How to remove the headphone icon on the Xiaomi phone: step-by-step instructions

Did you get your headphones out of the Xiaomi jack and the headset icon still stays on the screen? Or does the icon appear on its own, even though you didn't plug anything in? This problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, Poco and Mi smartphones, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14. The reasons can be different from the banal contamination of the connector to a failure in the MIUI firmware.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to remove the Xiaomi headphone icon, from simple actions like rebooting to deep system settings. You’ll also learn why the icon can appear on its own and how to prevent it from reappearing. If you’ve tried standard methods without success, there’s a section at the end of this article with radical measures (including resetting).

Why the headphone icon does not disappear: the main reasons

The headset icon on Xiaomi's screen isn't just a visual bug, it signals that the system is misidentifying the connected device, and here are the most common reasons:

• 🔌 Connector pollution or oxidation – dust, moisture, or corrosion of contacts can create a false signal about the headphones being connected.
• 🖥️ Failure to work MIUI — Firmware errors or conflict with the update often lead to the “hang” of the icon.
• 🔊 Audio Driver Problems – If the audio driver is not working properly, the system may “think” that the headphones are connected.
• 📱 Mechanical damage – falls or impacts sometimes disrupt the 3.5 mm connector or USB-C.
• 🔄 Conflict with Bluetooth devices is rare, but it happens that the icon appears because of a connected wireless headset.

On Xiaomi with USB-C (such as the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or Xiaomi 13T), the problem is more often associated with software failures, whereas on models with 3.5 mm (Poco M5, Redmi 10C) the connector itself is usually to blame. Before proceeding with the fix, try to connect and turn off the headphones several times - sometimes this helps to "reset" the connector state.

⚠️ Warning: If the headphone icon appears after a phone drop or moisture hits, don't try to clean the connector yourself. Contact the service center - this may be a sign of a serious breakdown.

Method 1: Rebooting your phone is the easiest solution

In 30% of cases, the headphone icon disappears after a normal reboot, which is because MIUI sometimes doesn't properly handle the headset shutdown event, and only restarting the system helps reset the state.

How to Reboot Xiaomi correctly:

1. Press and hold the Power button (usually on the right) for 2-3 seconds.
2. In the menu that appears, select Reboot (or Restart).
3. Wait 30 to 60 seconds for the phone to turn off completely and re-energize.

If the icon is left after the reboot, try a forced reboot (if the phone is frozen):

Press the power button + volume button for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes out.

Some models (such as the Xiaomi 12 Pro) may need to press Power + Volume Down. After a forced reboot, check if the icon has disappeared. If not, move on to the next method.

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If the phone doesn’t respond to the buttons, plug it into charging for 5-10 minutes, and then try to reboot again.

Method 2: Cleaning the headphone jack

If the reboot didn’t work, the problem is probably physical contamination of the connector, and dust, pocket pile, or contact oxidation can create a false signal about the headphones being connected, especially for models with 3.5 mm connectors (Redmi 9A, Poco C31, etc.).

How to clean the connector without the risk of damaging the phone:

• 🕯️ Use a wooden toothpick – gently, without pressing, walk through the internal contacts, removing visible dirt.
• 💨 Blow the connector with compressed air (such as a canister for cleaning equipment). Do not use moist air from the mouth!
• 🧴 Wipe the contacts with alcohol - moisten the cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol (at least 90%) and gently wipe the metal parts.
• ⚠️ Do not use metal objects – needles, paper clips or knives can damage your contacts.

After cleaning, wait 5-10 minutes for the alcohol to completely evaporate, then plug and turn off the headphones 2-3 times. If the icon remains, go to software methods.

⚠️ Attention: On models with USB-C (For example, Xiaomi 13 Lite, headphone jack is combined with charging. Be careful when cleaning, damage to the contacts can lead to charging problems!

Method 3: Resetting the sound settings in MIUI

If the physical cleanup didn't work, the problem lies in the software settings. MIUI has a hidden reset option that often solves the problem with the "hung" headphone icon.

