Xiaomi Air 2 and iPhone: how to connect wireless headphones in 2 minutes

Xiaomi Air 2 (or Mi True Wireless Earbuds 2) wireless headphones have become one of the most popular accessories due to the combination of price, sound quality and convenience. However, iPhone owners often face problems when connecting for the first time: devices do not find each other, connection is interrupted or sound is interrupted. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways of synchronization, including hidden iOS settings, which will help avoid typical errors.

The main difficulty is that Xiaomi Air 2 is initially optimized for the MIUI ecosystem (smartphones Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO), and the iPhone uses Bluetooth LE protocol with features. But that does not mean that connection is impossible, just requires the right algorithm of actions. We tested all methods on the iPhone 11-15 with iOS 16-17 and are ready to share working solutions.

Important: If you’ve previously tried to connect your headphones to another device (like an Android or MacBook), you may need to reset them to factory settings, as we’ll discuss in one section. Also, look at the headphone firmware version: outdated software often causes unstable work.

1. Preparation of headphones Xiaomi Air 2 to connect

Before you pair your headphones with your iPhone, make sure they're ready to sync. Here are the key points:

• 🔋 Charging headphones and case: charge level should be at least 30%. If the indicator on the case flashes red, connect it to charging for 10-15 minutes. Headphones will not be visible in the list of devices if discharged.
• 📦 Case extraction: remove both earphones from the charger case. They must automatically turn on (white indicator flashes). If this does not happen, press and hold the touchpad on each earphone for 3 seconds.
• 🔄 Pair mode: by default, Xiaomi Air 2 goes into search mode immediately after extraction. If the indicators flash red and white alternately, the headphones are already in connection mode.

If the lights are constantly on (don't blink) or don't respond to presses, it could mean that the headphones are already tied to another device, in which case they need to be reset. How to do this, read the next section.

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If the headphones don't turn on after being removed from the case, check the contacts inside the case for oxidation or dirt. Gently wipe them with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

2.Reset Xiaomi Air 2 to factory settings

If the headphones have been previously used with another smartphone, tablet or laptop, they must be untie from the previous device.

1. Place both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
2. Open the case cover, but don't remove the headphones.
3. Press and hold the touchpad on both headphones simultaneously for 15-20 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white alternately.
4. Release the buttons, the reset is complete. The headphones are now ready for the new connection.

Once reset, all previous settings (such as linking to a Xiaomi account or customizing gestures) will be deleted. If you used Mi Earphones’ Android app, its data will also have to be reconfigured.

3. Step-by-step instruction: connecting to an iPhone

Now, the main step is to pair the headphones with the iPhone.

1. Open Settings on your iPhone and go to the Bluetooth section.
2. Make sure the Bluetooth slider is active (lit in green).
3. Remove both earphones from the case. They should appear in the list of available devices called Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 or Xiaomi Air 2.

If the headphones are not listed:

• ⚡ Check that they are in pairing mode (flashing red/white).
• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on iPhone: Turn it off and turn it back on at Control Point.
• 📱 Make sure your iPhone is not connected to other audio devices (columns, car).

Headphones are charged at more than 30% |

Bluetooth on iPhone enabled |

Xiaomi Air 2 in pairing mode (blinking red/white)|

There are no other active audio gadgets in the list of devices

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Once successfully connected, the headphones will automatically connect to the iPhone when removed from the case (if Bluetooth is on).However, sometimes iOS can "forget" the device - how to fix this, read on.

4.Solving the Problem: iPhone Can't See Xiaomi Air 2

If headphones don’t appear on the Bluetooth device list, the reasons may be as follows:

Pay special attention to the firmware of the headphones. Xiaomi regularly releases updates that correct compatibility errors with iOS.

• Connect the headphones to an Android smartphone.
• Install the Mi Earphones app.
• In the About Device section, see the firmware version. Current for 2026 is 2.7.1 or higher.

iPhone|

Android|

MacBook/Windows|

Other gadgets

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5. Sound and control settings on iPhone

After connecting, we recommend optimizing the sound parameters for better perception:

• 🎧 Sound quality: Go to Settings → Music. → Audio/Video and enable the option High-quality Bluetooth stream (available on iPhone with iOS) 14+).
• 🔊 Stereo balance: if the sound in one earphone is quieter, check the settings in Settings → Universal access → Audiovisual content → Stereo balance.
• 🎵 Equalizer: Use apps like Equalizer+ Or Boom to customize frequencies to your preferences.

Default playback management:

• 👆 One touch: playback/pause.
• 👆👆 Double touch: next track (right earpiece) / previous track (left earpiece).
• 👆👆👆 Triple touch: Calling a voice assistant (Siri or Google Assistant, depending on the last connected device).

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On the iPhone, it is impossible to reassign control gestures for Xiaomi Air 2 – this feature is only available through the proprietary Android app.

If the headphones are connected but no sound:

⚠️ Warning: Check if Monozvook mode is activated in Settings → Universal access → Audiovisual content. Also make sure that your player app (such as Apple Music or Spotify) chooses Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 as the output device.

6. Update firmware Xiaomi Air 2 via iPhone

Unfortunately, Xiaomi doesn’t provide an official way to update the firmware of the headphones via the iPhone.

1. Temporarily connect your headphones to your Android device (you can ask your friends or use an emulator).
2. Install the Mi Earphones app from Google Play.
3. Open the app, go to the About Device section and check for updates.
4. If you have an update, install it by following the instructions on the screen.
5. After the update, reset the headphones (section 2) and connect again to the iPhone.

Up-to-date firmware versions for Xiaomi Air 2:

• 2.7.1 – fixes connection errors to iOS 16-17.
• 2.5.8 - The stability of the connection is improved.
• 2.3.2 is an outdated version that may cause problems.

If you do not have access to an Android device, you can contact the Xiaomi service center - they will update the firmware for free (if there is a guarantee).

7. Alternative ways of connecting

If the standard method doesn’t work, try these options:

• 🔌 Connect via case: Place your headphones in the case and open the lid. Press and hold the button on the back of the case for 5 seconds until the indicator flashes white. Find Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 in the list of Bluetooth devices on your iPhone.
• 📱 Using the "Other Device" mode: C Settings → Bluetooth press i next to Xiaomi Air 2. Select Forget this device. Reconnect again (section 3).

You can also try connecting the headphones via MacBook (if any), and then sync them with the iPhone via iCloud.

1. Connect Xiaomi Air 2 to your MacBook.
2. Enable Bluetooth Device Sync in System Settings → Apple ID → iCloud.
3. On your iPhone, check the list of available devices – headphones should appear automatically.

8. Frequent questions and answers