How to connect headphones Xiaomi AirDots 1 between themselves and the phone: full instruction

Xiaomi AirDots 1 wireless headphones (also known as Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic) remain popular despite the release of new models, their main advantage is ease of use and affordable price. However, many users have difficulties with the first connection: the headphones are not connected to each other, are not defined by the phone or work only in mono mode. In this article, we will analyze all possible connection scenarios, including solutions to typical problems.

The AirDots 1 feature is that it doesn't have a button to turn on as we know it, instead, the headphones are activated automatically when you pull them out of the case, and the pairing takes place through a sequence of actions, and if you first encounter these devices, the process may seem obscure, and we'll detail each step, add visual cues, and warn of common errors that interfere with successful connectivity.

Preparing headphones for the first connection

Before you pair the Xiaomi AirDots 1 with your phone, you need to make sure they are properly initialized.The headphones come in a paired state, but after prolonged inactivity or resetting, you may need to re-pair between them.

Here's what you need to do first:

• 🔋 Charge the case and headphones. Connect the case to the power source for 1-2 hours. The indicator on the case should burn red during charging and go out after completion. Headphones charge automatically when in the case.
• 📱 Check the phone's compatibility. AirDots 1 works with Android 5.0 devices+ or iOS 9.0+, Bluetooth 4.2 support. Older smartphones may have connection problems.
• 🔄 Update the firmware of the headphones (if they have already connected). For this, use the official Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app.

If the headphones were previously used with another device, you need to reset them to the factory settings.

1. Place both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case for 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
3. Open the lid - the headphones will automatically go into pairing mode.

⚠️ Warning: If the indicator on the case does not respond to a long press, check the charge of the case. the discharged battery of the case (below 10%) blocks the resetting of settings.

How to connect headphones Xiaomi AirDots 1 with each other

By default, AirDots 1 headphones should automatically connect to each other when removed from the case, but if this does not happen, you will have to perform forced pairing, a process called "pairing" and requires precise sequence of actions.

Instructions for connecting headphones to each other:

1. Take both headphones out of the case and place them next to each other (no more than 10 cm away).
2. Press and hold the touchpads on both headphones simultaneously for 5-7 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white alternately.
3. Release the buttons, the headphones will begin the pairing process. In 10-15 seconds, one of the headphones will emit an audible signal (usually on the right), and the indicators will flash synchronously white.
4. Place the headphones back in the case and pull them out again - they must now work in stereo mode.

If the headphones still work separately after these actions, try an alternative method:

Make sure both earphones are charged (indicators burn white when removed)|Place headphones on a flat surface away from metal objects|Hold the touch panels strictly at the same time|Repeat the procedure 2-3 times if the first time failed-->

⚠️ Attention: Some users confuse the pairing mode of the headphones with the mode of connection to the phone. If the indicators flash only white, it means that the headphones are already paired with each other and are preparing to connect to the device.

The critical nuance is that if one of the headphones is discharged to 0%, it will not be able to participate in the pairing process. Charge both earphones to a level of at least 30%, otherwise the system recognizes only one working earphone.

Connecting Xiaomi AirDots 1 to a smartphone

Once the headphones are successfully connected, you can start connecting to the phone, and the process varies depending on the operating system, but the overall circuitry remains similar.

Universal instructions for Android and iOS:

1. Activate Bluetooth on your phone (in settings or via the Quick Access Panel).
2. Take both headphones out of the case – they will automatically go into search mode (indicators will flash white).
3. In the list of available devices, find Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic (or AirDots). BASIC_R right-handed).
4. Click on the name of the pairing device. The phone may be asked to confirm the code (usually 0000 or 1234).
5. After successful connection, the indicators on the headphones will go out, and the phone will display the status "Connected".

On Android devices (especially Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO) It is recommended to use the branded Mi Home app for additional settings:

• 📲 Install firmware: the app will automatically prompt you to update your headphones if a new version is available.
• 🔊 Sound adjustment: choosing a uniform (EQ) or bass profile.
• 📡 Charge monitoring: displaying the battery level of each headphone and case.

💡

If the headphones connect to the phone, but the sound comes from only one, check the audio output settings. On Android, go to Settings. → Sound. → Select Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic (Stereo).

