Modern wireless headphones from Xiaomi and the Redmi sub-brand are complex electronic devices that can crash from time to time. Users often face a situation where the gadget stops seeing the phone, the sound becomes intermittent or one of the headphones simply refuses to work. Unlike smartphones, these accessories do not have an obvious “Reboot” button on the case, which puts many people at a loss.
In fact, the process of restoring functionality is quite simple, but requires a certain sequence of actions. Rebooting in this context often means completely resetting the pairing settings, which eliminates software errors. If you want to return the devices to factory parameters and make them work like new, you need to follow the instructions described below.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at all the ways you can resuscitate your Mi True Wireless Earbuds, Redmi Buds, or wired models with Bluetooth adapters. We’ll look at the differences between touch-controlled models and mechanical buttons, and explain why a conventional power outage doesn’t always solve the problem.
When a forced restart of the device is required
It is not always worth resorting to radical measures, such as a complete reset, at the first sign of unstable work. However, there are situations where rebooting Xiaomi headphones is the only right solution. Understanding the symptoms will help you avoid unnecessary manipulation and immediately move to an effective recovery method.
Most often, problems arise after a smartphone update or after a long period of accessory downtime in the case, and at such moments, communication protocols can become desynchronized, and if you notice that the battery is discharged faster than usual and the connection is constantly breaking, this is a sure sign of the need for intervention.
- 🔇 Complete lack of sound or silent audio playback even at maximum volume.
- 📱 Smartphone sees device but can't complete pairing process.
- 🎧 Only one headphone works, or they are not synchronized with each other (mono mode).
- 🔋 Indicators on the case or headphones themselves flash incorrect color or do not light up at all.
It's important to distinguish between a software failure and a physical failure. If a device falls into water or is subjected to a severe mechanical impact, a software reset is unlikely to help. In such cases, a diagnosis is required at the service center. But if the gadget looks whole and the problem appears suddenly, feel free to start software recovery.
⚠️ Warning: Before performing any reset actions, make sure that the case and the headphones themselves are charged.Discharge the device during flashing or resetting can lead to irreversible errors in the power controller.
Preparing for reset: charging and cleaning the list
The first and most important step is preparation. Many users skip this step by trying to hit hidden buttons right away, and they fail. To successfully reboot wireless headphones, you need to create the right conditions. Without that, the system may not enter configuration mode.
Start by placing both earbuds in a charge case. Make sure they fit tightly into the contacts. Often the problem is oxidation of the contacts or contamination, which causes the device to "think" it's not in the case, and not respond to reset commands. Wipe the contacts with dry soft cloth.
☑️ Preparing headphones for reset
Next, remove the old pairing. Go to your smartphone’s Bluetooth settings, find your Xiaomi Earbuds in the list, and select the option “Forget device” or “Unpair pairing.” This is a critical step, since resetting on the side of the gadget will not remove its “trace” in the phone’s memory, which can cause conflict when reconnected.
Once you remove the device, turn off Bluetooth on your smartphone, which will prevent you from automatically attempting reconnect the moment you reset, and your headphones are now ready to reset the factory.
Reset method for models with a button on the case
Most modern models, such as the Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2, Air 2, Air 2 Pro and Redmi Buds 3/4 series, have a special feature button that can be located on the back of the case, on the end or even inside between the headphone compartments, and this is the button that is responsible for entering pairing and reset.
The procedure is to place both earbuds in the case and open the lid. Don't close it during the process. Find the function button and press it. Depending on the model, the press should be short or long. Usually you need to hold the button for about 15-30 seconds until you change the indication.
Watch the LED light. It can flash white, orange or red at a certain rhythm. Once you see that the pattern of blinking has changed (for example, started blinking quickly or changed color), release the button. This means that the reset was successful and the device went into search mode.
What to do if the button is not pressed?
After a successful reset, the headphones should go out or start flashing slowly, signaling readiness for a new pairing. You can now turn on Bluetooth on your phone and search for the device in the list of available. The old settings are completely removed, and the gadget behaves like new.
