How to set up Xiaomi Mi True Wireless headphones: a complete guide from connectivity to fine tuning

Xiaomi Mi True Wireless headphones (including Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2, Mi Air 2 models) SE Mi AirDots Pro 2 is one of the most popular TWS-But many users face problems when they first set up, from the difficulty of pairing headphones together to the incorrect operation of touch controls. This article will help you understand all the nuances – from basic connection to hidden functions that are not written in the official instructions.

We will look not only at the standard steps (how to connect to Android or iPhone), but also at advanced settings: updating the firmware through Mi Home, customizing gestures, optimizing sound through an equalizer and solving typical problems like single earbud discharge or intermittent sound. We will pay special attention to models with support LC3-codecs (e.g. Mi True Wireless Earbuds 3) where codec customization can significantly improve sound quality.

1. Preparation of headphones for the first use

Before setting up, make sure your Xiaomi Mi True Wireless is fully charged. The indicator on the case should be white (charging is complete) or orange (processing is underway).

To activate the headphones:

• 🔋 Get both headphones out of the case – they should automatically turn on (white indicator flashes).
• 🎧 Wait for the “Power on” sound signal (in some models – double-click sound).
• 🔄 Headphones should synchronize with each other (indicators flash alternately red and white). If this does not happen, see the section "What to do if the headphones do not pair".

Important: If you bought used headphones, reset to factory settings (instruction in section 3) to remove the binding to the previous device and avoid connection problems.

2. Connection to a smartphone: Android and iOS

The process of connecting to Android and iPhone differs due to the features of the operating systems. on Android (especially on smartphones). Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO) Additional features are available through the Mi Home app, while on iOS headphones work in basic mode.

For Android:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth and enable device search.
2. In the list, find Mi True Wireless (the name may vary depending on the model).
3. Click on the device and confirm pairing. Some Xiaomi smartphones will be notified of the possibility of installing Mi Home for advanced features.
4. If the headphones support dual mode (for example, Mi Air 2 SE), the option “Use both headphones at the same time” will appear in the Bluetooth settings.

For iOS (iPhone/iPad):

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Bluetooth.
• 🔍 Wait for Mi True Wireless to appear on the list and tap on it.
• ⚠️ On iOS may not have an indicator of the level of charge of headphones in the status bar (solved by installing third-party applications like Battery Widget).
• 🎵 Use standard gestures to control playback (see Section 4).

Critical feature: Xiaomi Mi True Wireless headphones with Qualcomm QCC3040 chip (such as Mi True Wireless Earbuds 3) support AAC codec for iOS and aptX Adaptive for Android. To activate aptX, select "Sound Quality Priority" in the Bluetooth settings of the smartphone (available on Xiaomi/Redmi with MIUI 12+).

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If the headphones aren’t determined on your iPhone, try resetting the list of Bluetooth devices in the settings (Settings → Bluetooth → “i” next to the device → Forget this device).

3. synchronize headphones with each other and reset settings

One of the most common problems is when one earphone connects to the phone and the other is silent or working separately, and this is due to a failure in sync between the earphones, and this is solved in two ways:

Method 1: Forced synchronization

1. Place both headphones in the charging case.
2. Close the lid and wait 10 seconds.
3. Remove the headphones and hold the touchpads on both headphones for 15 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white.
4. Place the headphones back in the case – they should sync automatically (the indicators will light up white).

Method 2: Complete reset (Hard Reset)

If synchronization doesn’t help, do a full reset:

Make sure your headphones are over 30%|

Place both headphones in the case and close the lid |

Press and hold the button on the case (if any) or touch panels on the headphones for 20 seconds |

Wait for the flashing of red indicators (3 times) and the sound signal "Reset complete" |

Reconnect your headphones to your phone as a new device-->

After resetting, all gesture settings and Bluetooth profiles will be deleted. On models with Mi Home support (such as Mi Air 2 SE), you will need to re-attach the headphones to your Xiaomi account.

⚠️ Note: Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 headphones do not have a physical reset button on the case. Use only touch panels (hold 20 seconds) for them).

4. setting up sensory control (gestures)

All Xiaomi Mi True Wireless models support gesture control, but their configuration depends on the firmware and model.

