How to turn on and sync the second headphone Xiaomi: the complete guide

The situation when one of the headphones TWS-Headset stops working or refuses to connect to the smartphone, familiar to many owners of equipment Xiaomi and Redmi. Often the problem lies not in the breakdown of the battery or speaker, and in the desynchronization of communication channels between the left and right modules. The user tries to turn on the device, but hears only silence or sees only one device in the Bluetooth list instead of a stereo pair.

To restore full operation, you need to perform a series of manipulations that force you to search for a pair between the modules. In most cases, it is enough to simply place them in a charging case and wait for the indication, but sometimes you need a deeper intervention in the software of the headset. It is important to understand that the connection protocol can be confused due to static electricity or interference.

In this article, we will go into detail on the algorithms for actions for different scenarios, from simple activation to a full reset (Hard Reset), you will learn how to correctly interpret the flashing of indicators and why sometimes the second earphone just “sleeps” waiting for a signal from the main module.

Diagnosis of the condition and primary activation

Before embarking on complex reset procedures, make sure the second earbud is actually discharged or locked, rather than just in standby mode. Often users forget that when only one module is removed from the case, the second module may not activate automatically. Check the charge of both devices, leaving them in the case for at least 30 minutes, even if the indicators show full charge.

Look at the LED lights. If you take one of the headphones out of the case and you flash white or blue, and the other one blinks or blinks red, it indicates a charge or communication problem. Indication is the main diagnostic tool. In normal mode, both devices should start blinking alternately or simultaneously, signaling readiness for mating.

⚠️ Warning: If the second earphone does not respond to the extraction from the case and does not light up when connected to charging, check the contacts. Oxidation or dust can block the current supply, creating the illusion of a breakage.

Try activating the device manually. On most Xiaomi AirDots, Redmi Buds and Mi True Wireless models, the touchpad works even outside the smartphone. Touch the touch zone and hold your finger for 5-7 seconds. You have to hear a beep or change the way the LED blinks. This action force the module to search for the main device.

Sometimes sequential extraction helps: first take out the right earbud (which is usually a master device), wait for the signal, and then remove the left one. This sequence helps to properly build the Master-Slave connection chain, where one module takes control of the connection to the smartphone, and the second connects to it.

Complete Reset (Hard Reset)

If simple activation didn’t work, the most effective way to solve the problem is to completely reset the headset to factory settings, which clears the internal memory of the modules from pairing errors and makes them re-find each other. Before starting the operation, you need to delete (forget) the device in your smartphone’s Bluetooth settings to avoid conflicts with old profiles.

The reset procedure may vary depending on the model. Most models without screens on the case (e.g. AirDots 2, Redmi Buds 3 Lite) use the sensor retention method. Place both headphones in the case, leaving the lid open. Press and hold the touch zones on both devices simultaneously for 10-15 seconds. The indicators should blink several times and go out, after which they will quickly flash white.

For models with a button on the case (for example, Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2, AirDots Pro), the algorithm is simpler. Put the headphones in the case and press the pairing button on the case. Hold it until the indicator on the case (or on the headphones themselves) flashes white at a high frequency, which means that the headset has entered the mode (coups) and is ready for a new connection.

⚠️ Warning: During reset, do not remove the headphones from the case and do not close the lid until the indicators go into standby mode.

After a successful reset, the headset will automatically try to connect the left and right channels between each other, usually taking 5 to 10 seconds. At this time, the indicators can flash slowly. Once the connection between the modules is established, one of the indicators (usually on the right) can go out or flash less often, signaling readiness to connect to the phone.

Mono mode and channel separation

One of the common reasons the second earphone doesn't turn on is that it's mono mode activated, and in this mode, the headset works as one device, and the sound is only transmitted to one channel, which is a useful feature for calls, but it interferes with listening to music in the stereo, and to get the stereo back, you have to do the pairing between the modules again.

Sometimes, it is out of sync when the phone sees two identical devices, such as “Mi True Wireless”. EB20» and "Mi True Wireless" EB20_R». This means that the left-right earphone communication is lost, and each one tries to connect to the phone independently, in which case the sound will only come from one, and the second will be silent or work as a separate mono speaker.

To correct the situation, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Turn off Bluetooth on your smartphone and remove both devices from the list of saved devices.
• 🔄 Perform a full Hard Reset as described in the previous section.
• 🔌 Take the headphones out of the case and wait until they find each other (indicators will stop blinking quickly).
• 🔍 Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and find only ONE device with the headset name.

Importantly, in mono mode, the second earpiece may not glow at all, saving charge. Switching back to the stereo often happens automatically when you re-place both modules in the case and remove them at the same time. If that doesn't happen, manual resetting is the only right solution.

Specificity of connection for different models

Xiaomi ecosystem includes dozens of models TWS-So each has its own control, and understanding the nuances of your model can help solve the problem faster. For example, the Redmi Buds 4 Pro series uses a more sophisticated noise reduction algorithm that can block the second channel from running at low charge.

Below is a table with activation features for popular series:

For owners of Xiaomi and Poco smartphones with a MIUI shell or HyperOS, there is a Mi Connect feature, which allows you to see the animation of the connection and the charge of each headphone separately immediately after opening the case cover. If you see only one headphone on the Mi Connect menu, then the second one is not synchronized with the first one, and you need to reset.

In more expensive models, such as the Buds 4 Pro, you may need to update the firmware through the Xiaomi Earbuds app. Sometimes the bug with the connection of the second channel is corrected precisely by a software update that optimizes the operation of the Bluetooth module.

Problems with charging case and contacts

There are mechanical reasons, and often the second earpiece doesn't turn on just because it doesn't charge in the case, and it could be due to contamination of the contacts or improper fitting, and the magnets in the case can weaken, and the earpiece won't fit tightly into the contact pins.

Carefully examine the golden contacts on the earpiece and inside the case recess, which often accumulate earwax, dust and pile from your pocket, creating an insulating film, and should be cleaned with a dry soft cloth or cotton swab lightly soaked in alcohol (but do not overdo it with moisture).

⚠️ Warning: Never use metal objects (needles, scissors) to clean contacts inside the case.This can lead to short circuit and final breakage of the charger.

Also check if the case charger lights up when you put the second headphone in there. If the indicator doesn't light up or it lights up dimly, then the current is not going through. Try pressing the earphone lightly with your finger. If you start charging, then the problem is poor magnet contact or contamination.

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Wipe the headphone contacts with a smoother. A regular school eraser is great at removing oxides from metal contacts, restoring conductivity better than a dry cloth.

Program conflicts and Bluetooth settings

Sometimes the problem is not the headset, but the smartphone. The cache of the Bluetooth module of the phone can overflow or contain erroneous records of old devices. This is especially true for Android smartphones that are long in use. Cleaning the Bluetooth cache often solves the problem of the “invisible” second headphone.

To clear the Bluetooth cache on Android:

• 🛠 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Show all applications.
• 🔍 Find in the list of “Bluetooth” (you may need to enable system process display).
• 🗑 Click on Storage and select Clear Cache and Clear Data».
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and try to reconnect the headset.

It’s also worth checking your energy saving settings. Aggressive energy saving modes can block the second Bluetooth channel from running, considering it an unnecessary resource user. Make sure that the Bluetooth service or headphone management app has a background permit without restrictions.

In rare cases, network resets help, which will remove all stored Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth devices, returning the phone's network modules to factory status, a last resort, but effective if the phone is bugged with all wireless devices.

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If nothing works, try connecting the headset to another phone. If that other headset is working, that's a problem with your smartphone. If it's not, the headset itself is faulty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)