You've played your favorite track, but instead of sounding harmonious, do you hear one Xiaomi AirDots, Redmi Buds or Mi TrueWireless headphone quieter than another? This problem affects 15-20% of the brand's wireless headsets -- and it's not always a breakdown. In 60 percent of cases, the volume difference can be fixed by yourself in 5-10 minutes without going to the service center.
In this article, we will look at all the possible causes of volume imbalance, from the banal settings of the smartphone to hardware malfunctions of the speakers. You will learn how to check headphones for defects, what Bluetooth parameters affect the sound, and when it really is time to carry the device for repair. And for models Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, Redmi Buds 5 and other current headsets, we have prepared specific recommendations for their technical features.
If the volume difference occurs after a drop or moisture, it is likely mechanical damage. In all other cases, follow our step-by-step instructions and return the stereo sound without extra cost.
1. Checking basic settings: what to do first
Before you take your headphones apart or bring them to service, eliminate the software causes of the imbalance. Start with these steps - they take no more than 3 minutes and solve the problem in 30% of cases.
- 📱 Sound balance in smartphone settings. On Android: go to Settings → Special facilities → Hearing settings → Balance stereo. On iPhone: Settings → Universal access → Audiovisual content → The slider should be right in the middle.
- 🔊 Monosound mode. In the same sections, check if the mono mode is activated (combines both channels into one.
- 🎧 Branded app. For models Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro and Redmi Buds 4/5 Install the official Mi Earphones (Android) or Xiaomi Wear (iOS) app, which can have a separate volume control for each headphone.
- 🔄 Reset Bluetooth settings. On your smartphone, remove your headphones from the list of associated devices, reboot your phone and reconnect the headset.
Important! If you use headphones with a PC or laptop, check the sound balance in the sound control panel (right click on the speaker icon in tray → "Open sound parameters" → "Device properties").
2. Hardware reasons: when the design of headphones is to blame
If the software settings are fine, but the volume difference persists, the problem may be physical headphone defects.
| Reason. | How it manifests | Can I correct myself? |
|---|---|---|
| Clogging of the speaker grid | The sound is muffled, the wheezing in one earpiece | Yes (with soft brush or compressed air) |
| Damage to the dynamics membrane | The distorted sound, the crackling, the complete absence of bass. | No (replacement of speaker required) |
| Oxidation of battery contacts | The earphone discharges quickly, the sound becomes quieter | Partially (cleaning with alcohol, but risking damage) |
| Faulty Bluetooth module | Constant communication breaks, one earphone is turned off | No (requires a plug or replacement module) |
Critical information for owners of Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and Redmi Buds 5: these models use an active noise reduction system (ANC), which can artificially reduce the volume of one earphone if you work improperly. Try to turn off the ANC in the proprietary application and check the sound again.
⚠️ Attention! If you clean your headphones and the sound becomes even quieter or you have a crunch, stop the manipulation immediately. This is a sign of damage to the speaker membrane, and further attempts to fix the headphones will lead to a complete failure.
Bluetooth connectivity problems: why one earphone is "lagging behind"
Wireless communication is the most vulnerable place TWS-If one Xiaomi earphone sounds quieter, it could be related to:
- 📶 Low signal level. The farther the headphones are from the source (smartphone), the worse the synchronization between the left and right modules. The optimal distance is no more than 5 meters without obstacles.
- 🔋 If one earphone is discharged more, it automatically lowers the volume to save energy%.
- 🔄 Bluetooth profile conflict: Some smartphones (especially those based on MediaTek) misallocate audio channels. Try connecting your headphones to another device.
- 📱 The outdated version of Bluetooth. Headphones Xiaomi AirDots 3 and newer require Bluetooth 5.0+. On older smartphones (until 2018 release) may be observed imbalance of sound.
How to check? Open the Bluetooth menu on your smartphone, find your headphones in the list of devices and see the protocol version (on Android: click on the headphone name → “Additional settings”). If the version below 5.0 is a hardware incompatibility problem.
Check out the Bluetooth version on your smartphone|Make sure the headphones are charged the same way.|Connect the headset to another device|Check the distance to the source of the signal (maximum 5 m)|Turn off other Bluetooth devices nearby-->
4. Software failures: when firmware is to blame
In 10-15% of cases, the volume imbalance is caused by firmware errors on the headphones or smartphone, which is especially true for Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and Redmi Buds 4 Active models, where firmware bugs have been confirmed by the manufacturer.
Signs of software failure:
- The difference in volume appears spontaneously and disappears after a reboot.
- The problem is only with one sound source (for example, only with a smartphone, but not with a laptop).
- The company application displays synchronization errors.
How to fix it:
- Update the firmware of the headphones through the official Mi Earphones or Xiaomi Wear app.
- Reset the headphones to factory settings: 1. Place both headphones in the case. 2. Press and hold the button on the case for 15 seconds (until the red indicator flashes). 3. Reconnect the headphones.
- If the problem is on the smartphone, update its firmware or roll back to the previous version (if the bug appeared after the update).
⚠️ Attention! Do not use custom Xiaomi headphone firmware from third-party developers. 90% of the time, this leads to a complete loss of functionality of the headset. Official updates are distributed only through branded applications.
5. Mechanical damage: what to do after falling or getting moisture
If the headphones fell, were subjected to severe vibrations (such as in a bag without a case), or were in contact with liquid, the volume imbalance is almost certainly associated with physical damage.
- 💧 Moisture is injected, even if the headphones are protected by standard. IPX4/IPX5, Prolonged exposure to sweat or rain can cause contact corrosion.Symptoms: the sound becomes quieter over time, wheezing appears.
- 🔨 Cracks in the body. After the impact, microcracks can form that interfere with the tightness of the acoustic chamber, which leads to a muffled sound in one earphone.
- 🔋 Battery bloating. If one earphone discharges faster and sounds quieter, it's a sign of battery degradation. Dangerous! A bloated battery can damage the speaker.
What you can do on your own:
- Put the headphones in a silica gel container for 24 hours. Don't use a hair dryer or microwave!
- Visual inspection. Put a flashlight on the speaker grille, and if you see moisture or oxidation, you need professional cleaning.
- Close the earphone grille with your finger and listen to the sound, and if it gets louder, the body is leaky.
If the headphones fell from a height of more than 1 meter or were completely submerged in water, do not try to repair them yourself. 80% of these cases require a replacement speaker or control board, which is cheaper to do in the service center.
What happens if you ignore the mechanical damage?
6. Features of specific models: Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, Redmi Buds 5 and others
Some Xiaomi headphones have unique "diseases" associated with their design, and this is what owners of popular headsets need to know:
| Model | Typical problem | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro | Imbalance with the ANC on | Disable ANC in the app or update the firmware to version 1.4.0+ |
| Redmi Buds 5 | Right earphone quieter after update | Reset settings via Mi Earphones → Settings → Reset |
| Xiaomi AirDots 3 | The left earphone turns off with loud music | Limit the maximum volume in the smartphone settings to 80% |
| Mi TrueWireless 2 | Wheezing in one headphone with bass | Cleaning the grille speaker with a soft brush (factory membrane defect) |
For models 2023-2026 (for example, Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro), the manufacturer recommends using the branded application Xiaomi Wear for sound calibration. It has a hidden function "channel balance", which is available after 3 times clicking on the icon of the headphones in the main menu.
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If your Xiaomi headphones are older than 2 years, check the battery status with the AccuBattery (Android) app. The difference in left- and right-earphone battery capacity of more than 15% often leads to a volume imbalance.
7.When it's time to carry to the service: signs of irreparable breakdown
If you’ve tried all of these, but one Xiaomi headphone still sounds quieter, it’s time to evaluate whether it’s worth repairing.
- 🔊 Complete absence of sound in one headphone (at the same time the connection indicator is on).
- 🔥 Extraneous noises: cracking, whistling or constant background noise.
- 🔋 The headphone does not charge or discharge for 5-10 minute.
- 📉 Progressive deterioration: the sound is getting quieter every day.
Cost of repair in official Xiaomi services (2026):
- Replacement of the speaker: 1200-2000 ₽.
- Replacement of Bluetooth module: 1800-2500 ₽.
- Cleaning/replacing contacts: 800-1500 ₽.
- Battery replacement: 1000-1600 ₽.
The average repair time is 3-7 days, and if the headphones are warranted (usually 12 months), the repair is free, provided that the breakage is not caused by mechanical damage or moisture.
⚠️ Warning! Before contacting the service, back up your headphone settings (if they support saving profiles in the application). After repair, all user settings will reset.
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If the cost of repair exceeds 50% of the price of new headphones, it is more cost-effective to buy a new headset, except for the premium model (Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, FlipBuds Pro), where replacing the speaker is cheaper than buying an analogue.