How to synchronize headphones Xiaomi Airdots with each other without a case: all working methods

Forgot the case from Xiaomi Airdots at home or it broke, and the headphones disconnected and do not work together? The situation is familiar to many owners of wireless headsets. Without a charging case, synchronization seems impossible — but it is not. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to bind headphones to each other without a case, including hidden functions that are not written in the official instructions.

The problem is especially relevant for Redmi Airdots, Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 and other budget options, where the case is not only a charger, but also a synchronizer. However, even without it, you can return the headphones to work - the main thing is to know the correct sequence of actions and nuances of the firmware. Next, you will find step-by-step guides, compatibility tables and answers to frequent questions.

Not all methods are equally effective for different firmware versions, for example, Xiaomi Airdots 3 Pro headphones with Bluetooth 5.2 support can sync differently from the first generation of Redmi Airdots, and we took these differences into account and prepared universal solutions that work in 90% of cases.

Why Xiaomi Airdots headphones are out of sync without a case

The main reason for the headphones to disconnect is that there's no central synchronization module, which is in the charging case as standard, so when you put both earphones in the case, they automatically exchange data through contacts and update the pair settings, and without the case, this process is interrupted, and each earphone starts to work a device.

Here are the key factors leading to desynchronization:

• 🔋 Battery discharge up to 0% - one of the headphones could sit down completely, resetting the settings.
• 📱 Connect to different devices – if you have connected left and right headphones to different smartphones.
• 🔄 Resetting settings through prolonged pressing of a button (for example, when trying to reconnect).
• 🛠️ Update firmware with errors that interrupted synchronization.

Interestingly, in some models (for example, the Mi Air 2 SE), the problem may occur due to a hardware failure in one of the headphones. If after all the manipulations the synchronization is not restored, you may need to diagnose in the service center.

Preparation of headphones for manual synchronization

There are a few steps that you need to take before you start connecting your headphones, and ignoring your preparation is the most common cause of synchronization failure.

Here's what we need to do:

1. Charge both earphones at least until 30%. Use the charger with the exit 5V/1A or USB-Connect the headphones separately, touching the contacts with the terminals of the charging cable (usually two metal connectors on the inside).
2. Make sure the headphones are off. To do this, press and hold the touch button on each of them for 5-7 seconds until the indicator goes out.
3. Clean the contacts of dust and oxidation with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, which is especially important if the headphones have been lying unused for a long time.

If one of the headphones does not respond to pressing or does not charge, try a forced reset:

1. Press and hold the button on the earphone for 15 seconds.


2 Repeat the action 3 times in a row with an interval of 5 seconds.




3 If the indicator flashes red and white, the reset was successful.

Method 1: Double-press synchronization (for most models)

This method works for Redmi Airdots, Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 and other models on the Realtek RTL8763B chip. Its essence is a simulation of the pair process, which usually occurs in a case.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on the right earphone (main) with a long press of the button (3-5 seconds), until the indicator starts flashing white and red alternately.
2. Turn on your left earphone the same way. Wait until it flashes white (search mode).
3. Quickly press the right earphone button twice. The indicator should flash blue - this is a signal to start syncing.
4. Wait 10 to 15 seconds. If it's successful, both earbuds will flash in synchronous white.

If the indicators continue to flash differently:

• 🔹 Repeat the process, but in step 3, double tap on the left earphone.
• 🔹 Try turning on the headphones at the same time, holding the buttons on both for 10 seconds.

💡

If the headphones don't sync the first time, put them next to you (within 1 cm) and try again. Sometimes a weak Bluetooth signal interferes with the data exchange.

Method 2: Using a third-party Bluetooth transmitter

If manual synchronization does not work, you can use an external Bluetooth adapter (for example, from an old phone or a specialized module like CSR 4.0), which is suitable for models with stripped-down firmware, where there is no independent pairing function.

Algorithm of action:

1. Connect the right earphone to the adapter (for example, via Bluetooth Settings on the phone).
2. Wait for a stable connection (the indicator burns white, without blinking).
3. Turn off the right earphone, then turn on the left and connect it to the same adapter.
4. Now, turn on both headphones at the same time – they must automatically find each other through the adapter.

This works because the adapter acts as an intermediary, transmitting data about the pair between the headphones, and the downside is that it requires an additional device, but it often saves when other options don't work.

Method 3: Resetting settings via the engineering menu (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try software resetting via hidden commands, which is suitable for models based on Qualcomm QCC3020 or Realtek RTL8763B chips, but requires caution – wrong actions can lead to failure.

Instructions:

1. Connect the right earphone to the phone via Bluetooth.
2. Open a Bluetooth code application (e.g., nRF Connect for Android).
3. Enter the reset command: AT+RESET=FACTORY or (for some models): AT+DEFAULT
4. After resetting, repeat the process for the left earpiece.
5. Turn on both headphones at the same time – they should sync automatically.

Attention! This method does not work on all firmware. If the earphone stops responding after you enter the command, perform a hardware reset (hold the button 20 seconds until you flash red).

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make the same mistakes that make synchronization impossible, and the most common ones are:

• ❌ Using different firmware versions on headphones, if one headphone was updated and the other one wasn't, they won't be able to contact. Solution: Update both through the official Mi Home app.
• ❌ Pressing buttons with different forces. Sensors on Xiaomi Airdots are sensitive — pressing too little or too hard may not work. Press clearly and confidently.
• ❌ Synchronization in the jamming zone. Bluetooth signal can be jammed by other devices (Wi-Fi routers, microwaves.

Another common problem is that one earpiece plugs in as a mono-device, which means that the pair hasn't formed.

1. Turn off the earphone.
2. Turn it off with a long press.
3. Repeat the synchronization process from scratch.

💡

If your headphones are synchronized, but only one is playing, check the audio balance in your smartphone's Bluetooth settings. Sometimes the system automatically shifts the sound to the main device.

Alternative solutions: if nothing helps

If all of the above methods have failed, consider the following options:

• 🔧 Flip-through PC. This will require a USB-Bluetooth adapter and Flashing Tool (e.g., a USB-Bluetooth adapter, RTL Flash Tool for Realtek chips. For instructions and firmware, look at the forums 4PDA or XDA Developers.
• 🛒 Buying a new case. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy an original or compatible case (for example, for Redmi Airdots fit cases from Baseus or Haylou.
• 🔄 Warranty exchange. If headphones are warranty, contact Xiaomi Service Center with a check.

For Airdots 3 Pro and later, there is an official service mode that can be activated through the Mi Home app:

1. Open the app and go to the Device Profile → Headphone Settings.
2. Select Reconnect Connection.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (scanning will be required) QR-box code or enter a serial number).

Attention! Don't buy cases from unknown manufacturers, because they can damage headphone contacts due to mismatched charging voltage. Check model compatibility!

FAQ: Answers to popular questions