How to turn off headphones on Xiaomi Redmi 8: if the phone does not see the disconnection

You took the headphones out Xiaomi Redmi 8, but the phone still thinks they are connected? The sound continues to come through a non-existent headset, but the speakers are silent? This problem is familiar to many owners of budget Xiaomi smartphones, especially after prolonged use of the connector 3.5 mm or MIUI update. In 80% of cases, it is not a hardware defect that is to blame, but a software failure or dirty contacts.

In this article you will find 5 working methods disconnecting headphones on Redmi 8 —from the simplest reboot to deep cleaning of the system. We will analyze both standard methods through settings, as well as hidden MIUI functions that are not written about in the official instructions. And if the problem is in the hardware, we’ll show you how to diagnose a breakdown without visiting a service center.

Before you start, check the obvious: Have you completely removed the plug? from the connector? Sometimes it seems that the headphones are disconnected, but the connector is stuck inside by 1-2 mm. Shine a flashlight into the socket - if the metal tip is visible, carefully remove it with tweezers (not metal!).

Why Redmi 8 does not turn off the headphones: the main reasons

The smartphone may freeze in headphone mode for several reasons. Here are the most common:

• 🔌 Dirty 3.5 mm jack: dust, lint or oxidation of contacts imitate connecting a headset. This is especially true if you carry your phone in your pocket with keys or coins.
• 🤖 MIUI failure: Xiaomi operating shell sometimes does not process signals from the audio chip correctly. More often occurs after updates or installation of third-party firmware.
• 🔊 Problems with the audio driver: if the sound disappears completely or is distorted, a failure in audio_hw_primary (the main Android audio module) is to blame.
• 📱 Mechanical damage: falls or moisture can damage the connector contacts or the audio path on the motherboard.

The first three reasons can be eliminated by software, the fourth requires repair. As a rule, Redmi 8 rarely suffers from hardware failures in the audio system - this is a reliable model with a simple audio chip Qualcomm WCD9340. But if the phone has been dropped into water or dropped from a height, it is better to immediately check the connector with a multimeter.

⚠️ Attention: if, after disconnecting the headphones, the sound in the speakers appears only after a reboot, this is a sign of a failure in audio_policy.conf. In this case, resetting the settings or flashing the firmware will help.

Method 1: Reboot and check the connector (the fastest method)

Start with the basics - Forced reboot. This method works in 30% of cases when the failure is caused by a temporary process conflict:

1. Hold the button Power for 10-15 seconds until the screen goes dark.
2. Wait 30 seconds (this is important - let the capacitors discharge).
3. Turn on the phone and check the sound.

If rebooting does not help, inspect the connector 3.5 mm:

• 🔦 Shine a flashlight inside the socket - there should be no foreign objects (lint, dust, pieces of plastic).
• 🧲 Gently blow out the connector or clean it dry toothpick (do not use metal objects!).
• 💧 If the contacts are oxidized (green coating), wipe them with alcohol on a cotton swab.

After cleaning, connect and disconnect the headphones 2-3 times - this will help “wake up” the contacts. If the sound returned to the speakers, the problem was mechanical contamination.

Method 2: Disabling headphones through sound settings

MIUI hides some audio settings, but they can be accessed through Developer menu or standard settings. Follow the instructions:

1. Open Settings → Sound and vibration.
2. Scroll down to the section Additional settings.
3. Click Type of connected device (or Audio device in new versions of MIUI).
4. Select Phone speakers instead Headphones.

If there is no such item, try an alternative path:

Settings → Accessibility → Hearing settings → Audio device type

In some firmware Redmi 8 this parameter may be called Force use of speaker (forced use of speaker). If this method does not work, move on to more radical measures.

Check the connector for contamination

Restart the phone

Update MIUI to the latest version

Check the headphones on another device

Make a backup copy of your data -->

Method 3: Resetting sound settings (without data loss)

If a failure occurred at the audio driver level, this will help reset audio settings. This method does not affect your files, but will return all audio settings to factory settings:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Manage applications.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show system.
3. Find the application Media Storage (Media Storage) and open it.
4. Click Storage → Clear data and confirm.
5. Reboot the phone.

After the reboot, the system will rebuild the media database and reset the audio settings. This method often helps if the problem arose after connecting Bluetooth headphones or updating applications (for example, Spotify or YouTube Music).

⚠️ Attention: if after the reset Media Storage the album covers in the gallery disappeared, do not be alarmed. They will be restored in 5-10 minutes.

