How to synchronize headphones Xiaomi AirDots: instructions for all models

Xiaomi AirDots wireless headphones (including Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless Earphones, and AirDots Pro) have become some of the most popular accessories due to a combination of price, sound quality, and convenience. However, many users have difficulty connecting or re-synchronizing after a reset. Unlike Apple AirPods, where the process is as automated as possible, Xiaomi has its own nuances — especially when it comes to connecting to Android, iOS, or Windows devices.

In this article, we’ll not only break down the standard connection procedure, but also look at hidden features that the manufacturer doesn’t always advertise, such as how to get the headphones to automatically connect to the latest device or why one of the headphones can fall off while listening to music, and learn how to update the headphone firmware through the Mi Home app, which solves most of the synchronization problems in new versions of the software.

If you've just unpacked your headphones or encountered a device not found error, don't rush to bring them to the service. 90% of the time, the problem is solved by setting up Bluetooth or resetting the headphones to factory settings. Next, step-by-step instructions for all scenarios.

1. Preparation of headphones Xiaomi AirDots for synchronization

Before you first connect, you need to make sure that the headphones are charged and in pairing mode, and many users miss this step, which means that the device simply does not appear in the list of available Bluetooth devices.

Here's what we need to do:

• 🔋 Check the case charge level: the indicator should burn white (charge) >30%) or red (discharged). If the indicator does not glow, connect the case to charge for 10-15 minutes.
• 🎧 Get both earbuds out of the case - they should automatically turn on (red/white LED flashes).If one of the headphones doesn't respond, try resetting it (more on that below).
• 📱 Make sure your smartphone/PC is Bluetooth enabled and not connected to other devices (such as a smartwatch or speaker).

Important: If the headphones have already been connected to another device (for example, a tablet), they must be untie from it in the Bluetooth settings or reset, otherwise they will not go into the search mode for a new device.

2. Standard connection to Android-smartphone

Sync with Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO or other Android devices is done via the standard Bluetooth menu, but there are a few hidden things that speed up the process:

1. Open the case cover and leave the headphones inside (they should be charged). Press and hold the button on the case for 3-5 seconds until the indicator flashes white-red (pairing mode).
2. On your smartphone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and enable device search. Your model name will appear in the list (e.g., "Redmi") AirDots_R" right-handed).
3. Click on the headphone name and confirm the connection. In 5-10 seconds, both earbuds sync together (you will hear the beep).

If only one headphone is displayed in the list (e.g., "Redmi") AirDots_L"), It means that the second one is discharged or out of sync with the first one:

• 🔄 Return both headphones to the case, close the lid for 10 seconds, then repeat the process.
• 🔌 Connect the case to charging for 5 minutes – sometimes it “wakes up” inactive headphone.

3. Connection to iPhone (iOS) and features of the work

While Xiaomi AirDots isn’t optimized for Apple, they work perfectly with iPhones and iPads.

• 🍎 Unlike Android, iOS doesn’t automatically switch between devices in the same ecosystem (like an iPhone and a MacBook.
• 🎵 The “Double Touch for Control” function (play/pause, next track) may not work correctly without additional settings.
• 🔊 Sound quality in format AAC (Used on iOS) is inferior to aptX on Android, but the difference will notice only an experienced user.

Instructions for connection:

1. Open the settings → Bluetooth on the iPhone.
2. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones (hold the button on the case until the indicator blinks).
3. In the list of devices, select your model (the name may appear as "Mi True Wireless" or "Mi True Wireless" or "Mi True Wireless "AirDots_Basic_R").
4. Confirm the connection. If the sound is only in one headphone, reset (see section 5).

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On iPhone, you can improve the sound by enabling the “High-quality Sound” option in Bluetooth headphone settings (if available). It is also recommended to disable the “Automatic Switch between Devices” feature in AirPlay settings to avoid accidental connection breaks.

