How to connect wireless headphones Xiaomi Airdots: instructions with photos and problem solving

Xiaomi Airdots wireless headphones (including Redmi Airdots, Mi True Wireless Earphones and their modifications) remain among the most popular. TWS-But many users have difficulty connecting first, especially if you're talking about non-standard scenarios like changing your smartphone or resetting your headphones. From basic synchronization to solving rare errors.

We will look not only at the standard Bluetooth connection procedure, but also at alternative methods for Android, iOS and even other devices. Windows/macOS. Special attention is paid to common problems — when one earphone does not connect, the sound is interrupted or the device is not determined by the system. 2018–2026 Years of production, including Airdots 3 Pro, Redmi Buds 4 and other variations of the line.

If you just unpacked your headphones or encountered a bug after updating your firmware, here are some clear steps to explain. For convenience, the article is divided into blocks by device type and use case, and at the end is given FAQ frequent-question.

1. Preparation of headphones Xiaomi Airdots to connect

Before first switching on or after long periods of downtime, Xiaomi Airdots headphones require proper initialization, a stage that is often missed, leading to synchronization errors.

• 🔋 Charge the case, connect it to the power source (USB-C Or micro-USB, depending on the model, for 10-15 minutes, even if the indicator shows a charge.
• 🎧 Remove the headphones from the case. They should automatically turn on (white/red light flashes). If this does not happen, press and hold the touchpad on each earphone for 3-5 seconds.
• 🔄 Reset the settings (if you reconnect), press the touchpads on both headphones simultaneously for 15 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white alternately, which will return the device to factory parameters.

Note: in Airdots 3 and later, the reset is performed differently - you need to remove the headphones from the case, then press and hold the touch panels 4 times in a row (with an interval of 1 second).

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If the headphones don't respond to pressing, check if moisture has entered the touch panels. wipe them with a dry wipe and try again in 10 minutes.

Also make sure your smartphone has power saving disabled for Bluetooth devices. On Android, this is done in battery settings (power optimization section), on iPhone, in Settings → Bluetooth (disable the Low Power option if it is active).

2. Standard connection to Android-smartphone

The process of synchronization with Android devices (including smartphones Xiaomi, Samsung, Realme and others) takes no more than a minute, if you follow the algorithm:

1. Open Bluetooth settings on your phone: go to Settings → Connected devices → Bluetooth (path may differ depending on the shell).
2. Activate Bluetooth and wait until the Mi True Wireless or Redmi Airdots device appears in the list. XXX (where XXX — model).
3. Click on the headphone name in the list. The system can request a pair confirmation, agree.
4. Wait for the sound signal in the headphones (voice message “Connected” or melody).

On Xiaomi smartphones with firmware MIUI 12+ After the connection, a pop-up will appear with a proposal to install the Mi Earphones (formerly Mi Airdots) app, which is not mandatory, but is recommended for access to the Internet:

• 🎛️ Customization of gestures (double touch, retention).
• 🔊 Adjust the equalizer and Game Mode (reduced sound delay).
• 📊 View the charge level of the case and each headphone separately.

Headphones are displayed in the list of connected devices|The sound is played synchronously in both headphones.|The lights on the headphones are white (do not blink)|The Mi Earphones app displays the charge level-->

If the headphones are plugged in, but only one of them is playing, try turning off and re-enable Bluetooth on your phone, and check if Mono mode (one-way sound) is activated in the Mi Earphones app settings.

3. Connection to iPhone (iOS) and features of the work

While Xiaomi Airdots is optimized for Android, they are fully compatible with iPhone and iPad.

• 📱 No support. AAC-The headphones are used. SBC, What can reduce the sound quality compared to AirPods.
• 🔋 The charge level is displayed only in the battery widget (not for all models).
• 🎵 Gestures work, but they can only be configured through third-party apps like AssistantTrigger.

Step-by-step instructions for iOS:

1. Open the settings → Bluetooth on the iPhone.
2. Make sure the headphones are in search mode (blinking white light). If not, return them to the case, then remove them again.
3. In the list of devices, select Mi True Wireless or a similar name.
4. Confirm the connection (click the pair).

Once connected, check for the latency in the video or games. If it's noticeable, try:

• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones.
• 📱 Enable Low Latency in Bluetooth Settings (if available).
• 🎮 Use wired headphones for games where synchronization is critical.

Important: on iOS, you can’t update Xiaomi’s headphone firmware — it’s only done through an Android device with the Mi Earphones app. If you only have an iPhone, ask an Android friend to help with the update.

4. Connection to PC (Windows/macOS) and other devices

Xiaomi Airdots headphones can be used not only with smartphones, but also with computers, tablets, TVs. But there are some subtleties.

Windows 10/11

Connection algorithm:

1. Open Settings → Devices → Bluetooth and other devices.
2. Click Add Add the device → Bluetooth.
3. Select Mi True Wireless from the list.
4. Wait for the driver installation to be completed (reboot may be required).

