Why Xiaomi Airdots headphones do not connect to the phone – a full analysis of the causes and solutions

Why your AirDots are refusing to work

Xiaomi Airdots (including Redmi Airdots, Mi True Wireless Earbuds and their modifications) are some of the most popular wireless headsets on the market. But even proven devices have crashes, and most people have a problem: the headphones do not mate with the phone, are not identified in the list of available devices or connect only for a few seconds, the reasons can lie in the headphones themselves, or in the smartphone, operating system or even external interference.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons Xiaomi Airdots don’t want to connect, from the basic (battery dead) to the complex (damaged firmware), and give you step-by-step instructions for each situation, as well as tips on how to avoid problems in the future. If you’ve tried to reboot your phone and headphones but nothing has changed, don’t rush them into service: 90% of the time, you can solve the problem yourself.

For convenience, we have categorized the content into simple solutions (which take 1-2 minutes), then deeper customizations. If your headphone model is older than 2020, check out the firmware update section, which may be the key to the solution.

Basic checks: what to do first

Before digging deep into the settings, make sure the problem isn't on the surface.Here are 4 must-do steps that are often ignored:

• 🔋 Charge headphones and case. Even if the indicator is on, the battery may have run out to a level that is not enough to pair.
• 📱 Bluetooth on your phone. Make sure the module is on (Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth, and that the phone is not in flight mode.
• 🔄 Reboot your devices. Turn off your headphones (press the button for 5 seconds), reboot your phone and try to reconnect.
• 📦 Distance and interference: Make sure that there are no thick walls, microwaves or other devices between the phone and the headphones that interfere at 2.4 GHz.

If the headphones are still undetectable after this, move on to the next section. Note: some Xiaomi Airdots models (such as the Mi Air 2 SE) have a hidden pairing mode that only activates after reset, which we will discuss below.

2. Resetting headphones to factory settings

One of the most effective ways to get back up is to reset hard, which cleans all the connections you've saved and returns the headphones to a boxy state, and the instructions vary depending on the model.

• 🎧 Redmi Airdots (first generation): Put both headphones in the case and close the lid. Press and hold the button on the case for 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white. Open the lid - the headphones should automatically go into pairing mode (blinking white light).
• 🎧 Mi Air 2 / Air 2 SE / Pro: Pull the headphones out of the case. Press the touchpads on both earphones simultaneously for 10 seconds until you hear the beep. The indicators start flashing red and white, which means that the reset was successful.

After the reset, the headphones should appear on the list of available Bluetooth devices called Mi True Wireless Earbuds or similar. If this does not happen, check if your phone is blocking the connection (more on this in the next section).

⚠️ Note: After reset, Xiaomi Airdots headphones may temporarily lose communication between them (left and right). If this happens, put them back in the case for 30 seconds - they sync automatically.

3. Problems on the phone side: settings and limitations

Sometimes the problem isn't with the headphones, it's with the smartphone. Here are 5 common reasons why the phone doesn't see Airdots:

1. Bluetooth cache. On Android, accumulated data may interfere with a new connection. To clear the cache: Settings → Apps → Show all apps → Bluetooth → Storage → Clear the cache
2. Power saving restrictions: Some phones (especially Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO) are aggressively optimizing Bluetooth. Turn off restrictions: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → Find Bluetooth → Disable
3. Conflict with other devices: If the headphones have previously connected to another phone or tablet, they may stick on the old connection. Remove them from the list of conjugated devices on all gadgets.
4. Android is outdated. Phones with Android 8 and below may have problems with Bluetooth 5.0, which Airdots use. Update the OS or use a Bluetooth 4.2 adapter.
5. Specific MIUI bugs. On Xiaomi smartphones, it sometimes helps to disable the dual device function in Bluetooth settings.

If you use an iPhone, check if Low Power Mode is enabled (it limits Bluetooth) and iOS may also need to allow Bluetooth access for the Settings app in Privacy → Bluetooth.

Hardware malfunctions: when the "iron" is to blame

If the software methods didn't work, maybe the problem is the physical damage to the headphones or the phone.

• 🔌 Case charging port. If contacts become oxidized or contaminated, the headphones may not charge properly, causing Bluetooth module malfunction.
• 🎛️ Bluetooth antenna in headphones. Xiaomi Airdots has an antenna on top of the body. If the earphone falls or gets wet, communication may be interrupted.
• 🔋 If the case or headphones are not closing well, and the operating time is reduced to 10-15 minutes, this is a sign of battery bloating.
• 📡 Interference from other devices: wireless mice, keyboards, routers at 2.4 GHz, and even some of them. LED-The lights can interfere. Try connecting in another room.

Critical point: if after falling or getting moisture headphones stopped connecting, DO NOT try to disassemble them yourself. Xiaomi Airdots uses adhesive joints and fragile plumes - unprofessional repair almost always leads to a complete failure.

⚠️ Warning: If the headphones are beeping when connected, or one of them does not blink at all, this is a sign of a hardware failure. In this case, resetting or updating the firmware will not help - you need a diagnosis at the service center.

5. firmware update: when headphones require "treatment"

Many users are unaware that Xiaomi Airdots (especially the 2019-2021 models) have updated firmware. If the headphones are glitchy, do not connect or behave unstable, the reason may be outdated software.

• 🔄 An endless pairing cycle (earphones constantly blink, but do not connect).
• 🎵 Interrupting the sound or “robotizing” the voice.
• 📱 Lack of compatibility with new versions Android/iOS.

To update the firmware:

1. Download the official Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app (depending on the headphone model).
2. Connect your headphones to your phone (even if they are unstable).
3. Open the app, find your Airdots in the device list, and check for updates in Settings → Firmware Update.
4. If an update is available, follow the instructions on the screen. Do not turn off the headphones during the process (it takes 2-5 minutes).

For Mi Air 2 Pro and newer models, the update can come automatically via the Mi AI Assistant. If the app doesn't see the headphones, try connecting them to another phone with the same Xiaomi account.

💡

Before upgrading your firmware, charge your case and headphones to 100%. If the battery runs down during the process, the headphones can turn into a brick and require flashing through the service center.

Alternative methods of connection

If standard pairing doesn’t work, try non-obvious ways that sometimes work:

• 🔄 Manual pairing. Some Airdots models need to manually activate the connection mode: Get the headphones out of the case. Press the button on one earphone for 5 seconds until you hear a double beep. Repeat for the second headphone.

After that, they should appear on the Bluetooth list as two separate devices. Connect them one by one.

Use of third-party applications

Bluetooth Auto Connect

Btool

Connection via PC

Airdots

Another trick for Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic models is that if the headphones only connect one by one, try connecting the right one first and then the left one. In some firmware, the master headphone is the right one, and without it, the left one won't work.

💡

If the headphones connect to the computer, but not to the phone – the problem is in the Bluetooth settings of the smartphone, not in the Airdots themselves.

7.When to contact the service: signs of serious breakdowns

If you’ve tried all the methods in this article, but Xiaomi Airdots still doesn’t connect, it may be a hardware breakdown.

• 🔴 Headphones are not charged (the indicator does not burn when connecting the case to charging).
• 🔊 One of the headphones does not emit sounds (no signals when turned on / off).
• 💥 Case or headphones swelled (apparently with the naked eye).
• 📉 Headphones are connected, but immediately disconnected (after 1-2 seconds).
• 🔌 The case charging port staggers or does not fix the cable.