Reset headphones with touch control without a button
In more budget or compact models, such as the Redmi Buds 3 Lite or early Airdots, the physical button on the case may not be available, in which case the control is through the touch zones on the headphones themselves, which requires greater accuracy and synchronization of actions.
To perform the reset, remove both earbuds from the case. You need to simultaneously touch the touch areas on both devices and hold your finger for 5-7 seconds (sometimes up to 20 seconds, depending on the model). At the time of retention, the headphones should turn off and then turn on again, which will signal a reboot.
| Model headphones | Type of management | Action for discharge | Indication of success |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic | Sensor/Button | 5 seconds sensor retention | Red indicator |
| Air 2 / 2S / 2 Pro | The button on the case | 10-15 seconds button retention | White flashing |
| Redmi Buds 3 Lite | Sensor | 5 seconds sensor retention | Fast blinking. |
| FlipBuds Pro | The button on the case | 10 seconds button retention | Orange light |
If you can't synchronize the sensors the first time, put the headphones back in the case, close the lid, wait 10 seconds and try again. Sometimes it takes several cycles for the controllers to synchronize with each other, the main thing is to take your time and ensure that you touch simultaneously.
⚠️ WARNING: When reset through touch panels, it's important not to touch the metal headphone contacts with your fingers, as this can disrupt the process.
Using the Mi Earbuds app for diagnostics
For Android smartphone owners, especially Xiaomi and Redmi, the official Mi Earbuds app (or the built-in module in MIUI/HyperOS) is a great tool, which allows not only to track the charge, but also to perform a software reset if physical buttons do not respond.
Connect your headphones to your phone and open the app. Go to your device settings. There may be a "Reset" or "Factory Reset" option available. Using the software method is often more reliable, because the application controls the firmware version and the correct execution of the command.
You can also check for updates in the app. Often bugs that cause you to reboot are fixed by manufacturers in new versions of the software. If you haven't updated your headphones in a long time, do so before resetting. This can solve the problem without losing the equalizer settings.
If the app doesn't see the headphones or the reset function is inactive, it means the device is in a deep error state. In this case, go back to the method of physical buttons or long-term sensor retention. The combination of hardware and software approach gives the best result.
Solving Connection Problems After Rebooting
Once you've reset, the headphones go into pairing mode, but sometimes the phone doesn't see them right away. That's okay, because the device needs time to initialize the internal modules. Don't panic and give the gadget 10-15 seconds after the reset procedure is completed.
Make sure you don't try to connect them through your old Bluetooth profile. As mentioned, the old profile had to be removed. Look for a new device on the list. If you see two identical names (like two "Mi True Wireless EB Basic"), it means the headphones didn't pair with each other.
- 🔄 Put both headphones in the case and close the lid for 10 seconds.
- 🔓 Open the lid without removing the headphones and wait until the indicators start flashing synchronously.
- 📲 Only after synchronizing the indicators start searching from the phone.
In some cases, cleaning the Bluetooth cache on the smartphone itself helps. Go to Settings → Apps → Show system → Bluetooth → Memory → Clear the cache. After that, restart the phone itself. This eliminates conflicts on the operating system side.
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Synchronous flashing of indicators on both headphones is the main sign that they have successfully mated with each other and are ready to connect to the phone.
Frequent errors and ways to fix them
Even following the instructions, users can face difficulties. One of the most common mistakes is not enough time to hold the button. People release the button after 5 seconds, thinking that the process has started, although it often takes 15-20 seconds to reset.
Another problem is the different charge levels of the left and right earphones, so if one is 10% charged and the other 90% charged, if you try to turn on or reset, one of them can immediately turn off. Before the reset procedure, set the case with the headphones to charge for at least 30-40 minutes.
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If the indicator on the case is lit red constantly, it can mean a charge error. Try replacing the USB cable or power supply, and also clean the charging port of the case with a toothpick from dust.
Also, you should consider interference, if you're in a place with a lot of Wi-Fi routers or other Bluetooth devices, the reset and pairing process may not be right, so try to step away from the router or go to another room to perform the procedure.