How to switch music on Xiaomi wireless headphones: all ways (2026)

Xiaomi wireless headphones are some of the most popular gadgets for music lovers, but not all users know how to quickly and conveniently control playback. If you just bought AirDots 3 Pro, Buds 4 or FlipBuds Pro, you may have noticed that standard gestures or buttons do not always work as expected. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to switch tracks, from basic to hidden features that are not written in the official instructions.

The problem is that the management methods depend on the headphone model and the firmware version. For example, in Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro, you need to touch the touchbar twice to change a song, and in AirDots Youth Edition you need to hold the button. We collected current data for 2026, including workarounds for devices without touch control. You will also learn how to configure a switch through the voice assistant or the Mi Home app if the standard methods do not work.

1. Standard gestures for Xiaomi touch headphones

Most modern Xiaomi models are equipped with touch panels that respond to touch, here are universal gestures for switching music, working on most devices:

• 👉 Next track: Twice tap the right touch panel (on some models – left).
• 👈 Previous Track: Twice tap the left panel (or the right if the settings are reversed).
• ⏸️ Pause/playback: one touch of any panel.
• 🔊 Volume control: swipe up/down the panel (not available on all models).

Important: Xiaomi AirDots 2/3 and Redmi Buds 3 may have different gestures. For example, to fast forward sometimes requires triple touch, not double. To find out the exact combination for your model, check the table below or look in the Mi Home app.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi AirDots Youth Edition and some budget models, touch panels are missing, in this case, switching music is only possible through a button on the case or application.

2. Control with physical buttons (for models without a sensor)

If your Xiaomi headphones don’t support touch control (like the Redmi AirDots S or Mi Basic 2), a mechanical button is used to switch tracks, usually located on the back of one of the headphones.

Standard work schedule:

• 🎵 One tap: pause/replay.
• 🔜 Double tap: the next track.
• 🔙 Triple press: previous track.
• 🔇 Retention 2-3 Sec: Calling a voice assistant (if supported).

On some models (e.g. Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic), the button can be multifunctional – that is, the same action (e.g., retention) is responsible for different functions depending on the duration. To avoid confusion, study the instructions for your model or test the reaction of the headphones experimentally.

Make sure the headphones are connected to the device

Press the button once (pause/play)

Do a double tap (the next track)

Try triple tapping (previous track)

Check the retention (voice assistant)-->

⚠️ Note: On the Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones, the first-generation button can stick with frequent pressing. If you notice that it has become less responsive, try cleaning contacts with an alcohol napkin.

3. Switching music through the Mi Home app

If gestures or buttons don’t work, you can control playback through the official Mi Home app (available for Android and iOS), which is suitable for all models, including those where touch control is disabled or not working properly.

Instructions for setting:

1. Open Mi Home and connect the headphones to the app (if you haven’t already done so).
2. Go to the Devices section → [Your headphones] → Control settings.
3. Select Music Management or Gestures (the name may vary).
4. Assign actions for touches (e.g., double touch = next track).
5. Save the settings and check the work.

In Mi Home, you can also calibrate the sensors if the headphones don't respond well to touch, so in the device settings, find the Sensor Calibration option and follow the on-screen instructions. After calibration, the sensitivity should improve.

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If there is no Music Management section in Mi Home, upgrade the app to the latest version or try resetting your headphone settings (hold the button on the body for 10 seconds until the indicator blinks).

4. Voice control (Google Assistant, Siri, Xiao AI)

The most convenient way to switch music is through voice commands, and Xiaomi headphones support Google Assistant (Android), Siri (iPhone), and its own Xiao AI assistant (for Chinese firmware) to activate voice control:

• 🤖 On Android: say "OK, Google" or hold the button on your headphones (if configured). Examples of commands: "Next track" "Previous song" "Pass on pause"
• 🍎 On iPhone: activate Siri via button hold (if supported) and use commands in English: "Skip this song" "Play previous track"

For Xiao AI (available on Chinese firmware versions), use the command "" (Xiao Ai Tungsue) and then say, for example," (next track). Note that Xiao AI may not work on global headphone versions.

⚠️ Attention: The voice assistant consumes additional energy, which can reduce the time of work of headphones on the headphones. 10-15%. If autonomy is critical to you, use this method only when necessary.

5. Alternative methods: widgets and third-party applications

If the standard methods are not satisfied, you can control the music through:

• 📱 Widget player on the lock screen: swipe left/right on the progress bar of the song.
• 🎧 Third-party applications: Wavelet (to customize sound) + Control), SoundAssistant (extended gestures).
• ⚙️ Settings Android/iOS: c Special features can be assigned to switch tracks on a triple press of the power button.

For Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and FlipBuds Pro, there is unofficial Xiaomi Earbuds Controller software (Android only), which allows you to flexibly adjust gestures, including switching tracks through shaking your head or touching your ear.

6. Problem Solving: Why doesn't the music switch?

If none of these methods work, check the following points:

Critical information: Xiaomi headphones with firmware up to version 1.4.0.7 (2022) may not support double-touch to switch tracks. In this case, update the firmware via Mi Home or manually (firmware files can be found on the XDA Developers forum).

If the problem persists, reset the settings:

1. Put the headphones in the case.
2. Hold the button on the case for 15 seconds until the red indicator flashes.
3. Connect the headphones to the phone again.

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Before resetting the headphones, write down the current gesture settings in Mi Home - after resetting, they will have to be reconfigured.

FAQ: Frequent questions about switching music to Xiaomi