Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is a popular smartphone, but many users face a problem when the phone gets stuck in headphone mode. The speaker stops working, the sound only goes through the headset (even if it is turned off), and the status bar displays an icon of the headphones, which is caused by an audio chip failure, contamination of the 3.5 mm connector or software glitches of MIUI.
In most cases, the problem is solved without repair — just reset the sound settings, clean the connector or use the engineering menu. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways, including hidden features of Redmi 5 Plus, which will help return sound to the speaker. If standard methods do not work, you will learn how to diagnose a hardware malfunction and when to contact the service.
Why is Redmi 5 Plus not coming out of headphone mode?
Before you start fixing, it is important to understand the cause of the failure. On the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus (model vince), the headphone mode can “whilt” due to:
- 🔌 3.5mm connector contamination or oxidation – contacts falsely trigger as if the headset is connected.
- 🤖 Software glitch in firmware MIUI (especially after updating or resetting the settings).
- 🔧 Audio Driver Failure – Qualcomm Chip WCD9340 (Used in Redmi 5 Plus, it can “hang” in headset mode.
- 💥 Mechanical damage to the connector or motherboard (for example, after a fall).
- 📱 Conflict with applications that control sound (e.g. uniform or modified firmware).
According to service center statistics, 60 percent of the time, the problem is solved software-free, without disassembling the phone, and the other 40 percent is due to hardware problems, like the jack's pins being dumped or the audio chip being broken, and if your Redmi 5 Plus is falling or coming into contact with moisture, the chances of a software solution are lower.
⚠️ Warning: If the phone doesn't respond to the actual headphones (sound goes into the speaker and headset at the same time), it's a sign of a short circuit in the connector. In this case, self-repair is dangerous - you risk burning the audio chip!
Method 1: Reboot and physical check of the connector
Start with the simplest one, forced reboot, which helps 20-30% of the time if the failure is caused by a temporary system glitch.
Make sure the headphones are off the connector.|Check if there is any debris in the nest 3.5 mm|Turn off the Bluetooth headsets|Close all applications that use sound (YouTube, music players)-->
Instructions:
- Press the Power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out and the Xiaomi logo appears.
- After turning on, check if the headphone icon has disappeared in the status bar.
- If the sound has not returned, plug and turn off the headphones 2-3 times - sometimes this "resets" the sensor.
If the reboot didn't work, check out the 3.5mm flashlight connector.
- 🧹 Dust or pile – clean the connector gently with a toothpick (not metal objects!).
- 💧 Oxidation of contacts - if you see a green coating, you will need to clean with alcohol (90%+).
- 🔌 Connector curvature – if the connector wobbles, it is a sign of mechanical damage.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use cotton cotton cotton or cotton swabs for cleaning - the villi can stay inside and aggravate the problem.
Method 2: Reset the sound settings through the engineering menu
If the physical check fails, try resetting the audio system through the Engineering Mode, which works on 80% of devices with software failure.
Instructions for Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus:
- Open the Phone app and type the combination: ##36446337## (this is the code for logging into Engineer Mode on Qualcomm chips).
- Select Hardware Testing → Audio → Headset Mode.
- Press Headset Switch and select Disable.
- Go back to the main menu and select Audio → Normal Mode → Restore Default.
- Reboot the phone.
If the code doesn’t work, try an alternative:
##4636##In the menu that opens, go to the Usage statistics tab and click Clear app data for the com.android.server.telecom app (this will reset the audio route settings).
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If the engineering menu doesn't open, check if it's blocked by an antivirus or security app (e.g., Xiaomi's Security).
Method 3: Cleaning the cache and data of audio services
Sometimes the headphone mode is wilted by a failure in the system services responsible for sound. On the Redmi 5 Plus, they are responsible for this:
- com.android.server.telecom – sound route management.
- com.miui.player is a standard music player.
- com.android.bluetooth – if the problem is Bluetooth-related.
How to clear the cache:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- In the upper right corner, click on three dots and select Show all processes.
- Find the apps from the list above and perform for each: 🗑️ Clear the cache 🔄 Reset the settings (if available) ⚠️ Stop (forced to complete the process)
Reboot the phone.
If the sound hasn't returned after cleaning, try rolling back updates for those apps (if available), sometimes after an automatic update of system services.
Rebooted phone |Cleaning connector |Resetting audio settings |Cleaning app cache |Never tried-->
Method 4: Reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)
If the previous methods didn't work, you'll have to reset hard, and that will delete all the data from the phone, but it will return the factory audio settings. There are two ways to reset the Redmi 5 Plus:
| Method | How to execute | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Through settings | Settings → Additional → Restore and Reset → Reset Settings You will need to enter a pattern lock or password. | If the phone turns on and responds to touch. |
| Through Recovery. | 1. Turn off the phone. 2. Press Power + Volume up until the Mi.3 logo appears. Select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data. | If the phone is getting stuck or not responding to the screen. |
| Through Fastboot. | Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: fastboot erase userdata Then fastboot reboot | If Recovery is not available (for example, after a failed update). |
Important: After a hard reset on Redmi 5 Plus, you may need to re-activate your Mi Account if you previously had a Xiaomi account attached. If you don't remember your password, use the recovery function at account.xiaomi.com.
⚠️ Warning: Before resetting, remove SD-map SIM-map – this will speed up the process and reduce the risk of data loss on external media.
Method 5: Diagnostics of hardware malfunctions
If none of the software methods worked, the problem is probably hardware. Redmi 5 Plus is more likely to fail:
- 🔌 3.5 mm connector – contacts oxidize or depart (especially after moisture is ingested).
- 🔊 Qualcomm audio chip WCD9340 — overheats or burns when short circuit.
- 📶 Antenna switch – responsible for recognizing connected devices.
How to check:
- Multimeter test: Turn off the phone and disassemble it (experience required!) Connect the multimeter to the 3.5mm connector contacts in resistance mode. If the device shows 0 ohms between the contacts, this is a short circuit.
Checking on another device:
- Connect the headphones to another phone – if they work, the problem is in the Redmi 5 Plus.
- Try other headphones on your phone – if the sound is coming, it means the headset is faulty.
Cost of repairs in service centers:
| Type of repair | Cost (₽) | Time (hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning/replacement of 3.5 mm connector | 800–1 500 | 1–2 |
| The interlocking of the audio chip | 2 500–4 000 | 3–5 |
| Replacement of motherboard | 5 000–7 000 | 2-3 days |
What to do if the phone is guaranteed?
Frequent mistakes when trying to turn off headphone mode
Many users are making the problem worse by trying to solve it in the wrong way.
- 🔨 Disassemble the phone without experience - the risk of damaging plumes or motherboard.
- 🔥 Heat the connector with a hairdryer or soldering iron - this can melt plastic or damage chips.
- 💊 pour the connector with alcohol or WD-40 — The liquid can leak inwards and cause corrosion.
- 📲 Install unofficial firmware in the hope of a fix - this can block the phone.
- 🔌 Inserting metal objects into the connector - this leads to a short circuit.
Also, do not believe the advice to “blow into the connector” or “knock on the phone” – this will not help with hardware malfunctions, but only increase the risk of mechanical damage.
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If after all the manipulations, the sound in the speaker did not appear, but the phone recognizes the connection of the headphones (the sound is only in them), the problem is precisely in the connector or audio chip. In this case, self-repair is not advisable - contact the service.