Xiaomi’s second headphone doesn’t work: why and what to do

When one of the Xiaomi Mi True headphones suddenly stops playing sound or does not respond at all to the connection, many wireless acoustic users are familiar with this situation. Often this happens at the most inopportune moment: while jogging, calling or watching a movie. You should not panic immediately, since in most cases the problem lies in the software failure of the channel dissynchronization or the banal discharge of the battery in one of the ears.

Before you take your device to a service center or demand a refund, you need to perform a number of diagnostic procedures. The statistics of the requests show that more than 70% of cases of a dead earphone are solved by simply restarting or cleaning the charging contacts. TWS-Headsets are complex electronic devices sensitive to oxidation and software errors.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible causes of failure of the right or left module from work, you will learn how to correctly perform a full reset (Hard Reset), why one of the elements may not charge, and how to distinguish a software glitch from a physical break in the speaker. Follow the instructions consistently to return full functionality to your Mi True Wireless Earbuds.

The main reasons for the failure of one of the headphones

The first thing to do is to rule out the most obvious factors. Often users forget that each headphone in the Xiaomi pair has its own battery and control board. If one of them is more likely to be discharged than the other, it can go into deep sleep and stop turning on when extracted from the case.

Another common reason is out-of-synchronization: Bluetooth protocols sometimes fail, and headphones stop "seeing" each other, starting as two independent mono devices or ignoring one of the channels. In this case, sound can only go from the phone to one speaker, and the second one is silent. Signal interference in places where Wi-Fi networks cluster can also disrupt the stability of the connection.

⚠️ Warning: If the earphone falls into water or has been hit hard, the probability of failure of the internal speaker or battery is more than 90.

Hardware problems such as speaker plume drift or battery bloating are less common, but they do occur, especially in devices that have been in active use for more than a year. If you notice bloating or a foreign smell, stop using immediately.

Full Reset (Hard Reset) method of the headset

The most effective way to fix software errors is to completely reset the settings to factory settings, a procedure that forces the controllers inside Mi True Earbuds to redetermine (pairing) between the left and right modules. Before starting the operation, be sure to remove the old connection from the Bluetooth list on your smartphone, otherwise the system may try to restore the wrong settings.

The reset process varies depending on the specific model of your headphones. For most versions of Xiaomi, you need to place both headphones in the charging case and leave the lid open. Then find the function button on the case case case (usually hidden or located at the back) and hold it for 10-15 seconds before changing the indication.

The indicator should start flashing white or orange (depending on the model), which signals the transition to pairing mode. Then turn on Bluetooth again on the phone and find the device in the list of available ones. If the reset was successful, both headphones should work synchronously.

Charging problems and contact oxidation

Often, when the earphone is not working, it actually means that it is just discharged and not charged, and moisture, sweat and dust get into the charging case and into the contacts of the headphones themselves, creating an insulating layer. Visually, this may be invisible, but the electric current does not pass through the film, and the battery remains empty.

For diagnosis, carefully examine the golden or silvery contact areas on the bottom of the headphones and inside the recess of the case. If you see dark plaque or contamination, careful cleaning is necessary. Use a cotton swab lightly soaked in alcohol or a special contact cleaner.

• 🧹 Take a dry cotton swab and thoroughly wipe the contacts on the earphone itself, removing visible dust.
• 🍷 Soak the new stick in isopropyl alcohol (do not use water!) and gently walk through the contacts again.
• 🔌 Blow the holes in the case with compressed air or gently clean them with a dry brush, trying not to damage the spring-loaded pins.

After cleaning, insert the headphones into the case and make sure the charging indicator lights up. If the indicator doesn't light up, try pressing the earphone with your finger a little bit. If the charging only started when pressed, the contact pin inside the case may have deformed.

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Use regular stationery gum to clean the hard-to-reach areas around the contacts carefully, without heavy pressure, if the cotton swab is too large.

Diagnostics through Mi Wear / Xiaomi Earbuds app

For Android and iOS smartphone owners, there are official Mi Wear (global versions) or Xiaomi Earbuds utilities. These apps allow you to access hidden headset settings that are not available through the standard Bluetooth menu. By connecting headphones, you can see the real percentage of charge of each ear separately.

If the app shows that one headphone is 0% or 1% charged, even though it has been in the case for several hours, this is a direct indication of a charging problem or battery death.

Updating the firmware is an important step, so make sure that the phone is near the headphones and the headphones are at least 50 percent charged, and it can take a few minutes, and you can't open the case or disconnect from the network.

Hardware malfunctions and physical wear

If software and cleaning didn't work, you might want to consider a physical breakdown: Lithium polymer batteries in miniature headphones have a limited life of charge-discharge cycles. Over time, their capacity drops, and they can stop holding a charge at all, or they can swell, tearing the internal contacts.

The speaker itself (membranes) can also fail due to bass overload or moisture. IPX4 moisture protection, found in many Xiaomi models, only protects against splashes and sweat, but does not guarantee survival under full immersion or prolonged exposure to steam (for example, in a sauna).

⚠️ Attention: Opening the earphone body almost always causes permanent damage. The adhesive used in assembly is not intended for reuse, and thin plumes break when handled carelessly.

Another hidden problem is the wear of the magnets in the case. If the magnetic fixation is weakened, the earphone may not fit fully to the contacts, even if it is visually standing still. Check the density of the seating: the earphone should be fixed with a characteristic click.

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If after cleaning the contacts and completely resetting one headphone still does not charge and does not turn on, most likely, a replacement of the battery or module is required.

When to use the service or replace the device

Self-repair TWS-It is not cost effective 95% of the time, the cost of original components (especially batteries and speakers) together with the work of the master often exceeds the price of a new device, and it is extremely difficult to find quality parts for Xiaomi Mi True models on the market.

If your device is warranty (usually 12 months from the date of purchase) and has no traces of mechanical damage or fluid intake (LCI indicators inside can turn red), safely carry it to an authorized center. In case of a software error, engineers will re-surface the device, and with hardware - replace the faulty module.

For models released a few years ago, it's more profitable to buy a new headset.Technology has stepped forward, and new versions of the Mi True Wireless offer better noise cancellation, a more stable Bluetooth 5.2/5.3 and increased battery life.