How to Reboot Xiaomi AirDots Headphones 2: Complete Reset and Recovery Guide

Xiaomi AirDots 2 wireless headphones (also known as Redmi AirDots 2) have become one of the most popular budget headphones. TWS-And even though it's a proven model, it sometimes fails, because one headphone doesn't connect, the sound gets interrupted, or the device doesn't get detected by the smartphone, 90 percent of the time, it's just a reboot or a reset.

In this article, you will find 5 proven ways to reboot AirDots 2, including software and hardware resets, and instructions for restoring headphones in emergency situations. We will understand when a soft reboot is enough, and when a full reset to factory settings is required, with an explanation of why this works.

If your headphones suddenly stop responding to presses, don't sync with each other or give out distorted sound, don't rush to bring them to the service. Most likely, the problem is solved in 2-3 minutes using the instructions below. And for those who want to understand more, we have added technical details about the Bluetooth 5.0 protocols and the features of the Realtek RTL8763B chip that is used in this model.

1.When you need to reboot the headphones Xiaomi AirDots 2

Reboot is not a one-stop solution to all problems, but it is effective in most typical scenarios.Here are signs that your AirDots 2 needs a reset:

• 🔴 One headphone does not connect - the smartphone sees only the left or right module, the second "disappears" from the list of devices.
• 🔊 The sound is interrupted or distorted – crackling, stuttering, or complete absence of sound when playing.
• 🔄 Headphones are not synchronized – both modules are connected to the phone, but the sound is only in one.
• 📱 Device not identified – AirDots 2 not appearing in the list of available Bluetooth devices.
• 🔋 Charging problems – headphones don’t charge in a case or discharge quickly.
• 🎵 Track switching failures – touch buttons fail to respond or are delayed.

It is important to understand the difference between a soft reboot (simple shutdown/on) and a hard reset (fabricated reset). The first method is safe and recommended to begin diagnosis. The second should only be used if the soft reboot did not help - it erases all saved settings, including the history of pairings.

⚠️ Note: If the Xiaomi AirDots 2 headphones fall into the water or have suffered physical damage (cracks on the body, dents), a reboot is unlikely to help.

2. Method 1: Soft reboot (without resetting settings)

This is the most gentle method, and one worth trying first, which doesn't remove the stored pairings and settings, but just restarts the headphone software.

Step-by-step:

1. Place both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
2. Wait 10-15 seconds – this is enough time for the headphones to completely turn off.
3. Open the case cover and remove the headphones.
4. Press and hold the touch buttons on both headphones for 5-7 seconds until the white light flashes.
5. Wait until the headphones automatically connect to each other (you will hear a beep).
6. Connect them to your phone via Bluetooth menu.

If the headphones worked normally after this procedure, the problem was temporary and did not require deep intervention.

3. Method 2: Hard reset to factory settings

This method completely erases all headphone settings, including the history of pairings, and should be used if:

• The soft reboot didn't help;
• The headphones are connected, but the sound is only in one;
• The device is defined as “unknown” or with an error.

Resetting instructions:

1. Place both headphones in the charging case and close the lid for 10 seconds.
2. Remove the headphones from the case.
3. Press and hold the touch buttons on both headphones simultaneously for 15-20 seconds.
4. The indicators on the headphones will start flashing red and white - this is a signal of a reset.
5. Release the buttons and wait until the headphones reboot (white light blinks).
6. Now the headphones are ready for a new pairing – find them in the list of Bluetooth devices on the phone.

Important: after a hard reset headphones Xiaomi AirDots 2 They may be temporarily identified by another name (for example, "LE_BT_XXX" instead of Redmi AirDots_2"). This is normal – after the first connection, the name will be restored.

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the reset process even if the indicators stop flashing. Wait at least 30 seconds after the release of the buttons - at this point the controller is internally restarted.

Method 3: Reset via the Mi Home mobile app

If standard methods don’t work, you can try resetting your settings through the official Mi Home app (available for Android and iOS), which is suitable if the headphones are somehow defined by the phone, but they don’t work properly.

How to reset via Mi Home:

1. Install the Mi Home app from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account.
3. Connect AirDots 2 headphones to your phone via Bluetooth.
4. Open Mi Home, press + → Add Device → Headphones.
5. Select Redmi AirDots 2 from the list.
6. In the device menu, find the item "Reset settings" or "Restore factory settings".
7. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

The advantage of this method is that the app can diagnose additional bugs, such as firmware incompatibility, but if the headphones are not determined by the phone, Mi Home won't see them.

5. Method 4: Reboot through the engineering menu (for experienced)

This method requires access to hidden AirDots 2 settings and is only suitable for users who are willing to take risks.

How to open the engineering menu:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open an app to work with Bluetooth devices (e.g. nRF Connect for Android).
3. Find the service with UUID 0000ffe0-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb.
4. Activate the characteristic 0000ffe1-0000-1000-8000-00805f9b34fb.
5. Send the AT+RESET command (without quotes).
6. Headphones will reboot with factory settings.

This method can help if a standard reset fails because of a damaged firmware. BLE-It is better not to experiment with protocols.

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Before using the engineering menu, back up your Bluetooth pairings on your phone. On Android, you can do this through the Swift Pair Backup app.

6. Method 5: Hardware reset (if the headphones do not respond)

If AirDots 2 does not respond to button presses and does not charge, the problem may be a discharged battery or a failure of the power controller, in which case a forced reboot through the contacts will help:

Instructions:

1. Remove the headphones from the case.
2. Take a thin metal object (such as a paper clip).
3. Carefully touch the charging contacts on the back of the headphone (where they come into contact with the case).
4. Hold contact for 3-5 seconds – this simulates connecting to the charger.
5. Repeat for the second headphone.
6. Place the headphones back in the case and close the lid for 10 minutes.

This method often helps to wake up completely discharged headphones that do not respond to buttons. If the indicators catch fire after that, try a standard reboot.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use sharp objects to press the contacts - this can damage the coating. It is better to use a plastic shoulder blade or a special mediator for electronics.

7. Frequent reboot errors and how to avoid them

Many users are making AirDots 2 problems worse by making common mistakes, and this is what you can't do when you reboot:

• 🚫 Press buttons with different strengths – if you press one headphone more than the other, the synchronization may be disrupted.
• 🚫 Interrupt the reset process – if you release the buttons ahead of time, the headphones can freeze in mode DFU.
• 🚫 Use a non-original case – cheap replacements often don’t provide the right contact for charging and resetting.
• 🚫 Reset settings through third-party apps – they can record incompatible firmware.
• 🚫 Charge headphones from powerful adapters – AirDots 2 are designed for current up to 1A, higher current can damage the controller.

If after several attempts to reset the headphones still do not work, check:

• 🔋 The state of contacts in the case (clean them with alcohol, if there is oxidation);
• 📱 Phone compatibility (some Huawei and Samsung models have Bluetooth 5.0 issues);
• 🔄 The firmware version of headphones (in Mi Home should be at least 1.4.0).

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If the headphones are still out of sync after reset, the problem may be a hardware malfunction of the Bluetooth antenna, in which case repair is required.

8. FAQ: Answers to frequent questions