How to remove the icon of headphones from the screen of the Xiaomi phone: from simple to complex

The headphone icon that is getting stuck on the screen of Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO is one of the most annoying problems for smartphone owners of this brand. The icon does not disappear even after removing the headset, blocks part of the screen, interferes with interaction with the interface and sometimes is accompanied by a lack of sound in the speakers. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved software, but in advanced situations may require physical intervention.

In this article, we will analyze all possible causes of the icon - from the banal contamination of the connector to the failure of the sound controller, and also provide step-by-step instructions for models based on MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden developer settings that allow you to reset the state of the audio system without full flashing.

If you've tried to reboot your phone or clean the connector, but the icon is still there, don't rush to bring the device to the service. In 9 out of 10 cases, the problem can be fixed on your own in 5-15 minutes.

Why the headphone icon does not disappear: 5 main reasons

Before we start to solve the problem, it is important to understand the root of the problem: in Xiaomi smartphones, several components are responsible for processing the connection of the headset:

• 🔌 Hardware part: connector Type-C/3.5 mm, contacts, plume connection with the motherboard.
• 📱 Software part: audio chip driver, media.server service, settings MIUI.
• 🔄 System failures: conflicts after update, corruption of configuration files.
• 🛠️ Mechanical damage: oxidation of contacts, moisture ingress, physical wear of the connector.
• 🎧 Faulty headset: short circuit in headphone wires, damaged plug.

The most common cause (about 60 percent of cases) is contamination or oxidation of the contacts in the connector, and dust, moisture, or metal shavings can create a false signal about the connected device, followed by software glitches after updating the MIUI or resetting the settings.

⚠️ Warning: If the icon appears after a phone drop or water contact, do not use software reset methods.First check the hardware - further use may aggravate the damage.

Method 1: Basic reboot and check the headset

Start with the simplest one, forced reboot, which helps 30 percent of the time, especially if the failure is caused by a temporary conflict of services.

Instructions:

1. Remove the headphones from the connector (if connected).
2. Press the Power + Volume button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out.
3. Wait 30 seconds and turn on the phone with the power button.

If the icon is left after the reboot:

• 🔍 Check out another headset - maybe the problem is with the headphones themselves.
• 📱 Connect the headphones to another phone – if the icon appears there, the headset is faulty.
• 🔌 Try connecting the charger – sometimes the Type-C connector contacts are responsible for detecting the headset.

Try another headset |

Reboot the phone |

Check the connector for debris |

Connect the charger-->

⚠️ Warning: Do not use metal objects to clean the connector, this can damage the contacts.

Method 2: Cleaning the connector and checking the contacts

If the basic reboot didn't work, check the connector for dirt or mechanical damage, and even a small speck of dust can create a false signal about the headset being connected.

You'll need:

• 🔦 Lantern (to inspect the connector).
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+).
• 🪥 Cotton swabs or soft brush.
• 💨 Compressed air container (optional).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Hold the flashlight to the connector and look at the contacts: 🟢 Green plaque (oxidation). 🟤 Black dots (short-circuit smoke). 🟡 Foreign objects (dust, fibers).

pressureless

Let the connector dry for 10-15 minutes.

Blow the connector with compressed air (if there is a canister).

Turn on the phone and check the result.

If you have left the icon after cleaning, but you notice damaged contacts (blackening, chipping), you will most likely need to replace the connector or plume.

Method 3: Resetting sound settings through an engineering menu

If the hardware is OK, the problem lies in the software part. Xiaomi smartphones have a hidden engineering menu that allows you to reset the settings of the audio system.

Instructions for MIUI 12-14 and HyperOS:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the combination: ##36446337## (for new versions of HyperOS, you may not work – use the alternative method below).
3. Select the Hardware Testing option → Audio.
4. Slip on Headset Mode and select Disable.
5. Reboot the phone.

For HyperOS (if the code doesn't work):

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the USB debugging option and turn it on.
5. Connect the phone to the PC and execute the command to ADB: adb shell settings put global headset_plug_state 0

💡

If you don't have access to a PC, try using the QuickShortcutMaker app from Google Play, and find com.android.server.telecom and run clearHeadsetState.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options in the engineering menu without understanding their purpose. Incorrect settings can lead to network loss or firmware damage.

Method 4: Update or roll back firmware

If the headphone icon appeared after the MIUI or HyperOS update, the problem may be a firmware bug.

• 🔄 Reverse to the previous version (if the update was recent).
• 📲 Install a patch (if a fix is available from Xiaomi).
• 🔧 Handheld firmware via Fastboot or Recovery.

How to check the relevance of the firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. If an update is available, install it.
3. If the problem has occurred after the last update, try to roll back: Download the previous firmware version for your model from the Xiaomi Firmware website. Go to Recovery (press Power + Volume Increase when your phone is off). Select Install update.zip and specify the path to the downloaded file.

If you are not sure about your firmware skills, wait for the official patch from Xiaomi. In most cases, audio bugs are fixed within 1-2 weeks after the release of the problematic update.

Only when critical bugs appear|

Every time a new version is released |

Once a year |

Never update.-->

Method 5: Reset to factory settings

If none of the previous methods worked, then there's a hard reset, which deletes all user data, but returns the phone to its original state, eliminating software conflicts.

Important: Before reset, back up your important data via Settings → Google → Backup or Mi Cloud.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data.
3. Enter a password (if required) and confirm the action.
4. After restarting, set your phone as new.

If the reset didn't work, it's probably a hardware problem, a connector, a plume, or an audio chip that's damaged.

• 🔧 Contact the Xiaomi service center (the warranty is saved if the phone is not dropped or disassembled).
• 💰 Type-C connector replacement cost in unofficial services: 1,500–3,000 ₽.
• ⚠️ If the phone is warranty, do not open it yourself - this will cancel the warranty obligations.

💡

Resetting to factory settings eliminates 95% of the software causes of the earphone icon, but does not help with physical damage to the hardware.

Method 6: Alternative solutions for advanced users

If standard methods don’t work, you can try advanced methods that require root rights or special tools.

Method 1: Editing a misc file via ADB

This method resets the state of the audio system at the kernel level:

adb shell


su




echo 0 > /sys/class/switch/h2w/state




exit




exit

Method 2: Removal of audio services cache

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on your PC and connect your phone.
2. Follow the commands: adb shell pm clear com.android.server.telecom adb shell pm clear com.miui.player
3. Reset the device.

Method 3: Replacement of the audio driver (requires an unlocked bootloader)

For models with a Qualcomm chip:

1. Download the modified driver (for example, audio_hal_msm8998.so for Snapdragon 835).
2. Replace the file to /vendor/lib/hw/ via TWRP.
3. Set up rights. 644 (chmod 644 audio_hal_msm8998.so).

⚠️ Warning: Incorrect editing of system files can lead to a phone blink (completely inoperable.

Method 7: Temporary solution - disabling the display of the icon

If you can not eliminate the cause, but the icon greatly interferes, you can hide its display through the interface settings.

Instructions for MIUI 14/HyperOS:

1. Activate the developer mode (7 taps according to the MIUI version in About Phone).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the option to Disable Absolute Notifications or Hide Status icons.
4. Add Headphones to the list of hidden icons.

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ The icon will disappear, but the problem will remain – the sound may disappear or be distorted.
• ❌ In some models (POCO F5, Redmi K60) This parameter is locked.
• ⚠️ After updating the system, the settings may reset.

This solution is only suitable as a temporary measure while you are looking for a way to complete the repair.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the headphone icon on Xiaomi