Connecting Mi True Wireless to Xiaomi smartphone: full instruction with tips and life hacks

Mi True Wireless headphones (including Basic models) 2, Earbuds 2, Air 2/3) They have become an integral part of Xiaomi’s ecosystem through a combination of sound, compactness and affordable pricing, but even experienced users sometimes have difficulty connecting to a smartphone for the first time — especially when it comes to newer versions. MIUI 14 Android 13/14, In this article, we'll look at not only the basic pairing process, but also the nuances that the manufacturer doesn't mention in the official documentation.

It’s important to understand that the connection algorithm may differ depending on your phone’s firmware version and headphone model. For example, Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 requires a different order of action than the Air 3 Pro with support. LDAC. We took all of these features into account and put together a universal guide that will cover 95% of the time, but if your headphone model is released after 2023, check the relevance of the information at the end of the article - here we give the data on the latest updates.

1. Preparation of headphones and telephone for pairing

Before you start connecting, make sure both devices are ready for the procedure. A common user error is trying to pair with a discharged headphone or in low power mode, which leads to malfunctions and the inability to detect the device.

The following requirements apply to Mi True Wireless:

• 🔋 Headphone charge level: at least 30% (optimally 50% or higher) and you can check the charge using the indicator on the case: flashing red light means critical level, green - full charge.
• 📱 Version. MIUI on the phone: not lower than 11.0 (for headphone models 2020)+ On Android 10 and older, pairing is possible, but features like Double Touch or Adaptive Sound may not be available.
• 🔄 Pairing mode: Headphones should be in a “connection-ready” state (on how to activate it, see the next section).

Also check what's on the phone:

• 📶 Bluetooth enabled (in the Quick Settings menu or through Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth).
• 🚫 Disabled other wireless devices (columns, fitness bracelets), which can cause interference.
• 🔄 No active VPN or energy saving modes that block background processes.

⚠️ Note: If you have previously connected these headphones to another device (for example, a laptop or tablet), they must be reset to factory settings. Otherwise, the Xiaomi phone may not find them in the list of available devices.

2. Activation of the pairing mode on the headphones

Unlike wired headphones, Mi True Wireless models require manual activation of the Passing Mode.

For Basic models 1/2, Earbuds 2 air 2:

1. Take both earphones out of the case. They'll automatically turn on.
2. Press the touchpad on both headphones at the same time on 5-7 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white alternately.

For Air. 3/Air 3 Pro and newer:

1. Open the cover of the case. The headphones will turn on automatically.
2. Press and hold the button on the back of the case for 3 seconds until the indicator flashes white.
3. Close and open the case again - the headphones will go into pairing mode.

If the indicators do not flash or burn in a monolithic color, this means:

• 🔴 Red - battery discharged (charge the case).
• 🟢 Green – Headphones are already connected to another device (reset is needed).
• 🔵 Blue – Game Mode is active (turn it off in the headphone settings).

3. Step-by-step connection to Xiaomi phone

When the headphones are ready to pair, go to the phone setup. Let's take a look at the process. MIUI 14 (relevant to Xiaomi 13/12/11 series, Redmi Note 12/11 etc.):

1. Open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
2. Activate the Bluetooth slider (if it is turned off).
3. In the list of "Available devices" find the name of your headphones. It may look like: Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 Redmi AirDots 3 (for some regions) LE-XXX (where XXX — unique identifier)

Click on the headphone name. You'll get a request for confirmation of pairing, you'll agree.

"Connected."

Nana MIUI 12 and below the path may be different: → Bluetooth (without the attached Connections menu) and older firmware versions may require input PIN-code - default is 0000 or 1234.

After successful connection, we recommend:

• 🎧 Check the sound balance in the settings → Sound. → Headphone balance (relevant for models with support) AAC/aptX).
• 🔊 Turn off absolute volume in Settings → Additionally. → Developer if the sound is too quiet.
• 🔄 Update the firmware of the headphones (if available) through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app.

4. Configure additional functions

Basic connectivity isn't enough to unlock the full potential of Mi True Wireless, depending on the headphone model and version. MIUI The following options are available:

The Game Mode feature deserves special attention. It reduces the latency of sound to 80-100 It's critical for games or video, but activating this mode increases the battery consumption of the headphones. 15-20%. To turn it on:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open the Settings. → Connections → Headphones → Game mode.
3. Activate the slider, and you'll see an icon in the top panel. 🎮.

⚠️ Note: On some phone models (for example, POCO X3 Redmi 9: Game Mode may conflict with LDAC-codec, causing interruptions to sound. LDAC Bluetooth.

💡

If the sound is interrupted after connecting, try turning off Bluetooth. A2DP Hardware Offload in the developer settings. This will solve the problem on 80% of devices with the help of the software. MIUI 13.

5. Resetting headphones to factory settings

If the headphones are not connected, periodically switched off or not detected by the phone, a hard reset will be required.

For Mi True Wireless Basic 1/2 and Earbuds 2:

1. Put both earphones in the case.
2. Open the cover.
3. Press the touchpads on both headphones for 15 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white alternately.
4. Close the case, then open again - the reset is complete.

For Air. 2/3/3 Pro:

1. Open the cover.
2. Press and hold the button on the case for 10 seconds until the indicator flashes red.
3. Release the button. The headphones will automatically reboot.

After the headphones are dropped:

• 🔄 Lose all the saved connections.
• 🔊 The factory sound settings will be returned (including: EQ).
• 📱 You will need to re-connect with the phone.

6. Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even after a successful connection, users face common bugs, and we've collected the most common ones and ways to fix them:

The problem of one-way sound is particularly noteworthy, and if the left or right earpiece is silent:

1. Check if the speaker is not contaminated (clean carefully with a cotton swab).
2. Make sure the headphones are synchronized with each other (the indicators should flash the same).
3. In Bluetooth phone settings, forget the device (Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth → ⚙️ → Forget it, then plug it back in.

If the problem persists, try connecting the headphones to another device (like a laptop), and if they work normally, the problem is with your Xiaomi phone settings.

💡

Before contacting the service center, check whether the Double Audio mode is activated on your phone (in some firmware, it duplicates the sound only on one device).

7. Sound and battery optimization

To extend the headphones and improve the sound quality, follow these guidelines:

To increase autonomy:

• 🔋 Turn off the Game Mode if you are not playing.
• 🎵 Use the codec. SBC instead AAC (less battery consumption).
• 📵 Keep your headphones in your case when not in use – they automatically turn off.

To improve sound:

• 🎛️ Turn on Adaptive Sound (if supported).
• 🎧 Set up the equalizer in Settings → Sound. → Equalizer (recommended preset Bass for music or Voice for podcasts).
• 🔊 Turn off Absolute Volume in the Developer Settings.

Average Mi True Wireless operating time depending on the model:

• Basic 2: up to 4 hours (with a case - up to 12 hours).
• Air 2/2S: before 5 hours (with a cover - up to 20 hours).
• Air 3 Pro: Up to 6 hours (s) ANC) or 7 hours without ANC).

8. Update to the headphone firmware

The manufacturer regularly releases updates for Mi True Wireless, fixing bugs and adding new features, to update the firmware:

1. Install the Xiaomi Wear or Mi Home app from Google Play.
2. Put the headphones on the phone.
3. Open the app and find your headphones in the list of devices.
4. If an update is available, a firmware update notification will appear – follow the instructions on the screen.

Important nuances:

• 🔋 Make sure the headphones and case are over 50%.
• 📶 Connect your phone to Wi-Fi – Update weighs up to 10MB.
• ⏳ Don't interrupt! This can lead to loss of headphone functionality.

The latest firmware versions (as of June 2026):

• Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2: 1.7.0.3 (fixed connection issues) MIUI 14).
• Redmi AirDots 3: 2.1.0.5 (Advanced Support) LC3-codec).
• Xiaomi Air 3 Pro: 3.0.1.8 (improved noise reduction)

⚠️ Warning: If the headphones stop connecting after the upgrade, reset (section 5) and re-pair. 5% of the time, the phone needs to restart.

FAQ: Frequent questions