Disassembly of the case from headphones Xiaomi Air: instructions with photos, tools and life hacks

The Xiaomi Air wireless headphone charger case is not just a case, but a full-fledged device with a battery, a charging controller and contact groups. Over time, even high-quality models (Air 2 Pro, Air 3, AirDots Youth) can have problems: stops holding the charge, headphones do not lock, contacts oxidize or the train breaks. Disassemble the case yourself is a difficult task, but feasible with the right approach.

Many users fear damage to the case or internal components, especially if the case is warranty, but in 80% of cases, the causes of malfunctions (such as a bloated battery or contaminated contacts) can be eliminated at home in 20-40 minutes. The main thing is to know the exact weak points of the design (for example, Xiaomi Air 2 has fragile latches near it). USB-port) and use appropriate tools.

In this article, you will find step-by-step photo instructions, a list of necessary tools, and tips for diagnostics and repairs, we will analyze the features of disassembly for different models (Air, Air 2, Air 3, AirDots) and tell you how to avoid typical errors that lead to a breakage of the board or case.

Preparation for disassembly: tools and precautions

Before you start disassembling, make sure you have everything you need, and inappropriate tools (like a knife instead of a mediator) can leave scratches on the body or break latches.

• 🔧 Plastic mediator (or guitar mediator) - for careful separation of parts of the body.
• 🔨 Thin screwdriver (cross, 1-1.5 mm) - for unscrewing screws (if any).
• 🧲 Magnetic substrate or container – to avoid losing small parts.
• 🔍 Loop or magnifying glass - to inspect contacts and soldering.
• 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) — Cleaning contacts and fees.
• 🔋 Multimeter – to check the voltage of the battery (optional).

If you're sorting out a case for the first time, practice on an unnecessary plastic case (like an old charger). Xiaomi Air's case consists of two halves, held together by latches and sometimes screws (in Air 3 Pro models and older). The main danger is to break the plastic fixtures, so act slowly and without jerks.

⚠️ Warning: If the case has recently fallen or got wet, before disassembling completely discharge the battery (keep the case on for 12-24 hours!

Also, prepare the workplace: the table should be clean, without crumbs and dust, put a soft cloth (such as a microfiber) on it so as not to scratch the case. If you plan to solder contacts, set the soldering iron to 300-350 in advance.°C and prepare the solder with flux.

Step 1: Removing the upper cover of the case

Starting with the most difficult part, the top-body separation, most Xiaomi Air models have plastic latches that are perimeter-wise, and screws are rare (like the Air 3 Pro), but if they are, they need to be unscrewed first.

Insert the mediator in the gap between the top and bottom of the case (it is better to start from the side opposite the case). USB-Carefully drive the tool along the body, slightly pressing. You hear light clicks, this is the locks. Do not apply force: if the lid does not respond, then you missed the latch or screw.

Make sure all the screws are twisted (if any)|

Starting from the opposite side USB-port|

Use only a plastic mediator (not a knife!)|

No force, only light pressure.-->

• 🔹 For Xiaomi Air 1 and AirDots: The latches are symmetrical, but the weak spot is the angle near the charging indicator.

Once all the latches are snapped, carefully remove the top cover.

• Battery (usually on the 3.7V, 300-500 mAh capacity).
• A charger board with a charging controller and headphone contacts.
• Trail (in models with an indicator on the cover).

⚠️ Warning: If you hear a crack when you remove the lid, it's likely that the latch has broken. Don't panic: you can also assemble the case with glue (e.g., adhesive, B-7000), but the leakage will be broken.

Step 2: Battery extraction and diagnosis

The battery is the most vulnerable part of the case, and over time it swells up, loses capacity, or moves away from contacts, to extract it.

1. Disconnect the battery plume from the board (usually it is fastened by a connector or solder).
2. If the battery is glued, put a mediator on it. Don't use metal tools, you're at risk of puncture!
3. Check the battery for bloating. Normal thickness is 2-3 mm. If more, you need to replace.

To check the battery, use a multimeter:

• Connect the probes to the contacts of the battery (red - plus, black - minus).

If the battery is swelling, don’t try to restore it – it’s dangerous! Buy a new one (for example, Xiaomi Air 2 will do the battery). 3.7V 400mAh plug-in JST When soldering a new battery, make sure that the polarity coincides (plus to plus, minus to minus).

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If the battery is soldered to the board, use a tin pump or a braid to remove the solder. Do not overheat the board - keep the soldering iron for no longer than 3-5 seconds on one contact.

Step 3: Clearing Contacts and Repairing the Fee

Contaminated or oxidized contacts are the second most common cause of malfunction.

1. Wet the cotton swab in isopropyl alcohol.
2. Carefully wipe the contacts on the board and battery connector.
3. For persistent oxides, use an eraser (washing gum) - it mechanically cleans the surface.

If the headphone contacts (spring "legs") are bent or broken, they can be straightened with tweezers, as a last resort, solder new ones (use contacts from the old charger for the phone).

The charge controller board may fail due to:

• 🔥 Overheating (for example, if the case was left in the sun).
• ⚡ Short circuit (when moisture or metal particles are ingested).
• 🔌 Faulty. USB-cable (voltage surges).

To diagnose the fee:

1. Call the multimeter chain from USB-port to the controller (resistance should be 0-1 ohms).
2. Check the voltage at the controller output when connecting to charging (4.5–5.5V).
3. Check the board for burnt elements (blackened resistors, bloated capacitors).

Step 4: Repair the plume and buttons (for models with indicator)

In the cases Xiaomi Air 2 Pro and Air 3 have a plume that connects the board to the charging indicator on the lid. If the indicator does not work or flashes chaoticly, the problem may be:

• 🔌 The shaft of the plume (often breaks with careless disassembly).
• 💡 LED malfunctions (checked by multimeter in the "vertebral" mode").
• 🔄 Oxidation of contacts on board or plume.

For the plume repair:

1. Take it away from the board (usually it is attached to the connector).
2. Check the integrity of the tracks under the magnifying glass. If there are breaks, seal the jumpers.
3. If the plume broke at the base, you can replace it with a similar one (for example, from an old phone).

The pairing button (if you have one in your model) can also fail, most often sticking or not pressing due to dust.

1. Remove the button from the board (it can be soldered or on latches).
2. Clear the contacts with alcohol.
3. If the spring mechanism is broken, replace the button with a new one (suitable for any small-sized equipment).

⚠️ Note: In Xiaomi Air 3 Pro models, the pairing button is often combined with the sensor. If it stops working after disassembling, check the integrity of the flexible cable going to the board.

Step 5: Case assembly and performance check

After repair, collect the case in reverse sequence:

1. Install the battery and connect it to the board.
2. Then, put the slack on the back (if you have a slack, then make it a slack).
3. Connect the indicator plume (if any).
4. Close the lid, starting from the side USB-port, and click all the locks.

Before final assembly, check the performance:

• 🔋 Connect the case to the charging - the indicator should light up.
• 🎧 Place the headphones in the case - they should start charging (the indicator on the headphones will go out).
• 🔄 Press the pairing button (if any) – the case should go into search mode.

If something's not working:

• 🔍 Check the polarity of the battery again.
• 🔌 Make sure all the connectors are tightly connected.
• 📱 Check the headphones on another case (maybe the problem is in them).

If the case after assembly is not tightly closed, you can use bilateral tape or glue B-7000 (Apply point-by-point so as not to block the latches).

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Once assembled, let the case run for 1-2 hours in normal mode. If the battery is new, the first 3-5 charge/discharge cycles may show unstable operation - this is normal.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced craftsmen sometimes make mistakes when disassembling Xiaomi Air cases.

• 🔨 Use of metal tools → Solution: plastic pickups only!
• 🔥 Overheating of ration fees → flaking of tracks or chip failure Solution: soldering iron no higher than 350°C, soldering time - no more than 3 seconds per contact.
• 🔋 The wrong polarity of the battery → Solution: Always check the markings. + and −!
• 🧲 Loss of screws or latches → Solution: use a magnetic substrate and take a picture of the disassembly process.
• 💧 Moisture on the board → Solution: dry the board with a hair dryer (cold air) for at least 10 minutes.

Another common problem is that the headphones' spring contacts are damaged, and they're thin and easy to bend, and if the contact breaks, you can restore it.

1. Take a thin copper wire (diameter 0.3-0.5 mm).
2. Seal it to the cliff.
3. Bend the wire so that it touches the headphone (see photo below).

If the case does not turn on after repair, check:

• Integrity of the fuse (small resistor near the USB-port).
• Battery voltage (if) <3V, he's completely discharged).
• Contact the board for short circuit (use a magnifying glass).

FAQ: Frequent questions about the disassembly of the case Xiaomi Air