Xiaomi Air 2 SE and iPhone: how to connect headphones in 3 minutes (with photos and videos)

Xiaomi Air 2 SE wireless headphones have become one of the most popular accessories due to the combination of sound quality, compactness and affordable price. However, iPhone owners often face difficulties when connecting for the first time: devices do not find each other, sound is interrupted or no communication at all. In this article, we will analyze all the stages of pairing, from preparing headphones to fine-tuning the sound on iOS, and also consider typical errors and their solutions.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi Air 2 SE is initially optimized for the MIUI ecosystem, but perfectly compatible with the iPhone (starting with the iPhone 6s on iOS 13+).The main difference from connecting to Android is the lack of a proprietary Mi Earphones app, but this does not prevent us from using all the basic features. We tested the process on the iPhone 14 Pro Max (iOS 17.4) and Xiaomi Air 2 SE with the latest firmware - the instruction is relevant for 2026.

If you’ve tried to connect your headphones and you’ve encountered problems, skip the first section and go straight to solving typical bugs. For beginners, we recommend you follow the steps, which will take no more than 5 minutes.

Preparation of headphones and iPhone to connect

Before pairing, make sure both devices are ready to go. Xiaomi Air 2 SE is critical:

• 🔋 Headphone charge: at least 30% (the indicator on the case should flash white when removed from the case). If the indicator is red, recharge 10-15 minutes.
• 📦 Clean contacts: Check to see if there is any dirt on the metal contacts in the case and on the headphones themselves.
• 🔄 Pair mode: The headphones must be in search mode (the indicator flashes red and white – this is a unique feature for the Air 2 SE, distinguishing them from other Xiaomi models).

On the iPhone, do the following:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth and make sure the switch is active (green slider).
2. Remove from the memory of the iPhone all previously connected devices called Mi Air 2 SE or Xiaomi... – this will eliminate conflicts.
3. Reboot your iPhone if Bluetooth has previously been unstable (hold the Power + Volume button until the slider appears).

If the headphones have previously connected to another device (such as an Android smartphone), they must be reset.

1. Place both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the back of the case for 10 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red.
3. Open the lid - the indicator should flash red and white, signaling a reset.

Step-by-step: how to connect Xiaomi Air 2 SE to the iPhone

Follow this algorithm so that the pairing goes without errors:

1. Remove the headphones from the case. They will automatically turn on (the beep will sound).
2. Activate pairing mode: If the headphones are new, they will immediately go into search mode (the indicator flashes red and white). If you have previously used: press the touchpad on both headphones simultaneously for 5 seconds until you hear the voice message "Ready to pair".

iPhone.

Settings → Bluetooth

Other devices

Mi Air 2 SE

Xiaomi Air 2 SE

"Connected."

Headphones appear in the list "My devices"|The indicator on the case burns white (does not blink)|The sound is played synchronously in both headphones.|In the status line of the iPhone appeared the icon of headphones-->

If the process is stuck at the connection stage (the load indicator is spinning for more than 10 seconds), follow the following steps:

• 🔄 Reset the headphones: place them in the case, close the lid for 10 seconds, then remove.
• 📱 On your iPhone, turn off and turn on Bluetooth again (or go to Flight Mode for 5 seconds).
• 🔋 Check the case charge: if the indicator does not burn when opened, connect the case to charge for 5 minutes.

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If the headphones only connect one at a time, reset their settings (see Preparation) and repeat pairing. This is a common problem when switching from Android to iOS.

Customization of sound on iPhone for Xiaomi Air 2 SE

After connecting, we recommend optimizing the sound for iOS:

1. Codec selection: By default, the iPhone uses AAC – it provides balanced quality and stability. To check the current codec, open Settings → Bluetooth → i (information) next to the Mi Air 2 SE.
2. Equalizer: Go to Settings → Music → Equalizer. For Xiaomi Air 2 SE, the best presets are Bass (for electronic music) or Rock (for guitar parts).

monosound

• If one earphone sounds quieter, check settings for Settings → Universal Access → Audiovisual materials → Monosound (should be turned off).

To check the sound quality, use the test tracks:

• 🎵 Bass Test (e.g. Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites) - Low frequency testing.
• 🎵 High Frequency Test (e.g. Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger) - High frequency testing.
• 🎵 Stereo Test (e.g. The Eagles - "Hotel California") - stereo balance check.

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On iPhone, you can’t change the Bluetooth codec manually – the system automatically chooses the best one (AAC or SBC).

Typical problems and their solutions

Even after a successful connection, users face a number of challenges.

1.The headphones plug in, but no sound.

Causes and solutions:

• 🔇 Wrong sound source: On iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner (or up on models with the Home button) and check that the Mi Air 2 SE is selected in the control panel.
• 🎧 One earphone is discharged: place both earphones in the case for 1 minute, then remove.
• 🔄 Bluetooth crash: Turn off and turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone, then reconnect the headphones.

2.The sound is interrupted or distorted

This is due to interference in the 2.4 GHz range. Try:

• 📶 Remove sources of interference: routers, microwave ovens, other Bluetooth devices.
• 📱 Move your iPhone closer to the headphones (maximum interference-free distance is 10 meters).
• 🔋 Check the headphone charge: at levels below 20%, distortion is possible.

3.The headphones turn off on their own

A common problem when using iOS. Solutions:

• ⚙️ Reset network settings on iPhone: Settings → Basic → iPhone port or reset → Reset → Reset network settings.
• 🔄 Update the headphone firmware (see next section).
• 📦 Check the case cover density – if contacts are contaminated, the headphones may misidentify the “case/out case” state.

How to update the headphone firmware (if available)

Xiaomi Air 2 SE receives firmware updates through the proprietary Mi Earphones app, which is only available on Android.

1. Find an Android smartphone from a friend or service center (version of Android 8.0+).
2. Install the Mi Earphones app from Google Play.
3. Connect your headphones to your Android device and check for updates in the Software Update section.
4. After the update, reset your headphones (see the Preparation section) and connect them again to your iPhone.

Up-to-date firmware versions for Xiaomi Air 2 SE (May 2026):

• 📌 Last stable version: 1.7.0.3 (fixed connection issues with iOS 17).
• 📌 Beta: 1.8.0.1 (Added support for LC3-codec, but bugs are possible).

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If after updating the firmware headphones stopped connecting to the iPhone, reset (press the button on the case for 15 seconds) and repeat pairing.

Applications for advanced management on the iPhone

While there is no official Mi Earphones app for iOS, there are third-party utilities that add additional features:

For installation of widgets with display of charge:

1. Install AirBattery.
2. Add the widget to the home screen: swipe right on the lock screen → Change → add AirBattery.
3. Open the app and select Mi Air 2 SE from the device list.

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The side of the app can’t change the firmware or basic headphone settings (such as button assignment), but add user-friendly features for iOS.

Comparison of Xiaomi Air 2 SE with analogues for iPhone

If you’re choosing between the Xiaomi Air 2 SE and other iPhone models, note the key differences:

Xiaomi Air 2 SE is different from competitors:

• 💰 Price/quality: cheaper than AirPods by 3-4 times with comparable sound.
• 🎧 Design: compact case and light headphones (weight 4.1 g vs 5.4 g for AirPods 2).
• 🔋 Fast Charging: 10 minutes in case = 2 hours of playback.

The main disadvantage is the lack of support for ANC (active noise reduction), but for most users passive isolation is enough.

Frequent questions

If your question is not covered in the article, check the official forum Xiaomi or contact support through the application Mi Home (available at Android/iOS). To diagnose headphone malfunctions in Moscow and St. Petersburg, we recommend Mi Service service centers.