, damaged board), evaluate the feasibility of repair:

• 💰 Cost of repair in the service: Battery replacement: 800-1500 ₽. Repair of contacts/ soldering: 1000–2500 ₽. Replacement of Bluetooth module: 2000–3500 ₽ (Often equals the price of new headphones).
• ♻️ Alternatives: Buy one headphone on AliExpress (1500–2500) ₽, Upgrade to a new model (e.g. Redmi Buds 5 for 3000-4000) ₽).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi headphones older than 2020 (such as Mi Airdots Basic) often break down due to battery wear. Their repair costs 70-80% of the cost of new ones, so it is not economically justified.

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If headphones are more than 2 years old, and repair costs more than 30% of the price of new ones, it is better to consider buying an updated model.

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

To avoid problems with one headphone in the future, follow these rules:

• 🔋 Charging: Do not leave your headphones in your case for more than 24 hours. Use the original cable (non-fast-charge!).
• 🧼 Care: Clean the contacts of the case and headphones once a month with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol. Avoid moisture (even if the model is from the IPX4).
• 📱 Connection: Don't connect your headphones to 5+ Update your firmware through the official Mi Earphones app.

The average life of Xiaomi headphones is 1.5-2 years when used intensively, and to extend it, keep the headphones in a case (not outdoors) and avoid extreme temperatures (for example, do not leave them in the sun in the car).

Frequent questions about Xiaomi headphones that don’t work