How to answer a call through headphones Xiaomi AirDots: all ways and life hacks

Xiaomi AirDots has become one of the most popular wireless headsets due to its combination of price, sound quality and convenience. But many users face difficulties when using it for the first time — especially when it comes to basic functions like answering a call. It seems that everything should be intuitive, but in practice gestures and button combinations often cause confusion.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can answer an incoming call through Xiaomi AirDots headphones (including Redmi AirDots, AirDots Pro, Air 2 SE, and others), learn how to use touch panels, physical buttons, voice assistant, and even smartphone settings to manage calls, and we’ll also reveal hidden features that aren’t written about in the official instructions – such as how to set up auto-answer or reassign gestures to your needs.

What Xiaomi AirDots models support phone response

Not all AirDots headphones are equally functional, for example, budget models may have a limited set of gestures, and flagship ones may have advanced controls.

• 🔹 Redmi AirDots (1st generation) – answering a call with only a double tap on the touchpad.
• 🔹 Redmi AirDots 2 / AirDots 2S — Support for voice assistant (Xiao) AI or Google Assistant).
• 🔹 Mi AirDots Pro/Pro 2 – Touch Control + Possibility to customize gestures in the Mi Home app.
• 🔹 Mi Air 2 / Air 2 SE / Air 2 Pro – full touch support, auto-response, integration with Mi AI.
• 🔹 Xiaomi AirDots 3 / 3 Pro – improved sensors, support LDAC and extended call settings.

If your model doesn't make the list, check its name on the box or in Bluetooth settings. Generally, the newer version, the more control options there are, for example, AirDots 3 Pro can even set up triple-touch call rejection, which is not the case with earlier models.

Method 1: Touch panel call response (touch)

The most common method is to use touch panels on the headphone case, and most AirDots models require:

1. Wait for an incoming call (earphones will emit a signal or voice assistant will report a call).
2. Twice touch the touch panel on any of the headphones (left or right).
3. Waiting for a connection usually takes 1-2 seconds.

Important: In some firmware, double tap is the default answer to the call, and in others, it includes voice assistant. If you don't have the answer, check the settings in the Mi Home app (more on this in the next section).

If the double touch doesn’t work, try:

• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones to the smartphone (forget the device in Bluetooth and pair again).
• 📱 Update the firmware through the Mi Home app (instruction below).
• ⚙️ Reset your headphone settings (clip the touchpad for 10 seconds before the red light flashes).

Method 2: Manage calls through the Mi Home app

The Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Wear for new models) allows you to reassign gestures, adjust auto-response, and even change voice prompts. Here's how to do this:

1. Open Mi Home and find your headphones in the list of devices.
2. Go to Settings. → Gesture Control (or Touch Controls).
3. Select the action for double/triple touch (e.g., Answer a call or Activate a voice assistant).
4. Save the changes and reconnect the headphones.

The newer versions also offer Auto-Apply, which will automatically receive incoming calls in 3-5 seconds, which is convenient if you talk on your phone with headphones on, but remember: the feature can trigger spam calls.

If your app doesn’t have a Gesture Management option, upgrade to the latest version of Mi Home or try using Xiaomi Wear (for 2021 and newer models).

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If you have reset your gestures after updating your firmware, try manually reassigning them to Mi Home, sometimes by removing the headphones from the device list and reconnecting them.

Method 3: Voice Assistant (Xiao AI, Google Assistant, Siri)

In models with support for voice assistants (AirDots Pro, Air 2 SE and later), you can answer calls with voice.

1. Activate the assistant with a double-touch (default) or voice command (e.g., “OK, Google”).
2. Say, "Appeal the call" or "Accept the call."
3. To reject, use "Downline Call" or "Ignore."

Important: the voice assistant must be connected to the same device as the headphones, for example, if you use Google Assistant on Android and the headphones are connected to the iPhone, the command will not work.

AirDots 3 Pro also has offline teams that work without the internet:

• 🎙️ "Accept" - answering the call.
• 🎙️ "Reject" - to defy the challenge.
• 🎙️ "Quiet" / "Louder" - volume control.

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Voice control only works when you're actively connected to your smartphone, and if the headphones are connected to a PC or other device, the assistant won't respond.

Method 4: Answering a phone call (if the headphones don’t respond)

If your gestures and voice commands don't work, you can answer your phone directly, and here's how to do it as quickly as possible.

• 📞 Swipe up/down on the lock screen (depends on the smartphone model).
• 🔘 Volume button – on some Xiaomi and Redmi, double tap takes on a call.
• 🤖 Voice assistant phone (e.g., OK, Google, answer the call").

If the headphones are connected, but the sound is going through the speaker of the phone, check:

1. Is Settings Open → Sound → Sound output and is AirDots selected?
2. Is Media Audio Mode Activated Instead of Calls in Bluetooth Settings?
3. Is the Airplane Mode or Energy Saving enabled (they can block sound transmission).

Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even with the right settings, users have difficulty answering calls. TOP-5 Problems and ways to correct them:

1. Headphones do not respond to touch 🔹 Wipe the touchpad with a dry wipe. 🔹 Check battery power (below 15% gestures may not work). 🔹 Update the firmware through Mi Home.
2. The sound of the call is through the phone, not the headphones. 🔹 In Bluetooth settings, select AirDots as your calling device. 🔹 Disconnect the headphones from other devices. 🔹 Reboot your smartphone.
3. Autoresponse is triggered by spam calls 🔹 Turn off auto-answer in Mi Home. 🔹 Set up a “White List” of Contacts on your Phone. 🔹 Use blocker apps (e.g. Truecaller).
4. Voice assistant does not respond to commands 🔹 Check your internet connection. 🔹 Activate the assistant manually (double touch). 🔹 Reinstall the Google or Mi Home app.
5. After the answer, the interlocutor does not hear 🔹 Check the microphone on the headphones (whether it is closed with a finger). 🔹 Turn off noise reduction in the settings. 🔹 Reconnect the headphones.

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If the problem persists after all the manipulations, try resetting the headphones to the factory. To do this, press the touchpad on both headphones for 15 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white.

Additional life hacks for managing calls

In addition to the standard methods, there are several hidden chips that will make using AirDots even more convenient:

• 🔄 Quick switching between calls: If you have two active calls, double tapping on the left earphone will switch between them (works in Air 2) SE newer).
• 🎧 Mono-connection: You can answer a call with only one headphone (put the second in the case.
• 📱 Mi Band integration: If you also have a Xiaomi bracelet, you can set up a hand gesture to reject calls (in Mi Fit).
• 🔇 Do Not Disturb: You can automatically reject calls in your headphones during training or sleep.

For AirDots 3 Pro models, the “Transparent Mode” function is available during a call: if you pinch the touch panel, the headphones temporarily miss external sounds so that you can hear the interlocutor nearby (useful in noisy places).

And what's more, you don't know that in Air 2 SE and beyond, you can set the vibration when you call in.

1. Open Mi Home → Your headphones → Notification settings.
2. Turn on the "Vibration on the call" option.
3. Choose intensity (weak/strong).

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In LDAC-enabled models (such as AirDots 3 Pro) for better sound quality during calls, disable this codec in Bluetooth settings and use AAC or SBC.

FAQ: Frequent questions about answering AirDots calls