How to forcibly disable headphones on Xiaomi smartphone: all working ways

You've connected your headphones to Xiaomi, but the sound still goes through them, even though the device is long disconnected? Or the smartphone "hangs" in headphone mode and does not switch to speakers? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO and Mi — especially after MIUI updates or when using unoriginal accessories. 80% of the time, the fault is in the audio driver or the incorrect identification of the connected device by the system.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to force headphones to turn off, from simple reboots to hidden engineering menus, we will separate solutions for wired and Bluetooth headphones, and we will also explain how to avoid problems in the future. All instructions are relevant for MIUI 12-14 and newer versions, including HyperOS.

Why does Xiaomi not automatically turn off the headphones?

Before you start a forced reset, it is important to understand the cause of the failure, and most often the problem lies in one of the following factors:

• 🔌 Contaminated 3.5mm connector (for wired headphones) – oxidation of contacts or dust intrusion causes the system to “think” that the headphones are still connected.
• 📱 Audio Driver Error – After Updating MIUI Or install custom firmware driver may work incorrectly.
• 🔄 Bluetooth device conflict – if you’ve previously paired with multiple headsets, the system may “forget” to disable one of them.
• 🛠️ Hardware malfunction – damage to the audio chip or connector (relevant for smartphones after falls or moisture hits).

Xiaomi HyperOS is less common, but it is still possible — especially if you use uncertified accessories (e.g. headphones without A2DP support), 90% of the time a software reset helps, but sometimes you need to clean the connector or even repair.

Method 1: Forced reboot of the smartphone

The easiest and safest method is hard rebooting, which resets the audio system's temporary data and often solves the problem of "hung" headphones.

1. Press the Power button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out and the smartphone starts to reboot.
2. After you turn on, check if the sound has switched to the speakers. If not, move on to the next method.

On some models (such as the Xiaomi 13 Pro or Redmi Note 12), the hard reboot may not work due to optimized power management. SIM-map – this sometimes resets audio routing.

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If the sound still goes into the headphones after the reboot, try plugging and turning them off again 2-3 times, which can wake up the audio driver.

Method 2: Cleaning the cache of audio services (without root)

If the reboot didn’t work, the next thing to try is cleaning up the cache of the system audio services.This won’t delete your data, but it will reset temporary files that may be causing the crash.

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show System Processes.
3. Find in the list: com.android.bluetooth (for Bluetooth headphones) com.android.media or Audio Service (for wired)

Warehouse → Clear the cache

Reboot your smartphone.

On HyperOS models (e.g. Xiaomi 14), the path may be different: instead of App Management, look for All Apps → System filter.

Close all music apps (Spotify, YouTube Music, etc.)

Turn off Bluetooth headphones (if connected)

Connect the charger (in case of a long reboot)

Backup important data (just in case)-->

Method 3: Reset Bluetooth settings (for wireless headphones)

If the problem is with a Bluetooth headset (such as Xiaomi Buds or Redmi AirDots), it often helps to completely reset the wireless module settings, which will remove all paired devices, but return the sound to the speakers.

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Reset Settings (or Clear Passwords on older versions of MIUI).
3. Confirm the action and restart the smartphone.
4. After switching on, re-spare the headphones (if necessary).

On HyperOS, the path might look like this: Settings → Bluetooth and devices → Additional → Reset. If you don’t have an option, try removing the device manually and reconnecting it.

Method 4: Engineering menu (for advanced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can try to force reset audio through an engineering menu, which requires caution, because wrong actions can disrupt the sound.

1. Open the Phone app and enter the combination: ##36446337## (some models may run ##4636## → go to the Audio tab).
2. In the engineering menu, select Audio → Headset Mode.
3. Make sure the Headset Switch setting is set to 0 (meaning the headphones are off).
4. Press Set and restart your smartphone.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose.Incorrect settings can lead to complete loss of sound or the need to reset before factory settings.

Method 5: Hardware cleaning of the 3.5 mm connector

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be the physical contamination of the connector, and the dust, moisture, or oxidation of the contacts makes the system think the headphones are connected.

For cleaning, you will need:

• 🧴 Alcohol (isopropyl or medical 90%+)
• 🎨 Soft brush or cotton swab
• 🔦 Lighting lights for the connector

1. Turn off your smartphone.
2. Gently moisten the cotton swab in alcohol and wipe the contacts inside the connector (don't press hard!).
3. Let it dry for 10-15 minutes.
4. Turn on the phone and check the sound.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use metal objects (needles, paper clips) to clean, this can damage the contacts. If after cleaning the problem remains, the audio chip may be damaged (for example, after a fall or moisture.

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If after all the manipulations, the sound still goes to the headphones, and in the speakers, silence is a sure sign of a hardware malfunction.

How can we avoid problems in the future?

To avoid running into “hung” headphones on Xiaomi, follow these guidelines:

• 🔄 Update regularly MIUI/HyperOS — In new versions, audio drivers bugs are often corrected.
• 🎧 Use original or certified accessories – cheap headphones without support A2DP may cause disruption.
• 🔌 Avoid sharp headphone removal – always press Disable in the notification bar (for Bluetooth) or carefully remove the plug.
• 🛡️ Install antivirus – some malicious applications can interfere with the audio system.

If you often connect different headphones, it is useful to periodically clean the Bluetooth cache (every 1-2 months).

FAQ: Frequent questions about turning off headphones on Xiaomi