Why Xiaomi’s second headphone doesn’t connect over Bluetooth: A complete guide to diagnostics and repair

Did you take Xiaomi's new wireless headphones out of the box, turn them on, and you find that only one is connected to the phone? Or did the right/left headphone stop working after the firmware update? 3/4 Pro and others TWS-brand devices. 80% cases to blame synchronization problems between headphones or failures in the Bluetooth module of the smartphone.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why Xiaomi’s second headphone doesn’t connect, from the cliché of battery discharge to hardware breakdowns. You’ll learn how to diagnose a problem, which settings to check first, and when to contact the service center. And for models that support Mi AI Assistant, we’ve prepared exclusive instructions for resetting through branded software.

Important: If you have Xiaomi headphones older than 2020 (like AirDots Basic or Mi True Wireless Earphones Basic), some of the solutions may not work because of outdated firmware.

1. Checking the underlying causes: battery, charging and physical damage

Before digging deep into Bluetooth settings, rule out obvious issues. Start by visually inspecting the headphones and charging case:

• 🔋 Battery discharge: The second earbud may not turn on if its battery is completely discharged. Check the indicators on the case - whether the lights under both headphones burn when charging.
• 🔌 Charging contacts: Often, oxidation or contamination of contacts in a case causes one earphone to fail to charge. wipe them with an alcohol wipe.
• 💧 Moisture or mechanical damage: If the earphone fell or came into contact with water, the battery or Bluetooth antenna could fail.

For Xiaomi Buds models 3/4 Pro with fast charging, check if the case overheats while connecting to the network. Overheating can block charging of one of the headphones. LED:

⚠️ Attention: if the headphone Xiaomi fell from a height of more than 1 meter, could move the plume of the Bluetooth antenna.

To diagnose the battery, use the Mi Home app (Devices section" → pick out the headphones → "Battery status. If the charge level of one earphone shows 0% despite a long charge, this indicates a malfunction of the battery.

2. Resetting headphone settings: step-by-step instructions

If the basic checks didn't work, the next step is to hard-reset the headphones, which cleans all the stored connections and returns the device to the factory settings.

For Redmi AirDots (all generations) and Mi True Wireless Earphones Basic:

1. Put 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 indicators start flashing red and white.
3. Close the lid, wait 10 seconds and reconnect.

For the Buds 3/3 Pro/4 Pro and new models:

1. Get the headphones out of the case.
2. Press and hold the touchpads on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds.
3. Wait for the double beep and the blinking white.

After the reset, the headphones will appear on the list of available Bluetooth devices as a new device (usually under the name Mi True Wireless... or Redmi AirDots...).If the second headphone is still not displayed, the problem may be in the firmware or hardware.

Make sure both earbuds are charged at least 30 times%|

Check that the headphones are within a radius of 1 meter from the phone |

Disable other Bluetooth devices to avoid interference |

Close all applications that use Bluetooth (music, games)-->

⚠️ Note: after reset, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro headphones may require firmware updates via Mi Fitness or Xiaomi Wear. Without the update, problems with synchronization of stereo sound may be possible.

3. Bluetooth problems on a smartphone: diagnosis and fix

In 30 percent of cases, the Bluetooth module is not the fault of the headphone, and this is especially true for devices on MIUI older than version 12, where there are bugs that support the A2DP profile (responsible for stereo sound).

• 📱 Rebooting your phone: trivial, but often helps. After rebooting, try reconnecting your headphones.
• 🔄 Reset Bluetooth settings: go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → ⋮ → Resetting settings.
• 📲 Update MIUI: Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → System Update: It is critical for Xiaomi to upgrade to the latest stable version.
• 🚫 Conflict with other devices: disable all other Bluetooth gadgets (fitness bracelets, speakers, smart watches).

For owners of POCO or Redmi smartphones on MIUI 13+, there is an additional trick: turn on the developer mode and activate the Bluetooth debugging option in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times) → Additional settings → Developer options.

Critical information for Xiaomi owners 11/12/13 Series: these models use Bluetooth chip Qualcomm WCN6450, Which conflicts with the firmware of older headphones 2021 So the solution is to upgrade the firmware of the headphones through Mi Fitness or roll back. MIUI beforehand 12.5.

