The situation when a pair of wireless headphones Xiaomi or Redmi sound playback only in one device, is one of the most common problems users. TWS-This is most often a sign of a loss of synchronization between the right and left channels, where they stop seeing each other and are perceived by the phone as two independent mono-devices. Instead of stereo, you get a mono-signal in one ear, making listening to music or talking extremely uncomfortable.
In most cases, you should not panic, as hardware failure is less common than software failures. A connection protocol violation can occur after discharging one of the headphones to zero, updating the smartphone operating system or simply because of static electricity. Understanding the working principle of True Wireless Stereo will help you quickly find the root of the problem.
This article provides a detailed technical guide to help you restore the normal operation of the headset.We will look at the algorithms of complete reset, methods of forced soldering of channels and methods of checking the battery, which are often ignored by users.
Diagnosis: why the sound was missing in one of the headphones
Before we go into radical measures, we need to understand what caused the out-of-synchronization, and the main reason is the architecture of the work. TWS-And the device, where one headphone (master) takes the signal from the phone and broadcasts it to the second (slave). If the headphone "forgot" his partner, the second channel is silent.
Often the problem lies in the charging contacts. If one of the headphones was not tightly attached to the contacts in the case, it could discharge to zero and go into a deep sleep, which can not come out on its own during a short-term extraction, it is also worth checking whether the touch buttons stuck due to the ingress of earwax or moisture, which blocks the inclusion.
It's important to distinguish between a software failure and a physical speaker malfunction. If you connect to another smartphone and it's a recurring situation, it's probably the headset itself. If the other device is running perfectly, then the Bluetooth profile conflict is on your phone.
Basic reset and reconnection of the device
The most effective method, which works 80 percent of the time, is a hard reset, which causes the headphones to forget their previous connections and re-discover each other. For Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless Earbuds and Xiaomi Buds, the algorithm may be slightly different, but the principle is the same.
First, remove the device from the list of paired devices on your smartphone. Go to Bluetooth settings, find your model, and click "Forget the device" or "Unpair the pairing." Then turn off the Bluetooth on the phone so that it does not try to automatically connect during the reset procedure.
☑️ Complete reset algorithm TWS
Now, to the reset mechanics, you normally need to remove both earbuds from the case and pinch the touch areas (or physical buttons) on both devices simultaneously, hold it for a long time, about 20 to 30 seconds, until the indicators light up red or flash often, at which point the internal memory is cleared.
⚠️ Warning: Keep your headphones close to each other (no more than 5 cm) during reset so they can be successfully synchronized before connecting to your phone.
Forced channel synchronization (Master-Slave)
If a standard reset doesn’t help, the master-slave hierarchy may be broken: In some Xiaomi and Haylou models, one headphone can lock in standby mode, in which case you need to force the search for a paired device.
Put both earbuds in the case and close the lid. Make sure the case is charged. Now remove only one earbud (usually the right one is a master, but either one) and wait until it sounds like it's on. Then remove the second earbud. They should find each other within 5-10 seconds.
If automatic synchronization doesn't happen, try retraining them.
- 🔌 Turn off Bluetooth on your smartphone completely.
- 🎧 Press 5 times quickly on the sensor of each headphone (for some Redmi models, this is the entry into pairing mode).
- 🔄 Put them back in the case, close and open again in 5 seconds.
- 📱 Turn on Bluetooth and perform a search.
💡
If you have a Redmi AirDots 2 or Xiaomi Earbuds Basic 2, try triple tapping the sensor on the earphone – this sometimes forcefully switches the mode from one channel to the stereo.
Specifics of working with the Xiaomi Earbuds application
For a deeper diagnosis, owners of Xiaomi ecosystem devices are encouraged to use the official Xiaomi Earbuds app (formerly Mi True Wireless), which allows you to see the charge of each headphone individually and, more importantly, update their firmware.
Often, the problem of desynchronization is solved by updating firmware. Go to the application, plug the headset and check the "Software Update" section. If a new version is available, install it by putting both headphones in the case and connecting the case to the charger.
The app also has headphone search and sensor checks, and if the app sees only one device, it's a sure sign that the other device is either dead or out of order. However, if the app suggests "Restore" or "Recommended calibration," follow the instructions on the screen.
What to do if the app does not see the headphones?
Technical Failures: Battery and Contacts
Physical wear and tear should not be excluded. Lithium polymer batteries in compact headphones degrade over time. If one earpiece is already 2-3 years old, it can discharge faster than a partner and go into defense until you even have time to get it out of the case.
Contact cleaning is a mandatory procedure. Use a cotton swab slightly soaked in alcohol to wipe the golden contacts on the headphones themselves and the pins inside the case. Oxidation or a layer of skin fat can block charging, which leaves the earpiece off.
The table below shows the main symptoms and their probable causes:
| Symptoms. | Probable cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The indicator is not on. | Deep discharge or oxidation | Long-term charging (1 hour), cleaning contacts |
| Only one indicator is on. | Loss of synchronization | Reset to factory settings (Hard Reset) |
| The sound is interrupted in one ear. | Interference or weak charge | Checking charge, removing from the Bluetooth list |
| Phone sees 2 devices | Mono-conjugation mode | Remove both, reset, reconnect |
⚠️ Warning: If after a long charge (more than 2 hours), the indicator on the problem earphone never caught fire, the battery or power controller probably failed.
Problems of compatibility and settings of the smartphone
Sometimes the root of the evil lies in the Android or iOS settings. The Absolute Volume feature can conflict with headphone drivers, causing silence in one channel. Try turning this feature off in the Developer Menu (path: Settings → About Phone → 7 times on the MIUI Version → For Developers → Turn off Absolute Volume).
Also worth checking is the sound balance. Some MIUI or HyperOS shells have accessibility settings where you can accidentally shift the sound balance completely to the right or left. Check Settings → Sound and Vibration → Balance.
Another reason could be energy-saving modes: Xiaomi's aggressive energy-saving can "kill" the Bluetooth background process by thinking it's not being used. Add the "Bluetooth" or "Mi Wear" app to the battery exceptions.
💡
Key conclusion: In 9 out of 10 cases, the problem is solved by a full reset (Hard Reset) and re-pairing the headphones between each other before connecting to the phone.
When service repairs are needed
If none of the software methods worked, and cleaning the contacts was also useless, there is likely a hardware breakdown, which can be the despatch of the speaker inside the housing (often happens after falls) or the failure of the Bluetooth module.
Self-repair TWS-Headphones are extremely complex due to their miniaturization and adhesive connection of the cases. Opening almost always leads to damage to the body, and finding parts (dynamics, batteries) for specific Xiaomi models in the market is very difficult.
If the headset is warranty, take it to an authorized center. If the warranty is over and the headphones are cheap (budget Redmi), it is often more economical to buy a new model than pay for complex micro-repairs.