Headphones Xiaomi Airdots: causes and solution of the problem

If your Xiaomi Airdots (or any of their modifications — Redmi Airdots, Mi True Wireless Earbuds, Mi Air 2/2S/3) suddenly stop working synchronously — one earbud connects, and the second silent or latent sounds — you are not alone. This problem occurs in 15-20% of owners of wireless headphones Xiaomi, and in 90% of cases it can be eliminated by yourself.

The reasons for the headphones’ disconnection range from software failures to mechanical damage, and are most often to blame: battery drain in one of the headphones, sync failure between the left and right modules, outdated firmware or damage to contacts in the charging case. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, from basic checks to deep resetting, and give recommendations on how to prevent reconnection.

Before you bring your headphones to the service center, try the methods in our manual. Most of them do not require special skills and take no more than 5-10 minutes, and if the problem is in the hardware, we will tell you how to determine it and what to do next.

Basic diagnosis: Checking the obvious

Before you start to do complex manipulations, make sure that the problem is not in trivial things.

Make sure both earphones are charged (indicators on the case are white/red)

Check whether the charging case is tightly closed (contacts should touch metal areas on the headphones)

Reboot your smartphone/PC to which the headphones are connected

Try connecting to another device (such as a tablet)

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If the headphones are still out of sync after this, move on to the next step. Note: if one of the headphones does not respond to presses at all (the indicator does not blink, does not make sounds), the problem may be a discharged battery or a damaged contact, in which case try to charge it separately (for how to do this, read section 4).

It’s also worth checking if your smartphone has Power Saving or Background Restriction mode activated for Bluetooth devices. On Android, you can do this in battery settings, and on iPhone, you can do this in Settings → Bluetooth, where you click on the “i” icon next to the headphone name and turn off the Allow Disconnect option to save charge.

2. resetting the connection between the headphones

The most common reason for disconnection is a loss of synchronization between the left and right earphones, which is due to a failure in the TWS (True Wireless Stereo) protocol, which is responsible for wireless communication between modules. To restore the connection, perform forced resynchronization:

1. Put both headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
2. Wait 10-15 seconds, then remove both earbuds.
3. Press the touch buttons on both headphones simultaneously for 10-15 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white alternately.
4. Place the headphones back in the case and close the lid. In 5-10 seconds, remove them - they should automatically sync (the indicators will light up white).

If the headphones still don’t work together after this procedure, try an alternative reset method:

• 🔋 Discharge both headphones to 0% (leave them on until they shut down).
• 🔌 Charge up to 100% in the case (indicators on the case should burn green / white).
• 🔄 Repeat the synchronization procedure (see steps above).

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If the Xiaomi Air 2/2S/3 headphones don’t sync after reset, try connecting them to the device via Bluetooth Settings → Add a new device by selecting “Mi True Wireless Earbuds” mode (even if the model is different).

3. Update to the headphone firmware

Outdated firmware is one of the main reasons for the unstable work of Xiaomi Airdots. The company regularly releases updates that fix synchronization bugs, but many users do not even suspect that their headphones can be stitched.

To update the firmware:

1. Download the official application for your model (see the links in the table).
2. Connect the headphones to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
3. Open the application and go to the Settings → Firmware Update.
4. If the update is available, follow the instructions on the screen. Don't interrupt the process! The headphones will reboot several times.

Important: After the firmware update, Xiaomi Airdots headphones can reset all user settings (such as control gestures) and have to be reconfigured.

4.Problems with the charging case: cleaning contacts and diagnosis

If one of the headphones fails to charge or is permanently turned off, the problem may lie in contaminated case contacts or a faulty battery.

• 🔍 Oxidation or corrosion on metal contacts (green/white coating).
• 🧹 Dust, pile or debris in headphone jacks.
• 🔋 Case case case swelling (a sign of a faulty battery).

To clean the contacts:

1. Take a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol (at least 70%).
2. Gently wipe the contacts on the case and headphones.
3. Let it dry for 5-10 minutes.
4. Check if the headphones are charging (the indicator should burn red when charging).

Once a month

Every 3-6 months

Only when problems arise

Never cleaned.-->

If one of the headphones still doesn’t charge after cleaning, try charging it separately:

1. Place only the problem earphone in the case and close the lid.
2. Connect the case to charging for 1-2 hours.
3. Check if the indicator on the headphone is on (red – charged, white – charged).

⚠️ Note: If the case does not hold the charge (discharges in a few hours) or the headphones do not charge even after cleaning the contacts, the problem may be a faulty power controller.

5. Hardware malfunctions: when you need the help of a specialist

If all software methods have been tried, but the headphones are still out of sync, the problem may be hardware.

• 🔊 One headphone does not turn on at all (does not respond to buttons, does not flash the indicator).
• 📶 Constant noise or crackling in sound, even after reset.
• 🔋 The headphone discharges in 10-20 minutes (a sign of battery wear).
• 💧 Visible damage (cracks, dents, traces of moisture).

The most common hardware breakdowns Xiaomi Airdots:

If you suspect a hardware malfunction, but are not sure of its cause, you can conduct a self-diagnosis:

1. Connect the problem headphone to the PC via Bluetooth and check it in the Bluetooth Viewer program (will show the stability of the connection).
2. See if the headphone is defined as a separate device (e.g., Mi True Wireless) Earbuds_R right-handed).
3. If the headphone is connected but the sound is interrupted, the problem is with the Bluetooth antenna or chip.

⚠️ Attention: Do not try to disassemble headphones yourself if you do not have experience with microelectronics! Xiaomi Airdots uses adhesive joints and miniature plumes that are easily damaged.

Alternative methods of connection

If standard methods don’t help, try atypical connectivity schemes that sometimes work when TWS crashes:

Connect first the right earphone, then the left (for Air 2/2S models)

Use Mono mode (in some firmware, this resets TWS)

Connect the headphones to another device (like a laptop), then return to the smartphone

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The "forced headphone" method (works for Redmi Airdots and Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic):

1. Put both earphones in the case.
2. Take out only the right earphone and connect it to the phone.
3. After successful connection, remove the left earphone – it should automatically connect as a secondary.

For models Xiaomi Air 2/2S/3 you can try to change the "lead" headphone through the application Mi Earphones:

1. Open the application and go to Settings → Connection Mode.
2. Select the option to Change the main headphone.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (reboot of the headphones may be required).

If neither method worked, but the headphones are individually connected to the phone, the problem is exactly the failure of the TWS protocol. In this case, only flashing (see section 3) or replacing the Bluetooth board (in the service center) will help.

7. Prevention: how to prevent the disintegration of headphones

To avoid repeated synchronization problems, follow these guidelines:

• 🚫 Don’t drop your headphones – even a small impact can damage your Bluetooth antenna.

You should also turn off the automatic Bluetooth shutdown in your smartphone's power saving settings. On Android, this is how you do it:

Settings → Battery → Power Saving Mode → Additional → Disable “Background Activity Limitation” for Bluetooth

For the iPhone:

Settings → Bluetooth → Press the “i” next to the headphones → Disable “Allow disconnection to save charge”

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Regular firmware updates and cleaning contacts reduce the risk of earphones unconnecting by 70%.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Airdots disengagement