To change the purpose of the gestures:

1. Install the Mi Home app (available for Android and iOS).
2. Connect the headphones to the application through Add the device → Headphones.
3. Go to headphone settings → gesture management.
4. Select the headphone (left/right) and assign a new action from the list (e.g., “Game Mode Activation” or “ANC Switch”).

Hidden feature: On models with game mode (Mi True Wireless Earbuds 3), holding the touchpad on both headphones simultaneously activates low latency (latency ~80 ms) This is useful for watching videos or games where synchronization of sound is important.

5. Update firmware and solve sound problems

Updating the firmware can fix communication bugs, improve sound quality or add new features (e.g. LC3 support in Mi True Wireless Earbuds 3).

1. Connect the headphones to the app.
2. If an update is available, a notification will appear with the "Update" button.
3. Make sure the headphone charge level is >50% and confirm the installation.
4. Do not remove the headphones from the case and do not close the application until completion (the process takes ~3-5 minutes).

Typical Sound Problems and Their Solutions:

• 🔊 Intermittent sound: Turn off Bluetooth on your phone and reconnect your headphones. If the problem persists, reset your headphones (section 3).
• 🎵 Low Sound Quality: In your Bluetooth phone settings, select “Sound Quality Priority” (for aptX) or turn off HD Audio (if there is a stuttering).
• 🔋 Fast discharge of one earpiece: This may be caused by a battery malfunction or a permanent sensor activation.Check the sensitivity of gestures (section 4).

⚠️ After the firmware update on Mi True Wireless Earbuds 3 may be missing support LC3 on older smartphones (up to Android 10). in this case, roll back the firmware through Mi Home (in the section About the device" → "Firmware version" → "Recoil").

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Updating the firmware through Mi Home is the only official way. Don't use third-party firmware: it can cause the headphones to fail or lose function.

6. Additional features: ANC, Game Mode, Equalizer

Advanced Xiaomi Mi True Wireless models (such as Mi AirDots Pro 2 or Mi True Wireless Earbuds 3) support additional features that often go unnoticed:

Active noise cancellation (ANC)

To activate the ANC:

• 🎧 Hold the touch panel on the left earphone for 2 seconds (until the beep).
• 🔊 Switch modes: ANC → Transparent mode → Off.
• 📱 In Mi Home you can adjust the intensity of noise reduction (weak / medium / strong).

The game mode (Low Latency)

To reduce the sound delay:

1. Activate the mode through Mi Home (Settings → Game mode).
2. Or use a gesture: Hold both touch panels at the same time for 3 seconds (up to a double beep).

In this mode, the latency is reduced to 80-100 ms (versus 150-200 ms in standard mode), but the sound quality is slightly degraded due to the use of the SBC codec.

Equalizer setting

In Mi Home, 5 pre-installed profiles are available:

• 🎶 Balance (neutral sound)
• 🎸 Bass (reinforced low frequencies)
• 🎤 Vocals (underlined medium frequencies)
• 🎻 Classics (extended high frequencies)
• 🎧 Custom (manual 60Hz band setting – 16kHz)

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For better sound in subways or noisy places, select a Bass profile and activate the ANC. This will compensate for external noise and improve the perception of low frequencies.

7. Extension of service life: care and charge optimization

The average battery life of Xiaomi Mi True Wireless is 2-3 years with heavy use.

• 🔋 Do not keep your headphones discharged for more than 1 month – this leads to battery degradation.
• ☀️ Avoid overheating (do not leave the case under direct sunlight or near heat sources).
• 🔌 Use the original cable USB-C for case charging (low-quality cables can damage the power controller).
• 📵 Turn off Bluetooth on your phone when the headphones aren’t in use – this reduces background charge consumption.

Charge optimization:

• 🔄 Once a month, perform a full discharge / charge cycle (discharge headphones to 0% and charge to 100%).
• 🛑 Do not use headphones while charging the case - this increases the load on the battery.
• 📊 You can also enable the option “Optimized Charging” in the Mi Home, which limits the charge to 80% to extend the battery life.

⚠️ Attention: If the case stopped charging the headphones, check the contacts for oxidation. Clean them with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Do not use metal objects - this can damage the contacts!

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Mi True Wireless