How to remove the icon of headphones from the screen of the Xiaomi phone: step-by-step instructions

You hooked up your headphones to Xiaomi a few hours ago, but even after they were disconnected, there was still a bothersome headset icon on the screen? Or the phone stopped accepting the connection of real headphones altogether, “thinking” that they were still in the connector? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi smartphones — from budget models like the Redmi 9A to flagships of the Xiaomi 13 series. Most often the fault is a contaminated connector, a software failure or a hardware malfunction of the audio chip.

In this article, we will look at all the possible causes of the headphone icon on the screen and offer 6 working ways to eliminate it — from the simplest reboot to a deep reset. You will learn how to diagnose a problem without visiting the service center, what manipulations with a 3.5 mm or Type-C connector can help, and when to contact specialists. And if your Xiaomi not only shows the icon, but also does not play sound through speakers, there is a separate section in the article with the solution to this problem.

Why does the Xiaomi icon display headphones on the screen if there are none?

Before we move on to fixing it, it's important to understand why the phone "sees" headphones where they're not, and the reasons can be divided into software and hardware:

• 🔌 Pollution or oxidation of the connector: Dust, moisture or mechanical particles inside the socket 3.5 mm or Type-C can create a false contact that simulates the connection of the headset.
• 🖥️ Failure MIUI. Xiaomi’s operating shell sometimes mishandles headphone connection/disconnection events, especially after updates.
• 🔧 Audio chip damage: Physical impact (fall, impact) or overheating can disable the audio controller, causing the phone to “hang” in headset mode.
• 📱 Application conflict: Some programs (e.g., players or instant messengers) may block the correct identification of connected devices.
• 🔄 Problems after the update, if the icon appeared immediately after the installation of the new version MIUI, culpable.

The most common cause is contamination of the Type-C connector in models without a separate audio input (such as the Xiaomi 11T or POCO F4), in which even microscopic dust particles can close the contacts responsible for recognizing the headset. Hardware malfunctions (chip or plume damage) are less common, but they are more difficult to fix without disassembling the phone.

Method 1: Rebooting your phone is the easiest solution

Start with the obvious thing: rebooting the device, which helps to reset the audio system temporarily in 30 percent of cases, and rebooting is especially effective if the icon comes after:

• 🔋 Connecting/offsetting the charger.
• 🎧 Use of headphones with a non-standard connector (for example, Lightning through an adapter).
• 📲 Installation or update of sound-related applications.

How to Reboot Xiaomi correctly:

1. Press and hold the Power button (or Power + Volume up on new models).
2. In the menu that appears, select Reboot (not “Switch off”!).
3. Wait for the phone to turn off completely and automatically (usually takes 20-30 seconds).

If the icon disappeared after the reboot, but then reappeared, the problem is probably physical contamination of the connector or damage to the plume. If the reboot didn't work, move on to the next one.

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On Xiaomi models with Quick Boot, the reboot may not reset all system processes. To disable it, go to Settings → Additional → Special Features → Quick Boot and deactivate the option.

Method 2: Cleaning the headphone jack - a mechanical solution

If the reboot didn't work, check the connector for contamination. Even a small amount of dust or contact oxidation can cause a false alarm on the headset's connector, especially for Type-C models, where the audio signal is transmitted through the same port as the charging.

How to clean the connector:

Turn off your phone to avoid short circuits

Use a flashlight to inspect the interior of the connector

Prepare a wooden toothpick or plastic spatula

Do not use metal objects (needles, paper clips)!

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Step-by-step:

1. Inspection: Light the connector with a flashlight. If you see dust particles, fibers or oxidation (green/white coating), start cleaning.
2. Dry cleaning: Carefully, without pressing, swipe a wooden toothpick over the internal contacts. Movements should be parallel to the plane of the phone so as not to bend the contacts.
3. Alcohol treatment: Soak the cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol (at least 90%) and lightly wipe the contacts. Don't use vodka or cologne - they leave the film.
4. Drying: Let the phone lie down for 10-15 minutes so that the alcohol completely evaporates.

After cleaning, connect and turn off the headphones 2-3 times, this will help to “reset” the connection sensor. If the icon is left, try blowing into the connector (no saliva!) or using a can of compressed air (hold it vertically so as not to freeze the contacts).

Method 3: Resetting the sound settings in MIUI

If mechanical cleaning didn't work, the problem could be software settings of the sound, and the MIUI shell sometimes keeps the connected devices in condition even after they've been disconnected, to reset those settings:

Instructions for MIUI 12/13/14:

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Slip on Additional Settings (or Extended in some versions).
3. Find Reset audio settings (may be called Reset default settings).
4. Confirm the reset and restart the phone.

