The situation when one headphone from the set Xiaomi TWS stops working or does not want to connect to the smartphone, is familiar to many users. Most often, the problem lies not in the hardware breakdown, but in the desynchronization of communication channels between the left and right modules. When devices lose communication with each other, they start to work in mono mode or one of them simply does not turn on, remaining in a “sleeping” standby. Understanding the principle of operation of True Wireless Stereo is critical for successful recovery.
Modern models, whether Xiaomi Redmi Buds, AirDots or Mi True Wireless Earbuds, use complex algorithms to automatically pair. However, software failures, battery discharge to zero or connection to a new signal source can disrupt this process. You do not need to carry the gadget to the service center, because in 90% of cases the problem can be solved by yourself by performing the right sequence of actions to restart and force pairing.
In this guide, we'll look at all the steps to restore the second headphone, from basic contact checks to deep resets. It's important to be consistent and not miss steps, because press timings are crucial to the success of the operation. The key is to remove both headphones from the case at the same time only after the reset procedure is complete. Let's go through the process in detail.
Diagnostics and primary charging check
Before you start complex manipulations with a software reset, you need to rule out the trivial physical causes of the malfunction. Often the second earphone does not turn on simply because its battery is completely discharged or the contact areas have become contaminated. Visually inspect both devices for oxidation or moisture that could block the current supply.
Carefully wipe the contacts on the headphones themselves and inside the charging case with a dry cotton swab. Even a microscopic layer of fat or dust can prevent charging, which prevents the indicator from lighting up and the device does not give signs of life. Make sure that the case is charged, as some Xiaomi models do not transmit power at the low charge level of the case itself.
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Put the headphones in your case and leave them to charge for at least 30-40 minutes, even if the indicator does not light up immediately.The deep discharge of the lithium-ion battery takes time to "rock" before starting active charging.
After cleaning and charging for a long time, try to remove the devices. If the LED on the problem earphone catches fire but there is no sound, move on to the next step. If there is no reaction at all, perhaps the problem lies deeper, but the chances of recovery are still high.
- 🔋 Check the charge indicators on the case and the headphones themselves after 30 minutes in charging.
- 🧹 Wipe the contact areas with an alcohol napkin or dry cloth.
- 📱 Make sure that Bluetooth on your smartphone is temporarily turned off during diagnosis.
- 👀 Visually inspect the speaker grid for sulfur or debris.
Removing old Bluetooth profile
One of the most common reasons why Xiaomi’s second headphone doesn’t connect is because of the conflict between the old pairing settings in the smartphone’s memory.The phone may be trying to connect to the device as two separate gadgets (left and right ear separately) rather than as a single stereo system, creating a logical error that blocks one channel from working.
To resolve the conflict, you need to completely remove the device from the forgotten list. Go to your mobile phone’s Bluetooth settings, look for Xiaomi Earbuds (or a specific model, such as Redmi AirDots), and select the option “Forget the device” or “Unpair.” Repeat this procedure if the list shows duplicates with the names “L” and “R”.
☑️ Cleaning up the Bluetooth list
After deleting the profile, it is recommended to restart the smartphone itself.This will clear the cache of the Bluetooth module and start the services again, which often helps to avoid errors when re-searching.
Now that the old junk is gone, the system is ready to create a new, clean connection. It is important to understand that until you reset the headphones themselves (which will be discussed in the next section), a simple reconnection may not help, since the error can be preserved in the internal memory of the headset.
Full Reset (Hard Reset) Method
Factory reset is the most effective way to make headphones forget each other and re-pair. In the process of resetting, the device’s internal memory is cleared of temporary errors and old connection profiles. The procedure may differ slightly from one model to another, but the general principle is the same.
There are two main methods of resetting: through touch panels and through physical buttons on the case. If your model has a button on the case (usually between the indicators or on the back), put the headphones in the case, open the lid and press the button for 15-20 seconds. The indicators should start flashing white, which signals success.
⚠️ Attention: If you use the touchpad method, make sure the headphones are outside the case. Press the touch areas on both headphones simultaneously and hold the headphones close to the headset. 5-7 Then, after a few seconds, turn it off, and then repeat the long-term press. 20 seconds) before the indicators are switched on and flashed.
In some models, such as the Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 2, the reset is done by four times quickly touching the touch zone. The exact instructions for your model are better checked with the official manual, since the firmware may differ.
What if the reset doesn’t work the first time?
The process of re-synchronization of headphones
After a successful reset, the most important step is the primary pairing of the left and right earphones, and many users make the mistake of trying to connect them to the phone right away, and the devices must first find each other and combine into a single stereo pair.
Remove both earbuds from the case at the same time. Don't touch them or press buttons for 5-10 seconds. At which point they should automatically connect to each other. You'll find that the process was successful if one of the headphones (usually right) the indicator goes out or flashes slowly, and the other continues to blink, signaling the search mode.
Now you can activate Bluetooth on your smartphone and start looking for devices, and you should only have one name on your headset, not two separate ones, and if you see two devices, you don't have ear sync, and you need to repeat the reset procedure.
| Model headphones | Case indicator | Action for discharge | Indication of success |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi AirDots | Red/White | 5 touches of the sensor | Double blinking. |
| Mi True Wireless 2 | White | 4 touches of the sensor | Fast blinking. |
| Xiaomi Buds 3 | Orange | Case button (10 seconds) | Orange blinking |
| AirDots Essential | Red. | Sensor retention (20 seconds) | Triple flashing. |
It's important to take your time at this point, and if you pull your headphones out of the case at different times, they may not be synchronized, and always remove them at the same time or with a minimum of half a second of latency.
Use of the Xiaomi Earbuds app
For owners of devices working in the Xiaomi ecosystem, the official Xiaomi Earbuds app (or Mi Wear for older models) is an excellent diagnostic tool, which allows you not only to connect headphones, but also to check the status of each channel separately, update firmware and adjust gestures.
If standard methods fail to turn on the second earphone, try connecting a working earphone to the application. The device menu often displays the charge of the left and right modules. If the application shows the charge of only one earphone, this confirms that the connection between them is lost and a reset is required.
You can check firmware updates through the app. Sometimes, a desynchronization bug is known to developers, and they release a patch that fixes the stablework Bluetooth connection. Updating the firmware through the app is a more reliable way than waiting for an automatic update via your phone.
- 📲 Download the app from the official store (Google Play or App Store).
- 🔗 Connect the headphones and wait for the model definition.
- 🔄 Check the “Update” section and install a new version if it is available.
- 🎛️ In the settings, try changing the connection priority or resetting through the application interface.
The use of software is especially relevant for advanced models with active noise cancellation, where the software part is more complicated, and the application can show a connection error of a particular channel, which will help to more accurately diagnose the problem.
Solving problems with specific models
Different Xiaomi lines have their own characteristics. For example, in the Redmi AirDots series, a common problem is “falling asleep” one of the headphones, which stops coming out of sleep mode, in which case it helps to put both headphones in the case, close the lid and wait for 1 minute before re-extracting.
Mi True Wireless Earphones models sometimes require resetting via the Mi Buds app. If the physical button on the case doesn't respond, check if it's software-locked. Some versions also require pressing the button on the case with the lid closed, which is different from the standard procedure.
⚠️ Attention: When working with models without a button on the case (touch control only), it is critical to keep the rhythm of the pressing. Pressing too quickly or too long can be perceived as a command to "answer the call" or "activate the assistant" rather than resetting.
If you have a Xiaomi FlipBuds model or other hybrid variants, make sure the headphone leg fits tightly with the contacts in the deep well of the case.Some cases are designed with very precise positioning to start charging and resetting.
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The success of the second headphone recovery in 95% of cases depends on a correctly performed reset (Hard Reset) and the subsequent synchronization of the pair between each other before the connection to the phone.