Owners of popular Xiaomi wireless headphones often face the need to update software, especially when devices start to work unstable or lose connection. Xiaomi Airdots firmware is not just a way to get new features, but often the only solution to problems with desynchronizing the right and left headphones. Many users do not know that there is a separate algorithm for these models, different from the standard smartphone or smartwatch updates.
Modern models like Redmi Airdots 2 or Earbuds Basic S have built-in memory that records firmware that controls the Bluetooth module and sound processor. Over time, errors can be detected in the code that the manufacturer fixes through released patches. Ignoring updates can lead to the fact that the device will stop working correctly with new versions of Android or iOS, and battery life will be reduced due to unoptimized power consumption.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available methods of updating software, from automatic methods through official applications to manual reset, which is often equated with reinstallation of the system. It is critical to understand that the update process cannot be interrupted by a break in communication between the phone and the case, otherwise the headphones can turn into a “brick.” We will look at the nuances of working with different versions of firmware and answer frequent questions that arise from users during this procedure.
Why you need to update the firmware of Xiaomi headphones
The main reason Xiaomi engineers are releasing updates to the Airdots and Redmi Buds lineup is to improve the stability of wireless connectivity. The Bluetooth protocol, despite its prevalence, is subject to interference from Wi-Fi routers, microwave ovens and other gadgets. The new version of the software often contains improved frequency correction algorithms, which allows headphones to more confidently communicate even in crowded environments such as public transport or an office with many devices.
The second important aspect is power optimization: the headphone battery has limited capacity, and inefficient code can cause excessive discharge even in standby mode. Updating the firmware often fixes bugs in which one of the headphones (usually the right one, which is the master device) discharges faster than the left one, a common problem of older firmware versions that patches successfully solve.
Also worth mentioning is improved sound and microphone performance, and while the hardware of the speakers doesn’t physically change, digital signal processing (DSP) is entirely dependent on the software code, the update can change the equalizer, remove background noise when talking, or change the logic of touch control, making the response to touch more accurate.
- 🔹 Eliminating dissynchronization between left and right earphone (TWS-regime).
- 🔹 Increased work time from one charge by optimizing sleep.
- 🔹 Improved voice quality during telephone conversations.
- 🔹 Adding support for new codecs or Bluetooth profiles.
⚠️ Warning: If your headphones are working perfectly, the sound is clean, and they don't lose connection, forced upgrades may be unnecessary. However, if you notice glitches or delays, installing a new version of the software is the first step to solving the problem.
Some users mistakenly believe that the upgrade is a complex technical process that requires special cables or PCs. In reality, for 95% of Xiaomi and Redmi models, this process is as automated as possible and takes only a few minutes, the main thing is to have a charged smartphone and a stable Internet connection to download the firmware file before it is transferred to the device.
Preparing for an update: what you need to know before you start
Before you start the immediate procedure, you need to make sure that your environment and devices are ready to interact. Battery charge is the most critical parameter. Both the case and the headphones themselves must be charged at least 50-60%. If the power goes missing during the recording process on the device's memory chip, this can lead to irreversible damage to the bootloader, after which it will be extremely difficult or impossible to restore the headphones without special equipment.
The second important thing is to clean the list of conjugate devices: often old or conflicting entries in the Bluetooth menu of a smartphone prevent the correct transfer of update data, it is recommended to forget the device (Forget Device) for your Airdots in the phone settings, and then pair again, this ensures that you are connected to the device with the current data exchange protocols.
☑️ Checklist for firmware preparation
It’s also worth checking the version of your smartphone’s operating system. Headphone management apps like Mi Buds or Xiaomi Earbuds may require certain versions of Android (usually 8.0 and higher) or iOS to work properly. The phone’s outdated OS may not support the new encryption protocols used in fresh firmware.
| Parameter | Requirement | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Case charge | Minimum 30% | 100% (full charge) |
| Headphone charge | At least 50% | Extract from the case before updating |
| Distance | Within 1 metre | Put the phone next to the case |
| Internet | Mobile or Wi-Fi | Stable Wi-Fi for fast loading |
Remember that during the upgrade process, the headphones can make strange sounds, blink intermittently with the indicator, or even temporarily shut down. This is normal behavior for Firmware Update Mode. Interruption at this point is strongly discouraged, as the record goes sector by sector.
Method 1: Update via Mi Buds (for new models)
For modern models such as Redmi Buds 3/4, Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 and later, the main tool is the Mi Buds app (formerly known as Xiaomi Earbuds). This is the official utility that allows you not only to track the charge, but also to control the firmware of the device, you can download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, making sure that the account region allows you to download Xiaomi applications.
Once you install the app, you need to log in to Mi Account. This is a requirement to access the update servers. Then open the app and click on Add Device or +. The app will automatically scan the space and find your headphones if they are in pairing mode. Once connected, the current charge level and firmware version will be displayed on the home screen.
If you have an update available, you'll see a red dot or an Update button next to the firmware version number, and you'll click on it, and you'll start the process. You'll download the file to your phone first, and then you'll start transferring to your headphones, and at that time, your smartphone screen may go out, but it'll go in the background. It's important not to open heavy apps or play games, so you don't put a load on your phone's Bluetooth module.
- 🎧 Open the Mi Buds app and select your headphones.
- 🎧 Go to the device settings (cog icon or three dots).
- 🎧 Find the "Firmware Update" or "Software Update" option».
- 🎧 Click “Check Updates” and confirm installation.
In some cases, the app may suggest updating the firmware immediately for the case and for each earpiece separately. TWS-So, if you're going to have a system where each component has its own controller, follow the instructions on the screen, you might be asked to put your headphones in your case, or you might be asked to take them out.
⚠️ Warning: If the update process is 99% frozen and does not move for more than 10 minutes, do not rush to close the application. Often at this point there is a final check of checksums.
Method 2: Using the Xiaomi Earbuds app (Alternative)
For a number of models, especially those released during the period 2019-2021 It is functionally similar to Mi Buds, but has a slightly different interface and algorithm for working with some of the Realtek chips that were installed in earlier versions of Airdots. If Mi Buds can’t see your headphones or writes “Device not supported,” try this alternative.
The connection process here is similar: launch the application, turn on Bluetooth on the phone and press the touch areas on both headphones simultaneously for 5-7 seconds until the indicators flash red and white (pair mode).
The peculiarity of this method is that it often requires manual verification. Auto notification may not come. So if you suspect that the firmware is outdated, go to the About or Settings section inside the application and find the manual check button. The data transfer speed here may be lower than in Mi Buds, so be patient.
What if the app says “No updates”?
Once the installation is complete, the app will require the headphones to be rebooted, so you just put them in a case and close the lid for 10 seconds and then pull them out, and you can check the version from the same menu, and now it has to match the latest version available on the manufacturer's website.
Method 3: Manual reset as an analogue of an update (Hard Reset)
In the case of classic Xiaomi Airdots and Redmi Airdots (first generation), there is often a situation where there are no official updates through the application, but the headphones work incorrectly (for example, only one plays), in such cases, the only way to “update” the state of the system is a full reset (Hard Reset), which clears the pairing memory and returns the settings to the factory.
This procedure is often mistaken for flashing, as it solves the same problems of instability. To perform the reset, you need to remove both headphones from the case. Make sure they are turned off (if the indicator is on, press and hold the sensor until it goes out). Then simultaneously press the touchpads on both headphones and hold for about 20 seconds. The indicators should blink several times (usually 3 times), which signals a successful reset.
After that, the headphones go into pairing mode (one flashes fast, the other slow, or both fast, depending on the model). You need to re-find them in the phone's Bluetooth menu. The pairing again often eliminates protocol errors that have accumulated over time, effectively refreshing the device's software logic.
- 🔄 Get the headphones out of the charging case.
- 🔄 Turn them off (holding the sensor until switched off).
- 🔄 Press both sensors for 20 seconds before triple blinking.
- 🔄 Remove the device from your Bluetooth phone and connect again.
This method is especially effective if you have changed your smartphone and the old settings conflict with the new device, and it also helps if the headphones have “forgotten” each other and stopped working in stereo mode, turning into two mono devices.
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Useful tip: After a reset, always clear the list of old Xiaomi Airdots devices into the phone's Bluetooth menu, otherwise the phone may try to connect to the old record while ignoring the reset device.
Typical problems and ways to solve them
The process of updating or resetting does not always go smoothly.