Wireless headphones from Chinese giant Xiaomi have become a hit in the market due to their compact design, high-quality sound and, importantly, affordable price. However, like any smart appliance, they require the right initial setup for stable operation. Users often face difficulties in the first pairing when the right and left headphones do not sync with each other or the device does not see them in the Bluetooth list. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to connect Xiaomi AirDots headphones so you can enjoy music without delays and cliffs.
The connection process can vary depending on your device model, whether it’s the classic Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic or the more advanced versions of AirDots 2 and AirDots Pro. It’s important to understand that the right sequence of actions is key to success. If you just pull them out of the case and turn on Bluetooth on your phone, they may not work in stereo mode, but will work as two independent mono-devices.
We're going to look at not only the standard Android and iOS procedure, but also the focus on fixing common bugs. Often the problem isn't a gadget breakdown, but a simple software failure that's easy to fix. Reconnecting or resetting to factory settings solves 90 percent of all problems. Then we'll move on to step-by-step instructions.
Preparation for first switching and synchronization
Before you try to connect Xiaomi headphones to your smartphone, make sure they are ready to go.The first step should always be to check the battery charge. Put both headphones in the charging case and let them stand on charging for at least 15-20 minutes, especially if they were purchased recently or were lying idle for a long time. The indicators on the front should light up red during charging and go out (or light up white/blue depending on the model) at full charge.
The next critical step is synchronizing the left and right earbuds with each other, and many users miss this step, which causes the phone to see two devices with the same name or only one of them. To avoid this, take both of them out of the case at the same time. They have to automatically turn on. If the indicators flash white, this is the search mode. If they flash red and white in turn, the pairing process goes on.
⚠️ Note: If you take the headphones out of the case one at a time, they can go into mono-headset mode, in which case the second headphone will not transmit sound. Always remove both devices at the same time to activate the stereo mode.
To successfully authenticate devices between themselves, you sometimes need to manually activate them. Press and hold the touchpads on both headphones for 5-7 seconds until they turn off, and then turn them back on, holding the buttons for 2-3 seconds. Once turned on, they should quickly find each other, and one of the indicators should stop blinking or blinking less often, which signals a successful pair connection.
There is also a nuance with Bluetooth modules: If the headphones were previously connected to another phone, they may try to connect to it automatically, ignoring your new device, in which case it is better to temporarily turn off Bluetooth on the old gadget or perform a reset procedure, which we will discuss below.
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Before first switching on, be sure to wipe the metal contacts on the headphones and inside the case with dry soft cloth. Oxidation or dust can prevent charging and correctly determining the device in the case.
Instructions: how to connect Xiaomi AirDots to Android
The Android operating system provides ample options for managing Bluetooth devices, however, the pairing process can vary slightly depending on the manufacturer’s shell (MIUI, OneUI, ColorOS).The standard procedure for most Xiaomi, Samsung and other brands is as follows.
Once you have successfully synchronized your left and right headphones (one flashes slowly or fades, and the other one blinks quickly), go to your smartphone settings. Open the Settings menu → Connections → Bluetooth or simply pull the notification curtain down and press the Bluetooth icon. Press the Device Search button or Add a new device.
The list of available gadgets should appear the name of your model, for example, Mi True Wireless EBs. Basic_R Or just AirDots. Notice the " R" ending, which indicates that the right earbud is the master, and that's where the sound is transmitted to the left.
The system can request confirmation. Press "Plug" or "OK." Once the connection is successful, the status will be marked "Plug in," and in some versions of Android, the battery level of each headphone will be displayed separately, and if the connection is successful, the music should play automatically.
☑️ Checking the connection to Android
It’s important to note that some older versions of Android may not display battery power correctly or require manual selection of a codec.If the sound seems low or intermittent, go to Developer Settings (if enabled) and try changing Bluetooth Audio Codec to SBC or AAC to check the connection’s stability.
