The situation when the wireless headset sounds music from only one speaker, familiar to many owners of equipment Xiaomi and Redmi. Users often face the fact that the right or left earphone stops responding to commands, does not connect to the smartphone or simply remains silent after extracting from the case, which causes panic, as it seems a serious breakdown of an expensive accessory.
But most of the time, the problem isn't physical damage, but rather the desynchronization of communication channels between the devices themselves. Bluetooth sometimes fails, and gadgets "forget" that they work in pairs, starting to function as two independent mono-device. Understanding the working principle of TWS (True Wireless Stereo) will help you quickly restore the system to work without going to the service center.
In this article, we will take a look at all the possible reasons why one Xiaomi earphone is not turning on, and provide step-by-step instructions for eliminating them. We will look at hardware reset methods, software features and operational nuances that will help avoid a recurrence of the problem in the future.
The main reasons for the dissynchronization of headphones
The first step to solving this problem is to understand it, and when you take the headset out of the charger case, it has to automatically activate and find pairing with each other, and if that doesn't happen, and only one Xiaomi headphone is running, then the initial handshake process has been disrupted, and most often the culprit is a software glitch in the device's microcontroller.
One of the common causes is uneven battery power: if one contact in the case was contaminated or oxidized, the device may not be fully charged, while its "brother" received 100% of the energy. In power saving mode, the discharged module may simply not turn on, creating the illusion of failure, and also affects the version of the firmware or operating system of the smartphone with which the pairing occurs.
⚠️ Warning: If one of the headphones is physically damaged (fell from a height, wet), a software reset may not help. Carefully inspect the case for cracks or traces of moisture before starting recovery.
Sometimes the problem is in the stored device list of the smartphone. The phone may try to connect to one module as the main one, negating the second, or vice versa, to consider them two different headsets with the same name. This creates a conflict of MAC addresses, which causes the sound to be broadcast to only one device. Resetting Bluetooth settings on the phone often resolves this conflict.
And it's also worth considering the impact of third-party applications: Some equalizer or sound control programs can intercept audio stream control by misdirecting it. Removing newly installed applications that have access to the microphone and sound could be the key to solving the mystery of why one speaker is silent.
Basic diagnostics and charge check
Before we go into the complex manipulation of buttons and resets, we need to eliminate the banal lack of charge. The visual indication on the case does not always accurately reflect the state of each individual module. You will need to conduct a thorough check of contacts and indicators.
Take a wet but well-pressed napkin and gently wipe the metal contacts on the headphones themselves and inside the charging case. Even a microscopic layer of fat or dust can prevent current from passing. After cleaning, place the devices in the case and make sure the charging indicators on each one light up.
☑️ Pre-reset check
Leave the headset in a case connected to the network for at least 30-40 minutes. Even if the indicators show a full charge, deep charging will help to level the voltage on the batteries. This is especially important for AirDots and Redmi Buds models, which are sensitive to voltage changes.
If after a long charge, the situation has not changed, and still only one Xiaomi headphone works, move to the next step. It is important to make sure that the problem is not the source of the sound. Try to connect the headset to another smartphone or tablet. If the other device has stereo sound, then the problem is the settings of your main phone.
Instructions for complete reset (Hard Reset)
The most effective way to get gadgets to “remember” each other is to perform a complete reset, which returns devices to factory status by erasing all temporary files and previous pairings. The algorithm may vary slightly from one model to another, but the general principle is the same.
First, remove the device from the Bluetooth list on your smartphone. Find the name of your headset (e.g. Xiaomi Earbuds Basic 2) in the settings, click on the gear icon or "i" and select "Forget this device" or "Cancel pairing." This is a critical step without which the reset on the headphones themselves may not work correctly.
Once removed from the phone list, place both headphones in the charging case. Make sure they lock and the indicators are on. Now you need to pinch the touch areas on both headphones simultaneously. In some models, such as the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2, instead of sensors, there may be physical buttons that also need to be held.
Keep your fingers on the sensors near 20-30 The indicators should start flashing red and white (or red and green) several times before going out. This is a signal that Hard Reset has been successful. Now remove them from the case, they should automatically go into pairing mode.
What if the reset didn’t work the first time?
After a successful reset, turn on Bluetooth on your phone and search for new devices. The list should show one device with the name of your headset. Connect to it. Now the sound should go in both ears, as the devices are synchronized again in a stereo pair.
Configure with the Mi Earbuds app
For owners of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones with a MIUI shell or HyperOS, there is a powerful diagnostic tool - the Mi Earbuds app (or built-in widget in Bluetooth settings), which allows not only to track the charge, but also to update the firmware of headphones, which often solves compatibility problems.
Open your Bluetooth settings, find the connected headset, and click the arrow to the right of the name. If an update is available, you'll see a notification. Installing the latest version of the software can fix bugs that cause channel desynchronization. It takes a few minutes, but the headphones should be near the phone.
You can also check the sound balance in the app, and sometimes users accidentally move the balance slider completely left or right, thinking that one earphone is broken, make sure that the slider is right in the center, and the app also has a headphone search feature that helps determine which device has lost communication.
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Use the original Mi Earbuds app to calibrate the sensors, where you can reassign the double or triple touch actions, which will help if one of the sensors is less sensitive.
If the app shows that one module is significantly lower than the other even after charging, it may indicate battery wear, in which case software techniques can only temporarily alleviate the situation, but not eliminate the root of the problem.
Compatibility table and indication codes
Understanding what flashing indicators mean makes it much easier to diagnose. Different Xiaomi models use different color schemes to signal the condition. Below is a table that will help decipher the behavior of your device.
| Model | The indicator is burning red. | The indicator flashes white | The indicator flashes red and white |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirDots / Redmi Buds | Charging/Low charge | Interconnection mode | Resetting settings/Error |
| Mi True Wireless 2 | Low battery charge | Waiting for connection | Reset (Hard Reset) |
| FlipBuds Pro | Charging error | Active noise cancellation | Firmware update |
| Buds 3T Pro | Critical discharge | Device search mode | Reset to factory settings |
Note that if the indicator on one headphone behaves differently than on the other (for example, one flashes and the other burns constantly), this is a sure sign of desynchronization. In normal operation, both devices should behave identically. Asymmetrical behavior of the indicators is the main signal for Hard Reset execution.
Also, consider that in some older models, the left earbud is a slave and the right is a master. If the master is lost or discharged, the slave may not work at all. Modern Xiaomi models use dual connect technology, where the role of the master can move from one device to another, which increases reliability.
Prevention and features of operation
To avoid the problem of “how to turn on one Xiaomi earphone” in the future, it is important to follow the rules of operation. Wireless equipment is sensitive to storage conditions. Do not leave the case open in the sun or in the cold, as extreme temperatures adversely affect lithium polymer batteries.
Regularly clean the speaker's mesh of earwax. A clogged mesh can create the illusion of a quiet sound or no sound, although the device is technically sound. Use a soft dry brush or sticky tape to clean. Don't use sharp objects to avoid damaging the membrane.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use headphones to full discharge "to zero" too often. Deep discharge destroys the chemical structure of the battery, after which the device may stop turning on even from charging.
If you use a headset for gaming, turn on the low latency mode in the app if available.This optimizes the priority of the audio stream and can prevent high-load desynchronization on the smartphone's Bluetooth module. Also try not to take the phone too far from the headphones so as not to interrupt communication.
Periodically, every few months, it's helpful to do a preventive reset, even if there's no problem, and it cleans the internal memory of the devices of accumulated debris and logic errors, and this simple procedure prolongs the life of your TWS headphones.
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Regular cleaning of contacts and updating firmware through the application prevent 90% of cases of desynchronization of headphones Xiaomi.