After this procedure, check if the icon has disappeared. If not, try manually switching the sound source:

• 🔊 While playing music or video, click on the speaker icon in the notification panel.
• 🎵 Select the phone speaker manually (even if other options are inactive).

On some models (POCO X3, Redmi Note 10) it helps to disable the Automatic Sound Switch function in Bluetooth settings, which sometimes conflicts with the definition of connected devices.

Method 4: Update or roll back the MIUI firmware

If the headphone icon appeared after the MIUI update, the problem may be the firmware bug. Xiaomi regularly releases patches for similar errors, so:

Step 1. Check the available updates:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, install it and restart the phone.

Step 2. If the update didn't work, try rolling back:

• 📥 Download the old firmware version for your model from the official Xiaomi website.
• 📁 Place the file in the root folder of the phone (not in the subfolders!).
• 🔄 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Update MIUI → Threefold (⋮) → Select a firmware file.

Firmware rollback is a risky procedure, as it can lead to data loss or locking the bootloader.

Create a backup of data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset

Make sure that the battery charge is > 50%

Connect your phone to stable Wi-Fi (the firmware file weighs 1.5-3 GB)

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If the icon has disappeared after the rollback, but you want to return to the new version of MIUI, wait for the official patch from Xiaomi or contact support through the Mi Community app.

Method 5: Resetting the phone to factory settings

If all previous methods fail, you'll have a hard reset, which will delete all the data from your phone, but return it to its original state, fixing the software failures, and only use this as a last resort!

How to reset:

1. Create a backup of important data (photos, contacts, messages).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset → Reset settings.
3. Choose to erase all data and confirm the action.
4. After restarting, set your phone as new.

If the headphone icon is still displayed after reset, the problem is almost certainly hardware, the connector, the plume, or the audio chip is damaged.

• 🛠️ Contact Xiaomi Service Center (the warranty is saved if the phone is not disassembled independently).
• 💰 The cost of repairing the Type-C connector is from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles, replacing the audio chip from 4,000 rubles.

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Reset to factory settings deletes all data, including Google and Mi accounts. If you forget the password from your Mi Account, the phone may lock after reset!

Method 6: Hardware Methods (for Advanced Users)

If you are confident in your skills and willing to take risks, you can try self-repair, which is only suitable for models with a removable back cover (for example, Redmi 4X, Redmi 5A) or if you have already disassembled the phone before.

Option 1: Reconnect the audio connector plume:

• 🛠️ Carefully remove the back cover (use a plastic shoulder blade).
• 🔌 Find the plume running from the 3.5mm or Type-C connector to the motherboard.
• 🔄 Unplug and reconnect the plume (do not make an effort!).
• 🔧 Secure the cover and check if the icon has disappeared.

Option 2: Replace the Type-C connector:

If the contacts of the connector are physically damaged, you can replace it yourself, the cost of a new connector is from 200 to 800 rubles (depending on the model).

• 🔥 soldering dryer or station (for soldering the old connector).
• 🛠️ Setting screwdrivers T3-T5 and plastic blades.
• 🧲 Screen suction cup (if the connector is hidden under the display).

⚠️ Note: Self-replacement of the Type-C connector on models with AMOLED-screens (for example, Xiaomi 12, POCO F3) This can cause damage to the display, and in such cases, it is better to contact the service.

What if the phone doesn’t play sound through the speakers?

Sometimes, with the headphone icon, the speaker's sound disappears -- the phone thinks the audio should go through the headset.

Step 1: Forced switching of the sound source:

• 🎵 While playing music or video, click on the speaker icon in the notification panel.
• 🔊 Select your phone speaker (even if it is inactive).
• 🔄 If it doesn’t work, plug in and turn off the headphones. 3-4 successively.

Step 2. Check the call settings:

Sometimes the sound is only lost when you call, to fix it.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Press three points (⋮) → Settings.
3. Choose the sound and vibration when calling.
4. Make sure the speaker (not the headset) is on.

Step 3: Diagnostics through the Engineering Menu:

For advanced users:

1. Enter the phone code in the app: ##36446337##
2. Select Hardware Testing → Audio → Headset.
3. Check the status: if it says Headset Inserted in the absence of headphones, the problem is in the connector or chip.

⚠️ Warning: The engineering menu is for testing. Don't change the settings unless you're sure they're there, it could knock your phone out of order!

FAQ: Frequent questions about the headphone icon on Xiaomi