Xiaomi headphones pair with iPhone (iOS)
Apple owners can also use Xiaomi AirDots, although the customization process has its own peculiarities due to the closedness of the iOS ecosystem. The main difference is that there is no support for high-resolution proprietary codecs and the inability to see the exact percentage of charge of each headphone without third-party applications.
To start, make sure the headphones are in pairing mode (fast flashing of the indicator). On your iPhone, go to Settings → Bluetooth. Make sure the Bluetooth switch is active. The phone will start scanning available devices within range. The name of your headphones should appear in the "Other Devices" list.
Click on the Mi True Wireless EBs Basic (or similar). iOS will issue a standard pairing request warning. Confirm the action by clicking "Connect." Unlike Android, the iPhone doesn't always show a separate headphone icon in the curtain, but the charge level of the case and headphones (if supported by protocol) can be displayed in the Battery widget.
⚠️ Note: When connected to iOS, the headphones may not support the Xiaomi voice assistant. Instead, they will activate Siri at triple press or (long press), depending on the management settings.
If the iPhone doesn't see the headphones, try rebooting Bluetooth on the phone: turn off, wait 10 seconds and turn on again.Also make sure the headphones aren't connected to another Apple device nearby, as the ecosystem tends to automatically connect to the last active gadget.
Problem Solving: Headphones can't see each other or the phone
The most common problem that users face is the desynchronization of the left and right earphones, in which case the phone sees two devices with the same name, or the sound comes from only one ear, and this is due to a failure in the communication protocol between the modules, and this can only be solved by a complete reset (Hard Reset).
To perform the reset, place both earbuds in a charge case. Without removing them, press and hold the touchpads on both earbuds for 20-30 seconds. The indicators should flash red several times, then light up white/red, signaling the reset. After that, remove them and let them reconnect to each other before connecting to the phone.
Another cause of problems can be radio interference. Wi-Fi routers, microwave ovens and other Bluetooth devices can create noise on the air. Try to move away from the router or turn off Bluetooth on neighboring devices. Also check if the battery is critically discharged - at low charge, the Bluetooth module can work unstable.
If the phone sees the headphones but doesn't connect, try removing the device from the saved list ("Forget the device") and starting the process over again. Sometimes cleaning the Bluetooth cache on Android smartphones through the app menu helps, but this is an extreme measure.
| Model headphones | Indication (Conjugation) | Indication (Connection) | Time to work. |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirDots Basic | Fast flashing white | Slow blinking (once every 5 seconds) | 4 hours |
| AirDots 2 | Blinking white/red | Constant faint light | 5:00 |
| AirDots Pro | Case indicator flashes | Case indicator on fire | 7:00 |
| Redmi Buds 3 | White light pulse | Persistent white light | 6 hours |
Secret combination for resetting
Management settings and additional functions
Once paired successfully, you should adjust the control to yourself. Xiaomi AirDots standard settings include single, double and triple pressing, as well as long-term retention. Usually, double pressing is responsible for playing / pausing or answering a call, triple pressing is responsible for calling a voice assistant, and long retention is for activating game mode or switching tracks.
For finer customization, especially on Android, it is recommended to download the official Xiaomi Earbuds app (available on Google Play) or third-party counterparts such as MaterialPods.These apps allow you to see the exact battery charge, update the headphone firmware (which often improves connection stability), and reassign button functions.
Updating the firmware is an important step, and manufacturers regularly release patches that eliminate audio delays and improve communication quality. If the app offers an update, make sure to connect the headphones to charging and Wi-Fi, then launch the update. You can't interrupt this process.
Also worth mentioning is the Low Latency Mode, which is triple-pressed in some models, which minimizes the latency, which is critical for shooters and rhythm games, but uses up the battery faster.
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Using the official Xiaomi Earbuds app allows not only to see the exact charge, but also to update the headphone firmware, which often solves problems with desynchronization and sound quality.