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If your headphones stopped connecting after the MIUI update, try rolling back the firmware via Fastboot. Instructions are available on the 4PDA forum in the themes of your smartphone model.

4. Update the firmware of headphones through official applications

Outdated firmware is a common reason why Xiaomi's second headphone doesn't connect. The manufacturer regularly releases updates to fix sync bugs. Use one of the official apps to update:

• 🎧 Mi Fitness (for Redmi AirDots and Mi True Wireless)
• 📱 Xiaomi Wear (for Buds) 3/4 Pro)
• 🏠 Mi Home (Universal, but not for all models)

Instructions for updating through Mi Fitness:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open Mi Fitness, go to Profile → My Devices → Select Headphones.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → "Firmware Update".
4. Wait until it is completed (don’t turn off Bluetooth or shut down the app!).

If the update is 0% or 100%, try:

• Reconnect the headphones.
• Clear the cache of the Mi Fitness app in the phone settings.
• Use a different smartphone (preferably on pure Android).

⚠️ Attention: do not interrupt the process of updating the firmware! For Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, an interrupted update can lead to a complete loss of functionality of the headphones (reflashing through the service center is required).

5. Hardware malfunctions: when to carry in the service

If all the software methods have been tried and the second earphone still doesn't connect, it's probably a hardware problem.

• 🔋 Battery failure: the headphone does not hold a charge or does not charge at all.
• 📡 Bluetooth antenna damage: often after falls or moisture.
• 🔌 Oxidation of contacts: both on the headphones themselves and in the charging case.
• 🛠️ Chip dump: found in cheap models after overheating.

To diagnose hardware problems, pay attention to the following symptoms:

For models Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and newer repair may not be expedient — the cost of replacing the board often exceeds the price of new headphones. In this case, consider the option of buying a new pair, taking into account the program trade-in from Xiaomi (relevant for Russia and CIS countries).

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If the headphones are warranty (up to 12 months from the date of purchase), do not try to repair them yourself! Xiaomi will refuse warranty service if there are traces of an autopsy.

6. Alternative Connection Methods for Older Models

If you have a 2019 Xiaomi headphone or older (like the Redmi AirDots Basic or Mi True Wireless Earphones Basic), standard methods may not work because of outdated firmware.

Method 1: Connecting through "one earphone mode"

Some models are mono-mode.

1. Take out of the case only a working headphone.
2. Hold the button on the case for 5 seconds until the white indicator blinks.
3. Connect him to the phone as usual.
4. After successfully connecting, take out a second headphone - sometimes it will pick up the connection.

Method 2: Use of third-party applications

Apps like Bluetooth Auto Connect or TWS Earphones Fix can force pairing. Install them from Google Play and follow the instructions.

Method 3: Manual addition of the device through MAC-address

For advanced users:

1. Find out. MAC-Headphone address via Settings → The phone. → Status. → Bluetooth status (if they have ever connected).
2. Use it. ADB-The command for forced pairing: adb shell am start -a android.bluetooth.device.action.PAIR -e android.bluetooth.device.extra.DEVICE [MAC-address]

For the Redmi AirDots S (2020), there is an informal firmware from the 4PDA community that fixes connectivity issues, but installing it requires Fastboot skills and may be unwarranted.

7.Problem prevention: how to avoid breakdowns in the future

To prevent the second Xiaomi headphone from falling off in the future, follow these recommendations:

• 🔋 Charging: use only the original cable and power supply. Avoid wireless charging for the case - they can overheat the batteries.
• 💦 Moisture: Even if the headphones have protection IPX4, Do not use them in the rain or in the bathroom.
• 📱 Updates: Check firmware updates regularly through Mi Fitness or Xiaomi Wear.
• 🔄 Synchronization: before long storage, put the headphones in the case - this prevents discharge and loss of communication between them.
• 🧲 Interference: Avoid using headphones near microwaves, routers 5G or other sources of electromagnetic interference.

For models with active noise cancellation (Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and later) it is important:

• Turning off the ANC in a subway or plane reduces the load on the Bluetooth module.
• Clean the microphone grilles once a month with a soft brush (dust accumulation worsens the quality of communication).

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi headphones with iPhone, turn off the Automatic Device Switch feature in Bluetooth settings.It often causes sync failures with the second headphone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi headphones