Method	Execution time	Efficiency	Risk of data loss
Reboot	1 minute	30%	No
Cleaning the connector	5 minutes	40%	No
Resetting sound settings	3 minutes	50%	No
MIUI update	10–15 minutes	60%	No
Factory reset	20 minutes	90%	Yes

Method 4: MIUI update or firmware rollback

If the problem appeared after system updates, a bug in the firmware is to blame. Redmi 8 officially supports MIUI up to version 12.5, but some users install custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience), which may conflict with audio drivers.

How to update MIUI:

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

If the problem appears after updates, try rolling back to the previous version:

• 📥 Download the old firmware from the official website Xiaomi (choose the version for Redmi 8 with code name olive).
• 🔄 Go to Settings → About phone → MIUI version and tap 7 times on the build number to activate developer mode.
• 🛠 Go back to Settings → Advanced → For developers and enable OEM unlocking.
• 📲 Connect your phone to the PC and use Mi Flash Tool flash the old version.

Important: if you are not confident in your firmware skills, it is better to contact the service. Incorrect firmware can turn Redmi 8 into a “brick.”

What to do if after the firmware the sound disappears completely?

If after updating or rolling back the firmware the sound disappears completely (including speakers and headphones), most likely the audio driver has failed. In this case:

1. Install the zip file with the driver via TWRP WCD9340 for your version of MIUI.

2. Or perform a full reset via Fastboot with the command:

fastboot erase config fastboot flash system system.img

This will return the stock drivers, but will delete all data.

Method 5: Complete reset (last resort)

If none of the methods helped, remains hard reset. This will delete all data from the phone, so make a backup first:

1. Go to Settings → About phone → Backup and reset.
2. Select Reset settings.
3. Check Clear everything and confirm.
4. After reboot, set up the phone as new.

In 95% of cases, this the method solves the problem, as it returns all system files, including audio_policy.conf and mixer_paths.xmlto their factory state. If even after resetting the headphones do not turn off, the problem is definitely in the hardware (connector or audio chip).

⚠️ Attention: before resetting, remove the memory card and SIM, if installed. In rare cases, MIUI also formats external drives.

Diagnosing hardware faults

If software methods do not work, it's time check hardware. Here's how to diagnose a hardware failure:

• 🔍 Checking the connector with a multimeter:
  • Switch the multimeter to resistance testing mode (200 Ohms).
  • Connect the probes to the connector contacts (left/right channel and ground).
  • If the resistance tends to infinity, contact broken.
• 🎧 Test with other headphones: connect a headset that is known to work. If the phone does not recognize it, the problem is in the connector.
• 🔊 Checking the speakers: call the phone. If the interlocutor hears you, but you cannot hear him, the audio path is to blame.

Typical hardware failures Redmi 8:

• 🔌 Failure of connector contacts (more often after falls).
• 💧 Corrosion from moisture (even if the phone did not sink, condensation can oxidize the tracks).
• 🔥 Overheating of the audio chip (if the phone often overheated while playing games).

Repair cost in service:

• Replacement of connector 3.5 mm: ~800–1200 ₽.
• Audio path repair: ~1500–2500 ₽.
• Replacement of audio chip: ~3000 ₽ (unprofitable for Redmi 8).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about disconnecting headphones on Redmi 8

My Redmi 8 says “Connected”. headphones", but they are not in the connector. What should I do?

First, clean the connector from dust with a toothpick. If this does not help, restart the phone in Safe Mode (press the power button → long tap on “Turn off” → “Safe Mode”) If the problem disappears in Safe Mode, one of the installed applications is to blame. (most often music players or modified firmware).

After connecting Bluetooth headphones, the phone does not switch back to the speakers. How to fix?

This is a MIUI bug. Settings → Connected devices, find your Bluetooth headphones and click “Forget device”. Then restart your phone. If the problem persists, disable the option in the developer settings Disable absolute Bluetooth volume.

Can I turn off the headphones through the engineering menu?

Yes, but it's risky. Enter the code in the dialer ##36446337##, go to Hardware Testing → Audio → Headset Mode and select Disable. Do not change other parameters - this may disrupt the operation of the communication module.

Resetting did not help - what to do further?

If even a full reset does not solve the problem, there are two options left:

1. Flash the phone through Fastboot with complete cleaning (fastboot erase userdata).
2. Take it to a service center to diagnose the connector or audio chip. For Redmi 8 repair will cost less than buying a new phone.

Is it possible to use a phone without a 3.5 mm jack if it is broken?

Yes. Connect Bluetooth headphones or use USB-C adapter (for example, Xiaomi Type-C to 3.5mmin the sound settings (Settings → Sound → Advanced) disable the option Automatic switching to headphones.