Xiaomi Redmi Airdots 2: How to connect both headphones when only one works

Xiaomi Redmi Airdots 2 wireless headphones have gained popularity due to their affordable price, high-quality sound and ease of use. However, many users face a typical problem: once connected to a smartphone, only one headphone works, and the second one remains silent or not determined by the system, the reasons for this behavior can be different from the banal discharge of the battery to the failure of synchronization between the headphones themselves.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can connect both headphones, including forced synchronization, resetting, and checking for hardware faults. You’ll learn how to connect Redmi Airdots 2 together, what mistakes users make most often, and what to do if the headphones don’t see each other even after all the manipulations, and instructions are suitable for owners of both Android smartphones and iPhones — taking into account the characteristics of each operating system.

Why not connect both earphones: the main reasons

Before you start setting up, it's important to understand why one of the headphones refuses to work.

• 🔋 A discharged battery in one of the headphones (even if the indicator is on, the charge can be critically low).
• 🔄 Synchronization failure between left and right headphones after incorrect shutdown or firmware update.
• 📱 Connection error on the smartphone side (for example, only one headphone is saved in Bluetooth settings).
• 🛠️ Mechanical damage – getting moisture, falling or wearing contacts in a charging case.
• 🔧 Outdated firmware of headphones or smartphones, which causes compatibility conflicts.

According to service centers, 70% of the time, the problem is solved software-free without repairing or replacing components, but if the headphones do not respond to reset or recharging, it is worth considering the option of a hardware malfunction (for example, oxidation of contacts in the socket of the charging case).

⚠️ Warning: If Redmi Airdots 2 headphones were recently purchased and never connected to your phone, check if Mono mode (one-way sound) is activated in Bluetooth settings. Some smartphone firmware defaults to include it to save charge.

Preparation for connection: charge check and reset settings

Before syncing the headphones, make sure they are fully charged and ready to go.

1. Place both headphones in the charge case and close the lid.The indicator on the case should burn red (charging) or white (full charge).
2. Wait at least 15-20 minutes – even if the indicator went out, the battery may not have time to recover to 100%.
3. Take the headphones out of the case. Each one should flash a white LED. If the light doesn't burn, the contact or battery problem.

If the charge is fine, but the headphones still do not sync, reset to factory settings:

Place both headphones in the case and close the lid.|Hold the button on the case for 10-15 seconds (the indicator will flash red)|Get your headphones out – they should automatically go into pairing mode|Remove the device from the Bluetooth list on your smartphone-->

After reset, the Redmi Airdots 2 headphones will be ready for the new connection. If the reset does not help, move to manual synchronization (more about this in the next section).

Often once a week |Sometimes once a month |Roughly only after updates |Never had a problem-->

Manual synchronization of headphones with each other

If the headphones are still not working as a pair after reset, they need to be forced to sync.

1. Take both headphones out of the case and hold the buttons on them simultaneously for 10-15 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white.
2. Put the headphones back in the case and close the lid. Wait 30 seconds, which is when the devices are communicating.
3. Now, get the headphones out. They have to flash white at the same time (a successful synchronization signal).

If the lights flash separately (e.g. left white, right red), repeat the procedure, and contact between the headphones may have been interrupted due to a mechanical defect.

⚠️ Warning: If synchronization fails after 3-4 attempts, check if moisture has entered the headphone or case connectors. To do this, gently wipe the contacts with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, and let the devices dry for 10-15 minutes.

Connecting to a smartphone: Android and iPhone

After successfully synchronizing the headphones, they need to be connected to the phone, a process slightly different for Android and iOS.

For Android:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth and turn on the module.
2. In the list of available devices, find Redmi Airdots_XXX (where XXX — unique).

For the iPhone:

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Wait for Redmi Airdots to appear on the list and tap it.
3. If you receive a request for code confirmation (usually 0000 or 1234), enter it.

If only one headphone is displayed in the Bluetooth list (e.g. Redmi) Airdots_L or Redmi Airdots_R), Remove it from your phone's memory and reconnect, which means that the synchronization between the headphones has not gone through.

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On some Xiaomi smartphones (such as the Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3), to stable the connection of Redmi Airdots 2, you need to turn off the dual audio function in the Bluetooth settings.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make common mistakes that make Redmi Airdots 2 headphones refuse to work as a pair, and here are the most common ones:

• 🔌 Connect to your phone before you synchronize your headphones, and you first connect your left and right headphones to each other, and then you connect them to your smartphone.
• 📴 Using headphones from different sets. Even if they look the same, Redmi Airdots 2 won't work together if they're purchased separately.
• 🔄 Interrupting the reset process. If you release the reset button ahead of time, the headphones can "hang" in an uncertain state.
• 🔋 Ignoring the case discharge: If the charge of the case is below 20%, it may not charge the headphones correctly, which leads to malfunctions.

Another common problem is automatically connecting to another device, for example, if the headphones have been paired with a laptop or tablet before, they may try to connect to it instead of a phone. To avoid this, remove Redmi Airdots 2 from the memory of all devices except the main one.

Hardware malfunctions: when without repairs can not do

If all software methods have been tried, but the headphones still don't work as a pair, the problem may be in the hardware.

• 🔌 One of the headphones does not charge in the case (the indicator does not burn or burns red).
• 🎧 The sound is interrupted or distorted even when fully charged.
• 💧 Visible damage - cracks on the body, oxidation of contacts, traces of moisture.
• 🔋 The case does not hold the charge (discharges in a few hours without using it).

In such cases, self-repair rarely helps - you need a diagnosis in the service center, but some malfunctions can be fixed at home:

• 🧹 Cleaning contacts in the case and on headphones with alcohol and cotton swab.
• 🔧 Replace the battery in the case (if it is swollen or does not hold the charge).
• 🔌 Checking the charging cable – sometimes the problem lies in the damaged one USB-cable.

⚠️ Warning: If Redmi Airdots 2 headphones are caught in the rain or submerged in water, don't turn them on immediately.Put the devices in a dry place (such as a silica gel bag) for 24 to 48 hours.Attempting to turn on wet headphones can lead to a short circuit.

Firmware Update: When It Can Help

In rare cases, the problem with connecting both headphones is due to outdated firmware. The manufacturer periodically releases updates for Redmi Airdots 2, correcting synchronization and compatibility errors, to update the firmware:

1. Connect them to your smartphone and open the official Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app.

If the app doesn’t find updates but the problem persists, try forcefully reflashing the headphones via a PC, which will require special software (such as the Mi Flash Tool) and firmware for your model, but this method is recommended only for advanced users, since improper actions can bring the device down.

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Updating your firmware only helps in 10 to 15 percent of connection problems, and in most situations, resetting or manual synchronization is enough.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions