Why Xiaomi Headphones Can't See Each Other and How to Fix It in 10 Minutes

Did you get Xiaomi Redmi Buds 4 Pro or Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro headphones out of your case, but instead of the usual sound signal, it's silence? One earphone connects to the phone, and the second one is silent or not detected at all? TWS-The reasons can be different from a simple discharge to a software failure in the firmware. 80% of the time the problem is solved without going to the service center - just follow the checklist from this article.

We analyzed user reviews on the 4PDA and Mi Community forums, as well as official Xiaomi recommendations to collect all working ways to restore communication between headphones. Importantly, if your headphones got into the water or were mechanically damaged, first check them for physical malfunctions (see "When it's time to carry to the service").

1. Checking of base conditions: case, charging and indicators

Before digging deeper, make sure the problem isn't with the basics. Most often, Xiaomi headphones stop "seeing" each other because of:

• 🔋 Discharged cover (less than 20% charge)
• 🎧 Incorrect position of headphones in the case (contacts do not touch)
• 🔄 hung connection process (indicators do not burn as usual)

Here's what you need to do first:

1. Put both earbuds in the case and close the lid. Wait 10 seconds - they should automatically start charging (red/orange light will light up).
2. If the lights aren't on, check: Clear contact on the headphones and in the case (wipe with an alcohol napkin). Charge the case: plug it into the charger for 30 minutes.

Take the headphones out of the case - they should sync automatically (white/blue lights flash). If this does not happen, move to the next section.

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If the headphones Xiaomi Air 2 SE or Redmi Buds 3 Lite are not charged in the case, try to change their places – sometimes helps reset contacts.

Pay attention to the color and behavior of the indicators:

If the indicators do not behave as in the table, or one of the headphones does not show signs of life at all, move to reset settings (section 3).

2.Reboot the headphones and reset Bluetooth on the phone

Sometimes the problem isn't with the headphones themselves, but with a Bluetooth smartphone or with other connected devices, and here's a step-by-step guide that helps 60 percent of the time:

1. Turn off Bluetooth on your phone: On Android: Go to Settings → Connected Devices → Bluetooth and deactivate the switch. On iPhone: Open Control and tap the Bluetooth icon.
2. Remove headphones from the list of devices: On Android: find Xiaomi Buds in the list, tap on ⚙️ → «Forget the device. On iOS: press "i" next to the headphone name → «Forget this device».
3. Reset the headphones: Put both earphones in the case. Close the lid and wait 15 seconds. Open the lid - the headphones should automatically turn on and sync (blue light flashes).

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone

If the headphones still don’t sync after these manipulations, try resetting the Bluetooth settings on your phone:

• 📱 On Android: Go to Settings → System system → Reset → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth.
• 🍎 On iPhone: Settings → Mainstream → Removing or resetting iPhone → Reset → Reset the network settings.

⚠️ Note: after resetting the network on the iPhone will also reset the saved Wi-Fi passwords!

3. Hard Reset (Hard Reset)

If the basic methods didn't work, it's time to reset the headphones completely, which will bring them back to factory settings and often solve synchronization problems. TWS-headphones, but may be slightly different for older versions (e.g., 1st generation Redmi AirDots).

Here is the universal way of resetting:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Connect the case to the charger (even if it is charged).
3. Press and hold the button on the case (usually located behind or below) for 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white (or red and blue – depending on the model).
4. Release the button. The headphones will reset, and the case will start flashing white (pair mode).
5. Get the headphones out of the case – they should automatically synchronize (blitzes blue light on both).

Charge the case at least 30% |

Make sure both earphones are in the case |

Connect the case to the charger (required!)|

Find the reset button (usually behind the cover)-->

For some models (such as Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro or Redmi Buds 4 Active), the reset is done differently:

• 🎵 No button on your case: Press the touch panels on both headphones simultaneously for 10-15 seconds until you hear the beep.
• 🔄 With a button inside the case: open the lid, press the button 5 times in a row, then hold it for 10 seconds.

Once reset, the headphones will be like new ones, you have to reconnect them to your phone via Bluetooth, and if that doesn't work, the problem could be the firmware or the hardware.

4. Update to the headphone firmware

Synchronization failures often arise from outdated firmware. Xiaomi regularly releases updates for its own hardware. TWS-Check and update the firmware through the official Mi Home or Xiaomi Earphones app (depending on the model).

Instructions for updating:

1. Install the app: For Redmi Buds: Mi Home. For Xiaomi Buds: Xiaomi Earphones.

Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.

Open the app and select your headphones from the device list.

Firmware update

Firmware Update

Update

After updating the firmware, the headphones will automatically restart and should sync. If the app says "failed to update" or "connection error", try:

• 📵 Shut down. VPN Proxies on your phone (they can block Xiaomi servers).
• 📶 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes the update is not downloaded via mobile Internet).
• 🔄 Reinstall the Mi app Home/Xiaomi Earphones.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the firmware update process! If the headphones run out or communication is interrupted, they may stop turning on. In this case, you will need firmware through Fastboot (see section 6).

5. Checking for hardware malfunctions

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be hardware, and here are the signs that the headphones need to be brought into service:

• 🔊 One of the headphones does not turn on at all (does not respond to pressing, the indicator does not burn).
• 💧 Headphones fell into the water or were subjected to severe humidity.
• 🔌 Contacts on headphones or in a case have become blackened, oxidized or deformed.
• 🔋 The case does not charge or discharge in a few minutes.
• 🎵 The sound in one of the headphones is distorted (wheezing, crackling, no low frequency).

Before you bring headphones to the service, try to diagnose the problem yourself:

If you suspect moisture, try drying your headphones:

1. Put them in a dry place (such as a box of silica gel) for 24 hours.
2. Do not use a dryer or other heating appliances!
3. After drying, try resetting (Section 3).

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If Xiaomi headphones stopped syncing after a fall or impact, there is a high probability of mechanical damage to the antenna or Bluetooth chip, in which case repair in the service will cost less than buying new headphones (the average repair price is 1,500-3000). ₽).

6. Headphone firmware through PC (advanced method)

If the headphones don't respond to resets and are not updated through the app, the last option is to manually run the firmware through the computer, which is suitable for power users and requires Windows PCs, Type-C cable (or Micro-USB, depending on the case model) and special software.

Here's what you're gonna need:

• 🖥️ Windows computer 7/10/11.
• 🔌 Cable for connecting the case to the PC (original!).
• 📁 Firmware for your model (you can download it at xiaomifirmware.com or 4PDA).
• 🛠️ MiFlash or Fastboot Tools.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install MiFlash.
2. Unpack the archive with the firmware in a folder (for example, C:\Xiaomi\Buds_Pro).
3. Connect the case to the PC without headphones!
4. Press the button on the case for 10 seconds to put it in Fastboot mode (the indicator should flash yellow).
5. Open MiFlash, press Select and select the firmware folder.
6. Press Refresh – Your device should appear in the list of devices (e.g., comfastboot).
7. Select Clean All at the bottom of the window and click Flash.
8. Wait for the process to be completed (5-10 minutes).

If MiFlash is giving you a “cannot receive hello packet” error, try it.


1. Reinstall Qualcomm drivers (download from https://qfiltool.com/).




2. connect the case to another USB- port (preferably USB 2.0).




3. Run MiFlash on behalf of the administrator.

⚠️ Warning: the wrong firmware can finally "brick" headphones! If you are not sure about your actions, contact the Xiaomi service center.

7.When it's time to carry in the service (and how much it will cost)

If you’ve tried all the methods in this article, but the headphones still don’t sync, it’s probably a hardware problem.

• 🔧 One of the headphones does not turn on at all (the indicator does not burn, does not respond to charging).
• 🔥 The headphones or covers overheat when used.
• 💥 Headphones fell from a height or were subjected to severe blows.
• 🌊 They were filled with liquid (even if they were dried).
• 🔊 The sound is completely absent in one of the headphones (while the indicators work).

Cost of repairs in official and informal service centers:

Where to fix:

• 🏢 Official Xiaomi service: warranty repair (if headphones are warranty) or paid: mi.com/ru/service.
• 🔧 Unofficial workshops: cheaper, but the risk of poor repairs.Look for good reviews on Yandex.Maps or 2GIS.

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If your headphones are warranty (usually 12 months), don't take them apart yourself! This will void the warranty.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi headphones