How to turn on Bluetooth on Xiaomi Mi True Wireless headphones: full instructions with nuances

Xiaomi Mi True Wireless headphones (including Mi True Wireless Earphones 2, Mi AirDots and their modifications) have become one of the most popular accessories due to the combination of price, sound quality and convenience. However, many users have difficulty with the first connection – especially if you have not previously worked with the Internet. TWS-The main problem is how to turn on the Bluetooth module on the headphones themselves, so that they become visible to the smartphone or laptop.

In this article, we'll look at not only the basic activation procedure, but also the nuances that the manufacturer often fails to address, such as why the headphones may not be determined even after they're turned on, how to reset them to factory settings if the connection fails, and what to do if one of the headphones suddenly stops synchronizing.

Preparation of headphones for the first turn on

Before you turn on the Xiaomi Mi True Wireless, make sure they are fully charged. Even if the indicator on the case is green, it doesn't always mean that the headphones themselves have enough charge.

  • πŸ”‹ Check the case charge level: connect it to the power source (use the original cable) USB-C The indicator should flash red while charging and turn green at 100%.
  • 🎧 Take the headphones out of the case and look at the indicators, if they don't glow, they're critically low. Put them back in the case for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • πŸ“± Prepare your device for connection: on a Xiaomi smartphone, turn on Bluetooth in the Quick Settings Panel or through Settings β†’ Connections β†’ Bluetooth.

Important: If the headphones are discharged to zero, they may not respond to the pressing of the buttons, in which case wait 5-7 minutes after charging - this time is enough to ensure that the batteries get the minimum charge to turn on.

πŸ“Š What Xiaomi Mi True Wireless model are you using?
Mi True Wireless Earphones 2
Mi AirDots (Basic/Pro)
Mi True Wireless Earphones 3
Another model
I don't know.

Ways to turn on Bluetooth on Xiaomi headphones

Depending on the Xiaomi Mi True Wireless model, the activation process may be slightly different. Consider two main scenarios: for touch-controlled headphones (for example, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2) and for models with mechanical buttons (for example, Mi AirDots Basic).

Models with sensory control (touch)

To enable Bluetooth:

  1. Take both earphones out of the case. They should automatically turn on (the indicators will flash white/red).
  2. Touch and hold the touchpad on any of the headphones for 3-5 seconds until you hear the voice message β€œPairing” (or the indicator starts flashing blue and red alternately).
  3. On the smartphone, the model name will appear in the list of available devices (for example, "Mi True Wireless Earphones 2").

Models with mechanical buttons

For headphones with physical buttons (such as Mi AirDots Basic):

  1. Take the headphones out of the case - they will turn on automatically (the red indicator will light up).
  2. Press and hold the button on both headphones simultaneously for 5-7 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and blue.
  3. In the Bluetooth menu on your phone, select a device called β€œMi”. AirDots_Basic_RΒ» (right-hand side) or similar.

β˜‘οΈ Checking before connection

Done: 0 / 4

If the headphones are not identified, try resetting them (instructions in the next section). Also check if they are connected to another device - some Xiaomi models automatically restore the last connection.

Resetting headphone settings (if not connected)

If Xiaomi Mi True Wireless isn’t visible in the list of devices or only one headphone is connected, you may need a hard reset, which removes all the saved pairings and returns the headphones to the factory settings.

Instructions for most models:

  1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
  2. Open the lid and press and hold the button on the case (usually located behind or below) for 10-15 seconds.
  3. Remove the headphones from the case – they should automatically go into pairing mode (blinking blue-red light).
  4. Connect them again via the Bluetooth menu on your phone.
What to do if the reset button does not work?
If the button on the case does not respond, try: 1. Connect the case to charge for 30 minutes - sometimes the reset is blocked when the charge is low. 2. Use a clip to press a hidden button (it is sunken on some models). 3. Update the headphone firmware through the Mi Home app (if available for your model).

Model headphonesResetting methodNotes
Mi True Wireless Earphones 2Hold the sensor on both headphones for 10 seconds.After reset, the indicators flash white.
Mi AirDots Basic/ProHold the button on the case for 15 seconds.Case indicator flashes red.
Mi True Wireless Earphones 3Triple touch of the sensor on the right earpiece.It requires firmware not lower than 1.4.0.

⚠️ Note: After reset, Xiaomi headphones may temporarily lose sync with each other. If one of the headphones does not connect, put both in a case for 30 seconds, then pull out and repeat pairing.

Why the headphones don't turn on: typical problems

If Xiaomi Mi True Wireless doesn’t respond to taps or isn’t turned on, the reasons may be as follows:

  • πŸ”Œ Battery discharge: even if the case is charged, the headphones themselves could run out. Check the headphones indicators - if they do not glow when removed from the case, charge 10-15 minutes.
  • πŸ“΅ Interference from other devices: If microwaves, 2.4GHz routers or other Bluetooth devices are nearby, try connecting elsewhere.
  • πŸ”„ Sync failure: If one earphone connects and the second doesn’t, reset (see previous section).
  • πŸ› οΈ Software glitch: Some models require firmware updates via the Mi Home app (available for Mi True Wireless Earphones) 2/3).

