How to turn on Xiaomi AirDots headphones 2: full instruction with photos and tips

Xiaomi AirDots 2 wireless headphones (also known as Redmi AirDots 2) remain among the most popular budget headphones. TWS-They're valued for their sound quality, their compactness, their stable connectivity, but they often have difficulty with the first switch on. If you’ve just unpacked the box or the headphones have been lying idle for a long time, the activation process may seem unobvious – especially if the indicators aren’t on or the device isn’t detected by the phone.

In this article, we’ll look at all possible turn-on scenarios, from a standard phone connection to forced resets if the headphones don’t respond, and how to distinguish AirDots 2 from fake indicators, why one earphone might not turn on, and what to do if the charge case is dead, and the instructions are relevant for the original headphones of all revisions (including versions for the global market).

Preparation for the first inclusion: what to check before the start

Before you try to turn on AirDots 2, make sure that the basic conditions are met. Often activation problems are not related to a breakdown, but to trivial omissions:

• 🔋 Case and headphone charge. Even new headphones can run out during storage. Connect the case to charge for 10-15 minutes (the indicator on the case should burn red or orange, which means that charging is underway).
• 📱 Phone compatibility. AirDots 2 works with any Android 5.0 device+ iOS 10+, But for stable connectivity, Bluetooth 4.2 or later is recommended.
• 🔄 No old connections. If the headphones have already been paired with another device, they should be reset (instruction below).
• 🛡️ Fakes often have other button combinations to turn on. Check the box for a hologram and QR-Code (more in the section on diagnosis).

If the case is not charged from a standard USB Type-C cable, try another power supply (at least 5W) or clean the contacts in the case with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. Do not use metal objects - this can damage the connector.

Standard inclusion: step-by-step instructions with photo

If the headphones are new or have not been used for a long time, follow this instruction.

1. Take both earbuds out of the case. They should automatically turn on — this is signaled by the flashing of a white indicator on each earbud (1 time per second). If the indicators are not burning, return the headphones to the case for 5 seconds, then pull it out again.
2. Press and hold the touch button on both headphones simultaneously for 3-5 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white alternately.
3. On the phone, open Settings. → Bluetooth and find a device called Redmi in the list. AirDots_R" or "Mi True Wireless" EB2" (The name depends on the firmware version. Click on it to connect.
4. Once you've successfully connected, the headphones will go out and the phone will have a "Device connected" notification.

Important: If the headphones have been paired before, they will automatically connect to the last device when removed from the case. To connect to the new phone, you need to reset the settings (see the next section).

How to Reset AirDots 2 Settings If They Are Not Enabled

If the headphones don't respond to pressing, don't blink, or connect to just one device, forced reset will help, which will bring the headphones back to factory settings and remove all the paired devices.

Instructions for discharge:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the case cover and hold the buttons on both headphones for 15 seconds. First, the indicators will light up white, then start flashing red (this is a reset signal).
3. When you flash red, release the buttons. The headphones will automatically turn off.
4. Take the headphones out of the case, they have to go into mating mode (blinking red and white), and you can reconnect them to the phone.

If after resetting one of the headphones does not turn on, check:

• 🔌 Contacts in the case (possibly contaminated or bent).
• 🔋 Charge level (the indicator on the headphone should flash when extracted from the case).
• 🛠️ Physical damage (cracks on the body, moisture inside).

Diagnosis by indicators: what do colors and blinking mean

The indicators on AirDots 2 report the status of the device, and let's look at all possible combinations:

If the indicators are unusual (e.g. flashing green or blue), you probably have a fake. The original AirDots 2 uses only white and red.

💡

If the headphones are plugged in but the sound is interrupted, try turning off Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) in the phone developer settings.This will solve the sound stuttering problem on some Xiaomi models.

Frequent problems and solutions: one earphone does not work, no sound, etc.

Even after a successful connection, there may be problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

Problem 1: Only one headphone is connected

• 🔄 Resetting and re-pairing (see section above).
• 🔋 Check the charge of the right headphone (it is the main one in the pair).
• 📱 In Bluetooth phone settings, delete the device and connect again.

Problem 2: Headphones are connected, but no sound

• 🎵 Check the sound profile in Bluetooth settings (should be "Stereo" or "A2DP").
• 🔊 Make sure the sound doesn’t go to the phone speaker (turn on Headphones mode in the notification bar).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes helps when your Bluetooth stack crashes.

Problem 3: Headphones are quickly discharged

• 🔋 Check the firmware version through the Mi Home app (update if available).
• 🎧 Turn off the Game Mode function (if enabled) – it reduces the running time.
• 🔄 Reset settings and reconnect (possibly power management failure).

Note: if after updating the firmware headphones began to work worse (for example, wheezing appeared), roll back to the previous version via Mi Home or reset the settings.

💡

If problems start after falling or getting moisture, don’t try to repair the headphones yourself – this can lead to a short circuit.

How to Update AirDots 2 Firmware for Stable Work

The firmware affects sound quality, uptime and compatibility with devices, and is recommended if:

• 🎵 There are wheezing or interference when listening to music.
• 🔋 Battery goes down quickly (less than 3 hours of operation).
• 🔄 Headphones spontaneously turn off.

Instructions for updating:

1. Install the Mi Home app (available for Android and iOS).
2. Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.
3. Open Mi Home, press + → Wireless headphones → Redmi AirDots 2.
4. If an update is available, a notification will appear. Click Update and wait until it is completed (don't turn off the headphones!).

Important: during the upgrade, do not remove the headphones from the case or close the lid. The process takes 2-5 minutes. After the update, reset (see section above) to avoid failures.

AirDots 2 compared to other Xiaomi models: what is better to choose

If you’re just planning to buy, compare AirDots 2 to other popular Xiaomi models:

AirDots 2 wins in price but loses in autonomy and sound quality. If you want a balance of price and features, look for Redmi Buds 4 – they support game mode with a delay of 88 ms (versus 200+ ms for AirDots 2).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions