How to Reboot Xiaomi AirDots 2: Reset, Update and Restore

Xiaomi AirDots 2 (or Mi True Wireless Earphones 2) has become one of the brand’s most popular gadgets due to a combination of price and quality. However, even such reliable devices sometimes require a reboot — whether it’s a connection failure, sound problems or preparation for sale. Unlike smartphones, where restarting is intuitive, with headphones, the process can cause questions.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways Xiaomi AirDots 2: can be rebooted, from simply shutting down to completely resetting, how to distinguish a soft reboot from a hard reset when you need to update your firmware, and what to do if your headphones freeze in the process, and common mistakes users make when trying to restart your device.

Important: The instructions are suitable for the original AirDots 2 (TWSEJ04LS model), as well as for their modifications - AirDots 2 SE and AirDots Pro 2. If you have a different version (for example, AirDots 3 or Buds 4), the algorithm may differ.

Why do you need to reboot headphones Xiaomi AirDots 2?

Many users mistakenly believe that wireless headphones do not require restarting — they say, “there is no operating system.” In fact, AirDots 2 has firmware that controls Bluetooth connection, audio processing and sensors, which is why the device can “hang” or start to work incorrectly.

Here are the main reasons why you should restart your headphones:

• 🔌 Connection problems: Headphones are not on the Bluetooth device list, are permanently disabled or only connected one at a time.
• 🔊 Sound distortions: cracking, interruptions, low volume or no sound in one of the headphones.
• 🔋 Failures after the update: if the firmware is updated incorrectly, the headphones may stop responding to commands.
• 📱 Conflict with a new smartphone: when changing the phone or resetting its settings, AirDots 2 can “forget” the previous pairing.
• 💰 Preparing for sale: Resetting will remove all information about previous connections.

Reboots are of two types:

1. Soft reset: A temporary power outage, similar to a smartphone restart, does not remove settings, but resets current errors.
2. Hard reset: Resets all the devices in the factory, removes all the attached devices and returns the headphones to the "out of the box" state.

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If the headphones started to work poorly after falling or getting moisture, rebooting is unlikely to help, in such cases, a diagnosis of the hardware (for example, checking the contacts of the charging case) is required.

How to perform a soft reset (soft reset)

Soft reboot is the safest and fastest way to get Xiaomi AirDots 2 back to normal, and it doesn't delete the saved settings, it resets the current processes, and it helps 70 percent of the time with minor crashes.

Instructions:

1. Place both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
2. Wait 10-15 seconds – during this time, the headphones will completely turn off.
3. Open the case and get your headphones out. They should automatically turn on (white light will light up).
4. If the indicator does not light up, press and hold the touch panel on each earpiece for 3-5 seconds until white light appears.

After a soft reboot, try connecting to the headphones again via Bluetooth. If the problem persists (for example, one earphone does not connect), move to a hard reset.

Make sure the case is charged (the indicator on the case is lit green)

Check that the headphones are clean (no dirt on the contacts)

Disable headphones from all devices in Bluetooth settings

Close the case cover tightly (until clicking)-->

Hard reset to factory settings

If the soft reboot doesn't work, you'll need a full reset, which removes all the data about the paired devices and returns the headphones to the factory settings.

• 📵 The headphones do not connect to any device.
• 🔄 One earphone works and the other does not (for example, the right connects, the left does not).
• 🔧 You are going to sell or transfer your headphones to another person.

Hard-dumping instructions:

1. Place both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
2. Open the case cover, but don't take the headphones out.
3. Press and hold the touchpads 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 the beginning of the reset.
5. Release the buttons and wait until the indicators light up in permanent white (about 30 seconds).
6. Close the case cover, then open it again - the headphones are ready for a new pairing.

Importantly, after a hard reset, the Xiaomi AirDots 2 headphones will lose all the saved connections, and they will have to be re-matched with a phone, tablet or laptop.

Firmware Update: When to Do and How to Do

Sometimes the problems with Xiaomi AirDots 2 are not due to hardware failures, but to outdated firmware. the manufacturer periodically releases updates that fix connection errors, improve sound and increase battery life. However, you can not manually update the headphones – this happens automatically when you connect to a Xiaomi smartphone (or other device with the Mi Home application).

