Why Xiaomi Airdots’ second headphone doesn’t work 2: all the reasons and ways to fix it

You pulled out of the Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 (Airdots 2) case, but you hear the sound in only one headphone? The problem is familiar to many owners of these wireless headphones - especially after firmware updates or prolonged downtime. In 80% of cases, the malfunction is due to software failures, but sometimes mechanical damage or Bluetooth connection features are to blame.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why the second Airdots 2 earphone doesn’t connect, make no sound, or fall off after 5 seconds, and you’ll get step-by-step diagnostic instructions (from simple to complex), a device compatibility table, and answers to frequent questions. We will pay special attention to the hidden Bluetooth settings in MIUI, Which Xiaomi doesn’t document, but they often solve the problem.

1. Checking basic settings: what to do first

Before you disassemble the headphones or drop them to factory settings, rule out the obvious reasons.

• 🔋 Case and headphone charge: place both earphones in the case for 10 minutes, even if the indicator is green. Sometimes the contacts oxidize and the charging is unstable. Try to clean the contacts with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
• 🔊 Sound balance: On your phone or PC, check if the balance slider is shifted left/right (in sound or uniformity settings). → Sound. → Stereo balance.
• 📱 Bluetooth Reconnect: Remove Airdots 2 from the list of associated devices and reconnect. On iPhone, this is done through Settings. → Bluetooth → (i) → Forget this device.

If you've had this second earphone fail anyway, move on to the next section. Importantly, don't ignore the sound balance item, because 15 percent of the time, that's where the problem lies, especially when you're connected to a new device.

2. Resetting headphones to factory settings

Hardware reset is a universal solution for most software failures. In Airdots 2, it is performed through a combination of buttons on the case:

1. Place both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the lid and hold the button on the case for 15-20 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white alternately.
3. Release the button, the headphones will reset. Now you need to re-coil them with the phone.

After resetting, the headphones may not be immediately determined.

• 🔄 Turn off Bluetooth on your phone, then turn it on again.
• 📴 Reboot your smartphone (especially relevant for the Xiaomi/Redmi on MIUI).
• 🔌 Try connecting to another device (tablet, laptop) to rule out a smartphone problem.

Charge the case and headphones to 100%|

Remove headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices |

Prepare a second test device (laptop/tablet) |

Press the reset button strictly for 20 seconds-->

Warning: If the headphones do not sync after reset (do not flash synchronously), this may indicate a hardware malfunction of the main headphone (usually the right one), in which case repair will be required.

3. Firmware and compatibility issues

Xiaomi Airdots 2 is sensitive to both the headphone and the device's plug-in firmware version, for example, after the MIUI 12.5+ update, many users experience communication breakdowns.

For Android devices (especially Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO) check:

1. MIUI Version: About Phone → MIUI Version. If version is older than 12.0, upgrade the system.
2. Bluetooth Settings: Settings → Connections & Sharing → Bluetooth → Additional → Audio Codec → Select SBC (not AAC!) AAC often causes sync problems on Airdots 2.

Critical information: If you have updated the firmware of the headphones through third-party utilities (for example, Flashing Tool), the probability of "bricking" the Bluetooth module is high, in which case only flashing in the service center will help.

4. Hardware malfunctions: when without repairs can not do

If the software methods didn't work, the problem could be the hardware. Typical hardware breakdowns Airdots 2:

• 🔌 Oxidation of contacts in the case or on headphones (especially after moisture is ingested) manifests as unstable charging or lack of communication.
• 🎛️ Bluetooth antenna damage, more often in the right earpiece (he's the head headphone) Symptom: right earphone flashes red, left earphone doesn't respond.
• 🔋 Battery bloating - the headphone does not hold a charge or shuts down after 1-2 minutes.
• 🔊 Speaker break - sound is there, but quiet or wheezing. Checked by connecting to another device.

How to diagnose:

1. Light a flashlight into the headphone charging connector - if corrosion marks (green/white plaque) are visible, this is oxidation.
2. Shake the earphone next to the ear: if you hear a knock or rustle, it may be soldered speaker or battery.
3. Try connecting your headphones to Windows via Bluetooth: if only one headphone is displayed in the Device Manager, the problem is synchronizing the modules.

💡

If the headphone stopped working after a fall or water hit, do not try to disassemble it yourself - Airdots 2 uses adhesive joints, and when opening, you can damage the plumes.

Cost of repairs in service centers:

• Battery replacement: ~800–1200 ₽.
• Repair of contacts / soldering of antenna: ~1500–2000 ₽.
• Replacement of the speaker: ~1000–1300 ₽ (if there is an original).

Attention: ⚠️ Some "masters" offer to replace the main module (right earphone) on the donor from other Airdots. This is a temporary solution - after 1-2 months, there may be problems with synchronization due to the difference in firmware.

5. Features of connection to different devices

Xiaomi Airdots 2 is optimized to work with Xiaomi/Redmi on MIUI, but can conflict with other brands.

For Windows, additionally:

1. Open the control panel. → Devices and printers.
2. Find Airdots 2, click PKM → Properties → Services.
3. Remote control of music and video – this often solves the problem of cliffs.

💡

On Samsung with One UI, you may need to disable the Dual Audio feature (in Bluetooth settings) as it conflicts with the Airdots 2’s stereo performance.

Alternative diagnostic methods

If the standard methods did not help, try these techniques:

• 🔍 Test with another case: borrow a case from a friend of Airdots 2, if the headphones work, the problem is in your case (contacts or charge charge charge).

For advanced users:

Activate the developer mode on Android:


Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times)




Then:




Settings → Additional → For developers → Debugging Bluetooth → Enable

This will allow you to see the log of connection errors in Android Studio or adb logcat.

7. When to contact the service center

If you have tried all the methods in this article, but the second Airdots 2 headphone still doesn’t work, you will most likely need professional repair.

• ⚡ The headphone is not charged (the indicator does not burn when placed in the case).
• 🔴 Right earbud flashes red for more than 30 seconds without reacting to reset.
• 🔊 There is a sound, but with strong wheezing or interruptions (speaker or plume).
• 📱 Headphones are not detected on any device (even after resetting).