If the headphones are connected, but the sound is disturbed:

• 🔊 Switch the sound format: Control panel → Sound. → Headphone properties → Additionally. → Choose 16 bits, 44100 Hz.
• 🔄 Disable other Bluetooth devices (mouse, keyboard) that may interfere.

macOS

On a MacBook or iMac:

1. Open System settings → Bluetooth.
2. Make sure the headphones are in search mode (blinking indicator).
3. Select Mi True Wireless from the list and click Connect.

If the sound is interrupted, try turning off Wi-Fi while you listen to it – sometimes 2.4GHz channels conflict with Bluetooth.

5. Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even with the right connection, users are experiencing errors.

If the headphones are connected but immediately turned off, check if the developer mode on the phone with Bluetooth connection restriction is activated. On Android, this is fixed in Settings. → System system → For developers (disable the option to disable Bluetooth audio when the connection is lost).

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Most connectivity problems are solved by resetting headphone settings and rebooting the Bluetooth module on the phone.

For Airdots 3 Pro and later, when you have a connection break, try disabling Dual Connection (if it's active), which allows you to connect your headphones to two devices at once, but sometimes causes conflicts.

6. Firmware update and additional functions

The Mi Earphones app not only manages settings, but also allows you to update the firmware of the headphones. This fixes bugs, improves connection stability and adds new features (for example, support for the new headphones). LC3-codec in new models).

How to update firmware:

1. Install the Mi Earphones app from Google Play (no updates available for iOS).
2. Put the headphones on the phone.
3. Open the application and go to the Firmware Update section.
4. If a new version is available, click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off the headphones!).

After the update:

• 🔄 The headphones will automatically reboot.
• 🎵 The sound signature may change (check the equalizer settings).
• 📱 In some cases, you will need to reconnect to the devices.

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Before updating the firmware, charge the case to 50% or more. If the process is interrupted due to the discharge, the headphones may stop turning on.

In new versions of firmware for Airdots 3/4 appeared:

• 🎚️ Adaptive equalizer (automatically adjusts to the genre of music).
• 🔇 Silence mode (disables microphones for confidential conversations).
• 🔋 Optimized energy consumption (increase in operating time by 10-15%).

If the headphones become worse after the update (for example, there were interference), you can roll back to the previous version of the firmware.

1. Remove the headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices.
2. Reset their settings (press the touch panels for 15 seconds).
3. Connect again – the system will offer to install the latest stable version.

7. Resetting and returning to factory settings

If Xiaomi Airdots headphones start to work incorrectly (not synced, not connected, give out errors), a complete reset often helps to bring them back to life.

For Airdots. 1/2, Redmi Airdots (2018–2020)

Follow the following steps:

1. Place both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the lid and hold the button on the case for 10 seconds (the indicator flashes red).
3. Remove the headphones – they will automatically reset.

For Airdots. 3/3 Pro, Redmi Buds 3/4 (2021–2026)

The algorithm is different.

1. Remove the headphones from the case.
2. Press and hold the touchpads on both headphones for 20 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white.
3. Return the headphones to the case, then remove them again - they will be ready for a new pair.

After discharge:

• 🔄 Headphones will lose all saved connections.
• 🎵 Equalizer and gesture settings will reset to factory.
• 📱 Reconnection to all devices will be required.

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Resetting is the last step before you go to the service center, and 80 percent of the time, it solves the connection problem.

If the reset did not help, check the physical condition of the headphones:

• 🔌 Examine contacts in the case for oxidation (clean with an alcohol napkin).
• 🎧 Check if the microphone is dirty (use a toothpick or compressed air).
• 🔋 Make sure the case is charged (the indicator should burn when connected to the charger).

8. Alternative ways of connecting and life hacks

Sometimes standard methods don't work, or you need an unusual solution. Here are some proven ways:

Connect via FastPair app (for Android)

Google’s FastPair technology speeds up the connectivity of compatible devices, and for Xiaomi Airdots, it works on 2020 and newer models:

1. Make sure your phone is running FastPair (Settings) → Google → Devices and exchanges → FastPair).
2. Open the case cover - next to the phone will appear a pop-up window with a suggestion to connect headphones.
3. Click Connect and follow the instructions.

Use of headphones in Mono mode (one headphone)

If one of the headphones is broken, you can use the second in single mode:

1. Place a serviceable earpiece in the case, and leave the broken one outside.
2. Remove the working earphone - it will automatically go to Mono mode.
3. Connect him to the phone as usual.

Note: Mono mode does not have stereo effects, and battery life is increased by about 30%.

Connecting to multiple devices at the same time

Airdots 3 Pro and Redmi Buds 4 models support multi-connection (up to 2 devices).

1. Connect the headphones to the first device (for example, a smartphone).
2. Open Mi Earphones and enable the option of dual connection.
3. Connect the headphones to the second device (laptop, tablet) via Bluetooth.

To switch between devices:

• 📱 Tap twice on the touchpad of the headphone to switch to the last active device.
• 🔄 Or turn off Bluetooth on one device – the headphones will automatically reconnect to another.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions