Engaged headphones on the phone Xiaomi Redmi and not switched off – how to fix?

You plugged your headphones into the Xiaomi Redmi, but when you disconnected them, the phone still thinks they're connected, or suddenly the sound switched to the headphones even though you didn't use them? This problem is common on many Redmi models, from the Redmi Note 8 Pro to the Redmi 12, and the reasons can be both software and hardware, and in 80% of cases it can be fixed by itself without going to a service center.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible causes, from a clogged 3.5mm connector to a MIUI firmware failure, and give step-by-step instructions for fixing. If your Xiaomi is stuck in headphone mode, don’t rush to carry it into repair: 9 out of 10 cases solve the problem in 5-10 minutes.

Why Xiaomi Redmi doesn’t turn off headphone mode?

The most common causes are:

• 🔌 Contamination or oxidation of the connector – dust, moisture, or mechanical particles block the contacts and the phone “sees” the connected device.
• 🤖 Failure to work MIUI — Errors in the audio driver or system services (especially after updates).
• 🔄 Incorrectly disabling the headphones – if you pull the plug while playing music, the system can “hang».
• 📱 Damage to the plug or cable – breaking the wire inside the headphones creates a false connection signal.
• 🔧 Hardware malfunction - damage to the contacts of the connector or audio chip (less often).

On Redmi USB-C models (such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro+), the problem is often with a 3.5mm → USB-C adapter. If it is poor or damaged, the phone can stick in headphone mode even after disconnection.

⚠️ Warning: If the problem occurs after a phone drop or moisture hits, do not try to clean the connector yourself, this can aggravate the damage.

Method 1: Reboot your phone (the easiest method)

In 60% of cases, the reboot solves the problem, as it resets the state of the audio driver.

1. Press the power button for 3-5 seconds.
2. In the menu that appears, select Reboot (or Restart).
3. Wait 1-2 minutes until the phone is completely turned off and re-energized.

If the sound is still going to the headphones after the reboot, move to the following method: some models (for example, Redmi 9A) may require a forced reboot:

Press the Power + Volume buttons up for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out.

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Reboot is the safest way to do so, without affecting your phone’s data and settings.

Method 2: Cleaning the 3.5mm or USB-C connector

If there's dust, moisture or debris in the connector, the contacts can close, and the phone will think that the headphones are connected.

• 🕯️ Use a toothpick with cotton wool dipped in alcohol (no more than 70%).
• 💨 Blow the connector with compressed air (a canister for cleaning equipment).
• 🔦 Illuminate the connector with a flashlight - if foreign particles are visible inside, carefully remove them.

⚠️ Do not use metal objects (needles, paper clips) - they can damage the contacts. USB-C (For example, Redmi Note 10 Pro) cleaning should be carried out especially carefully, since the connector is also used for charging.

Method 3: Resetting the sound settings in MIUI

If the problem is caused by a failure in the audio settings, resetting the audio settings will help, and this method will not delete your data, but will return all the audio settings to the factory settings.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Stick to three points (⋮) top-right.
3. Choose Reset settings.
4. Confirm the action.

After reset, restart your phone. If the problem was in a settings conflict (for example, after connecting Bluetooth headphones), the sound should recover.

Method 4: Disabling Bluetooth and checking connected devices

Sometimes Xiaomi Redmi can confuse wired headphones with Bluetooth devices. For example, if you plugged in wireless headphones and then turned them off incorrectly, the system can continue to send sound to the “virtual” device.

How to check:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Turn off Bluetooth (transfer the slider to the off position).
3. Check if the sound has recovered through the speakers.
4. If yes, remove all the Bluetooth devices and reconnect them.

On some models (for example, Redmi Note 10S) helps reset network:

Settings → System and device → Resetting settings → Resetting network settings

⚠️ Warning: If the Bluetooth sound is completely gone after switching off, check if Quiet Mode is activated or Do not disturb in the notification settings.

Method 5: Update or roll back the MIUI firmware

If the problem occurred after the MIUI update, the cause may be a bug in the new firmware version, in which case:

• 🔄 Update to the latest version (if available).
• 🔙 Reverse to previous firmware (if the update caused a failure).

How to update MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, download it and install it.

If the update didn’t work and the problem came after it, you can return the old firmware via Fastboot or Recovery.

• Download the official firmware from the Xiaomi website.
• Use the Mi Flash Tool (for Fastboot)

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Before rolling back the firmware, back up your data through Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset. This will save your contacts, photos and apps.

Method 6: Checking headphones and cables

If the problem only occurs with a particular pair of headphones, it could be the plug or the cable.

• 🎧 Connect other headphones – if the sound is working normally, the problem is the first one.
• 🔍 Inspect the plug for cracks, rust or damage.
• 🔌 Try to slightly move the plug in the connector - if the sound appears, then disappears, this is a sign of a wire break.

On USB-C models (like the Redmi Note 11 Pro), the problem may be with the adapter.

• Use a different 3.5mm adapter → USB-C.
• Connect headphones via Bluetooth – if the sound works, the problem is with the adapter.

If when connecting headphones, the phone begins to overheat or discharge quickly, this is a sign of a short circuit in the plug - immediately turn them off and check the cable.

Method 7: Reset the phone to factory settings (last resort)

If none of these methods work, you'll have to reset completely, and that will delete all the data from your phone, so you can only use this method as a last resort.

How to Reset Xiaomi Redmi:

1. Make a backup copy of important data.
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Backup and Reset.
3. Select Settings Reset.
4. Confirm the action (a password may be required).

Once reset, the phone will restart and return to factory settings, and if the problem was a software failure, it should disappear.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 9 Pro) may require re-assignment of your Mi Account after reset!

Save Contacts in Google Account|Copy photos to a computer or cloud|Record logins and passwords from applications|Make sure your phone is at least 50 times charged%-->

FAQ: Frequent questions about the problem with headphones on Xiaomi Redmi