How to remove the inscription “Hearphones” on Xiaomi Redmi: from simple to complex

Did you connect your headphones to the Xiaomi Redmi a few minutes ago, and the system still shows the icon in the status bar? Or did the phone even “hang” in headphone mode, even though nothing is connected? This problem is familiar to many owners of smartphones Redmi Note 10/11/12, Redmi 9/10 and other models, the fault of all the malfunction of the audio jack, contamination of contacts or software bug.

In 80% of cases, the label disappears after a reboot, but if it doesn’t work, you have to dig deeper. In this article, we will examine all possible causes and ways to eliminate them: from basic (clean the connector) to radical (reset to factory settings), especially with models with a 3.5 mm connector (Redmi Note 8 Pro, Redmi 9A) and devices with USB-C (Redmi Note 11 Pro+, Redmi K50).

Why does the phone think the headphones are connected?

Before you move on to fixing it, it’s important to understand the root of the problem. Here are 4 main reasons why Xiaomi Redmi can stick in headphone mode:

• 🔌 Pollution or oxidation of contacts in the audio connector (dust, moisture, corrosion).
• 🤖 Software failure in service media.audio_flinger (Responsible for Recognition of Connected Devices).
• 🔄 Incorrect update MIUI, After which the system “forgets” to turn off the headphones.
• 🔧 Mechanical damage to the connector (for example, after a fall or sloppy connection).

On Redmi with USB-C, the problem is often associated with incompatible adapters (for example, cheap adapters from 3.5 mm to Type-C), in which case the system can “hang” in headphone mode even after they are turned off.

Method 1: Reboot and check the connector

Start with the simplest one, forced reboot, which works 60 percent of the time, especially if the system is temporarily frozen.

1. Turn off the headphones (if they are connected).
2. Press the Power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out and the MI logo appears.
3. After turning on, check if the label has disappeared.

If the reboot didn't help, check the connector:

• 🔦 Light a flashlight inside the 3.5 mm connector – there should be no dust, dirt or foreign objects.
• 🧴 Carefully clean the contacts with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol (do not use metal objects!).
• 🔌 For USB-C Check if there is any contamination on the headphone connector.

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If you have a Redmi Note 10 Pro or newer, try connecting your headphones via Bluetooth and turning them off immediately, sometimes resetting the audio jack state.

Method 2: Resetting the sound settings

If the problem is software-based, it'll help to reset the audio settings to factory settings, which doesn't affect personal data, but it will return all volume and effects to default.

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Tap three points (⋮) → Resetting settings.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

On some MIUI firmware (e.g. MIUI 13/14), this item may be called Reset Sound Settings. If it's not available, try an alternative way:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Dots (⋮) → Reset Application Settings → Select Media

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Resetting audio settings often helps if the headphone shortcut appears after connecting Bluetooth devices or updating MIUI.

Method 3: Cleaning the cache of media and Bluetooth services

If resetting didn’t help, the problem could be cached data from system services.Cache cleaning won’t delete your files, but it can wake up the frozen processes.

Follow the instructions:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Tap three points (⋮) → Show system-based.
3. Find and open: Media Storage (com.android.providers.media) Bluetooth (com.android.bluetooth) AudioFX (if any)

Clear the cache

Reboot the phone.

For Redmi on MIUI 12.5 and later, an additional step may be required:

Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (stamp 7 times to turn on the developer mode)


Settings → Additional → For developers → Stop Media Server

Method 4: Hardware diagnostics of the connector

If the software methods didn't work, it's probably hardware.

• 🔌 Damage to contacts in the connector (for example, after falling).
• 💧 Corrosion due to moisture.
• 🔋 Failure of the audio codec (the microchip responsible for sound processing).

Do a quick diagnosis:

For accurate diagnosis, test codes can be used:

• Enter ##36446337## (to check the audio).
• Or: ##4636## → Phone info → scroll down to the Audio block.

Check the connector for damage |

Try other headphones (preferably original)|

Test your phone with Bluetooth headphones |

Check the connection on another device (if possible)-->

Method 5: Reset to factory settings (last chance)

If none of these methods work, you'll have to reset hard, and that'll delete all the data from your phone, so first you have to:

• 📱 Make a backup copy through Settings → The phone. → Backup.
• 🔐 Remember your Mi Account details (required to unlock after resetting).
• 📁 Save important files to your PC or cloud.

Resetting instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Select Delete all data.
3. Enter your password (if required) and confirm.
4. After restarting, perform the initial setup.

On Redmi Note 11 and later, you may need to re-assign your Mi Account to unlock the bootloader.

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If the problem persists after the reset, it is 100% hardware malfunction. Contact the service center with a check (for warranty repair).

What do you do if nothing helps?

If you’ve tried all the ways and the headphone label is still hanging, there are two options:

1. Contact the service center: 🛠️ For Redmi on warranty – in the official Xiaomi service (list on the website mi.com). 💰 The cost of replacing the connector: from 800 to 2500 rubles (depending on the model).
2. Use the phone as is»: 🎧 Connect headphones via Bluetooth – this bypasses the problem connector. 🔇 Turn off the notification about headphones in Settings → Notifications → System notifications.

On forums like 4PDA or Mi Community, some users suggest flashing a phone through Fastboot, but it's risky without experience. If you're not sure, trust the professionals.

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On the Redmi K50 and other USB-C flagships, the problem is often solved by replacing the charging port, as it is combined with an audio jack.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the headphone label on Xiaomi

⚠️ Note: Do not use alcohol solutions for cleaning USB-C For Type-C, it is better to use dry cleaning (cotton wand or compressed air).

⚠️ Attention: On the Redmi Note 10S Redmi Note 11 Pro may turn off face unlock after reset (PIN graphical).