How to pair wireless headphones Xiaomi AirDots: instructions for beginners and the solution of typical errors

Xiaomi AirDots wireless headphones (including Redmi AirDots, AirDots Pro, Air 2/3 and AirDots Youth Edition) remain among the brand’s most popular accessories due to the combination of price, sound quality and battery life. However, even experienced users sometimes have difficulty connecting or re-pairing after a reset. This article will help you understand all the nuances of the process, from basic instructions to solving rare errors that are not described in the official documentation.

We will look at not only the standard procedure for connecting to Android and iOS, but also the features of working with different versions of headphones (including AirDots 3 Pro with support for LC3 and AAC), and give practical tips for optimizing the connection. Particular attention will be paid to typical problems: when one earphone does not connect, the sound is interrupted or the device is not determined by the system. If you encounter this, skip the introductory part and go straight to the section “Problems”.

What Xiaomi AirDots are and what are their differences?

Before you start pairing, it's important to understand which model you're dealing with, which is what the codecs you support, the Bluetooth version, and even the connection process depend on, and here's a quick comparison table of the 2026 versions that are relevant:

Note: AptX or LC3-enabled models require a compatible sound source (like a Qualcomm Snapdragon or Android 12+ smartphone).If your phone doesn’t support these codecs, the headphones will automatically switch to SBC or AAC, which can affect sound quality.

Also worth considering is that AirDots 3 Pro and newer use Bluetooth LE Audio protocol, which provides lower latency and better synchronization between headphones. However, it may require updating the firmware of both the headphones and the smartphone to work properly.

Preparation for pairing: what to do before connecting

Before you start pairing, follow a few simple steps to avoid typical problems:

• 🔋 Charge your headphones and your case. Make sure the indicator on your case is white or green (depending on the model), which means that the charge is sufficient to pair. If the indicator is red or flashing, connect the case to charge for 10-15 minutes.
• 📱 Update your smartphone firmware. On Android, check for updates in Settings → System system → Software Update. Go to Settings on iOS → Mainstream → Software Update: An outdated version of the Bluetooth stack may cause connection problems.
• 🎧 Remove the headphones from the case. Some models (such as the AirDots 3 Pro) automatically go into pairing mode on the first extraction, others require manual start-up.
• 🔄 Disable other Bluetooth devices. If your phone already has speakers, fitness bracelets or other headphones connected, it can interfere with finding new devices.

Pay special attention to resetting previous settings if the headphones have already been used with another device.

1. Place both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (usually located behind) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white (on some models – only white).
3. Remove the headphones from the case - they should automatically go into pairing mode.

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If the indicator on the case does not respond to the hold of the button, try connecting the case to the charge for 5 minutes, and then repeat the procedure. This often helps with a discharged case battery.

Also check if your smartphone supports Bluetooth dual mode (simultaneously connecting to two devices).For example, Xiaomi Air 2 Pro and newer can connect to your phone and laptop at the same time, but this may require manual tuning in the Bluetooth menu.

Step-by-step: how to connect AirDots to Android

The process of pairing with Android usually takes place in several stages. Consider the universal algorithm that is suitable for most models of Xiaomi AirDots:

1. Activate pairing mode: For Redmi AirDots (1st generation) and AirDots 2: remove both headphones from the case and hold the button on each for 3-5 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white. For AirDots 3 Pro and newer: just remove the headphones from the case - they will automatically go into pairing mode (the indicators will flash white).
2. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone: Open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth (the path may differ depending on the MIUI shell, ColorOS, etc.). Activate the Bluetooth slider.
3. Find headphones in the list of devices: Your model name will appear in the list of available devices (e.g. Redmi). AirDots_R For the right earphone or Mi True Wireless EB2 air 2). Click on the name to start pairing.

Confirm the connection.

• Some models (such as the AirDots Pro) may require code confirmation, usually 0000 or 1234.
• After successful pairing, the indicators on the headphones will stop flashing and light up blue (or go out).

Remove the headphones from the case|

Activate the pairing mode (hold the button if necessary)|

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone |

Find the headphones in the list and click on them |

Confirm the conjugation (if necessary)-->

If the headphones don’t appear in the list of devices, try the following:

• 🔄 Reboot the Bluetooth module on your phone: turn off and turn on Bluetooth again.
• 📱 Update the Device List: Pull down the Bluetooth screen to update your search.
• 🔋 Check the charge of headphones: if the indicators do not burn, charge the case for 10-15 minutes.

Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO phones with MIUI shells may have a pop-up after they are connected, offering to install Mi Earphones (formerly Xiaomi Bluetooth), which allows you to configure the equalizer, check the charge level of each headphone and update the firmware.

Connection with the iPhone: features and possible problems

Connecting Xiaomi AirDots to an iPhone or iPad is generally similar to Android, but there are a few nuances associated with the limitations of iOS:

1. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones (see the instructions for your model in the previous section).
2. On iPhone, open Settings → Bluetooth and turn on the slider.
3. In the list of Other devices, find your headphones (the name may contain Mi, Redmi or AirDots).
4. Click on the name to start pairing. Some models (such as the AirDots Pro) may require confirmation of connection.

Important points for iOS users:

• 🍎 Codec Limitation: iPhone does not support aptX and LC3, So the headphones will be used. AAC or SBC. This can affect the sound quality, especially on bass.
• 🔊 No Equalizer: Unlike Android, iOS doesn’t have a built-in equalizer for Bluetooth headphones.You can use third-party apps like Equalizer Fx (but they don’t work with all models).
• 📱 Automatic reconnect: After the first pairing, the headphones will connect automatically when removed from the case, but sometimes iOS “forgets” the device.

If the headphones are plugged in but the sound is interrupted or lagging (especially noticeable in games or videos), try:

• 🔄 Disable other Bluetooth devices (such as Apple Watch or speakers).
• 📶 Reduce the distance between the phone and headphones (optimally - no more than 1-2 meters).
• 🔋 Charge headphones to 100%: at low charge, unstable connection can be observed.

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On the iPhone, Xiaomi AirDots headphones will work in AAC mode, which provides acceptable sound quality, but not maximum. For better sound, use an Android device that supports aptX or LC3.

Solving Typical Connection Problems

Even if you follow instructions correctly, users often encounter errors, and let's look at the most common situations and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Headphones are not defined by the phone

If the headphones don’t appear in the Bluetooth device list:

• ✅ Check the pairing mode: the headphones should flash red and white (or only white for new models). If they are constantly on, the headphones are already connected to another device.
• ✅ Reset the headphone settings: Place both earphones in the case. Hold the button on the case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red. Remove the headphones and repeat the pairing.

Check compatibility.

Bluetooth 4.0

AirDots 3 Pro

Bluetooth 5.0+

Problem 2: Only one headphone is connected

If the phone only sees the right or left earphone:

• ✅ Sync the headphones with each other: Place both earphones in the case. Remove them and hold the buttons on both earphones for 10 seconds until the indicators start flashing synchronously.
• ✅ Check the charge: often the left earphone discharges faster. Charge the case to 100% and reconnect.
• ✅ Update your firmware: For Air 2 Pro and newer, check for updates in the Mi Earphones app.
• ✅ Turn off power saving for Bluetooth: On Android: Settings → Battery → Energy conservation → Turn off for Bluetooth. On iOS: Settings → Bluetooth → i (near the headphones) → Disable “Low energy consumption».

Reduce interference

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If the sound is behind when watching the video, turn on the player (YouTube, Netflix, etc.) the option “Sync Sound” and select the delay manually (usually +50-150 ms is enough).

Problem 4: Headphones are quickly discharged

If the work time is much less than the stated (for example, 2-3 hours instead of 5-6):

• ✅ Check battery status: if the headphones have been in use for more than 2 years, the battery capacity may have decreased. Try to completely discharge and charge them 2-3 times in a row.
• ✅ Turn it off. ANC (For noise-canceling models: Active noise-canceling significantly reduces the operating time. Turn it off in the Mi Earphones app.
• ✅ Update the firmware: new versions often optimize power consumption.

Once reset, the headphones will lose all the saved connections, so you will have to pair them again with all the devices, and you may also need to reconfigure the Mi Earphones app (if you used it).

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Factory reset is a last resort, and before you do that, try all the other ways (rebooting your phone, updating your firmware, cleaning your Bluetooth cache).

Optimization of connection and sound quality

Even after a successful connection, you can improve the stability of the connection and the sound quality. Here are some tips for experienced users:

1. Choosing the optimal codec (Android)

On phones with Android 10+ and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, additional codec settings are available:

• 🎵 aptX or aptX Adaptive: better sound quality but more battery consumption. supported in AirDots Pro and Air 3 Pro.
• 🎵 LC3: Low latency, optimized for voice calls.Available in Air 2 Pro and later.
• 🎵 AAC: Balanced quality, compatible with iPhone.
• 🎵 SBC: universal but of the lowest quality.