How to connect the second headphone Xiaomi: 5 working ways

Did you pull out of the box new wireless headphones Xiaomi, but found that only one works? Or after updating the firmware second headphone stopped connecting? TWS-Headphones brand — from budget Redmi AirDots to flagship Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro. the reasons can be different: from the banal discharge of the battery to failure of synchronization between devices.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can connect your second headphone, including standard Bluetooth methods, resetting your headphones, using Mi Earphones, and even manually synchronizing through an engineering menu. It’s important to understand that the algorithm of actions can vary slightly depending on the model, so we’ll give you nuances for popular TV shows like AirDots, Buds, FlipBuds, and others. If you’ve tried rebooting your headphones but nothing has worked, don’t rush them into service: 90% of the time, you can solve the problem yourself in 5-10 minutes.

Why Xiaomi’s second headphone is not connected: the main reasons

Before we get to the instructions, it's worth figuring out what went wrong, and here are the most common reasons why one of the headphones might be silent:

• 🔋 A discharged battery – the second headphone could discharge faster than the first (especially if it was left unused for more than a month).
• 📶 Synchronization failure – headphones lost communication with each other after updating the firmware or incorrect extraction from the case.
• 🔄 Incorrect connection sequence – some models require first to connect the case, and then get the headphones.
• 🛠️ Software glitch – a bug in the firmware of headphones or phone (often occurs after an update) MIUI).
• 🎧 Mechanical damage - ingress of moisture, fall or wear of contacts in the case.

Fun fact: Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro and later uses dual-device connection technology that allows you to connect headphones to two devices at once, sometimes leading to conflicts when one earphone sticks on another phone or tablet. Check the list of connected Bluetooth devices on all your gadgets!

⚠️ Attention: If the second headphone does not respond to button presses at all and does not charge in the case (the indicator does not burn), the problem may be a plume break or a failure of the controller.

Method 1: Standard Bluetooth connection (for most models)

So let's start with the simplest method, which works for 95 percent of the time, and it's good for everyone. TWS-Xiaomi headphones, including:

• 🎵 Redmi AirDots (1/2/3), AirDots S
• 🎵 Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones (1/2/2S/2C)
• 🎵 Xiaomi Buds 3/3T Pro, Buds 4/4 Pro
• 🎵 Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Sequence of action:

1. Put both earbuds in the case and close the lid for 10 seconds. Make sure the indicators on the case are on (charged).
2. Get both headphones out at the same time – they should automatically turn on and sync with each other (you will hear a beep or see flashing lights).
3. On your phone, turn on Bluetooth and find your headphones in the list of devices (the name usually contains Mi True Wireless, Redmi Buds or the like).
4. Press Connect. If you get a couple confirmation request, you'll agree.

If the headphones were already connected, but the second one stopped working:

1. In Bluetooth settings on your phone, forget the device (click on the gear next to the headphone name). → Delete or Forget).
2. Reset the headphones (see Method 3) and reconnect again.

Check the charge of the case (the indicator should burn)

Get both earphones at the same time.

Remove headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices on your phone

Reboot your phone (sometimes helps with Bluetooth crashes)

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For models with touch control (for example, Xiaomi Buds) 3T Pro) may need to touch the touchpad on both headphones for 5 seconds to activate the pairing mode. In the instructions for your model, this is usually indicated as "Reset" or "Pairing Mode".

Method 2: Using the Mi Earphones app

For some models (especially newer ones), standard Bluetooth connectivity is not enough. Xiaomi has released the official Mi Earphones app (available for Android and iOS) that allows you to:

• 🔧 Customize control gestures
• 🎛️ Update the firmware of headphones
• 🔄 Restore the connection between the headphones
• 📊 View the charge level of each headphone separately

How to connect the second headphone through Mi Earphones:

1. Download the app from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Connect your headphones to your phone via Bluetooth (even if only one works).
3. Open Mi Earphones – the app should automatically identify the model.
4. Go to Settings → Reset headphones (or Restore connection).
5. Follow the instructions on the screen – usually put the headphones in the case, close the lid, and then pull them out after 10 seconds.

If only one headphone is displayed in the app, try:

• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones manually through Settings → Bluetooth.
• 📱 Reboot your phone and re-open your Mi Earphones.
• 🔋 Check the case charge – at low battery level, the application may not see the second headphone.

⚠️ Attention: In some firmware MIUI (particularly Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco) Mi Earphones may conflict with the built-in Bluetooth settings. If the headphones don't sync again after reset, try turning off the dual connection feature in your phone's Bluetooth settings.