How to check and update the firmware:

1. Make sure the headphones are connected to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
2. Open the Mi Home app (you can download it from Google Play or the App Store).
3. Go to Profile → Settings → Devices for this account.
4. Find Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 and tap them.
5. If an update is available, a firmware update button will appear. Press it and wait for the process to be completed (the headphones should be in a case with the lid open).

Attention! Don't interrupt the firmware update process. If the headphones run out or the case closes during the update, it can cause the software to break, and then you need to contact the service center.

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Updating the firmware through Mi Home is the only official way. Hand-held firmware from the Internet can turn headphones into a brick.

Frequent Reboot Errors and How to Avoid Them

Many users make the same mistakes when trying to restart Xiaomi AirDots 2. Here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

• ❌ Case charge is not enough. If the indicator on the case is red or not at all, the reset may not work. Solution: charge the case to at least 30% (the indicator turns yellow or green).
• ❌ The touchpads are too weak. The sensors on AirDots 2 require a confident push. Solution: press the center of the panel with a force, like clicking on a button.
• ❌ Using a non-original charging cable, cheap cables may not provide enough current to run the case correctly. Solution: use the original cable or a certified USB-Type-C.
• ❌ Attempt to reset just one headphone.Reset must be done simultaneously on both devices.Solution: Repeat the procedure by holding the panels on both headphones.
• ❌ Ignoring flashing lights. If after 15 seconds of holding, the lights don't flash red and white, the reset doesn't happen. Solution: try again or check the contacts on the headphones.

Another common problem is that the headphones are connected separately, but they don't work in stereo mode, and this is because of a failure in sync between the left and right device.

1. Perform a hard reset (see section above).
2. Connect only one headphone to the phone (for example, the right one).
3. Wait until the second headphone automatically connects (the indicator blinks white).
4. If synchronization has not occurred, repeat the reset and connect the left earphone first.

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If the headphones don't sync after reset, try connecting them to another device (like a laptop), sometimes the problem lies in the Bluetooth cache of the smartphone.

Hardware problems: when a reboot won't help

Not all malfunctions of Xiaomi AirDots 2 are solved by software methods. If after several attempts to reboot and reset the headphones still do not work, the problem may be hardware.

• 🔋 Headphones do not charge in the case (the indicator does not burn, despite the charge of the case).
• 🔊 There is no sound in both headphones, but they connect to the phone.
• 💧 Moisture (headphones were in water or in the rain).
• 🔌 Mechanical damage (cracks on the body, fallen touch panels).
• 📉 Too fast discharge (earphones hold a charge for less than 30 minutes).

Some problems can be diagnosed on their own:

⚠️ Attention! Don't try to disassemble the headphones yourself, it will lead to loss of warranty. Inside AirDots 2, glue joints and miniature plumes are used, which are easy to damage without a special tool.

Alternative ways to solve problems

If the reboot didn’t help, but you’re sure the problem isn’t hardware, try these methods:

• 📱 Reset Bluetooth settings on your smartphone: Go to Settings → Find Xiaomi AirDots 2 in the list of devices and tap the icon ⚙️ (Or forget the device. Restart the phone and try to reconnect.

Using another device to connect

Sometimes the problem is in the Bluetooth cache of a particular smartphone. Connect the headphones to another phone or laptop — if they work, the problem is in the first device.

Complete discharge and charge

Discharge the headphones until completely switched off (the indicator will go out), then charge the case and headphones for 2-3 hours. This can reset the power controller errors.

If you’re using Xiaomi AirDots 2 with an iPhone, note that these headphones may have iOS compatibility issues, for example, sometimes the automatic switching between Apple devices doesn’t work.

1. Turn off the headphones from all devices.
2. Perform a hard reset.
3. Connect first to the iPhone, then to other gadgets.

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Xiaomi headphones are optimized for the Mi ecosystem, so there may be minor lags or connectivity issues with other brands (especially Apple).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions