Xiaomi AirDots wireless headphones have become one of the most popular accessories due to the combination of sound quality, convenience and affordable price. However, even with such simple devices, users sometimes have difficulties — especially when it comes to first turning on or reconnecting after a long period of idleness. If your headphones do not respond to presses, are not determined by the phone or simply “silent” after charging, do not rush to carry them to the service: in 90% of cases, the problem is solved in a few minutes.
In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to enable different AirDots models (including Pro, SE, 3, and Lite), explain how to distinguish between on-line and pairing mode, and give you a checklist to diagnose malfunctions, and if you’ve tried everything, at the end you’ll find a section with hidden features that aren’t written about in the official instructions.
1. How to distinguish switching on from connecting to a phone
Many users confuse two different processes: physical activation of the headphones (power activation) and pairing with the device (connection via Bluetooth), which leads to errors like endless flashing of indicators or no sound.
- 🔋 Turn on: The headphones wake up and get ready to go, and they don't appear on the Bluetooth list, and the lights are red or white (depending on the model).
- 📱 Pair – Headphones go into search mode, flash red and white (or blue) and appear on the phone’s Bluetooth menu as Mi True Wireless or AirDots BASIC_R.
- 🎧 Connection – headphones connect to the phone, the indicators go out or burn constantly white, the voice assistant sounds (if turned on).
If you press a button, but the headphones don't appear in the list of devices, then they're just on, but not in pairing mode. To fix this, you need to do additional actions (about them in the next section).
⚠️ Note: Headphones Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro and newer automatically go into pairing mode on the first turn on. For older models (AirDots Youth, Basic) requires manual activation – hold the button for 5-7 seconds longer.
2. Step-by-step instruction: how to turn on headphones
The process of turning on depends on the headphone model. Below is a universal algorithm that works for 95% of Xiaomi devices. If your model behaves differently, check the "Features for specific models" section.
Get the headphones out of the case.|Check the battery charge (the indicator on the case should burn)|Place the headphones at a distance of no more than 10 cm from each other|Make sure your phone is Bluetooth enabled.-->
- Take the headphones out of the case. They should automatically turn on (a short beep will sound), if that doesn't happen, move to step 2.
- Press and hold the touch button on the right earphone (or the physical button on older models) for a period of time: ⏱️ 1-2 seconds for simple switching on (the indicator will light up in white). ⏱️ 5-7 seconds to switch to pairing mode (the indicator will start flashing red and white).
Check the indicators:
- 🟢 Green/White – Headphones are on and ready to connect.
- 🔴 Red - battery discharged (you need to charge the case).
- 🔴⚪ Red and white – pairing mode (can be connected to the phone).
If the indicator does not light up after holding the button, the problem may be a discharged battery or a stuck button. Try to clean the contacts in the case with a dry cotton swab and try again.
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AirDots 3 Pro headphones support voice-enabled turn on: Say “Hey Mi” (if the feature is activated in the Mi Home app).
3. How to connect the earphones on to the phone
Once you're successful, you need to pair the headphones with your phone. The algorithm is the same for Android and iOS, but there are nuances.
- Open Bluetooth settings on your phone: 📱 Android: Settings → Connected devices → Bluetooth. 🍎 iPhone: Settings → Bluetooth.
Find the device in the list
- Mi True Wireless Earphones (for AirDots Pro)
- AirDots BASIC_R or AirDots BASIC_L (base-model).
- Redmi AirDots (for the Redmi line).
- Click "Connect." If you get a confirmation request, you'll agree.
- Wait for the beep in the headphones (usually a short beep or voice message “Connected”).
If the device doesn’t appear in the list, try:
- 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (disable and turn on again).
- 📱 Remove the headphones from the phone’s memory (if they’ve been connected before) and re-pair.
- 🔋 Charge the case to 100% - sometimes with a low charge, the headphones do not transmit the signal.
AirDots Basic|AirDots Pro|AirDots 3/3 Pro|AirDots SE|Redmi AirDots|Another model-->
4. Features of inclusion for different models
Not all AirDots work the same way, and the table below shows the key differences between the popular models.
| Model | Including | Indication of inclusion | Interconnection mode | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirDots Basic | Holding the button 2 seconds | White light | Red and white (5 seconds) | No auto-enabled when extracted from the case |
| AirDots Pro | Automatically when extracted | Green light | Red and white (3 seconds) | Supports double touch for control |
| AirDots 3 | Automatically. | White flashing → permanent | Blue flashing (5 seconds) | There is a low latency mode for games |
| AirDots SE | Sensor retention 2 seconds | White light | Red and white (4 sec) | Supports one ear (only one earpiece can be used) |
| Redmi AirDots | Automatically. | Blue light | Red-blue (5 sec) | The most budget model, no ANC |
AirDots 3 Pro and later headphones require a firmware update to work correctly with the iPhone. Without an update, microphone problems may occur.
Frequent problems and their solutions
If the headphones don’t turn on or plug in, check these points:
- 🔌 Case not charged: Connect the case to charge for 10-15 minutes. The indicator on the case should burn red (charged) or green (fully charged).
- 🔊 The headphones are not synchronized: Put both earphones in the case, close the lid, then pull them out again. They should automatically connect to each other (double beeping).
- 📵 Bluetooth is not working: Check if your phone is on flight mode or power saving (they can block the connection).
- 🔄 Firmware failure: If the headphones flash red and do not respond to buttons, a reset is required (instructions in the next section).
⚠️ Note: If after falling or getting moisture headphones stopped turning on, do not try to disassemble them - this can lead to a short circuit).
What to do if one earphone is not working?
6. reset headphone settings (hard reset)
If the headphones are glitchy, not plugged in, or not behaving properly, a complete reset will help, which works for all models, but erases all stored connections.
- Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
- Open the case cover and hold the button on the case (or the sensor on the headphones) for 15-20 seconds.
- Wait for the lights to flash: 🔴⚪ Red and white - the reset was successful. 🔴 Red is a mistake, try again.
Close it and open the case again.
Once reset, the headphones will be like new ones — you need to reconnect them to the phone. If the reset didn't work, you may need to update the firmware (more on this in the next section).
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Setting reset is a one-stop solution for 80% of AirDots software problems, and use it if your headphones don’t respond to buttons or are permanently turned off.
7. firmware update and hidden features
Many users don't know that Xiaomi AirDots can be upgraded - it fixes bugs, improves sound and adds new features.The update is available through the official Mi Home app (Android only).
How to update firmware:
- Install the Mi Home app from Google Play.
- Put the headphones on the phone.
- Open Mi Home, go to Profile → Settings → Firmware Update.
- If a new version is available, click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off the headphones!).
On AirDots Pro and later there is a function of auto-disconnection in case of prolonged inactivity (configured in Mi Home).