Xiaomi Air 2’s wireless headphones (TWS Earbuds Basic 2) remain among the most popular in the brand’s lineup due to the balance of price, sound quality and battery life. However, even with such a simple device, users often have questions about how to make the first connection, what to do if the headphones are not determined by the phone, or how to reset to factory settings. This article covers everything from basic instructions to solving non-standard problems.
The Air 2 is a Bluetooth 5.0 protocol that allows for a stable connection up to 10 meters without interference, but it's not just the pairing that matters to work properly, but the right audio profile setting on your smartphone, and we'll take a step-by-step approach for Android and iOS, and we'll give you some tips on how to optimize your sound and fix common bugs.
Preparing headphones for the first connection
Before pairing with your phone, make sure that the Xiaomi Air 2 headphones are charged and in search mode.
- 🔋 Check the case charge level: the indicator on the front panel should burn white (30-100%) red (0-30%). If the indicator does not glow - connect the case to the charging on the 15-20 minute.
- 🎧 Take both of the headphones out of the case. They should automatically turn on (red/white LED flashes). If that doesn't happen, put them back in the case and try again.
- 🔍 Make sure the headphones are not connected to another device.If they were previously paired with another phone, reset (instructions in the section below).
Important: if the headphones are discharged (the indicator on the case does not burn at all), they will not be able to enter pairing mode. Charge them to at least 10%, otherwise the phone will not see the device in the list of available.
⚠️ Warning: Don't try to plug the headphones in separately - Xiaomi Air 2 only work in pairs. If one of the headphones does not respond to the extraction from the case, check the charging contacts inside the case for oxidation or contamination.
Step-by-step instructions for connecting to Android
On smartphones running Android 8.0 and above, the pairing process is standard, but there are nuances for Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO devices.
- Open Settings → Bluetooth and activate the switch.
- Take both headphones out of the case - they will automatically go into pairing mode (indicators will flash red and white).
- In the list of available devices, find Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 (or Air 2) and tap it.
- Confirm pairing if you request access to contacts/media (this is necessary for the correct operation of the microphone and music control).
Once you've successfully connected, you'll see a status icon for your headphones, and in your Bluetooth settings, it'll show up as "Connected." If your headphones don't work, check:
- 📱 Bluetooth version compatibility (the phone should be at least 4.2, but better 5.0)+).
- 🔄 Reboot the phone’s Bluetooth module (turn off/on the switch in the settings).
- 🔋 Case charge level (at a discharge below 5%, the headphones will not turn on).
Make sure that Bluetooth is on your phone
Get both headphones out of the case (flashing red/white)
The headphones are not connected to another device.
Case charge level not lower than 10%-->
Xiaomi phones with the shell MIUI 12+ after connecting will appear pop-up with a suggestion to install the proprietary application Mi Earphones. It is not necessary for work, but adds the features:
- 🎛️ Equalizer setting (bass/soprano).
- 🔊 Adjusting the noise reduction level (although in Air 2 it is passive).
- 📊 View the charge level of each headphone separately.
Connection to iPhone (iOS) – features and limitations
While Xiaomi Air 2 isn’t officially certified for iOS, it works great with iPhone 8 and newer (where there’s Bluetooth 5.0).The connection algorithm is almost identical to Android, but there are key differences:
- Open Settings → Bluetooth and activate the module.
- Get the headphones out of the case – they should appear on the list as Mi True Wireless.
- Slip the name of the device and wait for the inscription "Connected".
Important nuances for iOS:
- 🍎 The iPhone will not display the level of charge of the headphones in the status bar (only in the battery widget, if you add it to the home screen).
- 🎵 Dual-tape music control function works, but gesture customization is only possible through Mi Earphones Android app.
- 🔊 Sound quality may be worse than Android due to protocol limitations AAC (Instead of aptX, which is not supported by iOS).
⚠️ Attention: On iPhone 6/7 (Bluetooth 4.2) There may be problems with connection stability - headphones may be periodically disabled. Solution: upgrade iOS to the latest version or use headphones at a distance of no more than 3 yards from the phone.
| Parameter | Android | iOS |
|---|---|---|
| Charge mapping | ✅ In the status line and MIUI-widget | ❌ Only in the battery widget. |
| Customization of gestures | ✅ Through Mi Earphones | ❌ Without the possibility of change |
| Codec of sound | 🎧 AAC/SBC/aptX (depends on the phone model) | 🎧 Only AAC |
| Stability of connection | ✅ High (Bluetooth 5.0)+) | ⚠️ Medium (depending on the iPhone model) |
Resetting headphones to factory
If the Xiaomi Air 2 doesn't connect, periodically shut down or malfunction, hard reset will help, which erases all the saved pairings and returns the headphones to factory settings.
- Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
- Open the lid and hold the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white alternately.
- Release the button, reset is complete. The headphones are now ready for a new pairing.
After discharge:
- 🔄 Headphones will automatically go into pairing mode the next time you remove from the case.
- 📱 You will have to reconnect them to the phone (previous devices will be deleted from memory).
- ⚙️ All user settings (such as double tap assignment) will reset.
⚠️ Warning: Don't confuse resetting headphones with reset! If you just put the headphones in the case and close the lid, they will only turn off, but the pairings will remain.
What to do if the reset button does not work?
Solving Connection Problems
Even after the proper reset, the headphones may not connect, and let's look at the common mistakes and how to fix them:
Problem 1: Phone doesn’t see headphones in Bluetooth list
Possible causes and solutions:
- 🔋 Discharged case - charge it to at least 10%.
- 📵 Bluetooth-module phone malfunctions – restart the smartphone or turn on/off Bluetooth 2-3 once.
- 🔄 Conflict with other devices – disable all other Bluetooth headsets in the settings.
- 🛠️ Software glitch – perform a reset of headphones (section above).
Problem 2: Headphones are connected, but the sound is interrupted
This is a problem for Bluetooth 4.2 or if there is interference.
- 📶 Telephone distance – do not exceed 5 meters indoors (walls weaken signal).
- 📱 Phone firmware version - update Android/iOS last-minute.
- 🎧 Sound Codec: Go to Settings on Android → Bluetooth → Settings gear next to the Air 2 → Audio codec and select SBC (stablest).
Problem 3: Only one earphone works
If the sound is only in one headphone:
- 🔋 Check the charge of both headphones - perhaps the second is discharged.
- 🧲 Remove both earphones from the case and put them back for 10 seconds, then reconnect.
- 🔄 Reset (section above) and re-conjugate.
- 🛠️ If the problem remains, a hardware defect is possible (for example, the contact in the right earphone has gone away).
1. Activate Developer Mode (7 taps by build number in Settings → About phone).
2. Go to Settings → System system → For developers and turn off the absolute volume.-->
Optimization of sound and control
Once you've connected successfully, you can improve the sound quality and adjust the controls.
On Android (with the Mi Earphones app)
- 🎛️ Equator: Choose Preset Bass for Music or Voice for Podcasts.
- 🔊 Noise Reduction: Activate the Noise Reduction option (although Air 2 is software-based, not hardware-based).
- 👆 Gestures: Assign a double tap to pause/play or call the voice assistant.
On iOS (without the app)
On the iPhone, the settings are limited, but you can:
- 🎵 Use System Equalizer: Settings → Music. → Equalizer and select "Pop" or "Rock".
- 🔇 Turn off "monosound" in Settings → Universal access → Audiovisual effects if the sound seems flat".
For both types of devices, it is useful:
- 🔋 Watch for charge: at levels below 20%, sound quality can deteriorate.
- 📱 Close background applications that use a microphone (such as voice recording) to avoid conflicts.
💡
For better Android sound, turn off the Bluetooth energy-saving mode in the battery settings, which will prevent connection breaks and improve stability.
Compatibility with other devices
Xiaomi Air 2 can be connected not only to smartphones, but also to other gadgets with Bluetooth:
- 💻 Laptop/PC: on Windows 10/11 Headphones are defined as "Stereo Headset." For the microphone, select "Mi True Wireless" in the sound settings...)".
- 🎮 Game consoles: on PlayStation 4/5 Bluetooth adapter is required (for example, 8BitDo), As the consoles do not support AAC/SBC directly.
- 📺 TVs: on Xiaomi TV Android TV Connection is standard, but audio delay is possible (selecting the aptX Low Latency codec if supported).
When connecting to a MacBook or iMac, you may need to:
- Update macOS to the latest version (older versions have bugs with AAC).
- In System Settings → Sound manually select Mi True Wireless... as the output device.
⚠️ Note: On Bluetooth 4.0 and lower devices (such as older tablets or fitness bracelets), the Air 2 can connect, but will only work in mono mode (sound in one earphone) or with permanent cliffs.