How to connect a second Xiaomi headphone to your phone: a complete guide to synchronization

Why Xiaomi’s second headphone doesn’t connect – the main reasons

Xiaomi wireless headphones (Redmi Buds, Mi True Wireless, Haylou and others) work on the principle of main / slave: one headphone (usually right) acts as the main one, and the second connects to it via Bluetooth Low Energy. If the second headphone is not detected, the problem lies in one of three nodes:

1) Hardware failure - battery discharged in the guided earphone, damaged charging contact or microphone; 2) Software conflict - lost synchronization settings between the headphones or the firmware of the phone blocks the connection; 3) User error - incorrect connection sequence or ignoring status indicators (blinking red-white instead of stable white).

In 80% of cases, the problem is solved by resetting headphones to factory settings and re-sync – this method works even for models from 2020 to 2023 (Redmi Buds 3 Pro, Xiaomi Buds 4, etc.).

Preparation before connection: checking headphones and phone

Before you reset, make sure that the problem is not in the basic parameters.

Check the headphone charge (the indicator should burn green or white)

Make sure the headphones are in the case for at least 10 seconds (for automatic synchronization)

Turn off Bluetooth on other devices (laptop, tablet) to avoid connection conflict

Update your phone firmware (in Settings → About Phone → System Update)

Try connecting to another phone (to rule out smartphone problems)-->

If Xiaomi headphones don't charge, clean the contacts in the case with an alcohol napkin - metal oxidation often blocks the power supply to the guided earpiece. For models with ANC (Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro), check if the noise cancellation mode on one earphone is activated - this can tear the stereo pair.

Redmi Buds 3/3 Pro/3 Lite

Xiaomi Buds 4/4 Pro/4 Youth

Haylou GT1/GT2/GT6

Mi True Wireless 2/2S

Another model-->

Method 1: Standard case synchronization (for most models)

This method works for Redmi Buds 3 Pro, Xiaomi Buds 4, Haylou GT6 and other headphones with a Qualcomm QCC3040 chip or later.

1. Place both headphones in the case and close the lid for 5 seconds.The indicator on the case should flash orange (charge) or white (full charge).
2. Open the case cover, the headphones will automatically turn on and start searching for each other, and wait until the indicators on both headphones light up in stable white (synchronization has passed).
3. On your phone, turn on Bluetooth and search for your model name (e.g. Redmi Buds 3 Pro) in the list of devices.

If the indicator on the led headphone flashes red, this means:

• 🔋 Battery discharged - put the headphone in the case for 15 minutes.
• 🔄 Synchronization failure – reset is required (see Method 3).
• 📱 Phone conflict – remove the device from the list of conjugated in Settings → Bluetooth and reconnect.

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For models that support Mi AI Assistant (such as Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro), try activating the voice assistant with the command "Hey, Xiaomi" - sometimes this forcefully triggers the search for a second headphone.

Method 2: Manual connection via long-press (for older models)

If Xiaomi headphones are released before 2021 (Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless 2), they may not support automatic synchronization.

1. Get both earphones out of the case.
2. Press and hold the touchpad on the right (main) headphone for 10 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red-white (pairing mode).
3. Repeat the same for the left earpiece.
4. Wait 15-20 seconds – the headphones should find each other (the indicators will light up white).
5. Connect to them via Bluetooth on your phone.

For models with physical buttons (Redmi AirDots S), instead of touch panel, use a mechanical button. If the indicator does not flash after long-press, the earphone is discharged or malfunctioned.

Method 3: Resetting headphones to factory settings

If standard methods don't work, do a hard reset, which will remove all pairings and return the settings to factory ones, and the instructions are universal for all Xiaomi models, but the order of action may vary slightly.

After discharge:

1. Put the headphones in the case for 1 minute.
2. Get them out – they should automatically sync (indicators burn white).
3. Connect to them via Bluetooth as a new device.

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Resetting your headphones erases all your stored connection profiles, and if you've used them with multiple devices (phone + laptop), you'll have to reconnect after reset.

Method 4: Update the firmware of headphones through Mi Fit/Life

If the second earphone is plugged in, but only one is playing, the problem may be the outdated firmware.

1. Install the Mi Fit app (for older models) or Xiaomi Wear (for newer ones).
2. Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.
3. Open the app, go to Profile → My devices → [Your headphone model].
4. Click Firmware Update (if available). Wait until the process is complete (don't turn off Bluetooth!).

For Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and later, the firmware update may require Wi-Fi connectivity — watch for notifications in the app. If the update is interrupted, the headphones may stop turning on!

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After updating the firmware, reset the headphones (Method 3) – this will eliminate possible conflicts between the old and new version of the software.

Addressing specific problems

Some mistakes require a personalized approach. Let's look at the typical scenarios:

Problem: The sound is only in one headphone

• 🎧 Check the sound balance in the phone settings: Settings → Sound. → Stereo balance (should be in the center).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes the Bluetooth driver “forgets” about stereo mode.
• 📱 In the Mi Fit app, turn off the Mono mode function (if it is activated).

Problem: Headphones connect separately, but not together

This indicates a synchronization failure between the main and the guided earphone.

1. Perform a reset (Method 3).
2. If it does not help - put the headphones in the case and connect the case to charge for 1 hour (sometimes it resets internal errors).
3. For models with ANC, turn off noise cancellation in the settings of the Xiaomi Wear app.

Problem: The indicator burns red, but the earphone does not charge

Causes and solutions:

• 🔌 Clean the contacts of the case and headphone with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
• 🔋 Check the case for performance - connect it to another USB-cable.
• 🔄 If the case does not respond to the connection to the charge, its battery may fail (replacement is required).

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If after all the manipulations, the second earphone does not connect, check it on another device (another phone, PC). If the problem persists, it is a hardware malfunction and the earphone needs repair.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting the second Xiaomi headphone