How to connect both headphones Xiaomi Mi True Wireless: full instructions with solutions to problems

Xiaomi Mi True Wireless headphones (including Mi True Wireless Earphones 2/2S/SE/Basic) have become a popular choice due to a combination of price, sound quality and compactness. However, many users face a typical problem: after buying or updating a firmware, one earphone does not connect, does not emit sound or displays as a separate device in Bluetooth, most often due to a malfunction between the headphones or a malfunction of the main (lead) module.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for connecting both headphones to a smartphone, as well as ways to troubleshoot common problems, from resetting to manual synchronization. We will break down the features of different Mi True Wireless models and explain why sometimes headphones “lose” each other after an upgrade or prolonged inactivity. If you have already tried to reconnect the device via Bluetooth, but the result has not changed, here you will find unique solutions that are not in the standard manuals.

Why does one Xiaomi Mi True Wireless headphone not connect?

Before you start setting up, it's important to understand the cause of the problem, and 90 percent of the time, a broken earpiece is caused by one of three things:

• 🔋 Battery discharge – if one earphone is discharged to 0%, it may not sync with the paired device even after charging.
• 📱 Failure of firmware – after updating the software through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app, headphones can “forget” each other.
• 🔄 Pair synchronization violation – if the headphones were connected to different devices or one of them was forced to turn off via Bluetooth settings.

Less commonly, the problem lies in physical damage (such as moisture entering the charging case contacts) or incompatibility with the device (older versions of Android/iOS may not support Bluetooth 5.0+ protocols).

• ✅ Both headphones are charged in the case (indicators burn the same way?).
• ✅ Headphones clean – no dirt on contacts or connectors.
• ✅ You tried connecting them to another smartphone/tablet.

Preparing for connection: what to do before synchronization

Before you start setting up, follow a few mandatory steps that will help avoid typical errors and save time.

1. Charge headphones and case. Make sure both earphones are fully charged (case indicators are green or white). If one of the headphones is not charging, clean the contacts in the case and on the earphone with a dry cotton swab.
2. Remove old devices from Bluetooth. On your smartphone, go to Settings → Bluetooth, find Mi True Wireless (or similar name), and delete the device. This will reset previous connection settings.
3. Compatibility check: Mi True Wireless headphones require Bluetooth 4.2+ and Android 5.0+/iOS 10+. Older devices may have connection issues.

If you are using Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic or a newer model, download the official Xiaomi Wear app (for Android) or Mi Home (for iOS).

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If the headphones have not been used for a long time, leave them in the charging case for 10-15 minutes before connecting - this will reset temporary synchronization errors.

Standard connection of both headphones to the phone

If the headphones are new or you’ve never experienced sync issues, try the standard way to connect:

1. Take both earphones out of the case. They should automatically turn on (the indicator blinks).
2. On your smartphone, turn on Bluetooth and find Mi True Wireless Earphones in the list of available devices (the name may vary depending on the model).
3. Press "Connect." In 5-10 seconds, an audible beep should appear in both headphones, confirming a successful connection.

If one of the headphones does not make a sound or does not appear in the list of devices:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and reconnect.
• 📵 Make sure that the headphones are no more than 1 meter away from the phone.
• 🔋 Check if the indicator is on the broken headphone (if not, it is discharged or broken).

Charge headphones and case to 100%|

Remove old Mi True Wireless devices from Bluetooth|

Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone |

Get both earphones out of the case at the same time |

Start searching for devices within a 1 meter radius-->

Manual synchronization of headphones with each other

If the standard connection doesn't work, it's likely that the synchronization between the headphones is disrupted, in which case you have to force them to connect to each other, and this is a good guide for all Mi True Wireless models:

1. Place both headphones in the charger case and close the lid for 10 seconds.
2. Take out only the right earpiece (which is usually the lead headphone) and hold it out of the case for 5-7 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
3. Return the right earphone to the case, then take out the left and wait until it starts flashing.
4. Get both headphones out at the same time – they should sync (the indicators will light up the same way).
5. Connect them to your phone via Bluetooth as described in the previous section.

If the synchronization has not occurred:

• 🔄 Repeat the process 2-3 times.
• 🔋 Try using another charging cable/power supply for the case.
• 📱 Make sure your phone has power saving turned off (it can block Bluetooth connections).

Resetting headphones Xiaomi Mi True Wireless

If manual sync doesn't work, do a full reset, which will bring the headphones back to factory settings and often solve connectivity problems, and works for all models, including the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2S and Mi True Wireless Earphones Basic:

1. Put both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
2. Open the case cover and press and hold the button on the back of the case (usually located under the charge indicator) for 20-25 seconds.
3. Indicators on the case and headphones should flash red and white - this is a signal of reset.
4. Close the case cover for 10 seconds, then take out the headphones and try to connect them again.

After reset, the headphones will be displayed in Bluetooth as a new device. If there is no button on the case (as in some models of Mi True Wireless Earphones SE), use an alternative method:

• Get both earphones out of the case.
• Press and hold the touchpads on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds until the indicators start flashing red.
• Put the headphones back in the case and reconnect.

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Resetting removes all stored connection data, including device pairing history, and once reset, the headphones will work like new ones, but they will have to be reconnected to all devices.

Update firmware through the Xiaomi app

If the headphones are connected but are not stable (for example, one earphone is periodically turned off), the problem may be in outdated firmware.

Instructions for updating:

1. Connect the headphones to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
2. Open the appropriate app and find the Devices or My Devices section.
3. Select Mi True Wireless from the list.
4. If an update is available, a notification will appear. Click Update and wait until the process is complete (don't turn off the headphones!).

⚠️ Warning: Do not close the app or remove the headphones from the case (if required) during firmware updates.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even after a successful connection, users often face recurring problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

• 🔊 The sound is only in one headphone: Check the sound balance in the smartphone settings (Settings) → Sound. → Reset your headphones (put it in the case for 10 seconds).
• 📶 Permanent connection breaks: Make sure there are no interference sources (Wi-Fi routers, microwaves) nearby. Turn off Bluetooth on other devices connected to headphones.
• 🔋 Quick discharge of one earpiece: Clean the contacts in the case and on the earpiece with an alcohol napkin.

⚠️ Warning: If after all the manipulations, one earphone still doesn't work, check it on another device. If the problem persists, it may be a hardware malfunction (for example, damage to the Bluetooth module.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions