Xiaomi wireless headphones are some of the most popular accessories, thanks to a combination of price, quality and functionality. However, even the most reliable technology sometimes fails: the headphones stop connecting to the phone, one of them does not work, the sound is interrupted or absent at all. In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by restarting or resetting the settings to the factory. But how do you do this correctly so as not to aggravate the situation?
In this article, we will discuss all the ways to restart Xiaomi headphones, from simple disconnect/on to a complete reset via the service menu. Describe the nuances for different models (AirDots, Buds, FlipBuds), explain when rebooting helps and when more radical measures are required, and learn how to avoid the typical mistakes that lead to the failure of the headphones after an incorrect reset.
If your Xiaomi headphones suddenly stop working, don’t rush to bring them to the service. In most cases, the problem is solved in 5 minutes at home, the main thing is to follow the instructions and not miss important steps.
When do I need to restart Xiaomi headphones?
Not all problems require a reset, sometimes a simple reboot or firmware update is enough, and here are the key signs that the headphones need to restart:
- 🔌 The headphones don't connect to the phone, although Bluetooth is on and other devices are visible.
- 🎧 One earphone is working, and the second is silent or jamming.
- 🔊 The sound is interrupted, clicks or distortions appear.
- 🔄 The headphones are connected, but immediately switch off after a few seconds.
- 📱 In the list of Bluetooth devices, the headphones are displayed as "Unknown device".
- 🔋 The charge indicator flashes unusually (e.g., red and blue simultaneously).
If you see at least one of these symptoms, try a mild restart (disconnect/turn on) first. If that doesn't work, move to a hard reset (full reboot with the connection memory clearing).
It's important to understand that resetting is a last resort, and Xiaomi's headphones will forget all the paired devices and have to reconnect them, and if the phone is a problem (for example, a Bluetooth module crash), resetting the headphones may not help.
Preparing for a restart: what to do before resetting
Before you drop your headphones, do a few checks to avoid unnecessary actions and save your settings if the problem is not with the headphones themselves.
Make sure your headphones are charged (minimum 30%)
Disconnect them from all devices in Bluetooth settings
Check if Bluetooth works on your phone with other devices
Update the headphone firmware (if available)
Take a screenshot of the current settings in the Mi Home app (if you use it)-->
Pay special attention to battery power. If the headphones are discharged below 10%, the reset may not be correct, and the device will "hang" in the update mode, in which case you will need to connect to the charging case for 10-15 minutes before trying again.
Also check if the problem is systemic. For example, if the headphones are not connected to the iPhone, but work well with Android, it is more the phone, not the AirDots themselves. In such cases, the reset will not help — you need to update the firmware of the phone or reset its network settings.
⚠️ Note: If Xiaomi headphones were connected to several devices (phone, laptop, tablet), after reset, they will "forget" all pairings.
Method 1: Soft restart (reconnect)
This is the most gentle method, and it works 60 percent of the time, and it doesn't reset the settings, it just resets the headphones, clearing the temporary errors.
Instructions for all Xiaomi models (AirDots, Buds, FlipBuds):
- Place both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
- Wait 10 seconds – during this time, the headphones will completely turn off.
- Open the case cover and get the headphones out.
- Press and hold the touchpad on both headphones for 5 seconds until the white light flashes.
- Wait 30 seconds – the headphones will reboot and be ready for a new connection.
After that, try connecting to your headphones via Bluetooth on your phone. If they don't appear on the list of available devices, move on to the next way.
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If you have a physical button model (e.g. Xiaomi AirDots Basic), use the on button instead of the touchpad. Press it 3 times in a row to reboot.
Method 2: Hard reset (return to factory settings)
If the soft restart doesn't work, you'll have to reset completely, and this procedure removes all the connections you've saved and returns the headphones to the boxy state.
The instructions differ depending on the model:
| Model headphones | Reset combination | Sign of successful discharge |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi AirDots (1/2/3 gen), Buds 3/4 | Press and hold the touchpad on both headphones for 15 seconds until the red-white flashes | The indicator flashes red and white alternately, then the white becomes permanent. |
| Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro | Press and hold the touchpad on the right earphone for 10 seconds, then on the left for another 5 seconds. | Voice assistant says "Reset successful" (Chinese firmware) |
| Xiaomi AirDots Youth | Place in the case, open the lid, press the button on the case 5 times in a row | The indicator on the case flashes green, then goes out. |
| Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro | Trick the touch panel on the right earpiece three times, then hold for 8 seconds | Sound signal + indicator flashes purple |
Once reset, Xiaomi headphones will automatically go into pairing mode, and you will see them in the list of available Bluetooth devices under the name Mi True Wireless or similar (depending on the model).
⚠️ Warning: If the headphones don't appear on the device list after reset, try rebooting the Bluetooth module on the phone. To do this, turn off Bluetooth for 30 seconds, then turn it on again. On Android, you can also clear the Bluetooth cache in the application settings.
Method 3: Reset via Mi Home (for supported models)
Some Xiaomi headphone models (such as the FlipBuds Pro or Buds 3 Pro) support reset via the official Mi Home app, which is a safer method, as the app monitors the process and prevents errors.
Step-by-step:
- Install the Mi Home app from Google Play or the App Store.
- Connect your headphones to your phone via Bluetooth (even if they don’t work properly).
- Open Mi Home, go to Profile → My Devices and select your headphones.
- Tap the three-point menu (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Resetting Settings.
- Confirm the action and wait until the process is completed (usually takes 1-2 minutes).
The advantage of this method is that the application can offer a firmware update after a reset if a new version is available, which is especially true for models with bugs in older versions of the software (for example, AirDots 2 with connection problems to iOS).
What if Mi Home doesn’t see the headphones?
Frequent restart errors and how to avoid them
Many users compound the problems by improperly performing a reset. here's the top-5 errors and their consequences:
- 🔋 Reset on discharged headphones → Headphones can “hang” in the update mode, and they will have to be charged forcibly through tweezers (connection to case contacts).
- 📱 Use of an unoriginal charging case → Some cases from third-party manufacturers do not pass the reset command to headphones.
- ⏱️ Interruption of the discharge process → If you release the button ahead of time, the headphones may lose synchronization with each other (one will work, the second will not).
- 🔄 Resetting just one headphone → This disrupts the pair connection, and the headphones will stop working in stereo mode.
- 📲 Ignoring firmware updates → After resetting, old bugs can return if you do not update the software.
If one of Xiaomi’s headphones stopped working after reset (does not turn on or connect), place both headphones in the case, close the lid and wait 1 minute. Then pull them out and hold the touchpads for 10 seconds – this will restore synchronization.
If the headphones are still not working, check if moisture has entered the case or headphone connectors. To do this, gently dry them with a hair dryer (cold air!) for 5 minutes.
What if the reset didn't help?
If Xiaomi’s headphones are still not working after all the manipulations, the problem may be hardware.
- Check the case: Connect it to the charger. If the indicator is not on, the problem is in the battery or the case controller.
- Test the headphones on another device: Try connecting them to another phone, tablet or PC. If the problem recurs, the headphones are to blame.
- Update your firmware manually: For some models (such as FlipBuds Pro), you can download the firmware from Xiaomi and install it via Mi Home.
- Contact the service: If headphones are guaranteed, contact Xiaomi support via the official website or visit the service center.
If the headphones are not guaranteed, you can try to disassemble the case and check the charging contacts. Often the problem is oxidation of the contacts or damage to the plume, but you should only do this if you are confident in your skills - improper disassembly can completely disable the device.
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Before visiting the service center, back up your data (if the headphones support saving settings in Mi Home).