When one headphone sounds louder or better than another, it's one of the most annoying problems when using a wireless headset. Owner Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO expects TWS technology to be the perfect stereo, and gets a skewed sound scene. It's not just discomfort, it's a direct blow to the quality of listening to music, podcasts and games, where positioning is critical.
The reasons for this behavior can be both banal contamination of acoustic mesh with earwax and software failures of synchronization between the left and right channel. Often users panic and carry the device to the service, although 80% of cases are solved by self-diagnosis. It is important to understand that the volume imbalance rarely indicates a physical failure of the speaker, unless the device was hit or water hit.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithm of actions that will help restore symmetrical sound. We will touch on the issues of setting up the system equalizer, cleaning the physical elements and performing a complete reset of the headset settings. Careful follow the instructions will save you time and money by returning your favorite headphones their original sound.
Primary diagnosis and physical cleaning
Before you go into deep software settings, you need to rule out the most obvious factor, the mechanical obstacle to sound. The acoustic grids on Xiaomi headphones have very fine perforations that are easily clogged with the smallest particles of earwax, dust and pile from your pockets. Even a microscopic layer of fat can reduce the volume by 30-40%, creating the illusion of a break in the speaker.
For quality cleaning, you will need a cotton swab, a little isopropyl alcohol and preferably a blue sticky mass to clean the appliances (called "smart gel"). Do not use water or aggressive solvents, as they can damage the mesh's glue base or penetrate the enclosure. Carefully walk with a dry wand on the mesh, removing visible plaque, and then use a wet (well pressed) one for disinfection.
⚠️ Attention: It is strictly forbidden to use sharp objects, such as needles or toothpicks, to pick through the speaker grid. You risk piercing the speaker membrane, after which it will be impossible to restore the sound even in the service center.
If, after careful visual inspection and cleaning, the problem of one earphone quieter than the other persists, we move to software methods. Often one channel is clogged stronger than the other, and after cleaning, the balance is restored instantly, but if the grids are clean, then it is the software desynchronization or Android settings.
Setting up the sound balance in the Android system
The MIUI or HyperOS operating system that powers Xiaomi smartphones provides users with enhanced audio control capabilities, sometimes at the system volume distribution level between left and right channels, and this can happen after upgrading the phone’s firmware or connecting to another device.
To check and adjust the balance, you have to go to the settings section. The path may vary slightly depending on the version of the shell, but the overall algorithm is the same. You have to find a point responsible for special features or additional audio settings, and that's where the slider that regulates stereobalance is hiding.
- 🔍 Open your smartphone settings and go to Advanced Settings section.
- 🔍 Select the option "Accessibility", then find the tab "Hearing" or "Audiovisual.
- 🔍 Find the left and right channel balance slider and make sure it is strictly in the center.
- 🔍 If the slider is shifted, move it to the center position and check the sound.
In some versions of MIUI, this item may be directly in the Sound and Vibration menu -> Sound Quality and Effects. If you can't find this setting by standard methods, you can search the settings by typing the word "balance." Shifting the slider even to a minimal value to the side can create a noticeable difference in volume, which the user perceives as a malfunction.
Reset and reconnect TWS headset
True Wireless Stereo technology involves one headphone (the host) transmitting a signal to the second (the slave). If communication between them is broken, they can operate in independent mono-devices or at different volumes. The most effective way to make them "friend" again is to perform a full reset (Hard Reset).
The reset procedure varies for different Xiaomi and Redmi Buds models. Most often, you need to place both headphones in a charging case, leave the lid open and pinch the touch pads on the headphones themselves or the button on the case for 10-15 seconds. Indicators should flash a certain color (usually white or orange), signaling a reset of pairing settings.
☑️ Complete reset algorithm TWS
After a successful reset, be sure to go to your phone’s Bluetooth settings, find old entries about your headphones in your device list, and click Forget the device or Unpair. Only then do you make a new connection. This ensures that the phone won’t use old, possibly damaged connection profiles.
⚠️ Attention: During the reset procedure, do not remove the headphones from the case prematurely. Interrupting the process can cause the headphones to stop syncing with each other, and one of them will be silent.
Use of equalizer and Dolby Atmos
Modern Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with powerful audio processors and support surround sound technologies such as Dolby Atmos or Dirac. Sometimes the conflict between the system equalizer and the settings of the headphones themselves leads to the fact that the frequencies in one channel are “cut” or amplified incorrectly, especially at low frequencies.
Try turning off all the audio enhancements. Go to Settings -> Sound and Vibration -> Sound quality and effects. If Dolby Atmos is on, try turning it off and check if the volume has leveled out. If the problem has gone away, it was the sound processing algorithms. It's also worth checking the manual equalizer: reset all sliders to zero (normal or standard mode).
For advanced users, fine-tuning is possible through an engineering menu or third-party apps, but standard MIUI means better start by completely disabling the effects. Often users forget that they have turned on a specific preset (for example, "Bas-boost") that on a particular headphone model does not work correctly.
Secret code to check speakers
Specifics of the Xiaomi Earbuds application
To fully manage the brand’s headsets, there is a special application Xiaomi Earbuds (formerly Mi True Wireless Earbuds) through which you can not only update the firmware, but also calibrate the sound. In some models, such as Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro or Redmi Buds 4 Pro, there is an adaptive noise reduction feature that can affect the perceived volume.
Check to see if only one of the headphones has Transparency or Noise Reduction on (although this is rare, a software glitch can block one channel). Also, the app often has an "Ear Detection" feature. If the proximity sensor on one earphone is contaminated or closed, it may think it's outside the ear and turn the volume down or pause the track.
| Model headphones | Type of discharge | Indication of discharge | Annex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Buds 3 Lite | 5 touches of the sensor | Blink 3 times | Not required |
| Xiaomi Buds 3 | Clip the case button 10 seconds. | Orange indicator | Xiaomi Earbuds |
| Redmi Buds 4 Pro | Hold the sensors down 5 seconds. | White flashing | Xiaomi Earbuds |
| AirDots Basic 2 | 5 quick touches | Red flashing | Not required |
Using official software is critical to updating firmware. Manufacturers often release patches that fix channel desynchronization problems. If you have an older version of headphone firmware, the quieter/louder problem may be a known bug that has already been fixed by developers.
When repairs or replacements are needed
If neither cleaning, resetting, or recalibrating the balance has helped, there's a hardware malfunction. The speakers in TWS headphones are miniature mechanisms that are sensitive to temperature, humidity, and physical exertion. Over time, the membrane can stretch or degrade, leading to a loss of sensitivity.
Another common cause is the oxidation of charging contacts inside the case or on the headphones themselves. If one earphone didn't fully charge due to poor contact, its battery could go into deep discharge, and the power controller artificially limits its operation for self-preservation. Try rubbing the contacts with alcohol and leaving the headphones in the case on charge for several hours.
⚠️ Attention: If the headphones were in high humidity (sports room, rain) and the sound disappeared or became quiet suddenly - most likely, the board oxidized.
In the case when software methods are exhausted, and cleaning contacts did not work, there is still the option of warranty service or replacement. For Xiaomi devices, it is important to save the check and the box, since the failure of speakers is often recognized as a warranty case in the first 6-12 months of operation.
💡
If after a complete reset and cleaning of the grids the difference in volume persists, the problem in 90% of cases is hardware (wear dynamics or oxidation).