Why Xiaomi headphones connect separately to the phone: reasons and solutions

Did you take Xiaomi's new wireless headphones out of the box, turn them on, and suddenly the phone showed two separate devices instead of one? Or did one headphone connect and the other didn't? This problem is familiar to many owners. TWS-Xiaomi headphones, including popular models like Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless Earbuds or Xiaomi Buds 4. In most cases, this behavior is not a malfunction, but a feature of the Bluetooth protocol or software failure.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why your headphones are connected separately, how to fix it manually, and what to do if one of your headphones stops working. And you’ll also learn which Xiaomi models are most likely to experience this problem and how to avoid it in the future. If you’ve tried reconnecting your headphones but nothing has worked, don’t rush them into service: 90% of the time, the solution is on the surface.

Why Xiaomi Headphones Are Defined as Two Separate Devices

When you first turn on TWS-It's a true Wireless Stereo headphone, which is supposed to automatically sync with each other and connect to the phone as one device, but sometimes the Android system (or even iOS) sees them as two independent gadgets:

• 🔹 Synchronization failure between headphones – if one of them is discharged or was removed from the case before the other, the connection may be disrupted.
• 🔹 Firmware error – outdated headphone or phone software leads to incorrect identification of devices.
• 🔹 Bluetooth profile conflict – the phone saves old connection data, which interferes with the correct operation.
• 🔹 Hardware malfunction - damage to contacts in the case or the earphone itself (less often).
• 🔹 Third-party application intervention – some programs (e.g. Bluetooth managers) may block the correct connection.

The problem most often occurs after updating the firmware of the phone or if the headphones are not used for a long time. For example, users of Xiaomi Mi 11 and Redmi Note 10 Pro often complain about this after upgrading to MIUI 14.

Interestingly, some Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Buds 3 Pro) initially support Monosound mode, where you can only use one headphone, in which case the system will actually show two devices - but this is normal behavior, not a mistake.

How to fix separate connection of headphones: step-by-step instructions

If your headphones are defined as two devices, try the following steps: Start with the simplest and move on to more sophisticated methods:

1. Reboot your headphones and phone Turn off Bluetooth on your phone, put your headphones in your case for 10 seconds, then pull out and try to connect again.
2. For most Xiaomi models, the reset is done as follows: press the button on the case (or touch panel on the headphones) for 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
3. Remove devices from your phone's memory Go to Settings → Bluetooth, find both headphones in the list of paired devices and delete them. Then plug them back in.
4. For some models (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4) updates are available through the Mi Earphones app or Xiaomi Wear.
5. Check the sound settings in Settings → Sound disable the option of Dual Audio or Separate Sound if it is active.

If neither of these methods worked, the problem could be a hardware malfunction, such as if one of the headphones is physically damaged or discharges faster than the other, the synchronization will be lost, and you should contact Xiaomi’s service center.

Xiaomi models that are most often connected separately

Not all Xiaomi headphones are equally affected by this problem, and according to user reviews and service centers, the following models are most often complained about:

Important: Headphones Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro and newer are virtually unaffected by this problem thanks to the improved Bluetooth 5.3 protocol and optimized firmware. If you are planning to buy and want to avoid such difficulties, pay attention to current models with support for the new product. LC3-codec (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 5).

It’s also worth noting that the problem is more common on Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12-14 than on other brands, due to the implementation of Bluetooth stack in firmware, for example, on Samsung Galaxy or iPhone, the same headphones can work steadily.

What to do if one headphone does not connect at all

This is even more complicated if the phone only sees one headphone and the other one doesn't detect at all.

• 🔋 Check the charge, pull the earphone out of the case, see if it's on the light, and if it's not, it's possible that the contacts are contaminated or the battery is out of order.
• 🔄 Change the headphones in places - put the "non-working" earphone in the case for 30 seconds, then try to connect it separately.
• 🛠️ Clean the contacts -- wipe the metal contacts in the case and on the headphones with an alcohol wipe. Sometimes oxidation or dirt interferes with charging and synchronization.
• 📱 Check on another device, connect your headphones to another phone or tablet, and if the problem persists, it's the headphones, not your smartphone.

If none of these methods worked, the earphone itself is likely to be faulty.

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to disassemble the headphones yourself - this will lead to a loss of warranty. Contact the official Xiaomi service with a check and packaging. In most cases, a faulty earphone will be replaced by warranty, unless the defect is mechanical.

The cost of repairing one headphone in informal workshops is usually 1,500-3,000 rubles, which is often comparable to the price of new headphones, so if you break out of warranty, it makes sense to consider buying a new model.

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If one earphone discharges much faster than the other, it may indicate battery wear.Try resetting usage statistics in the Mi Earphones app (if supported).

How to Prevent the Problem in the Future: Prevention

To ensure that Xiaomi headphones always connect as one device, follow these guidelines:

1. Update your firmware regularly, both on your phone and on the headphones themselves (via Mi Earphones or Xiaomi Wear).
2. Do not use headphones at the highest volume - this reduces the battery life and can lead to failures.
3. Keep headphones in the case - this not only charges them, but also supports synchronization with each other.
4. Avoid dirty connections – do not connect headphones to multiple devices at the same time (for example, to a phone and laptop).
5. Periodically reset the Bluetooth cache — in Settings → Apps → All apps → Bluetooth select Clear cache.

You should also avoid using third-party launchers (for example, Nova Launcher or Nova Launcher). POCO Launcher), if you notice that Bluetooth problems started after they were installed. MIUI, including wireless device management.

If you frequently connect your headphones to different devices (such as your phone and computer), use the Quick Switch feature in Bluetooth settings to help avoid conflicts when you reconnect.

Alternative ways to connect if nothing helps

If the standard methods do not work, you can try non-obvious solutions:

• 📲 Use Developer Mode Activate Developer Mode in Phone Settings (About Phone) → Version. MIUI, press 7 times. Then in Settings. → Additionally. → For developers, find the Bluetooth debugging option and turn it on. After you reboot your phone, try reconnecting your headphones.
• 🔄 Sometimes forced pairing helps: press the button on the case until the indicator starts flashing quickly (pairing mode), then select the headphones in the list of Bluetooth devices.
• 🖥️ Use a PC to reset Connect headphones to a computer or laptop, remove them from the list of devices, then reconnect to the phone.

For models that support dual connectivity (such as the Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro), try disabling this feature in the Mi Earphones app.

If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the problem may be that the Bluetooth stack is not working properly, in which case either returning to the official MIUI or installing a Bluetooth patch (if there is one for your firmware) will help.

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Before resetting your headphones to factory settings, make sure they are at least 30% charged, and the discharged headphones may not perform the reset procedure correctly, leading to even more failures.

When to contact the service: signs of hardware malfunction

Not all connectivity problems are software-solved, but here are some signs that the headphones need repair:

• 🔴 One of the headphones does not turn on at all (does not respond to pressing, the indicator does not burn).
• 🔊 The sound in the headphones is distorted (wheezing, interruptions), even after resetting.
• 🔋 The headphone does not charge in the case (contacts are blackened or oxidized).
• 📶 Headphones are constantly turned off after 1-2 seconds after connecting.
• 💧 Physical damage is visible (cracks, dents, traces of moisture).

If you see at least one of these symptoms, self-repair is unlikely to help. In official Xiaomi service centers, diagnostics are usually free, and the cost of repair depends on the model:

Please note: if the headphones are warranty, repairs will be free, provided that the breakdown is not caused by mechanical damage or moisture.Always check the warranty status in the Mi Account before visiting the service center.

⚠️ Note: Some service centers refuse to repair headphones unless they are wearing the original packaging or check).

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi headphones