How to sync Xiaomi Mi Airdots headphones with each other: the complete guide

Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic (known as Mi Airdots) has become one of the most popular budget headphones. TWS-But many users face a common problem: once removed from a case, one earbud connects to the phone, and the other is silent or separate, due to a loss of synchronization between the right and left modules.

Unlike wired counterparts, where the connection is physical, wireless headphones require software to be linked to each other. The process of synchronization can be lost after prolonged inactivity, battery discharge or firmware failures. In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to restore communication between Mi Airdots, including forced reset, manual resynchronization and fault diagnosis.

It is important to understand that the synchronization algorithm depends on the firmware version of the headphones and the model (Mi Airdots Basic, Pro, Youth Edition). RTL8763B, which supports automatic communication recovery, whereas in the basic version this process requires manual intervention.

Why Xiaomi Mi Airdots headphones are out of sync?

The problem of disconnecting headphones is not a defect, but a feature of the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol (BLE). Here are the main reasons for synchronization failure:

• 🔋 Deep battery discharge of one of the headphones (below 5%), in which case the module goes into energy saving mode and "forgets" the binding to the pair device.
• 📱 Conflict with other Bluetooth devices: If the headphones have previously connected to another smartphone or PC, they may try to reconnect with it by ignoring the second module.
• 🔄 Software firmware failure, especially after an interrupted update or when using unofficial versions of software (for example, after firmware through the Mi Flash Tool).
• 🎧 Mechanical damage to contacts in the charging case, if one of the headphones is not charged, it is automatically excluded from the network.
• 🌡️ Overheating or hypothermia. Realtek chips work. RTL8762C (in the basic version) is disturbed at temperatures below -10°C or higher +45°C.

According to statistics from Xiaomi service centers, 65 percent of the time the problem is solved by forced resetting, 25 percent by flashing, and only 10 percent require repair or replacement of the module. Next, we will look at all the methods in order from simple to complex.

Method 1: Forced resetting (Hard Reset)

It's a versatile method that works for all Mi Airdots models, including the Basic, Pro and Youth Edition, and resets the headphones back to factory settings and erases all stored connections, including phone tethers.

Resetting instructions:

1. Place both headphones back in the charging case and close the lid for 5 seconds.
2. Remove them and hold the buttons on both headphones simultaneously for a period of time. 10-15 seconds (before the red and white indicator flashes).
3. Put the headphones back in the case and close the lid. In 10 seconds, remove them - they should automatically synchronize (the indicators will flash synchronously white).
4. Connect to your headphones via Bluetooth as a new device (Mi True Wireless EBs will appear in the list). Basic_R or).

If after resetting the headphones still do not sync, check:

• 🔋 Battery charge (earphone with a discharge below 10% will not participate in synchronization).
• 📶 Distance between headphones (should be no more than 1 meter at the binding stage).
• 🔄 Repeat the procedure by holding the buttons longer than 20 seconds (for firmware models) V4.7.0 newer).

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If the headphones flash alternately (one red, the other white) it is a sign of a successful reset. If both are burning red, the battery is dead, if white, the headphones are already paired with the other device.

Method 2: Manual synchronization through the charging case

This method is suitable if the reset did not help or the headphones are defined by the phone separately (for example, in the Bluetooth list, the Mi is displayed as Mi). Airdots_L mi Airdots_R). The algorithm works thanks to a built-in chip in the case that controls the binding process.

Step-by-step:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid for 10 seconds.
2. Open the lid, but don't remove the headphones. Press and hold the button on the case for 5 seconds (until the indicator flashes twice).
3. Wait until the headphones start flashing synchronously white (it will take up to 30 seconds).
4. Remove the headphones – they must automatically connect to each other and to the last paired device.

If the process is stuck in the blinking stage, try:

• 🔌 Connect the case to charge for 5 minutes (sometimes helps with low charge controller).
• 📱 Remove headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices on your phone before trying again.
• 🔄 Repeat the procedure by resetting the headphone settings (Method 1).

Method 3: Update the firmware through Mi Home

If your Mi Airdots are 2020 and newer, you can update their firmware through the official Mi Home app, which helps to fix sync errors associated with software bugs. Note: the update will reset all settings, including phone binding.

Instructions for updating:

1. Install the Mi Home app (version 6.5.400 or later) from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Connect your headphones to your phone via Bluetooth (they should be defined as Mi True Wireless EBs Basic).
3. At Mi Home, go to Profile → Settings → Add the device → Headphones.
4. Select your model and follow the instructions on the screen. If an update is available, a notification will appear "New firmware is available."
5. Confirm the update and wait until it is completed (the headphones will reboot automatically).

After the update:

• 🔄 The headphones will automatically reboot and sync.
• 📱 You will have to reconnect them to the phone (in the Bluetooth list will appear a new device).
• 🔋 Battery charge will drop to 100% regardless of the actual level.

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Updating the firmware is the only way to fix hardware errors of the Bluetooth chip (for example, a bug with a “one-way sound” in the Mi Airdots Basic before the version). V4.5.0).

Method 4: Diagnostics of hardware malfunctions

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be in the hardware, so here's how to check for physical malfunctions.

Checking the charging case:

• 🔌 Connect the case to the charger and check if the indicator is on. If not, there is a problem with the battery or power controller.
• 🔍 Inspect contacts inside the case for oxidation or contamination (clean with alcohol).
• 📦 Check if the headphones are fixed in the nests (if they hang out, the contacts do not touch).

Headphone check:

• 🎧 Listen to each earpiece separately (plug only one to your phone via Bluetooth). If there's sound, synchronization is a problem; if there's no, the speaker or Bluetooth module is faulty.
• 🔋 Check the charge of each earphone: put them in a case for 1 hour, then remove. If one discharges faster, there's a battery problem.
• 📡 Check the signal strength: 10 meters away from the phone. If the connection is broken at a distance of less than 5 meters, the antenna is defective.

⚠️ Attention: If one of the headphones stopped working after falling or getting moisture, do not try to disassemble it - Mi Airdots use adhesive joints, and self-repair will lead to loss of leakage. ₽).

Method 5: Alternative synchronization methods

If the standard methods didn’t work, try these non-obvious tricks that sometimes help bring back communication between the headphones:

Cross-connection method:

1. Connect to the phone only the left earphone (the right should lie in the case).
2. Turn on the music and wait for a stable sound.
3. Remove the right earphone from the case and hold the button on it for 5 seconds.
4. If the synchronization is successful, the sound will become stereo.

The cold reset method:

• 🧊 Place the headphones in a case and put it in the fridge for 10 minutes (this will reset overheated capacitors).
• 🔥 Then warm up the case in your hands for 5 minutes (to room temperature).
• 🔄 Repeat the resetting procedure (Method 1).

The method of "Forced connection via PC":

1. Connect the headphones to the computer (Windows/macOS) Bluetooth.
2. From the device menu, select "Delete Device" for both headphones.
3. Press the buttons on both headphones for 20 seconds (until flashing red).
4. Connect them again – sometimes the PC is better at syncing than the smartphone.

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If you have Mi Airdots Pro, try activating Game Mode via the Mi Home app, which uses an alternative communication channel to help restore sync.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many users make the problem of desynchronization worse by doing the wrong thing, and here are the common mistakes and how to avoid them:

• 🚫 Using headphones with different levels of charge, if one earphone is 20% dead and the other is 80% dead, they may not sync. Solution: charge both to 100% before tethering.
• 🚫 Connecting to multiple devices at once. Mi Airdots don't support multi-connection (unlike AirPods).Solution: Remove headphones from the Bluetooth list on all devices except the main one.
• 🚫 Interrupt the reset process. If you release the buttons ahead of time, the headphones can freeze in mode. DFU. Solution: Repeat reset by holding the buttons for at least 15 seconds.
• 🚫 Using a non-original charging case, cheap analogs may not provide the correct voltage, which causes the controller to malfunction. Solution: check the case with a multimeter (should be the case). 5V/0.5A).

⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Airdots from your iPhone, turn off Automatic Device Switching in Bluetooth settings.This feature often prevents the earphones from syncing correctly with each other.

Also avoid:

• 🌧️ Moisture intake (even if the headphones are protected) IPX4, This does not guarantee work after submersion in water).
• 🔥 Overheating (do not leave headphones in the sun or near heat sources).
• 📵 Use of headphones near interference sources (microwaves, Wi-Fi routers at 2.4 GHz frequency).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions