How to Switch Songs to Xiaomi AirDots: All Ways to Manage Music

Xiaomi AirDots has become one of the most popular wireless headsets due to the combination of price, sound quality and functionality. However, many users face difficulties when trying to switch the track - standard gestures do not always work, and the description of the controls is often not detailed enough. This article will help you understand how to correctly switch songs on all AirDots models (including Pro, Pro 2, 3, SE and others), what settings affect the control and what to do if the headphones do not respond to commands.

We'll look at not only the basics (double-touch, hold) but also the hidden features available through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app, and we'll also look at the common bugs that can make switching tracks work, from mis-syncing headphones to conflicts with smartphone firmware. If you want to learn how to manage music on Xiaomi AirDots as a professional, read on.

1. Standard gestures for switching tracks

Most Xiaomi AirDots models support music control via touchpads on the headphone body. However, gestures may vary depending on the firmware version and model. Here are the basic combinations that work on most devices:

• 🎵 Double touch on any earpiece – pause / playback of the current track.
• 🔀 Triple touch on the right earpiece - move to the next track.
• 🔙 Triple touch on the left earpiece – a return to the previous track.
• 🎧 Retention 2 seconds on the right headphone – call voice assistant (Google) Assistant/Siri).

Important: Some models (such as AirDots 3 Pro) use retention rather than triple touch to switch tracks. If standard gestures don't work, check the headphone firmware version in the Mi Home app - the manufacturer may have changed the control logic in one of the updates.

Also, you should consider that on Android and iOS gestures can be handled differently. For example, on iPhone triple touch sometimes conflicts with system accessibility features, in which case it is recommended to reconfigure the control through the official Xiaomi Wear app (available for both platforms).

2.Configure management through the Mi Home/Xiaomi Wear app

If standard gestures are uncomfortable or don’t work, you can reassign them to official Xiaomi apps.

1. Install the Mi Home app (for Android) or Xiaomi Wear (for iOS/Android).
2. Connect the headphones to the app via Bluetooth (they should be displayed in the list of devices).
3. Go to the gesture control section (usually called Touch Controls or Touch Control).
4. Select an action for each gesture (single/double/triple touch, hold).

The following options for switching tracks are available in the application:

On AirDots 3 Pro and later, the Dynamic Control option is available, allowing you to assign different single, double and triple touch actions separately for the left and right earphones, which is especially useful if you often listen to music and want to quickly switch tracks without unnecessary manipulation.

Download and install Mi Home|Connect headphones to the app|Go to the section "Touch management"|Assign actions for each gesture|Save settings and reboot headphones-->

3. Switching tracks through voice commands

If touch control seems inconvenient, you can use voice assistants — Google Assistant, Siri or Alice from Yandex.

• 🎤 Activate the voice assistant by holding the touchpad (usually on the right earbud).
• 🗣 Say a command like: "Next track" "Previous song" "Put on pause"

On Android, for stable voice control, it is recommended:

1. Enable the permission for Mi Home to access the microphone in the phone settings.
2. Install the default voice assistant (such as Google Assistant) in your system settings.
3. Update the firmware of the headphones to the latest version (via Mi Home → Device Profile → Software Update).

On iPhone, voice control works via Siri, but you may need to adjust the Settings → Siri and Search → Xiaomi Headphones menu further. Also make sure that the Bluetooth settings for AirDots include the option to share system audio, allowing the assistant to control playback.

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If voice commands are not recognized, try calibrating the microphones of the headphones: place them in a quiet place and say a few test phrases. Sometimes it helps to reset the headphone settings (hold both touch panels for 10 seconds).

4.Track switching problems and their solutions

If Xiaomi AirDots headphones don’t respond to gestures or switch tracks incorrectly, the reasons may be as follows:

⚠️ Note: On AirDots Pro 2 and later, after upgrading to 1.7.8 and above, the user gesture configuration may be reset. Check the relevance of the firmware in the Mi Home app and reconfigure the management again if necessary.

Another common problem is the delay in switching tracks, which is usually associated with the Bluetooth codec. Try changing your smartphone's Bluetooth settings (in the additional settings section for AirDots) to the priority codec from SBC to AAC or aptX (if supported), on Android, this may require an application like Developer Options or Bluetooth Audio Codec.

5. Alternative ways to control music

If standard methods are not suitable, you can use third-party solutions:

• 📱 Player widgets on the lock screen: on Android and iOS, most music apps (Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music) can be controlled directly from the locked screen, swiping down to open the notification bar.
• ⚙ Remote applications: for example, Musicolet or Poweramp allow you to assign your own gestures to control playback, including through headphones.
• 🎛 Automation with Tasker: On Android, you can create tasks to switch tracks by pressing volume buttons or other triggers (administrator rights are required).

For iPhone users, the “Back Tap” feature (starting with iOS 14) will be useful: it allows you to assign a double or triple touch on the back of the phone to control music. This is especially convenient if the gestures on AirDots are unstable. → Universal access → Touching → Back Tap.

Also worth mentioning are Xiaomi smartwatches and fitness bracelets (such as the Mi Band 6/7 or Xiaomi Watch S1), which can duplicate music control from headphones through Xiaomi Wear’s own app.

1. Connect your watch and headphones to one Mi Account.
2. In the settings of the clock, enable the option "Music management".
3. Assign gestures on the clock screen to switch tracks.

6. Comparison of control on different models of AirDots

The functionality of switching tracks can vary significantly depending on the headphone model, and below is a comparison table for popular versions:

The AirDots 3 Pro and AirDots 4 models now have the ability to adjust the force of touch – useful if the standard sensor sensitivity is too high or low.

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On models older than 2022 (AirDots 3 Pro, 4), track switching is more stable thanks to the updated Bluetooth 5.3 and improved sensors. If you have an older model, consider upgrading - the difference in responsiveness is noticeable to the naked eye.

7. Optimization of headphones for smooth switching

To make switching tracks work without delay, follow these guidelines:

• 🔋 Battery charge: If headphones are below 20%, there may be lags in control.
• 📶 Distance to phone: do not move further than 5-7 meters from the smartphone – weak Bluetooth signal affects the responsiveness of gestures.
• 🔄 Firmware updates: check regularly for headphone updates in Mi Home. Newer versions often fix bugs with control.
• 🎛 Bluetooth settings: on Android in developers (Settings) → The phone. → Build number, tap 7 times) turn on the option to Disable A2DP hardware acceleration – this sometimes solves delay problems.

For iPhone users, it's helpful to know that Xiaomi AirDots works best with AAC protocol, not SBC.To force AAC on:

1. Connect the headphones to your iPhone.
2. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
3. Click on the "i" icon next to AirDots.
4. In the Audio section, select High Quality Sound (AAC).

If after all the manipulations, the switching of tracks still works unstable, try resetting the network settings on your phone (not to be confused with a full reset!). → System system → Reset → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings. On iPhone, to Settings → Mainstream → Transfer or discharge → Reset → Reset the network settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about track switching on Xiaomi AirDots