4. Synchronize with a Windows PC or laptop

Connecting to Windows computers 10/11 It usually goes smoothly, but there is a common problem: headphones are defined as two separate devices ("AirDots_L" and "AirDots_R"), And the sound comes in only one:

Method 1 (recommended):

• 🖥️ Go to the settings. → Devices → Bluetooth and other devices.
• 🔍 Press "Add device" → Bluetooth.
• 🎧 In the list, select an earpiece marked " R" (right) and the left earpiece syncs automatically after you connect.

Method 2 (if the sound is only in one headphone):

1. Remove both headphones from the Bluetooth device list.
2. Put the headphones back in the case, close the lid for 10 seconds.
3. Take out only the right earphone and connect it to the PC.
4. After a successful connection, remove the left one - it will connect automatically.

5.Reset Xiaomi AirDots headphones to factory settings

If the headphones don't connect, one of them doesn't work, or if there's a permanent disconnect, hard reset will help.

⚠️ Warning: Once reset, the headphones lose all previous connections, and you'll have to reconnect them to all devices, including your smartphone, tablet, and PC, and you may need to reset your gesture control (if you've changed it).

If the reset didn't help, check:

• 🔋 Case and headphone charge level (indicator should burn white).
• 📲 Bluetooth version compatible with your device (earphones require Bluetooth 4.2 or later).
• 🔄 Update the headphone firmware through the Mi Home app (see Section 6).

6. Update firmware through Mi Home (solving synchronization problems)

Many users are unaware that Xiaomi AirDots supports a firmware update that fixes connection bugs, improves connection stability, and adds new features (e.g. LC3 support for better sound).

Step-by-step:

1. Install the Mi Home app from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Connect the headphones to your smartphone via Bluetooth (they should appear as “Connected” in the settings).
3. Open Mi Home, press + → Add Device → Headphones and select your model.
4. After adding the device, go to its settings. If an update is available, a notification will appear "New version of the firmware".
5. Click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off Bluetooth or close the app!).

⚠️ Warning: Do not remove the headphones from the case during the update and do not interrupt the process - this can lead to a loss of device performance. If the update hung during the Preparation stage, restart the application and try again.

Following a successful update:

• 🎵 Improved connection stability (less breaks when listening to music).
• 🔊 Support for new codecs may be provided (for example, AAC iPhone).
• 🕒 Increased battery life (5-10% in new firmware versions).

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Updating the firmware through Mi Home is the only official way to improve the performance of the headphones. Do not use third-party firmware or "mods" - this will void the warranty and can bring the device down.

7. Solving common synchronization problems

Even after a successful connection, users face typical problems, and here's how to solve them:

If neither of these methods worked, check the headphones on another device. If the problem persists, the Bluetooth module in one of the headphones may have malfunctioned, in which case, contact the Xiaomi service center.

8 Additional features and hidden capabilities

In addition to basic connectivity, Xiaomi AirDots supports several hidden features, which the manufacturer does not mention:

• 🎚️ Low Delay Mode (for games): activated by double-tapping on the right earpiece (on models with support for aptX Low Latency). Reduces lag to 80-100 ms.
• 🔇 Mono mode: if one earphone is dead, you can use the other separately.
• 🔊 Customize gestures: In the Mi Home app, you can reassign touch actions (for example, triple touch to call the voice assistant).
• 📱 Autoconnection: If the headphones were connected to the device before, they will automatically connect to it when removed from the case (does not work on all models).

⚠️ Attention: Auto-connection may conflict with other Bluetooth devices. If the headphones connect to the wrong gadget, remove them from the list of devices on all devices except the main one, and perform re-pairing.

It is also worth noting that some models (for example, AirDots Pro 2) support transparent mode (transmission of ambient sounds), which is activated by long holding the touchpad on the left earphone.

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To quickly check the charge level of your Android headphones, install the “Bluetooth Battery Monitor” widget from Google Play, which shows the percentage of charge of each headphone and case separately.

FAQ: Frequent questions about synchronization Xiaomi AirDots