Reset headphones Xiaomi Mi to factory settings: 5 proven ways

Xiaomi Mi headphones are popular wireless gadgets that can eventually fail to connect with a delay, lose communication with the phone or give out distorted sound. In 80% of cases, these problems are solved by a complete reset to the factory settings. However, many users face difficulties: they can not find the right item on the menu, are afraid to damage the device or simply do not know that the reset for different models (Mi True Wireless Earphones 2, Mi AirDots Pro, Mi Earbuds Basic) is performed differently.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current resets, from the standard Mi Home button combinations to the hidden button combinations for models without software management, how to prepare your headphones for reset, what to do if they don’t respond to commands, and how to avoid the typical errors that can make your device a brick. We’ve also made a table of compatibility methods with specific models, which will save you time for experiments.

Why you may need to reset your settings

Factory reset is a last resort, but sometimes it's the only one that helps to get the headphones back on track, and here are the most common situations where the procedure is warranted:

• 🔄 Constant communication breaks with your phone or laptop, even if the devices are nearby.
• 🔊 Sound distortion: wheezing, crackling or complete absence of audio in one of the headphones.
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge (less than 2 hours of operation) with normal previously autonomous.
• 📱 Inability to connect to a new smartphone after changing the gadget.
• 🔄 Cyclical reboot of headphones (blinking indicators, but no connection is established).

It is important to understand that resetting will not help if the problem is associated with physical damage, such as moisture entering the body or mechanical wear of the contacts. In such cases, repair or replacement is required. The procedure is useless if the headphones are discharged to 0%: first charge them to at least 30%, otherwise the reset may not be correct.

Preparing headphones for reset: 4 mandatory steps

Before you start resetting, follow these steps – they minimize the risk of errors and speed up the process:

1. Charge the headphones. Make sure that the charge level of both the headphones and the case is at least 30%. To check, put them in the case and look at the indicator: it should burn white or green (depending on the model), red or flashing orange signal low charge.
2. Disconnect from all devices. Go to Bluetooth settings on your smartphone, find your Xiaomi Mi and click “Forget the device” (or “Unplug”). If the headphones are connected to multiple gadgets (tablet, laptop), remove them from there too.
3. Check buttons. Make sure the physical buttons on the headphones (if any) are not stuck and pressed properly. For models with touch control (Mi AirDots 3 Pro), wipe the panels with a dry wipe - dirt can block touch.
4. Firmware update (optional) If the headphones have previously connected to the Mi Home app, check for updates. Outdated software sometimes interferes with the correct reset.

If you miss at least one of these steps, the reset may not work or partially pass, for example, when the charge is low, the headphones can “hang” during the recovery phase, and if you do not disconnect them from the phone, the system will return the previous settings automatically.

Method 1: Reset via Mi Home (for all models)

This is the safest and most recommended method, as it does not require button manipulation and is suitable for most models, including Mi True Wireless Earphones 2, Mi AirDots Pro 2 and Mi Earbuds Basic S. The main condition is that the headphones must be connected to the Mi Home app at least once before.

Instructions:

1. Open the Mi Home app on your smartphone.
2. Go to the Profile section → My devices and choose your headphones.
3. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Device Settings.
4. Scroll down and tap on Reset Settings (or Restore Factory Settings).
5. Confirm the action, wait for the process to be completed (the headphones will restart).

If you don't have Reset option on the menu, your model doesn't support software reset, in which case use one of the alternative methods described below.

Method 2: Hardware reset via buttons (for models with physical buttons)

This method is suitable for headphones with mechanical buttons, such as Mi Basic Earphones or Mi Sports Bluetooth Earphones. The main advantage is that you do not need to connect to the phone. Minus – you need to know the exact combination, otherwise you can accidentally turn on the DFU mode (for firmware).

Step-by-step:

1. Place both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
2. Pull them out and press the buttons on both headphones at the same time (usually these are on/off buttons).
3. Hold the buttons for 10-15 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white (or only red – depending on the model).
4. Release the buttons. The headphones automatically reset and reset.

If the lights flash blue, it means you have activated pairing mode, not reset, in which case repeat the procedure by holding the buttons longer (up to 20 seconds).

⚠️ Note: Do not use sharp objects (needles, toothpicks) to push buttons, this may damage the microphone or speaker located nearby.

Method 3: Reset via Bluetooth settings (for Android and iOS)

If the headphones are connected to the phone but the Mi Home app isn’t installed or seeing the device, you can try resetting them via standard Bluetooth settings.This method doesn’t work for all models, but often helps in cases where the headphones are “glutching” when connected.

For Android:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Find your Xiaomi Mi in the list of conjugate devices and click on the gear next to the name.
3. Select Forget Device (or Disable if the Forget option is missing).
4. Return the headphones to the case, take them out and hold the button on the case (if any) or on one of the headphones for 5-7 seconds until the white indicator blinks.

For iOS:

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Slip the “i” icon next to the Xiaomi Mi.
3. Choose Forget this device.
4. Remove the headphones from the case and hold the touchpad on both headphones for 10 seconds until you hear the reset beep.

After that, the headphones should appear in the list of available devices for a new connection. If they do not appear, try rebooting the smartphone.

Method 4: Reset for models without buttons (Mi AirDots 3, Mi True Wireless 3)

Headphones Xiaomi Mi AirDots 3 and later often lack physical buttons, and control is through the touch panels.

1. Place both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
2. Open the lid and touch the touch panels on both headphones at the same time.
3. Hold the touch for 15 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white quickly.
4. Let go of your fingers. The headphones will reboot and you can reconnect them.

If the sensor is not responding, wipe the panels with an alcohol wipe — sometimes fat or sweat blocks the touch, and also make sure that you are touching the sensory area (usually marked by a small recess or dot).

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If the headphones don't respond to touch, try using a wet (but not wet!) wipe to clean the sensor.The alcohol in the napkin evaporates quickly and won't damage the electronics.

Method 5: Reset via DFU mode (for power users)

DFU (Device Firmware Update) is designed to run headphones, but it can also be used to reset hard if other methods fail, a method that is suitable for Qualcomm chip-based models (such as Mi AirDots Pro 2) and requires a computer with drivers installed.

Instructions:

1. Download and install the QFlash Tool (available on Xiaomi developer forums).
2. Connect the headphones to the PC via Bluetooth (they should be in pairing mode).
3. Start the QFlash Tool and select Force Reset.
4. Follow the instructions of the program. The headphones will reboot and return the factory settings.

This method is risky if you are not sure of what you are doing. Incorrect use of the QFlash Tool can lead to complete loss of firmware, and the headphones will turn into a brick. Use it only if other methods did not help, and the headphones are still guaranteed (in this case, you should contact the service center).

⚠️ Attention: Use of the regime DFU voids warranty if you are not a certified Xiaomi specialist. Before the procedure, back up the current firmware (if possible in your model).

Compatibility table of reset methods for popular models

Not all methods work equally well for different headphones. In the table below, we have collected the latest data on reset support for popular Xiaomi Mi models:

If your model is not in the table, focus on the year of release: for headphones in 2020 and later, a touch or software reset is usually available, and for older models (2018-2019) hardware method is more often required.

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Always check the compatibility of the method with your model before resetting, for example, trying to reset hardware on Mi AirDots 3 (where there are no buttons) will result in zero result.

What to do if the reset does not help

In rare cases, even after resetting, problems persist. Here's an algorithm for doing this.

1. Check the headphones on another device, connect them to another smartphone or PC, and if the problem recurs, the headphones themselves malfunction.
2. Update your firmware. Go to Mi Home and check for updates. Sometimes bugs get fixed in new versions of the software.
3. Reset your phone settings (Bluetooth settings only!). On Android: Settings → System → Reset → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings.
4. If the headphones are warranty, don't try to disassemble them yourself, it will void the warranty.

If the headphones after reset do not turn on at all, try the following:

• 🔋 Place them in the case for 30 minutes for a full charge.
• 🔌 Connect the case to charging and wait 10 minutes - sometimes it will "wake up" the headphones.
• 📱 Install Mi Earphones app (separate from Mi Home) – it can offer additional recovery options.

If none of the methods worked, the problem is likely to be a hardware problem (e.g., a Bluetooth controller failed), in which case only repairs or replacements remain.

Frequently asked questions