Instructions for resetting sound settings:

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Scroll down and select Additional Settings (or Advanced Sound Settings).
3. Find Reset sound settings (on some firmware it is hidden - see spoiler below).
4. Confirm the reset and restart the phone.

If the Reset audio settings item is not on the menu, try an alternative method:

1. Open the Phone app and type ##3644633##.


2. In the engineering menu, select Hardware Testing → Audio.




3. Press Headset Mode and select Disable.




4. Save settings and restart the phone.

⚠️ Note: The engineering menu (#3644633##) may differ from model to model. Do not change other settings unless you are sure of their purpose!

1. Close all applications that use sound (music, video, games)

2. Turn off Bluetooth headphones or speakers

3. Make sure nothing is inserted into the connector

4. Connect the phone to charge (recommended for stability)-->

Method 4: Update or roll back the MIUI firmware

If the headphone icon appeared after the MIUI update, the problem may be the firmware bug. Xiaomi regularly releases patches to fix such errors, so check for updates first:

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 and install it (be sure to connect to Wi-Fi).

If the update didn't work or it didn't, try to roll back on the previous version of MIUI. It's a risky move, but sometimes it only helps.

• 📥 Download old firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website.
• 🔄 Use the Mi Flash Tool to install (instructions in spoiler below).
• ⚠️ Make a backup copy - rollback will reset all data!

If you are not confident in your abilities, you should wait for an official fix from Xiaomi. rolling back the firmware can lead to a loss of warranty or lock the bootloader.

Method 5: Radical Reset – Reset to factory settings

If none of these methods worked, the last resort is to completely reset your phone, which will delete all the data, but return the system to its original state by eliminating software failures.

• 📱 Contact and SMS — sync with your Google Account or export to a file.
• 📷 Photos and videos – copy to PC or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud).
• 🎵 Music and documents – transfer to a memory card or external drive.

Resetting instructions:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
2. Choose to erase all data (or Factory Reset).
3. Enter. PIN-code (if required) and confirm the reset.
4. After restarting, set your phone as new.

On some models (for example, Xiaomi 11T) reset can be performed through the Recovery mode:

1. Turn off the phone.


2.Cut Power + Volume up until the Mi logo appears.




3. From the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.




4. Confirm the action and wait for the completion.

⚠️ Note: On phones with Bootloader Unlocked, a reset may result in a device lock. Before the procedure, check the bootloader status in Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times on "Core").

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Factory resets delete all data, including accounts, photos, and apps, and use this method only if other methods have failed.

Table: Compatibility of methods with Xiaomi models

Not all methods are equally effective for different Xiaomi smartphones, and the table below provides recommendations for choosing a method depending on the model and type of connector:

If your model isn't in the spreadsheet, start by rebooting and cleaning the connector — these are universal methods. For flagships (Xiaomi 14, Mix Fold 3), updating the firmware more often helps.

What do you do if nothing helps?

If you've tried all the ways and the headphone icon is still there, the problem may be a hardware malfunction.

• 🔧 You can go to the service center, if you have a warranty, it's free to repair it, and it costs 500 to 1000. ₽.
• 🛒 Replace the connector yourself - on AliExpress sold parts for popular models (price: 200-800) ₽). Requires rationing skills.
• 📵 Disable the display of the icon is a radical way: disable notifications about the connection of headphones through ADB (spoiler).

To disable the icons via ADB:

1. Install ADB on your PC (instruction: https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/adb).


2. Connect the phone and enter the command:




adb shell settings put global headsethook_audio_state 0




3. Reset the device.

⚠️ Attention: Teams ADB They can disrupt the system, and only use them if you understand the risks!

If the headphone icon only appears when connecting to charging, the problem is short-circuiting the USB-C contacts. In this case, repair is mandatory - further use of the phone can lead to battery damage.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the headphone icon on Xiaomi