Redmi Airdots 3 wireless headphones remain among the most popular accessories for Xiaomi smartphones due to the combination of price, sound quality and battery life. However, even experienced users sometimes have difficulties with the first connection - especially when it comes to synchronizing with phones on MIUI, where the pairing process has its own nuances. In this article, we will discuss not only the standard connection procedure, but also hidden settings that will help avoid the typical errors such as "device not found" or "unstable connection".
It’s important to understand that Redmi Airdots 3 supports Bluetooth 5.0, but their correct operation depends on the firmware version of both the headphones and the smartphone. For example, Xiaomi with MIUI 13+ may require additional permission adjustments for Bluetooth devices. We’ll also look at how to force the headphone firmware update via the Mi Home app (this is true for models released before 2022) and what to do if one of the headphones suddenly stops connecting.
1. Preparation of Redmi Airdots 3 headphones for connection
Before you pair the headphones, you need to make sure they are in search mode. Unlike later models (like the Redmi Buds 4), the Airdots 3 doesn't automatically turn on this mode when you remove them from the case.
- 🔋 Charge the case and headphones, the minimum charge of the case is 20%, headphones 10%, and at a lower level, the device may not respond to the pairing button.
- 📦 Remove both earphones from the case. They should flash white light at the same time (indication of switching on).
- 🔄 Activate the pairing mode. Press the button on the case for 5-7 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white alternately.
If the indicator flashes only red, it means battery drain or hardware failure. In the first case, recharge the device for 10-15 minutes, in the second case, try resetting (instruction in section 5).
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If the headphones were previously connected to another device, you must first “forget” them in the Bluetooth settings of that gadget. Otherwise, Redmi Airdots 3 can automatically try to connect to it, ignoring the new phone.
2. Step-by-step connection to the Xiaomi phone
The pairing process on Xiaomi smartphones is slightly different from standard Android due to the proprietary shell MIUI. Follow this instruction:
- Open Bluetooth settings: Go to Settings → Bluetooth and activate the slider. Make sure Visibility for All is on (some versions of MIUI call it Detection).
- Find headphones in the list: In the Available devices section should appear the name Redmi Airdots_3_XXX (where XXX — If the device is not displayed, update the list by pulling the screen down.
- Confirm pairing: Click on the headphone name. A request for code confirmation (usually 0000 or 1234) will appear on the screen. Enter it and wait for the message Connected.
Headphones are displayed in the list "Connected devices"|The indicator on the case burns white (does not blink)|The sound is played synchronously in both headphones.|Bluetooth Settings has a "Sound Settings for Redmi" option. Airdots_3"
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Phones with MIUI 14 may have a pop-up window after they're connected, asking them to install the Mi Earphones app, but it doesn't have to, but it gives you access to uniform sound, gesture customization, and firmware updates.
MIUI 12 or older |MIUI 13|MIUI 14|I don't know |Other firmware-->
3. Sound tuning and gesture control
By default, Redmi Airdots 3 has basic sound and control settings, but they can be optimized.
| Parameter | Where to set up | Recommended values |
|---|---|---|
| equalizer | Settings → Sound → Headphone settings | Bass+ (for music) or Voice (for podcasts) |
| Noise suppression | Mi Earphones appendix | Includes (moderate level) |
| Double touch. | Bluetooth settings → ⚙️ near Airdots 3 | Left: Previous track, right: Next track |
| Auto-disconnection | Mi Earphones appendix | 10 minutes (for battery saving) |
Note: If you don’t have headphone settings in Bluetooth, upgrade your phone’s firmware or install the Mi Earphones app from Google Play. Without it, some features (such as gesture customization) won’t be available.
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Typical problems and their solutions
Even after a successful connection, users face a number of problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
- 🔊 The sound is interrupted or delayed: Check if the phone is power saving mode for Bluetooth (Settings) → Battery → Choice of applications → Bluetooth - must be No Limits. Also try to disable Absolute Volume in the developer settings.
- 🎧 Only one headphone is connected: Return both earbuds to the case, wait until the indicator goes out (10-15 seconds), then remove them again. If it does not help, reset the settings (section 5).
- 🔌 Headphones discharge quickly: Disable the function of Search for headphones in MIUI (Settings → Bluetooth → ⚙️ → Also check if the High Sound Quality mode is on (it increases battery consumption by 30%).
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If the problems started after the MIUI update, try rolling back the Bluetooth stack version via Settings → About Phone → MIUI version → Additional settings (three dots) → Selecting a firmware version. This doesn’t work on all models, but often helps with pairing errors.
5.Reset settings Redmi Airdots 3
If the headphones are unstable or not connected at all, a complete reset may be required. For the Redmi Airdots 3, the procedure is different from the newer models:
- Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
- Open the lid and press the button on the case for 15 seconds (the indicator will start flashing red, then go out).
- Close the lid for 5 seconds, then remove the headphones - they should reset to factory settings.
After reset, the headphones will automatically go into pairing mode the next time you remove the indicator from the case. If the indicator does not flash white / red, repeat the procedure, pre-charge the case to 50%.
⚠️ Warning: Reset removes all stored devices from the memory of the headphones, and after the procedure, they will have to be reconnected to all the gadgets they have previously worked with.
6. Optimization of work with MIUI 13/14
The latest versions of MIUI have added additional features for Bluetooth devices that can be used to improve the performance of Redmi Airdots 3:
- 🔗 Auto Connection: Turn on Auto Connection in Bluetooth settings. Now the headphones will connect to the phone immediately after extraction from the case (if Bluetooth is enabled).
- 🎛️ Separation of sound streams: C Settings → Special facilities → Sound separation can be adjusted to different sound for the left and right earphone (useful for hearing problems).
- 🔋 Battery Optimization: Add the Mi Earphones app to optimization exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Selection of applications. This will prevent spontaneous switching off of headphones.
On phones with MIUI 14, Spatial Sound for Headphones has also been introduced, but for Redmi Airdots 3, it doesn't work as well, so it's better to turn it off in the audio settings.
7. Alternative ways of connecting
If the standard method doesn’t work, try alternatives:
- 📱 Through the Mi Home app: Install Mi Home, add headphones as a new device (+ → Bluetooth devices → Redmi Airdots 3. This will help if MIUI Does not see headphones in the standard Bluetooth menu.
- 🔄 Through Developer Mode: Activate Developer Mode (7 times click on Version) MIUI in the phone settings, then in the settings → Additionally. → For developers, turn on Bluetooth Debugging. After you restart your phone, re-pair the pairing.
⚠️ Note: When connected via Mi Home, the headphones can be defined as Mi True Wireless Earphones Basic 2 – this is normal, since Airdots 3 is built on the same platform.