Connecting Xiaomi Airdots to your phone: a complete guide with solutions to typical bugs

Why Xiaomi Airdots headphones don’t connect the first time?

Xiaomi Airdots wireless headphones (including Redmi Airdots, Airdots Pro, Airdots 3 and Buddy) have become one of the most popular gadgets in the Mi Ecosystem lineup. Their main advantages are compactness, low price and stable Bluetooth 5.0 connection. However, even with such devices, users often face problems when connecting for the first time: the phone “does not see” headphones, the connection is interrupted after a few seconds or the sound is transmitted to only one headphone.

The causes of these problems lie in three key aspects:

• 🔋 Low battery charge headphones or case (less than 30% often blocks pairing mode).
• 📱 Outdated version of Bluetooth on a smartphone (e.g. Bluetooth 4.2 on older Android devices).
• 🔄 Residual data from past connections in the memory of a phone or headphones (especially if they were previously paired with another device).

In this article, we will not only discuss the standard connection procedure, but also the unique techniques of resetting headphones through button combinations that are not described in the official instructions of Xiaomi.

Preparation of headphones Xiaomi Airdots for the first connection

Before pairing with the phone, you need to properly initialize the headphones, and many users miss this stage, which leads to errors such as "Device not found" or "Disconnected".

Here is a step-by-step preparation algorithm:

1. Charge headphones and case. Connect the case to the network via USB-C or Micro-USB (depending on the model) and wait until the charge indicator lights up green (on Airdots 3 models - white). The minimum charge level for successful pairing is 50%.
2. Remove the headphones from the case. Take out both headphones and put them next to each other (no more than 10 cm apart). On the Redmi Airdots S and later, the automatic pairing mode is activated when you first remove them.
3. Activate the connection mode. Press the touch button on the right earphone (or the physical button on older models) for 5-7 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white alternately, signaling readiness for pairing.

Case charge ≥50%|Headphones removed from the case|The indicator flashes red/white|Bluetooth on your phone is on-->

If the indicator doesn't flash or only flashes red, it means the headphones are discharged or are in standby mode. Try to return them to the case for 10 seconds, then remove them again.

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On models Xiaomi Airdots Pro 2 and newer to activate the pairing mode, it is enough to open the case cover - the headphones will automatically go into search mode if they were not previously connected to the device.

Step-by-step: how to connect Xiaomi Airdots to Android

The process of pairing with an Android phone takes no more than 1-2 minutes, if you follow a clear algorithm, below is a universal instruction that is suitable for all versions of Android (from 5.0 Lollipop to 14).

Open the settings on your phone and follow the following steps:

1. Go to Connected Devices (or Bluetooth in older versions of Android).
2. Activate the Bluetooth slider (if it is turned off).
3. Click Add a new device (or Device Search).
4. In the list, find a device called Mi True Wireless EB* (where * is the model numeral, for example, EB152 for Redmi Airdots).
5. Click on the headphone name and confirm the pairing.

Once successfully connected, a Bluetooth icon will appear in the phone status bar that says "Connected to Media Audio." On Airdots 3 Pro and later, information about the charge level of each earphone will also be available right in the notification bar.

Xiaomi Airdots pairing with iPhone (iOS)

While Xiaomi Airdots was designed primarily for the MIUI ecosystem, they are fully compatible with iPhones (since iOS 10).

• 📱 On the iPhone, it is impossible to display the charge level of the headphones in real time (unlike Android).
• 🔊 Codec AAC It works more consistently than SBC, There may be a delay in sound in games.
• 🔄 Automatic reconnect after extraction from the case works worse than on Android.

Instructions for iOS:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Make sure the Bluetooth slider is turned on (green).
3. Wait until the Mi True Wireless EB* appears in the list.
4. Tap the name of the headphones and wait for the inscription Connected.

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On iPhone, Xiaomi Airdots headphones can be displayed in the Bluetooth list twice: as a stereo device (Mi True Wireless EB* R) and as a mono device (Mi True Wireless EB* L).

If the headphones are connected, but the sound goes only to one earphone, do the following:

1. Forget the device in Bluetooth settings (ⓘ → Forget this device).
2. Return both headphones to the case and get them out again.
3. Wait 10 seconds and reconnect.

Problem Solving: Headphones are not connected or are not working properly

Even after successful pairing, users face typical problems: communication breaks, no sound in one of the headphones, or headphones are no longer determined by the phone at all, and 80% of the time, the cause is a software failure, which is solved by resetting.

Here are proven troubleshooting methods:

1.Reset headphones Xiaomi Airdots to factory settings

For most models, the discharge procedure is the same:

1. Place both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the lid and press the touch buttons on both headphones simultaneously for 15-20 seconds.
3. The indicators will start flashing red, then go out – this is a signal of a successful reset.

For the Airdots Pro 2 and Airdots 3 models, the procedure is different:

1. Remove the headphones from the case.
2. Press the touch panels on both headphones for 10 seconds until the indicators start flashing purple.
3. Return the headphones to the case and reconnect.

2.Sound problems in one headphone

If the sound is only on the left or right earphone, do:

• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones (forget the device in Bluetooth settings and pair again).
• 🔋 Check the charge of both headphones - the often discharged headphone disconnects from the pair.
• 🎧 Clean contacts in the case and on headphones with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

Headphones are not defined by the phone|The sound is only in one headphone.|Permanent communication breakdowns|Other-->

3.The headphones plug in, but no sound.

This problem is most often associated with the audio output settings on the phone:

• 📱 On Android, check if Media Audio mode is activated for another device (like speakers). → Sound. → Sound output.
• 🔊 On iPhone, make sure that the Control Point (up/down swipe) selects Mi True Wireless as the output device.
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the audio driver “hangs” after connecting a Bluetooth device.

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If after connecting the headphones, the sound continues to go through the phone’s speaker, try turning on any audio file (such as a song) – often this will “wake up” the headphones and switch the audio stream.

How to check the compatibility of the phone with Xiaomi Airdots

While Xiaomi Airdots supports most modern smartphones, there are a number of limitations to be aware of before buying.

To check the Bluetooth version on your phone:

• 📱 On Android: Go to Settings → The phone. → Software information (or Settings) → System system → Look for the line Bluetooth version.
• 🍎 On iPhone: Bluetooth version is not known, but all models since iPhone 5 support Bluetooth 4.0 and newer.

If your phone doesn’t meet the minimum requirements, the headphones can still connect, but the quality of communication will be unstable, in which case it is recommended to use an external Bluetooth adapter (for example, Xiaomi Bluetooth Audio Receiver).

Additional features of Xiaomi Airdots: what can headphones

Besides the basic audio playback feature, Xiaomi Airdots supports a number of hidden features that many users are unaware of.

• 🎵 Low latency mode (only for Airdots 3 Pro and later): reduces lag when watching video. Activated by triple touch touch touch of the touchpad.
• 🔊 Mono mode: you can use only one headphone (right or left) for calls. To activate, remove only one earphone from the case.
• 📞 Voice Assistant: Double-touch calls Google Assistant (Android) or Siri (iOS).
• 🔋 Fast charging: 10 minutes in a case gives up to 90 minutes of playback (on models with Quick Charge support).

On Redmi Airdots 2 and older, gesture settings are also available via the Mi Home app (only for Xiaomi phones).

• Single touch → Pause/reproduction.
• Double touch. → Next track.
• Retention → Deflection of call.

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To enable low latency on the Airdots 3 Pro, triple tap the right earphone touchpad, and the blue flash is a confirmation of activation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)