Connecting Xiaomi AirDots to the phone: a full guide with pictures and tips

Introduction: Why AirDots Need a Special Approach

Xiaomi AirDots wireless headphones (all generations from basic AirDots Youth to AirDots 3 Pro) have been a hit thanks to a combination of price, sound quality and convenience. However, their connection to a smartphone — especially if it is a device of the same brand — has nuances that the manufacturer does not mention. Unlike Apple AirPods or Samsung Galaxy Buds, there is no automatic recognition by ecosystem, and the pairing algorithm depends on the firmware version and the phone model.

The main problem is that the headphones are not defined by the phone, only one headphone is connected or the sound is interrupted, most often due to the wrong sequence of actions when you first turn on or outdated firmware of the Bluetooth module. In this article, we will analyze all the connection methods (including hidden ones), typical errors and give a checklist for troubleshooting. POCO on MIUI 12-14 and Android 10-14.

Separately, we will dwell on the unique feature of AirDots: they support the Bluetooth 5.0 LE Audio protocol, but only when connected to phones on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8xx chipsets (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro or Redmi K50). On budget models (for example, Redmi Note 11), sound will be transmitted via the standard A2DP protocol, which affects latency and quality.

Preparation for connection: what to do before pairing

Before you start connecting, make sure your headphones and phone are ready to go, and skipping these steps is the main cause of failure.

1. Check the charge of headphones and case. Minimum charge level for successful pairing is 30% for each earphone and 50% for the case. If the indicator on the case flashes red, connect it to charging for 15-20 minutes. AirDots 3 Pro have a fast charging function: 5 minutes in the case gives 1 hour of work.

2. Phone firmware update: Phones with MIUI older than 12.5 may experience connection problems due to outdated Bluetooth stacks.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. If an update is available, download it and restart the device.

3. Reset previous connections. If the headphones have already connected to another device, you need to "forget" them:

• On Android: Settings → Connected devices → Bluetooth → Click on the gear icon next to AirDots → Forget the device.
• On iOS: Settings → Bluetooth → Click on the “i” next to AirDots → Forget this device.

Standard method of connection: step-by-step instructions

This method works for all AirDots models except the AirDots 3 Pro (for which, see the following section).

Step 1: Remove the headphones from the case. Take both earphones out of the charge case. They should automatically turn on (the indicators will flash white/red). If this does not happen, press and hold the touchpad on each earphone for 3 seconds until you hear the beep.

Step 2: Activation of the interface mode:

• 🔴 On AirDots. Youth/AirDots 2: Twice press the touchpad on the right earpiece, and the indicator will flash red and white alternately.
• 🔴 On AirDots. 3/AirDots SE: Press the touchpad on both headphones at the same time on the 5 You will hear a voice message saying "Pairing mode".

Step 3: Find the device on the phone:

1. Open the Settings. → Bluetooth on your phone and turn it on.
2. In the list of available devices, find Mi True Wireless Earphones (or Redmi AirDots for the corresponding model).
3. Click on the headphone name and confirm the pairing.

Step 4: Connection check. Once successfully paired, the headphones should be blue (or go out). Turn on the music: sound should be synchronized from both headphones. If only one earphone is heard, see Troubleshooting.

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If the headphones are not determined, try rebooting the phone's Bluetooth module: turn off and turn on Bluetooth again in the settings, then repeat the search.

Connection Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro: features and hidden features

The AirDots 3 Pro uses Qualcomm's enhanced QCC3040 chip and supports aptX Adaptive, but their connectivity is different from previous models.

1. Automatic pairing with Xiaomi phones. If your phone is running MIUI 12.5+, the headphones will connect automatically when you first remove from the case (similar to AirPods).

• 📱 The phone must be linked to your Mi Account.
• 🔄 Bluetooth and geolocation enabled (required for Mi AIoT to work).
• 📲 Headphones must be new (not previously connected to other devices).

Manual connection (if the automatic connection did not work):

1. Remove the headphones from the case and wait for a double beep.
2. Press the touch panels on both headphones for 8 seconds until the indicators start flashing purple.
3. On your phone, open Settings → Bluetooth → Add the device → Mi True Wireless Earphones 3 Pro.

3. Activate low latency mode. For games and videos, turn on Low Latency mode:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open the Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Wear for newer versions).
3. Find AirDots 3 Pro in the list of devices and select Sound Settings → Low Latency Mode.

Compatibility table: which phones support all AirDots features

Not all Xiaomi smartphones work equally well with AirDots, and below is a table of compatibility of key features depending on the phone model and MIUI version:

⚠️ Note: On phones with MediaTek chipsets (e.g. Redmi Note 11 or POCO M5) There may be no support for the aptX codec, which will lead to poor sound quality. AAC or SBC (Configured in the developer Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI → Press 7 times. → For developers → Bluetooth codecs).

Troubleshooting: What to do if the headphones are not connected

If AirDots are not detected by your phone or are not working properly, follow this algorithm:

1. The headphones are not in pairing mode:

• 🔋 Check the charge: if the indicator on the case does not burn, connect it to charging.
• 🔄 Reboot the headphones: Put them in the case for 10 seconds, then pull out and hold the touch panels for 5 seconds.
• 📱 Make sure your phone is enabled with Bluetooth and geolocation (for example, for MIUI 13+).

2 Only one headphone is connected:

• 🎧 Check if the headphones are synchronized with each other: put them in a case, then take out and wait for a double beep.
• 🔄 Reset the headphone settings (see spoiler in the previous section).
• 📲 On your phone, remove your headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices and connect again.

3. The sound is interrupted or distorted:

• 📶 Make sure there are no obstacles between the phone and the headphones (walls, metal objects).
• 🔊 In Bluetooth phone settings, select Sound Quality Priority (for the MIUI 14).
• 🔋 If the headphone battery is below 20%, charge them – it can cause crashes.

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If the problem persists after all the manipulations, try connecting the headphones to another device (for example, a tablet or laptop). If they work normally, the problem is in the phone (possibly a faulty Bluetooth module).

⚠️ Note: Phones with custom firmware (such as LineageOS or Pixel Experience) may have conflicts with Xiaomi protocols. MIUI or use headphones in mode SBC (Bluetooth base protocol).

Additional Features: How to Get the Most from AirDots

Xiaomi AirDots supports a number of hidden features that many users are unaware of.

1. Gesture control:

• 🎵 Playback/pause: one tap on any headphone.
• 🔀 Next track: double tap on the right earphone.
• 🔙 Previous Post:Double pressing on the left earphone.
• 📞 Reject the call: Hold the touchpad for 2 seconds.

On AirDots 3 Pro, you can configure gestures through the Xiaomi Wear app.

2.Ambient Mode: Allows you to hear surrounding sounds without removing your headphones:

1. Activated by triple pressing the left earphone (on AirDots 3 Pro).
2. On other models, turn on the mode in Mi Home: Device Settings → Transparency Mode.

Voice assistant:

• 🗣 Nana MIUI: Hold the touchpad on any headphone for 1 second to activate XiaoAI.
• 🤖 On Android: In Bluetooth settings, select Voice Assistant → Google Assistant.

4. Multipoint: AirDots 3 Pro and AirDots SE headphones can be connected to two devices simultaneously (e.g., a phone and a laptop).

1. Connect the headphones to the first device.
2. Activate the pairing mode (press the touch panels for 5 seconds).
3. Connect to the second device via Bluetooth.

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To quickly switch between devices, AirDots 3 Pro just double-press the touch panel of the left earphone. headphones automatically reconnect to the last active device.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions