How to connect Xiaomi wireless headphones to each other: TWS-mode and elimination

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones are among the most popular smartphone accessories, thanks to a combination of price, sound quality and functionality. However, many users have difficulty connecting two headphones together in True Wireless Stereo (TWS) mode. Without proper synchronization, one headphone can be silent, lagging behind or not connecting at all. In this article, we’ll look at all the ways Xiaomi headphones are connected, from basic instructions to solving complex problems.

It's important to understand that synchronization is different from the headphone model. For example, Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless Earphones and Xiaomi Buds all have different connection algorithms, although the general principle remains the same. We'll look at the universal methods and the nuances for specific lines. If you just bought headphones or encountered a problem after updating your firmware, this will help you get your stereo sound back.

What is it? TWS-Why the headphones don’t automatically connect

TWS (True Wireless Stereo) technology allows two wireless headphones to work in sync, creating a stereo sounding effect. Unlike conventional Bluetooth headphones, where sound is transmitted to one device and the second works as a “driven”, in TWS, both headphones are connected to the sound source independently, but synchronized with each other.

But sometimes the synchronization gets lost, and it can happen for a number of reasons.

• 🔋 A discharged battery in one of the headphones (even if the indicator is on, the charge can be critically low).
• 📱 Failure of firmware after updating through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app.
• 🔄 Incorrect removal of headphones from the case (for example, if you first took out the right, and then the left).
• 📡 Interference from other Bluetooth devices in range.

If your headphones are not working in pairs, don't rush to bring them to the service. In 90% of cases, you can solve the problem yourself by resetting the settings or by force starting the synchronization mode.

Preparation of headphones for synchronization: charge check and reset settings

Before you try to connect the headphones, make sure they're ready for this. Start by checking the charge level:

1. Put both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
2. Connect the case to the power source (USB-port).
3. Open the lid – the indicators on the case and headphones should flash white or green (depending on the model). If the indicator is red or not at all, charge the devices for 10-15 minutes.

If the charge is normal but the headphones are not synchronized, reset the settings. For most Xiaomi models, the procedure is as follows:

Headphones in the case, cover closed.|Press the button on the case for 10-15 seconds (before flashing red/white)|Get your headphones out and wait for automatic synchronization|Reconnect to the phone in Bluetooth settings-->

For models with touch control (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro), the reset is performed differently:

1. Get both earphones out of the case.
2. Press the touch panels on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white.
3. Put the headphones back in the case and close the lid for 5 seconds.
4. Get your headphones out – they should automatically connect to each other.

⚠️ Note: After reset, Xiaomi headphones may lose their binding to previously coupled devices, you will have to connect them again on all gadgets (smartphone, laptop, tablet).

Step-by-step: how to connect headphones Xiaomi with each other

If the preparation is complete, we move on to the main stage of forced headphone synchronization. Consider two scenarios: for models with a mechanical button (for example, Redmi AirDots) and for devices with touch control (for example, Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro).

Method 1: For headphones with a button (Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2)

1. Get both earphones out of the case.
2. Press and hold the button on the right earphone for 5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white.
3. Then press and hold the button on the left earbud until the indicators on both devices start flashing synchronously (usually this takes 3-7 seconds).
4. Put the headphones back in the case for 10 seconds, then pull out - they should automatically connect to each other.

Method 2: For touch-controlled headphones (Xiaomi Buds, Redmi Buds 4)

1. Get both earphones out of the case.
2. Touch and hold the touchpad on the right earbud until you hear an audible beep (usually 5-7 seconds).
3. Repeat the action for the left earpiece.
4. Wait until the indicators on both headphones start flashing at the same time (this is a signal of successful synchronization).
5. Place the headphones back in the case, then pull out - they should connect automatically.

If after these actions, the headphones still do not work in pairs, try an alternative method:

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If the headphones don’t sync after 3-4 attempts, the problem may be the firmware. Try updating the software through the official Xiaomi Wear or Mi Home app.

Update the firmware headphones through Xiaomi Wear or Mi Home

Synchronization failures are often associated with outdated firmware, and the manufacturer regularly releases updates to fix connection errors, to update the headphones:

1. Install the Xiaomi Wear app (for new models) or Mi Home (for older ones) from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Connect the headphones to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
3. Open the app and find your model in the list of devices.
4. Go to the Settings section → Update the firmware.
5. If a new version is available, click Update and wait for the process to complete (don’t turn off the headphones!).

Once the firmware update is in place, Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and later headphones automatically reset, meaning they will have to be re-synchronized and connected to the phone.

If the app doesn’t see headphones or doesn’t offer an update, try:

• 📱 Reinstall Xiaomi Wear/Mi Home.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 🌍 Change the region in the app settings to China (sometimes updates appear earlier).

⚠️ 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 to reset through the service menu (instruction below).

What to do if the headphones are connected separately, but not together

A situation where a smartphone sees both headphones as separate devices (e.g. Mi True) Wireless_Left and Mi True. Wireless_Right), It's a common occurrence, which means that the synchronization between the headphones is lost, and they're mono:

Method 1: Forced pairing via Bluetooth

1. Open Bluetooth settings on your smartphone.
2. Remove both headphones from the list of conjugated devices.
3. Reset your headphones (as described above).
4. Take the headphones out of the case and wait until one device appears in the Bluetooth list (for example, Redmi AirDots Pro without the "Left/Right" indication).
5. Connect to it - both headphones should earn in stereo mode.

Method 2: Use of the service menu (for advanced users)

Some Xiaomi models support hidden commands for forced synchronization, such as Redmi AirDots 3 Pro:

1. Get the headphones out of the case.


2. Quickly press the button on the right earphone 3 times, then on the left - 2 times.




3. Wait for the double beep.

This sequence resets. TWS-Warning: this method does not work on all models and may result in resetting all settings.

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If the headphones connect separately on only one device (like Android but not iPhone), the problem may be in the Bluetooth cache. Try clearing the cache in your smartphone settings: Settings → Apps → Show all → Bluetooth → Storage → Clear the cache

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make the same mistakes when trying to connect Xiaomi headphones with each other, and here are the most common ones:

• 🔄 Incorrect extraction order from the case. Always take out the right earpiece first, then the left earpiece. If you do the opposite, the main/subordinate device may get lost.
• 📵 Ignoring the indicators. If the indicator flashes red, it means low charge or error.
• 📱 Connect to multiple devices at once. Xiaomi headphones do not support multipoint (simultaneous connection to two gadgets.
• 🔋 Charge the headphones separately. Always charge both earphones in the case at the same time, otherwise their firmware may become out of sync.

Another common problem is that the headphones connect, but the sound comes from only one.

• 🎧 Wrong role allocation (main/subject) Try resetting and reconnecting.
• 🔊 Setting the sound balance in the smartphone, check if the slider is shifted to Settings. → Sound. → Stereo balance.
• 🛠️ If after all the manipulations, the sound did not appear, contact the service.

Service commands and hidden functions of Xiaomi headphones

The manufacturer hides some headphone features that can help restore communication, for example, the following commands are available for Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic and Redmi AirDots 2 models:

To activate hidden functions:

1. Get the headphones out of the case.
2. Perform the desired sequence of clicks (see table).
3. Wait for the sound signal or change the color of the indicator.

⚠️ Attention: Commands to enter mode DFU (Manual firmware updates should only be used as a last resort, improper actions can lead to headphones "bricking" if you are not sure, contact the service center.

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Hidden commands do not work on all models and may vary depending on the firmware version. Before using, check the relevance of information on official Xiaomi forums.

FAQ: Frequent questions about synchronizing Xiaomi headphones