Redmi AirDots (1/2/3)

Xiaomi Mi True Wireless (1/2/2S)

Xiaomi Buds 3/3T Pro or newer

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro

Another model (write in the comments)

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Method 3: Manual reset of headphones (Hard Reset)

If standard methods don't work, you'll have to reset your headphones completely, which removes all the connections you've saved and returns the device to factory settings. For Xiaomi 2022 and newer models (like Buds 4 Pro), the reset may be different — see the table below.

General instructions for most models:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the lid and hold the button on the case (usually side or bottom) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white (or blue and red).
3. Close the lid, wait 30 seconds, then pull out the headphones - they should automatically go into pairing mode.
4. Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth again.

For models with touch control (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro), the reset is performed differently:

1. Get the headphones out of the case.


2. Touch and hold the touchpad on both headphones for 10 seconds.




3. The indicators should be extinguished, then blink red and white.




4. Put the headphones back in the case and reconnect.

⚠️ Note: After reset, Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and later headphones may require a firmware update through the Mi Earphones app. Without this, the second headphone may not connect or work intermittently.

💡

If the headphones are not identified by the phone after reset, try connecting them to another device (like a laptop), which sometimes helps wake up the Bluetooth module.

Method 4: Connect via engineering menu (for advanced users)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can try manual synchronization through an engineering menu. Xiaomi/Redmi It's built on top of it. You're going to need it:

• 📱 Android-smartphone (preferably Xiaomi, but any with support is suitable) ADB)
• 💻 Computer with installed ADB Tools
• 🔌 USB- Cable to connect phone to PC

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on the developer mode on the phone: Go to Settings → About the phone. Press 7 times on the version. MIUI (You will see a notification saying, "You've become a developer." → Additionally. → For developers, activate debugging by USB.

command-line

Terminal

adb devices

Your phone’s serial number should appear.

adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.development.DevelopmentSettings

Bluetooth Test Mode

Enter BLE Test

Put the headphones in the case, then take them out - the ID of the second headphone should appear in the logs.

Connect

This method requires technical skills and is not recommended for beginners, as the wrong commands can disrupt the Bluetooth module of the phone.

• 🔹 Headphones are not defined by any device.
• 🔹 Resetting and flashing didn't help.
• 🔹 You are sure that the problem is not mechanical failure.

Method 5: Checking for mechanical faults

If the software methods have failed, it is worth checking the physical condition of the headphones and the case.

• 🔌 Contacts in the case - often oxidized or contaminated. wipe them with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol (do not use wet wipes!).
• 🔋 Case charge - if the indicator does not burn when connected to charging, the problem may be in the case battery.
• 🎧 Headphone speaker -- light a flashlight into the speaker's grille. If you see dust or moisture, clean it gently with a soft brush.
• 🔄 Reset button on the case -- sometimes it sticks. Press it several times to get back the mobility.

To check the charge of each headphone separately:

1. Put the headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Connect the case to charging - the indicators on the headphones should burn red (charge) or green (full charge).
3. If one of the headphones is not burning, try to swap them in the case - sometimes the contacts are asymmetrical.

If the second earpiece is working after cleaning the contacts, but the sound is distorted or quiet, the speaker membrane may be damaged, in this case, only replacing the headphone at the service center (if the warranty is valid) or buying a new one will help.

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Before visiting the service, check if the warranty period has expired. Most Xiaomi models have it 12 months from the date of purchase (check required).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make common mistakes that prevent the second headphone from being connected correctly.

• 🚫 Connect headphones to the phone one by one – they must be synchronized with each other before connecting to the device.
• 🚫 Use a non-original charging cable – cheap cables may not provide enough current to charge the case.
• 🚫 Update the firmware of headphones through third-party applications – this can lead to the “bricking” of the device.
• 🚫 Keeping headphones out of the case for longer than a week leads to a complete discharge of the battery and failure of synchronization.
• 🚫 Pressing buttons on the case or headphones during the firmware update will interrupt the process and disable the device.

Also, pay attention to compatibility:

• 📱 Xiaomi headphones are optimized for phones on MIUI. iPhones or other brands may have problems with automatic connectivity.
• 🎮 Some models (e.g. Redmi AirDots 3 Pro) do not support PC or game console connectivity due to Bluetooth stack features.

If you use headphones with Windows or Mac, try:

1. Remove the device in Settings → Devices → Bluetooth.
2. Disable and turn on the Bluetooth adapter on your computer again.
3. Use Bluetooth 5.0 adapter (built-in modules on older PCs may not support TWS).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions