Why Xiaomi’s second headphone is not connected – a full analysis of the causes and solutions

You took out Xiaomi AirDots, Redmi Buds or Mi True Wireless Earphones, but the sound is only in one headphone? TWS-In 80 percent of cases, the malfunction is due to software failures, not physical failures, but how to tell one from the other and what to do if the second Xiaomi earphone is not connected to the phone or synced with the first one?

In this article, we'll look at all the possible causes, from a simple battery discharge to a factory defect, how to diagnose a problem in 2 minutes, what settings to check first, and when to carry headphones to the service, and share a hidden reset mode for models from 2023 to 2026, which is not written in the official instructions.

1. Checking the underlying causes: battery, distance, interference

Before digging deep into the settings, rule out the obvious factors.More often than not, the second Xiaomi earphone doesn't connect because:

• 🔋 A discharged battery in one of the headphones (even if the indicator is green).
• 📶 Exit beyond a stable range (more than 10 meters in the room).
• 🚫 Electromagnetic interference from microwaves, 5GHz routers or wireless charging.
• 🎧 Incorrect position in the case (contacts do not come into contact with charging pins).

Start with a simple one:

1. Put both headphones in the case for 10-15 minutes – even if the indicator shows charge, sometimes the battery controller will go down.
2. Pull them out and try to reconnect. On Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro models and later, hold the button on the case for 5 seconds for a forced reboot.
3. Get away from sources of interference: Wi-Fi router, smart-watch, wireless speakers.

If the problem persists, move on to the next step, and if the headphones turn on but only one sound comes, check the audio balance in the phone settings (more on this in section 4).

2. Reset headphones Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

Factory reset solves 60 percent of connectivity problems, but depending on the model, the process is different, and the next are the actual ways to do it for the 2020-2026 devices.

For models with mechanical buttons (AirDots 1-2, Redmi Buds 1-2):

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the lid, but don't take out the headphones.
3. Press and hold the button on the case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red 3 times.
4. Get your headphones out – they should automatically enter pairing mode (blinking white light).

For touch-controlled models (Buds 3/4, AirDots 3 Pro):

1. Get the headphones out of the case.
2. Touch and hold both touch panels simultaneously for 10 seconds.
3. The indicators should go out, and then blink red and white.
4. Place the headphones back in the case for 5 seconds, then pull out and plug in again.

Once reset, Xiaomi headphones may not appear in the list of Bluetooth devices.

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Remove an old pair of headphones from your phone’s memory (in Bluetooth settings, click “Forget the device»).
• 🔌 Connect again by selecting Mi True Wireless... or Redmi Buds....

Make sure the headphones are charged | Check that both headphones are in the case | Turn off Bluetooth on other devices | Remove the old pair from the phone's memory-->

Important! On Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and AirDots 3 Pro models, you may need to update your firmware through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Earbuds app after a reset. Without this, you may have problems synchronizing microphones.

3. Bluetooth problems: phone and headphone settings

If the reset didn't work, the problem could be in the Bluetooth settings on the phone or the headphone firmware. Let's look at both.

Settings of the phone (Android/iOS):

• 📲 Turn off Bluetooth energy saving: on Android go to Settings → Bluetooth → Additionally. → Shut down. A2DP-energy-saving.
• 🔄 Change the codec: in the Android developer (Settings) → The phone. → Assembly number → 7 taps → Developer settings → Select Bluetooth Audio Codec SBC instead AAC.
• 🍎 On iPhone: Settings → Bluetooth → (i) next to the headphones → Forget this device, then plug it back in.

Headphone firmware:

Outdated firmware can cause problems connecting the second headphone.

1. Download the official application: Xiaomi Earbuds (for Buds 3/4, AirDots 3) Mi Home (for older models)

Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.

Open the app – if an update is available, follow the instructions on the screen.

Warning: Don't interrupt the upgrade process! on Redmi Buds 3 Lite models, interrupted firmware can result in a complete loss of communication with the headphones.

4.Sound balance and mono mode: why sound is only in one headphone

Sometimes the second Xiaomi headphone will connect, but there is no sound in it, the reason may be due to the audio balance settings or the accidental inclusion of mono mode.

How to check the sound balance:

On Android:

1. Open Settings → Special Options → Audio → Stereo Balance.
2. Make sure the slider is in the middle. If it's left/right, move it to the center.

On the iPhone:

1. Go to Settings → Universal Access → Audiovisual Content → Balance.
2. Check that the value is 0 (center).

Mono mode (for Xiaomi/Redmi phones):

Some MIUI firmware automatically switches to mono mode when the connection is poor to disable:

1. Put the headphones on.
2. Open the notification bar and hold the Bluetooth icon.
3. Click on the gear next to the headphones name.
4. Turn off the option of Mono-audio or Mode for a single headphone.

5. Hardware malfunctions: when you need to service

If none of these things worked, the problem could be hardware, and here are some signs that the headphones need to be repaired:

If your Xiaomi AirDots or Redmi Buds are in the rain or in the water, don’t turn them on, bring them to the service immediately. Contact corrosion may not occur immediately, but after 1-2 days the headphones will stop working completely.

For Buds 4 Pro and newer models, Xiaomi offers warranty repairs in case of factory defect (if the headphones are less than 12 months old).

1. Find the serial number on the case (usually under the cover or on the sticker).
2. Go to mi.com/global/verify.
3. Enter the serial number and check the warranty status.

💡

Before visiting the service, take a picture of the headphone serial number and check (if any), which will speed up the process of getting into repairs.

6. Specific problems for different Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi models have unique bugs, and here are the most common:

Xiaomi AirDots (1-2 generation):

• 🔌 Problem: Right earphone does not connect after firmware update.
• 🛠 Solution: Reset your headphones (section 2), then connect the right one first, then the left one.

Redmi Buds 3 Lite / AirDots 3:

• 🎵 Problem: The sound disappears in one earphone after 5-10 minutes.
• 🛠 Solution: Disable the function LDAC in Bluetooth settings (if enabled) or update your firmware through Xiaomi Earbuds.

Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro:

• 🔋 Problem: Left earphone discharges 2 times faster than right.
• 🛠 Solution: This is a known firmware bug 1.4.5. Update to version 1.7.2 or higher via the app.

Mi True Wireless Earphones 2:

• 📶 Problem: Headphones are constantly turned off when talking.
• 🛠 Solution: In Bluetooth settings, turn off Absolute Volume (Absolute Volume).

For models from 2023 to 2026 (such as the Buds 5 Pro), Xiaomi added a diagnostic mode to activate it:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open the Xiaomi Earbuds app.
3. Go to Settings → Diagnostic → Check the connection.
4. The app will show which headphone is not responding and offer solutions.

7. Alternative ways of connecting (if nothing helps)

If the standard methods didn’t work, try these non-obvious techniques:

Connection through the application of a third-party manufacturer:

Applications like Bluetooth Auto Connect or TWS Earphones Test sometimes work where standard Bluetooth fails, and they force the cache of the connection to reconnect the devices.

Use of headphones in the mode of "one channel":

If the second headphone is defined but not synchronized, you can use them separately:

1. Get both earphones out of the case.
2. Place the non-working headphone back in the case.
3. Connect to the phone working headphone – it should be defined as Mi True Wireless (R) or (L).
4. Now, get the second headphone out, and sometimes it's connected as part of a pair.

Reset network settings on the phone:

On Android:

1. Go to Settings → System → Reset → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings.
2. After restarting, reconnect the headphones.

Attention! This method will remove all stored Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices, and use it only if other methods have failed.

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If the headphones connect to another phone but not yours, the problem is with your device’s settings, not the headphones.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi headphones