Xiaomi Redmi Airdots 2 wireless headphones have been a hit because of their price-to-quality ratio, but even they are not immune to connectivity problems. You try to connect them to your smartphone, and the answer is silence: the phone doesn't see the headphones, the connection is constantly reset or the sound is interrupted after a few seconds. 80% of the time, it's not hardware faults, but software failures or incorrect settings.
This article is not just a list of tips like “turn off and turn on Bluetooth.” We will examine all possible causes, from the banal to the hidden, including problems with the firmware of headphones, conflicts with MIUI and even hardware malfunctions. You will learn how to reset the settings of Redmi Airdots 2 to factory without losing functionality, what Bluetooth error codes indicate incompatibility, and why connecting to another device sometimes helps.
If you've tried everything, don't throw your headphones away. At the end of this article, we'll tell you how to check if they're alive, and what to do if the problem is really hardware.
1. Basic checks: what to do before resetting
Before digging deep, make sure the problem isn't on the surface.These steps take less than a minute, but solve up to 30% of the problems:
- 🔋 Charge headphones and case. If the indicator on the case does not burn when you open, connect it to charge for 10-15 minutes%.
- 📱 Bluetooth on your phone. Make sure it's enabled not only in the notification bar, but also in the settings (Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth sometimes. MIUI Blocks background Bluetooth work to save battery.
- 🔄 Reboot the devices. Turn off and turn on the headphones (hold the button on the case for 10 seconds), then restart the phone. This will reset temporary communication errors.
- 🎧 Distance and interference: Make sure there are no walls, microwaves or other devices operating at 2.4 GHz between the phone and the headphones (such as Wi-Fi routers).
If Redmi Airdots 2 is still not connected after this, move to the next section, and note that if the indicator on the case flashes red, it's a discharge signal, charge the device before further manipulation.
⚠️ Note: Do not use chargers with higher power 5V/1And for the Redmi Airdots case 2. Overloading can damage the power controller, leading to permanent Bluetooth failures.
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 will bring them back to the factory settings and remove all the stored connections, which takes less than a minute, but requires precision:
- Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
- Open the case cover and hold the button on the back for 15-20 seconds (until the indicator flashes red and white alternately).
- Close the lid, wait 10 seconds and open it again. The headphones should automatically go into pairing mode (the indicator flashes white).
After reset, try reconnecting via the Bluetooth menu on your phone. If the headphones are still not visible, check:
- 🔍 List of connected devices on your phone. Remove Redmi Airdots 2, if any (Settings) → Bluetooth → ⚙️ headphone-name → Delete).
- 📲 Flight mode. Sometimes it blocks the search for new devices even when Bluetooth is on.
Make sure the headphones are charged|Remove headphones from the Bluetooth list on your phone|Remove the headphones from the case and put them back.|Hold the reset button exactly 20 seconds-->
If the reset didn't work, the problem could be the headphone firmware or conflict with your phone's Bluetooth version, which is discussed in the next section.
3. Compatibility issues: Bluetooth 5.0 vs 4.2
Xiaomi Redmi Airdots 2 uses Bluetooth 5.0, but some phones (especially budget models on Android 9 and below) may not work properly with this version, which is aggravated if the phone is custom firmware or a modified core.
How to check compatibility:
| Model phone | Bluetooth version | Compatible with Airdots 2 | Possible challenges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 8/9 | 5.0 | ✅ Complete. | Sharp communication breaks with a weak signal |
| POCO X3 NFC | 5.1 | ✅ Complete. | Sound delays in games |
| Redmi 7A | 4.2 | ⚠️ Partial | Unstable connection, low sound quality |
| Samsung Galaxy A10 | 5.0 | ❌ Firmware conflict | The headphones are plugged in, but there's no sound. |
If your phone is on the list with partial compatibility or conflict, try:
- 📱 Update your phone to the latest version (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
- 🔄 Enable compatibility mode (if any in the developer settings:
1. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the option “Disable A2DP Hardware Offload” and activate it.⚠️ Attention: On Android 12 phones+ and MIUI 13+ The restriction on connecting devices with outdated Bluetooth security protocols may work, in which case only the firmware of the headphones will help (see section 5).
Conflicts with MIUI: Why the phone can't see headphones
MIUI is known for aggressive background optimization and limitations on Bluetooth devices. If Redmi Airdots 2 headphones don't appear on the list of available devices, it may be:
- 🚫 Locking off auto-start. MIUI By default, limits Bluetooth operation in the background.
- 🔒 Restrictions for new devices. MIUI 12.5+ The system requires confirmation of connection for each new gadget.
- 📵 Conflict with other connected devices, for example, if a smartwatch or a speaker is already connected to the phone.
How to fix it:
- Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → System applications.
- Find Bluetooth and open its settings.
- Enable options: “Autostart” “Work in the background” “Show notifications”
Reboot the phone.
If the problem persists, try manually adding the device:
1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Click "Add device" → "Other devices".
3. Enter MAC- headphone address (printed on a sticker under the case lid or on the box).💡
If the headphones are plugged in, but the sound is only going to one channel, check the audio balance in the phone settings (Settings → Sound → Stereo Balance). Move the slider to the middle.
5. Headphone firmware: when nothing helps
If all previous methods have failed, the problem may be the firmware of the headphones. Xiaomi Redmi Airdots 2 sometimes "fly off" after a phone update or prolonged inactivity.
- 🔴 The indicator on the case flashes red for more than 30 seconds.
- 🎵 The sound is interrupted every 5-10 seconds.
- 📵 The headphones are connected, but immediately switch off.
You'll need to flash it back:
- Computer with Windows 7/10/11.
- The QFlash Tool (the official tool of Xiaomi)
- Firmware file for Redmi Airdots 2 (you can download on the official Xiaomi website).
Step-by-step:
- Unpack the archive with firmware and launch QFlashTool.exe.
- Connect the case with headphones to the computer through USB-cable (earphones must be inside, cover open).
- In the program, click Select and select the firmware file (.bin or.hex).
- Press Start and wait until it is completed (the process will take 2-3 minutes).
- Turn off the case, close the lid for 10 seconds, then try to connect to the phone.
⚠️ Attention: Don't interrupt the firmware process! If you turn off the case during the upgrade, the headphones can turn into a brick (they will stop turning on at all), in which case only the service center will help.
What to do if the firmware does not help?
6. Hardware malfunctions: how to check the "iron"
If the software methods are exhausted, hardware diagnostics remain. Headphones Xiaomi Redmi Airdots 2 have typical "diseases" that can be detected by yourself:
| Symptoms. | Probable cause | How to check | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| The indicator does not burn when opening the case | Battery of case or headphones is discharged | Connect to charging for 1 hour | Replace the battery (if not charged) |
| Headphones don't charge in the case | Oxidation of contacts or failure of the controller | Call the contacts with a multimeter | Clean contacts with alcohol or replace the case |
| There is only sound in one headphone. | Breakage of the wire in the loop or a malfunction of the speaker | Shake the headphone – if you hear a knock, it is a mechanical breakdown | Replace the wire or replace the headphone |
| Permanent communication breakdowns | Damage to Bluetooth antenna | Connect to another phone | Replacement of Bluetooth module (only in the service) |
For self-checking, you will need:
- 🔍 Loopa - to inspect the contacts on the board.
- 📏 Multimeter – to check the voltage on the battery (must be 3.7-4.2V).
- 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol - for cleaning contacts.
If you're not sure about your skills, you should put the headphones in the service.
- Replacement of the case battery - 800-1 200 ₽.
- Repair of contacts - 500-800 ₽.
- Replacement of the speaker - 1000-1 500 ₽.
💡
If the headphones fall into water, DO NOT turn them on or put them in rice! Remove the battery urgently (if possible) and dry the silica gel for 24 hours, 60 percent of the time they continue to work.
7. Alternative ways of connecting
If standard pairing doesn’t work, try workarounds:
- 📱 Connect via Mi Home app: Install the app from Google Play. sign up or log in to Xiaomi account «+» → «Add the device» → «Headphones» → Redmi Airdots 2.