How to connect Xiaomi Air 2 SE to the phone: step-by-step instructions with photos and tips

Introduction: Why you need proper synchronization

Xiaomi Air 2 SE wireless headphones have become one of the brand’s most popular accessories due to their combination of sound quality, compactness and affordable price. However, even with such a simple device, users often wonder why the phone does not see the headphones, how to turn on pairing mode or what to do if the sound is interrupted. This article will help you understand all the nuances of connection from basic settings to solving non-standard problems.

The Air 2 SE features both standard Bluetooth 5.0 protocol and Xiaomi proprietary technology to quickly connect to the brand’s ecosystem of devices, but even if you have a different brand phone β€” Samsung, iPhone or Honor β€” the instructions below will do, but the main thing is to follow the step-by-step recommendations and check the compatibility of versions.

In this article you will find:

  • πŸ”Ή Step-by-step guide for Android and iOS with photos
  • πŸ”Ή Compatibility table with different versions of Bluetooth
  • πŸ”Ή Methods of eliminating typical errors (no sound, communication breaks)
  • πŸ”Ή Hidden functions of headphones, which are not written in the instructions

1. Preparation of headphones for connection

Before the first pairing, you need to properly initialize the Xiaomi Air 2 SE. Many users miss this step, which causes problems with finding the device.

  1. Charge the headphones. Make sure the charge level is at least 20%, otherwise they may turn off during settings. Check the indicator: red flashing light means a discharge below 10%, white - a charge above 30%.
  2. Remove the case. Take out both earphones - they must automatically turn on (white LED flashes). If this does not happen, press and hold the touchpad on any earphone for 3 seconds.
  3. Reset to factory settings (if necessary). If the headphones have already connected to another device, reset: press the touch panels on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white.

Note that if the headphones were paired with another phone, they can automatically try to connect to it, in which case, turn off Bluetooth on the old device or remove Air 2 SE from the list of conjugated gadgets.

Charge headphones to 20%|

Remove both earphones from the case|

Make sure the indicators flash white |

Reset the settings (if you have previously connected)-->

2. Connecting to the phone on Android

The process of pairing with Android devices is as simple as possible, but there are a few nuances that depend on the version of the operating system. Below is a universal instruction that works on MIUI, ColorOS, One UI and pure Android.

Step 1: Activate Bluetooth on your phone

Open Settings β†’ Connections β†’ Bluetooth (on Xiaomi, the path could be Settings β†’ Bluetooth). Turn on the switch and wait for the phone to start searching for devices. Make sure that Visible for All mode is activated (on some firmware it is called Detection).

Step 2: Finding and Selecting Headphones

In the list of available devices, find Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 SE (sometimes displayed as Mi Air 2 SE). Click on the name and the pairing process will begin.

  • πŸ”„ Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on the switch).
  • πŸ”‹ Check the charge of the headphones – at a level below 10%, they may not appear.
  • πŸ“± Make sure the distance between the phone and headphones is less than 1 meter.

Step 3: Confirm the connection

After clicking on the headphone name, you will receive a request for confirmation of pairing. Some phones (for example, Samsung Galaxy) will additionally need to allow access to contacts and call history – this is necessary for the microphone to work correctly during conversations.

If the connection is successful, the headphone icon will appear in the status bar, and in the Bluetooth settings, they will appear as "Connected." Now you can test the sound - turn on any song or video.

Xiaomi/Redmi|Samsung|iPhone|Honor/Huawei|other-->

3. Connection to iPhone (iOS)

The interface with the iPhone or iPad has its own peculiarities due to Apple's limitations in working with Bluetooth devices, AAC It can be unstable.But Xiaomi Air 2 SE Compatible with iOS if you follow this instruction:

  1. Open Settings β†’ Bluetooth and turn on the switch.
  2. Take the headphones out of the case and wait for the white indicator to blink (pairing mode).
  3. In the list of "Other devices" find Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 SE and tap the name.
  4. Wait 10-15 seconds – the process can take longer than Android.
  5. After connecting, check the sound: sometimes you need to manually select the headphones as the output device in the Control Point (swipe down from the upper right corner).

Important: iOS may not automatically switch between headphones (for example, when you remove one of them), and there may be delays in audio when watching videos, which is a limitation of the Bluetooth protocol on the iPhone.

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If your iPhone has headphones on but no sound, go to Settings β†’ Bluetooth, click on the "i" icon next to the Mi Air 2 SE and select "Forget this device." Then reconnect.

4. Compatibility table with Bluetooth versions

The Bluetooth version of your phone depends on the stability of the connection, range and supported codeki. Below is a comparison table for Xiaomi Air 2 SE:

Bluetooth version on the phoneMax. range (m)Supported codekiSound delay (MS)Features
Bluetooth 4.0/4.15-7SBC150-200Possible communication breaks, low sound quality
Bluetooth 4.210SBC, AAC100-150Stable connection, but without aptX support
Bluetooth 5.015-20SBC, AAC, aptX (on some firmware)50-80The best option for Air 2 SE
Bluetooth 5.1+20-30SBC, AAC, aptX, LC330-50Minimum delays, dual-mode support

If your phone supports Bluetooth 5.0+ but the headphones are unstable, check the developer’s settings:

  • πŸ“± On Android: Enable Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Build number (tap 7 times), then in Settings β†’ System system β†’ For developers, find the Bluetooth Codec and select SBC (stablest).
  • 🍎 On iOS, there are no such settings - the problem is solved only by updating the firmware of headphones.

5. Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even after a successful connection, users face common errors, and we'll look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: The phone can't see the headphones

Causes and solutions:

  • πŸ”‹ Headphones are discharged. Check the indicator on the case: if it's red, recharge the device. 10-15 minute.
  • πŸ“΅ Headphones are in sleep mode. Take them out of the case and press the touchpad for 3 seconds.
  • πŸ“± Conflict with other devices: Turn off Bluetooth on all previously coupled gadgets (laptop, tablet).
  • πŸ”„ Firmware failure. Reset the headphones to factory settings (clip both panels for 10 seconds).

Problem 2: The sound is interrupted or distorted

This is one of the most common complaints.

  • πŸ“Ά Interference from other devices: Wi-Fi routers, microwaves and even wireless mice operate at 2.4 GHz, just like Bluetooth.
  • πŸ”Š Incorrect codec. On Android, select the developer settings SBC instead AAC.
  • πŸ“± Power saving: Turn off Bluetooth battery optimization mode in your phone settings.
How to check the current Bluetooth codec?
On Android: install the Bluetooth Codec Info app from Google Play, which will show the current codec, bitrate and latency. On iPhone, this is not possible β€” Apple does not provide an API to read this information.

Problem 3: The microphone is not working during calls

If the interviewer does not hear you:

  • 🎀 Check that Mi Air 2 is selected in the call settings SE input-device.
  • πŸ“± On Android, go to Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ Phone. β†’ Permits and enable access to the microphone.
  • πŸ”„ Reconnect the headphones: sometimes it helps to re-pair.

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If problems with the microphone occur only in messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), check the settings of the application – perhaps there is a manually selected other source of sound.

6. Hidden features of Xiaomi Air 2 SE

The manufacturer doesn't advertise the full range of these headphones, but here are some of the things that we'll use in our everyday lives:

1. Monoconnection (use of one headphone)

You can only use the right or left earphone while the second one is in the case.

  1. Take out only one headphone from the case.
  2. Wait for the connection (the indicator will flash white).
  3. The second headphone will automatically shut down to save charge.

To return the stereo sound, just take out the second earpiece – it will connect automatically.

2.Gestural control

Touch panels on headphones support several commands:

  • 🎡 Double touch: playback/pause (both headphones) or accept/reject call (right earphone).
  • πŸ”€ Triple touch: move to the next track (right) or the previous one (left).
  • πŸ“ž 2 seconds: Calling the Google Assistant or Siri).

3. Low Delay Mode (Game Mode)

For gamers, the feature to reduce the delay of sound is useful, it activates automatically when you connect to Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12+. On other phones, you can manually enable it:

  1. Open the Mi AI app (if installed).
  2. Find Air 2 SE in the list of devices.
  3. Activate the "Game Mode" option.

The latency of sound will decrease from 100-150 ms to 50-80 ms, which is critical for shooters or rhythm games.

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To switch between modes (music/games) quickly, tap the right earphone three times, and the indicator will blink blue when Game Mode is activated.

7. Update to the headphone firmware

The manufacturer periodically releases updates for Xiaomi Air 2 SE, fixing bugs and adding new features, you can check the relevance of the firmware through the official Mi Home app (Android only):

  1. Install Mi Home from Google Play.
  2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account.
  3. Put the headphones on the phone.
  4. In the app, click "Add Device" β†’ "Hearphones" β†’ "Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 SE".
  5. If an update is available, a notification will appear. Click "Update" and wait until it's finished (don't turn off the headphones!).

You can't update your firmware on iOS, because Apple is restricting access to Bluetooth system features, so you'll have to use a friend's Android device or a service center.

What does the latest firmware for Air 2 SE give?
The June 2023 update improves the stability of the iPhone connection, adds support for the LC3 codec (for Bluetooth 5.2+) and reduces latency in Game Mode to 40 ms.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the firmware update process, this can lead to the "bricking" of the headphones. If the indicator flashes red and green for more than 5 minutes, reset (press both panels for 15 seconds) and try again.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I connect Xiaomi Air 2 SE to a laptop or PC?
Yes, but there are nuances. On Windows 10/11, go to Settings β†’ Devices β†’ Bluetooth, turn on search and select Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 SE. On MacOS, path: System settings β†’ Bluetooth. Problems may arise with the microphone – sometimes you need to manually select the headphones as the input device in the audio settings.
Why do headphones discharge quickly?
Causes: πŸ”Š Loudness higher 70% β€” lower it to 50-60%. πŸ“Ά Constant Device Search – Turn off Bluetooth on your phone when not using headphones. πŸ”„ Outdated firmware - upgrade via Mi Home. Normal running time: 4-5 on a single charge (with the case - up to the 20 hours).
How to reset the settings if the headphones do not respond?
Do a hard reset: Put both earbuds in the case. Open the case cover. Press the touchpads on both headphones at the same time. Hold on for 15 seconds until the lights flash red and white. Close the case cover, the reset is complete. After that, the headphones will be like new ones, they need to be reconnected to the phone.
Can I use Air 2 SE to watch video without delay?
Android with Bluetooth 5.0+ delay is minimal (50-80 MS, especially in Game Mode. iPhone delay can reach 200 MS is a limitation of iOS. Solutions: πŸ“± Use your Android device to view it. 🎧 Connect your headphones via Bluetooth adapter 5.0 USB TV-to-PC. πŸ”Š In some players (e.g, VLC) You can manually synchronize the sound.
How to check the originality of Xiaomi Air 2 SE?
Signs of forgery: πŸ“¦ Packaging without Xiaomi hologram or with typos. πŸ”Š The sound is hoarse, there are no basses. πŸ“± Bluetooth Settings Does Not Show Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 SE, a) other name (e.g, "TWS Earphones"). πŸ”‹ The case charges for longer than 1.5 hours (original - 1 hour). To check the originality, download the Mi Home app and try to connect the headphones - fakes are not determined by the system.