How to turn both Xiaomi Redmi Airdots headphones on: a complete synchronization guide

Xiaomi Redmi Airdots wireless headphones (including Redmi Airdots models) 2/3/Pro) They became one of the most popular TWS-It's a combination of price, sound quality and convenience, but many users face a common problem: after being removed from a case or prolonged downtime, only one headphone works, and the second one remains dead. The reasons can be different – from banal discharge to failure of synchronization between devices.

In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can turn on both headphones, from basic checks to resetting, how to sync Redmi Airdots together, what mistakes users make most often, and what to do if the headphones refuse to work even after all the manipulations, and we'll focus on models with different versions of the firmware - the instructions for them may differ.

Important: If your headphones stopped turning on at the same time as your smartphone firmware update or drop, it could indicate a hardware malfunction, which would require a diagnosis at a service center, but in 90% of cases, you can solve the problem yourself — read on.

Why one Redmi Airdots headphone doesn't turn on: the main reasons

Before we get to the instructions, we'll figure out why there can be a situation where there's only one earpiece running.-5 The reasons faced by owners of Xiaomi Redmi Airdots:

• 🔋 Discharged battery – one of the headphones could discharge more than the other, especially if they lay for a long time without using.
• 🔄 Synchronization failure – headphones “forgot” each other after extracting from the case or resetting settings.
• 📱 Problems with connecting to a smartphone – the device “memorized” only one headphone as the main one.
• 🛠️ Hardware malfunction – damage to contacts, falling or getting moisture.
• 🔄 Outdated firmware – early versions of Redmi Airdots software had synchronization bugs.

The most common reason is the battery drain of one of the headphones, and the fact is that the case charges the headphones unevenly: first, it gives power to the device that is connected to the contacts more tightly. If the second headphone is undercharged, it may not turn on when it is removed. Also, the problem may lie in the wrong sequence of on — many users simply do not know that the headphones need to be activated in a certain order.

Another nuance: if you've recently updated your smartphone's firmware (especially on MIUI 12/13/14), you might have lost your Bluetooth settings, and in such cases, removing the device from the conjugated list and reconnecting, which we'll talk about in the next section.

Preparing for synchronization: what to do before turning on the headphones

Before you try to turn on both earbuds, do a preliminary check, which will save time and help avoid unnecessary manipulation:

1. Charge the case and headphones. Connect the case to charge for 10 to 15 minutes, even if the indicator shows a charge. Sometimes the battery discharges to a level at which the indication does not work.
2. Check the contacts. Make sure that the metal contacts on the headphones and inside the case are free of dirt or oxidation.
3. Remove the headphones correctly. Take both headphones out of the case at the same time and place them next to each other (no more than 10 cm away).
4. Turn off other Bluetooth devices. On your smartphone, deactivate the connection to your smartwatch, speaker, or other headsets.

If after this, one of the headphones still doesn't turn on, move on to the next step, forced synchronization, but first make sure that the problem isn't with the smartphone:

• 📱 Remove Redmi Airdots from the list of conjugated devices in Bluetooth settings.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – it will reset the temporary errors of the Bluetooth module.

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If the headphones have been inactive for a long time, put them in a case for 30 seconds before the first synchronization, and then remove them.

Method 1: Standard on and synchronization of Redmi Airdots

In most cases, both earbuds need to be switched on using the standard synchronization procedure, which is the same for all Redmi Airdots series models (including Airdots 2, Airdots 3, Airdots Pro and Airdots S), but may be slightly different for devices with different versions of firmware.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Step 1: Put both earbuds in the case and close the lid. Wait 10 seconds, they should automatically turn off.
2. Step 2. Open the case cover and remove both headphones at the same time. They should turn on and start flashing white lights (search mode).
3. Step 3. On your smartphone, turn on Bluetooth and search for Redmi Airdots (or Mi True Wireless for some models) in the list of available devices.
4. Step 4: Wait until both earbuds connect to the phone, and in some cases, one earbud first connects, and the other joins in 5-10 seconds.

If the second earpiece never worked after this, try forcefully synchronizing them.

• 🔄 Press and hold the touchpad on the right earphone for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
• 🔄 Repeat the same for the left earpiece.
• 🔄 Place the headphones next to you (at a distance of 1-2 cm) and wait for 20-30 seconds. They should sync automatically (the indicators will start blinking synchronously).

If the synchronization was successful, but the headphones still do not connect to the phone, remove them from the list of associated devices and try to connect again.

Charge the case and headphones|Wipe your contacts.|Remove the device from Bluetooth settings|Reboot your smartphone|Remove headphones at the same time-->

Method 2: Reset Redmi Airdots to factory settings

If standard synchronization doesn't work, you'll have to reset your headphones completely, and that will bring them back to factory settings, and often solve connectivity problems, and notice that you'll have to reconnect your headphones to all your devices after the reset.

Resetting instructions:

1. Step 1. Put both earphones in the case and close the lid. Wait 10 seconds.
2. Step 2. Open the lid and remove the headphones. They should turn on automatically.
3. Step 3. Press and hold the touchpads on both headphones simultaneously for 20 seconds. The indicators should start flashing red, then go out and flash white again.
4. Step 4. Release the buttons. The headphones have reset and are ready for a new sync.
5. Step 5: Repeat the standard connection procedure (see Method 1).

Important: Some models (e.g. Redmi Airdots 3 Pro) do the reset differently, press the touchpad 5 times in a row on each headphone. If the headphones don't sync after reset, try this:

• 🔌 Connect the case to the charge and wait until the indicator lights up green (full charge).
• 🔄 Reset again, but this time hold the buttons for 30 seconds.
• 📱 Try connecting your headphones to another smartphone or tablet – this will help eliminate the problem from your device.

Method 3: Manually connect each earphone (if automatic synchronization is not working)

If the headphones don't sync with each other, but each one turns on separately, you can try to force them to connect to the phone manually, which works for Redmi Airdots 2/3 models and some versions of the Airdots Pro.

Algorithm of action:

1. Step 1. Remove the right earpiece from the case, and it should turn on and start flashing white.
2. Step 2. Connect it to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Wait for a stable connection (the indicator will stop blinking).
3. Step 3: Put your right earphone next to your case, and remove the left one. It should automatically connect to your right one.
4. Step 4. If the left earphone is not connected, press its touch panel 2 times - this forcibly initiates synchronization.

If this doesn't work, try changing the headphones -- first, connect the left and then the right. You can also use special commands to force synchronization.

• 🔄 Click on the right earphone touchpad 3 times – it should start looking for the left one.
• 🔄 Press the left earphone touchpad 1 time – this will confirm the pairing.

On some firmware for Redmi Airdots 3, this method only works after resetting the settings first. If nothing works, check the headphone firmware version - an update may be needed.

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If the headphones connect to the phone separately but don't work together, the problem is exactly headphone synchronization, and in this case, only resetting or forced pairing will help.

Firmware problems: how to update Redmi Airdots

In some cases, problems with the inclusion of both headphones are associated with outdated firmware. Xiaomi periodically releases updates for Redmi Airdots, fixing bugs with synchronization and connection. You can check and update the firmware through the official Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app.

Instructions for updating:

1. Step 1: Install the Mi Home app from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Step 3. Open Mi Home, go to Profile → Settings → Add device and select Headphones.

Important: during the upgrade, do not remove the headphones from the case or interrupt the process. If the update is interrupted, the headphones may stop turning on at all. Also note that not all Redmi Airdots models support firmware updates through the Mi Home - for example, Airdots 2 updates are extremely rare.

If there are no available updates in the application, but sync problems remain, try rolling back the firmware (if you previously updated your headphones).

• 🔄 Perform a reset settings (see Method 2).
• 📱 Connect your headphones to another device (like a tablet) – sometimes it resets the “stuck” settings.
• 🔧 Contact Xiaomi for support with the headphone model and firmware version (you can see it in Mi Home).

What to do if nothing helps: Diagnostics of malfunctions

If you've tried all of these, but one of the Redmi Airdots earphones still doesn't work, you'll have to do a malfunction diagnosis.

• 🔋 Check charging: Put your headphones in your case and plug it into charging for 1 hour. Try another cable or power supply. Check if the indicator on the case is on when charging.
• 🔌 Check contacts: Check the metal contacts on headphones and in the case for oxidation or contamination. Clean the contacts with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol.
• 🎧 Check the headphones individually: Try connecting each earphone to your phone in mono mode. If one doesn't even turn on separately, the problem is that it's not working.

If the headphone doesn't respond to charging and doesn't turn on even after reset, the battery or control board is likely to fail, in which case self-repair is impossible - you need to replace components in the service center. The cost of repair is usually 30-50% of the price of new headphones, so it is often more profitable to buy a new pair.

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to disassemble the headphones yourself! Redmi Airdots use adhesive joints and brittle plumes. Unprofessional repairs almost always result in complete breakdown.

If headphones are guaranteed, contact the official service center Xiaomi.

1. Find the nearest SC at support.xiaomi.com.
2. Bring a check or a warranty card (if saved).
3. Describe the problem in as much detail as possible (e.g., “The left earphone does not turn on after a fall”).

The warranty period is usually 7-14 days, and if the warranty is over, you can try to repair the headphones in informal workshops, but the quality of such repairs is not guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)