How to reset headphones Xiaomi AirDots: a full guide to reset factory settings

Xiaomi AirDots headphones (including the Pro, Pro 2, 3, SE and others) sometimes start to malfunction: do not connect to the phone, emit sound in only one earphone or permanently turn off. 90% of the time, the problem solves a complete reset to factory settings - a procedure that erases all saved settings and returns the device to its original state. But how to do this so as not to damage the gadget?

In this article, 5 proven ways to reset AirDots, including hidden methods for models with MSD08 firmware and later. We will analyze step-by-step instructions with photos, typical errors (for example, why headphones do not reset the first time) and give recommendations for recovery after reset. If your AirDots are glitzy, connect to only one device or do not respond to touches, this guide will help bring them back to life.

Why AirDots may be required

Factory reset is not a panacea, but it solves most software problems, and here are the main symptoms for which it is worth resetting the headphones:

• 🔌 Headphones do not connect to the phone/laptop, although Bluetooth is on and other devices are visible.
• 🎧 The sound is only in one headphone, and the second is silent or makes a crackle.
• 🔄 Permanent breaks of the connection (every 5-10 minutes).
• 📱 AirDots connect to only one device and don’t see others (for example, after changing your smartphone).
• 🛠️ Touch buttons or gestures do not work (for example, double touch for pause).
• 🔋 They are fast discharged, although they used to hold the charge longer.

It's important to understand that resetting won't help if the problem is hardware, if the speaker is damaged, the battery is dead or the contact inside the case is gone, and in such cases, you need a diagnosis at the service center, but if the headphones just "forgot" your phone or started to glittle after updating the firmware, resetting them will return them to working condition.

⚠️ Warning: Once reset, all the stored devices in AirDots memory will be deleted, and you'll have to reconnect them, just like you bought them.

Method 1: Classic button reset (for all AirDots models)

It’s a versatile method that works on Xiaomi AirDots Basic, Pro, Pro 2, 3 and most other models. You don’t need a phone or a computer, just the headphones and the charger case themselves.

Instructions:

1. Put both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
2. Wait 10-15 seconds until they start charging (the indicator will light up).
3. Open the case cover and press the touch buttons on both headphones at the same time (usually this is an area with the Mi logo).
4. Hold the buttons for 15-20 seconds until the headphones start flashing red and white alternately (this is a signal of a successful reset).
5. Release the buttons. The headphones will automatically turn off and reboot.

Then you can reconnect AirDots to your phone, and if the lights don't flash red/white, repeat the process -- you may not have held the buttons long enough.

Put both headphones in the case

Close the lid for 10 seconds.

Open the lid and hold the buttons on both headphones

Wait for the flashing red/white light

Release the buttons and wait for the reboot-->

⚠️ Note: On AirDots 3 Pro and later, resets may require holding buttons for up to 30 seconds.If nothing happens after 20 seconds, keep holding them.

Method 2: Reset via Mi Home (for MSD08 firmware and later)

If your AirDots support the official Mi Home app (this is true for AirDots Pro 2, 3, 3 Pro and other new models), you can reset software. This method is safer than hardware reset, since the firmware controls the process.

Step-by-step:

1. Install the Mi Home app (available for Android and iOS).
2. Connect the headphones to your phone via Bluetooth (if they are still connected).
3. Open Mi Home, go to Profile → My Devices and select your AirDots.
4. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings of the device.
5. Scroll down and click Reset settings (or Untie the device if there is no separate reset option).
6. Confirm action. The headphones will reboot and be ready for a new setup.

If there is no reset option in Mi Home, try the following method.

Method 3: Reset via Bluetooth menu on Android/iOS

Not everyone knows, but some AirDots models (especially AirDots Pro and AirDots 3) can reset directly from the smartphone's Bluetooth menu, which works if the headphones are at least occasionally connected to the phone.

Instructions for Android:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Find your AirDots in the list of devices and tap the gear (⚙️) near.
3. Select Forget the device (or Remove it).
4. Return the headphones to the case, close the lid for 10 seconds, then pull them out.
5. Hold the touch buttons on both headphones for 10 seconds until you hear the reset sound (usually a short signal).

Instructions for iPhone (iOS):

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Click on the letter “i” next to AirDots in the list of devices.
3. Choose Forget this device.
4. Put the headphones in the case, then pull out and hold the buttons until reset (as in Method 1).

This method often helps if headphones have “forgotten” the phone after updating the firmware or changing the smartphone.

💡

If AirDots don’t connect to your phone after reset, try connecting them to another device (like a laptop) and then back to your smartphone.

Method 4: Reset via the Engineering Menu (for advanced users)

Some Xiaomi AirDots models (such as the AirDots Pro 2 with MSD08 firmware) have a hidden engineering menu through which to make a deep reset, a method that is riskier, but sometimes helps when standard methods don't work.

How to open the engineering menu:

1. Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.
2. Open any text editor (like Notepad) and type the command: ##3646633## (this is a universal code for accessing the engineering menu on Xiaomi devices).
3. Copy this command and paste it into the dialing field of the phone number (as if calling), then press the call.
4. If the menu is open, go to Bluetooth Test or Headset Settings.
5. Find the Reset Headset or Factory Reset option and confirm the reset.

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other settings in the engineering menu unless you are sure of their purpose!

Method 5: Hard discharge through battery discharge (extreme)

If no methods work and the headphones don't respond to buttons, you can try a full discharge and then charge, which rarely works, but sometimes brings the stubborn AirDots back to life.

How to make a hard reset:

1. Use the headphones until they are completely discharged (the charge indicator goes out, the sound disappears).
2. Put them in the case and close the lid.
3. Leave the headphones in a discharged state for 12-24 hours (this will relieve the residual charge of the capacitors).
4. Connect the case to the charging and wait for full charging (the indicator will light up in green).
5. Get your headphones out and try to reset them in the standard way (Method 1).

This method simulates a “cold reboot” and sometimes works if the problem is caused by power controller errors.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use this method often - deep discharge reduces battery life!

💡

If the headphones don't turn on after a hard reset, try connecting the case to another charger (like a phone), sometimes the problem is a faulty cable or power supply.

Frequent AirDots Reset Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even when following instructions, users often make mistakes that prevent resetting, and these are the most common problems and solutions.

• 🔴 The indicator does not flash red/white. Reason: too short hold of buttons. Solution: hold at least 20 seconds (for new models, up to 30 seconds).
• 🔴 The headphones don't reset when they're in the case, and the reason is that the case can block the reset signal. Solution: take the headphones out of the case and hold the buttons out of the case.
• 🔴 The reason they don't reset is because they can be in standby mode. Solution: put them in the case, close the lid for 10 seconds, then pull them out and try to reconnect.
• 🔴 One earphone is dropped and the other one isn't. Cause: different charge levels. Solution: fully charge both earphones before resetting.
• 🔴 Mi Home doesn't see the headphones after reset. Cause: the older version of the app. Solution: Update Mi Home in the app store.

If neither method worked, it might be the firmware problem, in which case only the computer flashing will help (read about this in our separate article).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi AirDots Reset