Why does not turn on one headphone Xiaomi: a full analysis of the causes and repair with your own hands

You pulled Xiaomi headphones out of your case, but one of them stubbornly shows no signs of life? Don't rush to scrap the gadget — in 80% of cases, the problem can be solved without going to the service center. Xiaomi's TWS (True Wireless Stereo) wireless headphones — whether it's Redmi Buds 4 Pro, Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro or Haylou GT6 — are built on a single platform, so most of the faults are typical of the entire line. In this article, we will discuss all the possible reasons why one earphone does not turn on, connect or emit sound, as well as diagnostic instructions for repair and repair.

It's important to understand that if the earphone doesn't physically respond to button presses and doesn't charge in the case, it's more hardware than if it flashes but doesn't connect to the phone or the second earpiece, it's the software or settings that are to blame. We structured the material so that you can quickly find a solution to your situation without rereading tons of theory. Let's start with the simplest and most obvious reasons, gradually moving on to the complex ones.

1. Checking basic settings: what to do first

Before you take your headphones apart or carry them for repair, make sure that the problem isn't in trivial things. Often users overlook the obvious, spending time looking for deep causes.

Step 1: Reboot your headphones and your smartphone. Yes, this is trivial, but it works 30 percent of the time. Turn off your headphones in Bluetooth settings, take them out of your case, put them back in, and close the lid for 10 seconds. Then pull out and try to reconnect. If the headphone flashes but doesn't connect, reset it (more on that below).

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes a glitch of the phone’s Bluetooth module blocks the connection of one of the headphones.
• 🔋 Check the charge of the case – if the indicator on the case does not burn, the headphones will not charge, even if they lie inside.
• 🎧 Change headphones places – if the right one does not work, try connecting the left one as the main one (in some Xiaomi models you can choose the lead headphone).

Step 2: Update your headphone firmware. Outdated software can cause conflicts, especially after an Android or iOS update. For Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro and Redmi Buds 4, check for updates in the Mi Home or Xiaomi Earbuds app:

1. Open the app and connect the headphones.
2. Go to the headphone settings section → Firmware update.
3. If a new version is available, install it without interrupting the process.

2. Resetting headphone settings: a universal way

If one earbud flashes but doesn't connect to the phone or the other earbud, the timing settings are likely to be lost, and hard reset will help, and the procedure differs depending on the model, but the general principle is the same.

For most Xiaomi/Redmi/Haylou models:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (usually located behind or below) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
3. Get the headphones out – they should automatically go into pairing mode (blinking white).
4. Connect them again via Settings → Bluetooth on your phone.

For touch-controlled models (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro):

1. Get the headphones out of the case.


2. Press the touch panels on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds.




3. Wait for the double flashing red - this is a reset signal.




4. Put the headphones back in the case, then reconnect.

Make sure the cover is at least 30 times charged%|

Get both earphones out of the case |

Close all applications that use Bluetooth|

Turn off the headphones in the phone settings-->

What if the reset didn't work? If one earphone still doesn't turn on after the reset, the problem may be:

3. charging problems: why one earphone doesn't charge

One of the most common reasons why one Xiaomi earphone doesn't turn on is because it doesn't charge, and even if the case shows full charge, it doesn't guarantee that both earbuds are powered. Here's how to diagnose the problem:

Signs of a charging malfunction:

• 🔴 The headphone does not blink when removed from the cover.
• 🔋 The indicator on the case flashes red when you put the headphone on charging.
• 📉 The Mi Home app displays different headphone charge levels (e.g. 100% and 0%).

How to clean contacts:

1. Take a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol (at least 70%).
2. Gently wipe the metal contacts on the headphone and inside the case.
3. Let it dry for 5-10 minutes, then try charging.

If the headphone is not charged even after cleaning:

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to disassemble the headphone yourself without experience - there are adhesive joints and fragile plumes inside. If after cleaning the contacts, the problem remains, most likely, the battery or power controller malfunctions. In this case, contact the service - the cost of repair usually does not exceed 30-50% of the price of new headphones.

4. Software glitches: Bluetooth conflicts and firmware

Sometimes the problem is not with the headphones themselves, but with the Bluetooth module or outdated firmware, which is especially true after an Android/iOS update or when using custom firmware.

How to check:

• 📱 Connect the headphones to another phone – if both work, the problem is in your smartphone.
• 🔄 Remove the headphones from the list of associated devices and connect again.
• 🛠️ Turn off energy saving mode – it can limit Bluetooth.

Specific problems for Android:

• 🤖 MIUI Optimizes Bluetooth – add the music player app to Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications and disable optimization.
• 📵 Reset Network Settings – Go to Settings → System system → Reset → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth.

For the iPhone:

• ⚙️ Update iOS – in the old versions there are bugs with support TWS-headphone.

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If the headphones are connected, but the sound is only in one, check the settings of the sound balance in the player or system settings. On Android, this can be done in Settings → Special features → Balance of stereo sound

5. Physical damage: water, falls, wear and tear

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones don’t have official water protection (except for some IP54 models), so even a little moisture can knock them out.

• 💦 Getting caught in the rain or in the bathroom.
• 🏃 Falls from a height (especially to a hard surface).
• 🔥 Overheating (for example, left in the car in the sun).

Most likely, the printed circuit board or speaker is damaged.

What to do:

1. Do not turn on the headphone - this can cause a short circuit.
2. Put it in rice or silica gel for 24 to 48 hours.
3. If after drying the headphone did not work - bring to the service.

Typical "symptoms" of physical injury:

⚠️ Warning: If the headphone fell into the water, do not dry it with a hair dryer or on a battery - this will accelerate the corrosion of the contacts. The best option is to leave it in a sealed container with silica gel for 2 days. If after that the headphone does not work, disassembling and cleaning with alcohol can help, but only if you know how to solder. SMD-component.

6.Chronicity problems between headphones

Sometimes both earbuds are on, but they don't sync with each other -- only one is sounding, and the other is silent or harassing. TWS-The sleeve of the sleeve is the sleeve of the sleeve and the sleeve of the sleeve.

How to restore synchronization:

1. Put both earphones in the case for 10 seconds, then take out.
2. Press and hold the touchpad on the working earphone for 5 seconds until you hear the beep.
3. Repeat the same for the second headphone.
4. Wait 20–30 seconds – the headphones should automatically sync (the indicators will flash synchronously).

If the synchronization is not restored:

• 🔄 Try resetting the settings (see Section 2).
• 📱 Connect your headphones to another phone – maybe the Bluetooth problem in your smartphone.
• 🔧 Update your firmware through the Xiaomi Earbuds app (if available for your model).

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If the headphones don’t sync after all the manipulations, the problem may be that the Bluetooth module on one of them malfunctions, in which case it will cost more to repair than buying new mid-range headphones.

7. When to contact the service: prices and alternatives

If you’ve tried all of these, but one Xiaomi earphone still doesn’t work, it’s time to evaluate whether it’s worth repairing. Here are the estimated repair prices for service centers (2026):

When repairs are not feasible:

• 💸 The cost of repair exceeds 50% of the price of new headphones.
• ⏳ Headphones more than 2-3 years (risk of repeated breakdowns is high).
• 🔧 Complicated breakdown (for example, burned board after water hit).

Alternatives to repair:

• 🎁 Buy a new set – Redmi Buds 4 or Xiaomi Buds 4C They're between 2000 and 3000. ₽.
• 🔄 Buy a separate headphone on AliExpress (if the model is still sold).
• ♻️ Give old headphones in trade-in when buying new ones (sometimes give a discount).

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