Common mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow instructions correctly, users often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

1. Headphones do not turn on after being removed from the case

• 🔋 Check the case charge: if the indicator does not burn when connected to charging, the case is discharged.
• 🧲 Make sure the headphones are properly placed in the case: the magnetic contacts must match.
• 🔄 Try to reset the headphones (see the section "Preparation").

2 Headphones are connected only in mono mode

This is one of the most common problems, and the reasons may be as follows:

• 🔗 Disrupted connection between headphones (see section "How to connect headphones with each other").
• 📱 The phone has enabled the "Mono audio" mode (on some Samsung or iPhone).
• 🔄 The headphone firmware is outdated (update via Mi Home).

3. Headphones are constantly switched off during a conversation

This is due to the peculiarities of the microphone in AirDots 1.

• 🎤 Use only the right earphone for calls (the left one does not have a microphone).
• 📶 Reduce the distance to the phone (maximum 1 meter for stable communication).
• 🔕 Turn off the "Absolute Volume" function in the developer settings (on Android).

Additional settings and capabilities

Once you've successfully connected, you can customize AirDots 1 to your preferences, and here's what's available to users:

1. Setting up sensor control

By default:

• 🎵 One touch: playback/pause.
• 🔀 Double touch: move to the next track (only on the right earpiece).
• 📞 Triple touch: Calling the voice assistant.

You can change the purpose of touches through the Mi Home app (section "Management").

Testing of the level of charge

To find out the remaining charge of headphones and case can be in several ways:

• 📱 Notification on the phone (on Android 8.0)+ iOS 13+ displayed in the Bluetooth status bar).
• 🔋 On the indicator on the case: White: charge > 60% Orange: 30-60% Red: < 30% Blinking Red: The charge is almost exhausted
• 📊 Through the Mi Home app (section "Battery status").

3. Firmware update

Regular updates improve communication stability and add new features to update the firmware:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open the Mi Home app and go to the Profile section → Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic.
3. If an update is available, the "Update" button will appear.
4. Do not turn off the headphones or close the app until the process is complete (3-5 minutes).

💡

Check firmware updates regularly, which solves most communication and sound problems.The latest firmware version for AirDots 1 (at 2026) is 1.7.1.0, which fixes bugs with mono mode and improves the quality of the microphone.

Compatibility with different devices

Xiaomi AirDots 1 supports Bluetooth 4.2, which is compatible with most modern devices. However, there are nuances when connecting to different types of gadgets.

1. Connection to TVs and laptops

• 📺 Smart. TV (For example, Xiaomi Mi TV, Samsung, LG) Headphones connect like a normal Bluetooth audio device, and can delay sound (100-200 ms), which is critical for watching movies.
• 💻 On Windows laptops. 10/11 You may need to manually install the “Bluetooth Audio” driver (download from the laptop manufacturer’s website).

2. Connection to game consoles

• 🎮 PlayStation 4/5 Xbox Series X/S They do not officially support AirDots. 1. You need an additional Bluetooth adapter to connect (for example, 8BitDo Wireless Adapter 2).
• 🖥️ Nintendo Switch in mode TV dock doesn't support Bluetooth headphones. Portable mode, it's possible to connect, but with a latency of sound.

3. Connection to multiple devices

AirDots 1 does not support multipoint (simultaneous connection to two devices) to switch from phone to laptop:

1. Turn off the headphones from the first device.
2. Activate the pairing mode (hold the touch panels for 5 seconds).
3. Connect to the second device.

💡

If you switch between devices frequently, consider the Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro model with multipoint support.It lets you quickly switch between your phone and laptop without re-pairing.

Xiaomi AirDots 1 compared to other models

If you’re considering buying AirDots 1 or considering switching to a newer model, it’s helpful to compare their key features.

AirDots 1 is still relevant for basic tasks: listening to music, podcasts and short calls.

• 🎧 Sound quality → Choose AirDots Pro or AirDots 3 Pro.
• 🎤 Microphone quality → AirDots 2 or newer.
• 🕒 Time to work. → AirDots 3 Pro (up to 7 hours on a single charge).
• 🎮 Games and videos → models with Bluetooth 5.0+ (less).

Frequently asked questions