Previous articleDrowned headphones Xiaomi – what to do right now to save them

You dropped your favorite Xiaomi headphones in a puddle, bathtub or washing machine — and now you panic, not knowing what to do? Don't rush to say goodbye to the device: in 60% of cases, wireless and wired models can be resuscitated if you act quickly and correctly, the main thing is not to turn them on immediately and not try to test the performance until completely dry.

In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step rescue algorithm for different models, from the budget Redmi AirDots to the flagship Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro. You will learn which components are most vulnerable to moisture, how to avoid contact corrosion, and when to contact the service center. And also the list of Xiaomi models with official water protection (IPX4/IPX5), which have a chance to survive drowning with minimal consequences.

Step 1: Immediate Action: What to Do in the First 30 Seconds

The speed of your action will determine whether the headphones will stay in the landfill or last for another year or two.

• 🚫 Turn off the headphones (if they were on). For wireless models, disconnect them to interrupt the power supply.
• 💧 Remove visible water. Carefully shake the drops, soak with a napkin or towel (don't rub!). For wired models, dry the 3.5mm plug and cable.
• 🔋 Remove the battery (if possible). In replaceable battery models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Headphones Basic), this is critical.
• 🧂 Do not use a hair dryer or battery – hot air can warp the speakers’ membranes and melt the adhesive inside the body.

If the headphones fall into salt water (sea, aquarium), wash them with distilled water or water with an alcohol solution (70%) in a ratio of 1:1. TWS-headphones (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4) avoid getting liquid into the charging connectors - wash only the case.

⚠️ Attention: Do not shake your headphones with force - this can damage the internal wires or membranes of the speakers. Also do not use rice cereals (myth!) - it does not absorb moisture more effectively than open air, but can clog the holes of the microphones with dust.

Step 2: Disassembly (if possible) – what you can do yourself

Not all Xiaomi models are disassemblable at home, but if you have experience with small electronics, you can try to speed up the drying.

• 🔧 Take off the silicone embushures, and the moisture accumulates underneath them.
• 🔊 Check the speaker grid. If it's full of water, gently wet it with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.
• 🔋 For TWS-models (e.g. Redmi Buds 4): open the case cover and leave the headphones inside so they dry more evenly.
• 🛠️ Do not disassemble the case if it is glued or sealed (for example, Xiaomi Air 2 Pro) – without special tools, you risk damaging the Bluetooth antenna.

For models with removable mounts (such as the Xiaomi Hybrid Pro HD), you can try removing them and blowing the body with cold air from a hair dryer (at minimum power, holding at a distance of 20 cm).

If the headphones don't work out, move on to the next step, drying, but first check if there's any moisture left in the connectors.

Make sure there are no visible water droplets on the body.

Check the Type-C connector (for case) or 3.5 mm (for wired models) for moisture.

If TWS headphones, disconnect them and dry the charging contacts

Put the device on a dry napkin with a grid speaker up-->

Step 3: Proper drying – how long it takes and what mistakes are dangerous

The most critical stage is drying, where many people make fatal mistakes that negate all previous efforts.

For wireless headphones (for example, Xiaomi Buds 3T), optimally use a combination of silica gel and fan:

1. Put the headphones and case in a sealed container with silica gel.
2. Place the container in front of the fan (at a distance of 1 meter).
3. Change the silica gel packets every 6 hours.

⚠️ Attention: If after drying, the headphones do not turn on, but the case charging indicator is burning - the problem may be in the oxidized contacts inside the headphones.

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To speed up drying, put your headphones in your case and plug it into a 10-15-minute charge (no longer!) heat from the case battery will help evaporate the moisture, but don't overheat the device.

Step 4: Checking Out – How to Know if Your Headphones Survive

Take your time to be happy if the headphones are on after drying, and breakages can occur later.

• 🔊 Sound: Listen to a bass track with high frequencies, a muted sound or wheezing indicates damage to the speaker.
• 🎤 Microphone: Record a voice message. If you hear noise or a barrel sound, the moisture is left under the membrane.
• 🔋 Battery: Fully discharge and charge the headphones. If the operating time is reduced by 2 times - the battery has degraded.
• 📶 Bluetooth: Check connection stability. If the headphones go off every 5 minutes, the antenna contacts oxidize.

For TWS-models (e.g. Xiaomi Air 2) SE) Notice the synchronization between the right and left earphones, and if one of them doesn't connect to the case or it makes an error, the charging contacts are the problem.

If you find at least one of these problems, but the headphones are still working, don't delay repairs. The corrosion will progress, and in a week the device may finally fail.

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Even if the headphones are still in operation after drowning, they can be reduced in life by 30 to 50 percent, and watch the battery and the sound, and the first signs of a break will appear within a month.

Step 5: Xiaomi models with water protection – what will survive drowning

Not all Xiaomi headphones are equally vulnerable to water. Some models have official IPX4 or IPX5 protection, which means resistance to splashes and weak water jets.

Even if your model has IPX5 protection, it does not guarantee survival after a full dive. For example, Xiaomi Air 2 Pro will survive a fall in the bath if they are quickly removed, but prolonged exposure to water will lead to corrosion of contacts.

For unprotected models (such as the Redmi AirDots 2 or Mi Headphones Basic), the chance of survival depends on the type of water:

Fresh water (puddle, tap): 40-50% chance with proper drying.

Saltwater (sea): 20–30% chance due to accelerated corrosion

Soda/beer: 10% chance – sugar and acids destroy contacts in hours

Step 6: When to contact the service - the cost of repair vs. buying new

If the headphones are not working after all the manipulations, it is time to assess whether they should be repaired. Here are the estimated prices for repairs in service centers (for 2026):

• 🔧 Corrosion cleaning (without replacing parts): 800–1,500 ₽.
• 🔊 Replacement of speaker (one earphone): 1,200–2,500 ₽.
• 🔋 Replacement of the battery (B) TWS-headphones: 1,500–3,000 ₽.
• 📶 Bluetooth Module Repair: 2,000–4,000 ₽ (often).

For comparison, the new Redmi Buds 4 cost about 3,000. ₽, Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro – 6000 ₽. Repairs are justified if:

You have a flagship model (for example, FlipBuds Pro), and replacing the speaker costs less than 50% of its cost.

Headphones are unique (for example, with support for LDAC or active noise cancellation).

- The failure is not critical (for example, only the microphone does not work).

If headphones are older than 2 years, the repairs will likely be unprofitable, except for the guaranteed models, but drowning is usually not a warranty (unless there is IPX4+ protection).

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi service centers may refuse to repair recessed headphones if the board shows signs of corrosion.

FAQ: Frequent questions after headphone drowning