How to switch music on headphones Xiaomi Redmi Airdots 2: all the ways and secrets

Xiaomi Redmi Airdots 2 are some of the most popular wireless headphones in the budget segment, but their management often raises questions among users, especially when switching tracks: double-touch does not work, then headphones react with a delay, then completely ignore commands. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to switch music to Redmi Airdots 2 – from standard touch gestures to hidden functions in the proprietary application.

It's important to understand that the logic of management depends not only on the headphone model, but also on the firmware, the Bluetooth version on the smartphone, and even on the player. We tested all the methods on devices running Android 10-14 and iOS 15-17, and also took into account the nuances of working with different music services (Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music). If you can't switch tracks, chances are that the problem lies in the settings, not in the headphones themselves.

At the end of the article, you’ll find FAQs for common bugs (such as why headphones switch tracks backwards or why gestures only work on one headphone), and if you want maximum customization, tell you how to reassign button functions through Mi Home or third-party apps.

1. Standard touch gestures: how to work by default

The basic control of Redmi Airdots 2 is implemented through touch panels on the body of each headphone, the manufacturer has laid out a minimum set of functions in them, but many users do not even know about all the features. V12.7.1.0 newer):

• 🎵 One tap (for any earpiece) - playback / pause. Works in all players except YouTube (there can work as "more").
• ⏭️ Double-touch on the right earpiece is the next track. iPhones sometimes require confirmation in Bluetooth settings.
• ⏮️ Double-touch on the left earpiece is the previous track. On Android 12+ It may conflict with system gestures.
• 📞 Triple touch (any headphone) – call voice assistant (Google Assistant)/Siri). Disabled in Bluetooth settings.

⚠️ Warning: If double-touch doesn't work, check the force of the press - the sensor on Redmi Airdots 2 requires a clear, but not too sharp touch. too slow or "smeared" movements headphones ignore. Also make sure that the headphones do not turn on the "Game" mode (we will talk about it below) - in it part of the gestures is turned off.

Another nuance: on iPhone, gestures may not work properly due to iOS limitations. To fix this, go to Settings → Bluetooth, find Redmi Airdots 2, and turn on the "Allow Data and Voice" option. On Android, there are usually no similar problems, but some firmware (such as MIUI 13) require permission to access notifications for music applications.

2.Voice control: Siri, Google Assistant and Alice

If touch gestures seem uncomfortable, you can switch music with your voice. Redmi Airdots 2 supports calling voice assistants through triple tap, but for full control, you will need additional customization.

• 🤖 Google Assistant: Commands like Next Track, Pause, or Volume Up work on most players. To activate the assistant, say "OK, Google," or assign a triple tap to a call.
• 🍎 Siri (iPhone): The commands are similar, but to work in the background you need to allow Siri to access the headphone microphone in Settings → Siri and Search.
• 🗣️ Alice (Yandex): It only works when you connect to Yandex Music".

⚠️ Attention: Voice control does not work in offline mode (for example, when listening to downloaded music without the Internet). Also on Redmi Airdots 2 there is no built-in microphone for noise reduction, so in noisy places the assistant may not recognize commands.

💡

If the voice assistant doesn’t respond to commands, try reconnecting the headphones to the phone and giving permission to access the microphone in the assistant app settings.

For automation enthusiasts, you can create fast commands on Android in Google Assistant, for example, the phrase "Sports Mode" will start a playlist, turn up the volume and turn off notifications.

1. Open Google Assistant → routines.
2. Create a new routine with a voice command trigger.
3. Add the steps: "Play [playlist name]" and "Set volume to 80%."

3.Management through the Mi Home app: hidden features

The official Mi Home app (available for Android and iOS) allows you to reassign the touch panels and even update the headphone firmware. Many users do not know that Mi Home has a hidden settings section for Redmi Airdots 2, where you can:

• 🔄 Change the places of action of the left and right earphone (useful for left-handed people).
• 🎚️ Turn off the triple touch if it interferes.
• 🔊 Set the volume level of notifications (connection / disconnect sounds).
• 📱 Reset the headphones to factory settings (if the gestures stopped working).

To access these settings:

1. Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.
2. Open Mi Home, press + → Wireless headphones → Redmi Airdots 2.
3. After connecting, go to Device Settings → Gesture Management.

⚠️ Note: In some regions (e.g. Europe), Mi Home for Redmi Airdots 2 may be limited. If the app does not have a gesture settings section, try changing the region in your Mi Account profile to China or India".

If Mi Home can’t see the headphones, try:

• 🔄 Reconnect Redmi Airdots 2 in pairing mode (hold the button on the case for 5 seconds).
• 📱 Remove the Mi Home app cache in your phone settings.
• 🌐 Connect to another Wi-Fi network (sometimes the application blocks corporate networks).

4.Game Mode: Why Track Switching Doesn't Work

One of the most common reasons you can’t switch tracks to Redmi Airdots 2 is the Low Latency Mode, which reduces latency (good for games and videos) but disables some touch gestures, including double-touching.

To check if the game mode is on:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open the notification bar and look for the Redmi Airdots 2 icon.
3. Click on it – if it says “Game mode” or “Low Latency”, then the mode is active.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi smartphones (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or POCO X3) The game mode is automatically activated when you start games or videos in full screen mode:

• 🎮 Go to Settings. → Connected devices → Redmi Airdots 2.
• 🔇 Find the option "Game mode" and deactivate it.
• 🔄 If you don’t have an option, try reconnecting your headphones.

Important: In game mode, double-touching to switch tracks won’t work, but one-touch (pause/play) and triple (voice assistant) remain active. If you want both low latency and music control, try an app side like SoundAssistant (discussed below).

5. Third-party applications for extended management

If the standard Redmi Airdots 2 features aren't enough, you can use customized control applications that allow you to:

• 🎛️ Reassign gestures (for example, make a double touch to call an assistant).
• 🔊 Adjust the volume directly from the headphones (by default it is impossible).
• 🔄 Set up separate profiles for different applications (for example, in Spotify – switching tracks, in games – disabling gestures).

The best Android apps:

For iPhone, the choice is limited due to the closedness of iOS, but you can try:

• 🍎 Shortcuts (built-in app) – create a shortcut to switch tracks and assign it to triple tap.
• 🎧 AssistantTrigger - allows you to reassign the actions of the headphones (jailbreak is required).

⚠️ Note: Third-party apps increase the battery consumption of headphones and smartphones, and some programs (such as Headset Button Controller) require permission to access notifications, which may affect privacy.

💡

Third-party apps are the only way to adjust volume directly from Redmi Airdots 2 headphones, as the manufacturer has not added this feature to standard firmware.

6. Problem Solving: Why Tracks Don't Switch

If neither of these methods works, the problem may be hardware or software failures, and let's look at the typical situations and their solutions.

• 🔋 Headphones are discharged - at a charge level below 15%, the touch panels may not work properly. Charge the case to 100%.
• 📱 Smartphone firmware conflict – some Samsung or Huawei devices require manual permission to access Audio Focus in the developer’s settings.
• 🔄 Reset headphone settings – if the gestures are lost, return the factory settings: place the headphones in the case, hold the button on the case for 10 seconds until the indicator flashes red.
• 🎵 Problems with the player - in Spotify or VK Check the music settings Reproduce → Devices and select Redmi Airdots 2 as the main one.

If the problem persists, try stitching to alternative firmware (such as Custom ROM for headphones). However, it is risky - the wrong firmware can bring the device down. For Redmi Airdots 2, there are modified firmware with extended gestures, but their installation requires:

1. PC with Windows and Qualcomm Flash Tool installed.
2. Firmware file (see 4PDA or XDA-Developers forums).
3. Headphones with a charge of at least 70%.

⚠️ Attention: Headphone firmware is warranty-free and can lead to loss of functionality.If you are not sure about your skills, it is better to contact the Xiaomi service center.

7. Alternative methods: control from a smartphone or smart watch

If you control music directly from headphones is inconvenient, you can use additional devices:

• 📱 Player widget on the lock screen – swipe up on Android or swipe left on iPhone will open the control panel.
• ⌚ Smart watches (Mi Band, Apple Watch) – most models have the ability to switch tracks through the screen of the device.
• 🎮 Gamepad or keyboard – if the headphones are connected to the PC, use media keys (Fn) + F6/F7/F8 laptop-on).

For owners of Mi Band 5/6/7, there is a separate instruction:

1. Open the Mi Fitness app.
2. Go to Profile. → Mi Band → Managing music.
3. Activate the option "Manage the player".
4. Now swipes on the clock screen will switch tracks.

⚠️ Note: On the Mi Band, music management works only with official players (Mi Music, Google Play Music). Spotify or YouTube Music will require a third-party app Notify & Fitness for Mi Band.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions