How to enable Xiaomi AirDots: a complete guide with photos and life hacks

Xiaomi AirDots wireless headphones have become a hit thanks to the combination of affordable prices and high sound quality. However, even such popular gadgets sometimes have problems with turning on – especially if you just bought a device or haven’t used it for a long time. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to turn on AirDots headphones (including the Pro, SE, 3 Pro and Youth Edition models), and also tell you what to do if the gadget does not respond to presses.

You will learn not only basic instructions from the official manual, but also hidden chips that the manufacturer does not always mention, such as how to turn on the headphones if the case is discharged, or what to do if the indicators are not burning as they should.

1. Basic way to enable Xiaomi AirDots

The simplest and most obvious method is to turn on the headphones through the button on the case or the headphones themselves, but even here there are nuances that many people are not aware of.

1. Remove both earphones from the charging case.They should automatically turn on after 3-5 seconds (you will hear the beep and see a flashing white/blue indicator).

2.If the headphones are not turned on, press and hold the touch panel on each of them for 5 seconds until the indicator flashes.

3. To connect to your phone, activate Bluetooth on your smartphone and select Mi AirDots from the list of devices Basic_R (Or a similar name for your model).

• 🔋 Case Charge: If the indicators on the case do not burn, first recharge it - the headphones will not turn on when the case is discharged.
• 🎧 Retrieval order: First, pull out the right earphone, then the left one – this speeds up the synchronization process.
• 📱 Reset before connecting: If the headphones have previously been paired with another device, a reset may be required (more on this below).

Important: AirDots 3 Pro and later use automatic activation when opening the case (like Apple AirPods).If this feature does not work, check the Bluetooth settings on the phone - perhaps power saving for accessories is enabled.

2.How to turn on Xiaomi AirDots if they don't respond

The situation when the headphones do not turn on at all efforts is familiar to many owners, the reasons can be different from a dead battery to software failures.

Step 1: Checking the charge

• 🔌 Connect the case to the charging on 15-20 Sometimes the power controller freezes and doesn't show the actual charge level.
• 🔋 Try using another cable or power supply - the problem may be in the accessories.

Step 2: Forced discharge

If the headphones are not switched on or synced with each other, perform a hard reset:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (or the touchpad on the headphones) for 15-20 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white.
3. Get your headphones out - they should reset and be ready for a new steam.

Step 3: Checking on another device

Sometimes the problem isn't with the headphones, it's with the smartphone. Connect AirDots to another phone or tablet. If they work, remove the device from the paired gadgets on the main phone and reconnect.

3. Features of inclusion for different models of AirDots

Not all Xiaomi AirDots models are included the same way, for example, AirDots Pro has an automatic reconnection feature to the latest device, while AirDots 3 Pro has Bluetooth 5.2 support with low latency.

On AirDots Youth Edition and AirDots S models, you may need to press the touchpad after removing it from the case. If the headphones don't turn on the first time, try repeating the action 2-3 times at 5 seconds intervals.

For AirDots 3 Pro and later, the Quick Connection feature (similar to Google’s Fast Pair) is relevant. If your Android 6.0+ smartphone is running, just open the case next to your phone and a pop-up window will appear to connect.

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If you have AirDots Pro or newer, try turning Game Mode on in your Bluetooth settings.This reduces the audio latency to 88ms, which is critical for gaming and watching videos.

4.Enable Xiaomi AirDots without a case

The situation where the case is lost or broken, but the headphones are good, is common. Can I turn on AirDots without a charging case? Yes, but with reservations:

1. If the batteries are charged: The headphones will turn on when you press the touchpad (hold 3-5 seconds).

• 🔄 Synchronize headphones with each other (they will work as two separate devices).
• 🔋 Charge them (you will need a special adapter with contacts under AirDots).
• ⚙️ Reset settings (you need a button on the case for this).

2. If the batteries are discharged: You will need a 5V power supply with a current limit of 100 mA and thin wires to connect to contacts on headphones.This method is risky - if you connect improperly, you can burn the charging controller.

For a temporary solution, you can use a power bank with Type-C and a charging adapter TWS-Headphones (sold on AliExpress for the first time) ~However, this method does not guarantee stable operation.

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Without the case, Xiaomi AirDots can only be used as a monopod (one earpiece).

5. Enable in firmware mode (for experienced users)

Sometimes the headphones stop turning on because of a firmware failure, and in this case you can try to reflash them manually, but this requires special equipment and knowledge.

Step 1: Checking the current firmware

Install the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app and check the version of your headphones software. If the version is outdated (for example, 1.2.3 with the current 1.4.5), this can be the reason for unstable work.

Step 2: Transition to DFU mode

For AirDots Pro and newer models:

1. Put the headphones in the case.
2. Press the button on the case 4 times with an interval of 1 second.
3. The indicator should flash yellow - this means that the device is ready for firmware.

Next, you will need a PC with Qualcomm QFlash Tool installed and firmware for your model. Without experience, we do not recommend conducting this procedure yourself - it is better to contact the service center.

6. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Many of the problems with enabling Xiaomi AirDots are due to unobvious user errors, and the most common ones are:

• 🚫 Ignoring indicators: If the indicator flashes red, it means low charge - the headphones will not turn on until they charge. White - ready to connect, blue - already connected.
• 🔄 Incorrect connection sequence: First turn on Bluetooth on your phone, then take the headphones out of the case. If you do the opposite, you may have a synchronization failure.
• 📵 Using headphones near interference sources: Wi-Fi routers, microwaves or other Bluetooth devices may interfere with connectivity.

Another mistake is using a non-original cable to charge the case, because cheap cables may not provide enough current, which causes the case to not fully charge and the headphones to not turn on. Always use a kit cable or a certified USB-Type-C.

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If the headphones are connected but the sound is interrupted, try turning off the option of High Quality Audio (or HD Audio) in your Bluetooth phone settings, which will reduce delays but improve stability.

⚠️ Note: Do not store Xiaomi AirDots headphones in a case next to metal objects (keys, coins.

7. Alternative ways of controlling inclusion

Besides the standard methods, there are a few hidden features that will help turn on or control the headphones:

1.Voice assistant

On models with XiaoAI support (such as AirDots 3 Pro), you can use voice commands:

• Say, "Hey XiaoAI, turn on the headphones" (only works on Chinese firmware).
• Or, "Hey XiaoAI, connect to the phone."

2.Gesturals

On AirDots SE and newer, gestures are supported:

• 👆 Double touch on the sensor - on / off.
• 👇 Triple touch - switching tracks.

3.Appendix Mi Home

In the Mi Home app (Devices → Headphones) you can:

• 🔍 View the level of charge of each headphone.
• 🔄 Update firmware over the air (OTA).
• ⚙️ Set up gesture management.

If the app doesn't see the headphones, upgrade to the latest version or reinstall it. Sometimes changing the region in the Mi Home settings to China helps (but note that the interface will be in Chinese).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

If your question is not covered in this article, check the official documentation for your model on the Xiaomi Support website or contact the service center. Note that the warranty on AirDots is usually 12 months from the date of purchase.