Rarely, but there are hardware malfunctions, such as oxidation of contacts in the case or failure of the Bluetooth module. If none of these methods worked, contact the Xiaomi service center (especially if the headphones are warranty).

πŸ’‘

If the headphones are plugged in but the sound is interrupted, try turning off Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) in your phone's settings or switching the codec to SBC (in the Android developer menu).

How to connect Xiaomi Mi True Wireless to different devices

The pairing process can vary depending on the device you connect your headphones to, and let's look at some of the most common scenarios.

Connecting to Xiaomi Smartphone (MIUI)

On Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO phones with MIUI shell:

  1. Open Settings β†’ Bluetooth.
  2. Turn on Bluetooth and wait until your headphone model appears on the list.
  3. Click on the name and it will automatically pair.
  4. Some versions of MIUI will have a pop-up with a suggestion to install the Mi Earphones app for additional features (e.g. gesture settings).

Connection to iPhone (iOS)

On the iPhone or iPad:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Bluetooth.
  2. Make sure the headphones are in pairing mode (blinking blue-red).
  3. Select a device from the list. iOS 15+ may have a LE Audio connection notification β€” you can agree.

Connection to a laptop (Windows/macOS)

For Windows 10/11:

  1. Press Win + I, select Devices β†’ Bluetooth and other devices.
  2. Click "Add deviceΒ» β†’ Β«BluetoothΒ».
  3. Choose Xiaomi Mi True Wireless from the list.

For macOS:

  1. Open System settings β†’ Bluetooth.
  2. Click "Connect" next to the headphones name.

⚠️ Warning: Windows sometimes requires you to install the Bluetooth 5.0 driver manually (especially on older laptops). download it from the motherboard manufacturer's website or use Bluetooth Driver Installer.

Additional functions and settings

Once you have successfully connected, you can customize the Xiaomi Mi True Wireless to suit your needs, and this is what is available on most models.

  • 🎡 Playback control: Single touch: playback/pause. Double tap: next track (or previous, depending on the setting). Triple tap: voice assistant call.
  • πŸ”‡ Noise reduction mode (ANC): Available on Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 ANC And it's newer. It's enabled through the Mi Earphones app.
  • πŸ”‹ Checking the charge level: on Android it is displayed in Bluetooth status, on iOS – in the battery widget.

For advanced settings (such as gesture changes or firmware updates), use the official Mi Home or Mi Earphones app (available on Google Play and the App Store).

  • Update the firmware of the headphones (important for fixing connection bugs).
  • Set up an EQ (Equalizer) for the genres of music.
  • Enable game mode (reduces sound latency).

πŸ’‘

For models with ANC (active noise cancellation), update the firmware regularly – this improves the quality of noise reduction and connection stability.

Frequent Questions and Decisions (FAQ)

The headphones are plugged in, but there's only one sound. What do you do?
This is a typical desynchronization problem. TWS-Solutions: Put both earbuds in the case, close the lid for 10 seconds, then pull it out. Reset the settings (see section above). If the problem persists, check if the contacts in the case are contaminated (wipe with alcohol). Mi True Wireless Earphones 3 can help update firmware through Mi Home.
How to check the version of the headphone firmware?
To do this: Connect your headphones to your phone. Open the Mi Home app. Go to the connected device section and select your headphones. The device information will be the "Firmware Version" line (e.g., 1.7.0). Up-to-date firmware versions for Xiaomi Mi True Wireless can be found on the official website or forums (e.g., 4PDA).
Can I use Xiaomi Mi True Wireless from a Linux PC?
Yes, but additional actions may be required: Make sure your PC has BlueZ installed. Use bluetoothctl to pair: power on agent on scan on pair [MAC-headphone address] connect [MAC-Address: If the sound is interrupted, install pulseaudio-module-bluetooth on some distributions (e.g. Ubuntu) 22.04+) The headphones can be defined as HSP/HFP (low sound quality, to switch to A2DP, Use the command: pactl set-card profile [card_name] a2dp_sink
How long does it take to fully charge the headphones and case?
Charging time depends on the model: Model Charging time of the Mi True Wireless Earphones case 2 ~1 hour (in case) ~1.5 hours Mi AirDots Basic ~1.5 hours ~2 hours Mi True Wireless Earphones 3 ~40 minutes ~1 hour To accelerate charging use an adapter with a power of at least 5W (original from Xiaomi - 10W).
How to reset headphones if the button on the case does not work?
If the mechanical reset button on the case doesn't respond, try alternative methods: Software reset: connect the headphones to the phone, open Mi Home and find the "Reset" option in the device menu. Discharge: leave the headphones on until full discharge (the indicators go out), then recharge them. Hidden button: on some case models, the reset button is hidden under a rubber plug (use a paper clip). If nothing helps, contact the service - perhaps a defective controller of the case.