Modern wireless headphones from Xiaomi and its sub-brands such as Redmi and Poco have become the standard of quality in the budget and mid-range segment. However, despite the popularity, managing multimedia features often raises questions from new owners. Different models have excellent schemas of touch zones or mechanical buttons, which can be confusing on the first acquaintance.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to switch music on Xiaomi headphones, control volume and activate voice assistants. TWS-In addition, the newer versions of the newer models like AirDots and the more advanced versions with active noise cancellation, understanding the logic of control will allow you to enjoy your favorite tracks without having to constantly take your smartphone out of your pocket.
Often, standard gestures work out of the box, but advanced functionality such as double-touch track switching may require additional adjustment through the app. The control interface may not be obvious if you have previously used devices with physical buttons or other touchpad logic.
Differences in Control Types: Sensor vs Mechanics
The first thing you need to decide on is the type of control you have for a particular model, and Xiaomi's lineup has two main options: full-fledged touch panels and mechanical multi-sensor buttons, which are the keys to how you do things and how you press.
Touch models such as the Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 or Redmi Buds 3 Pro respond to light touch on the body surface. It is important to understand that the touch zone can be shifted relative to the center of the earpiece. Mechanical buttons, often found in older or specific models, require physical pressing, which gives a tactile response, but can create a microphone effect on impact.
To make the sensor work properly, your finger needs to be dry and clean, and if you notice that the headphones are no longer responding to commands, it may be because of the sensor's contamination or the sticky ear silver that shields the signal.
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When using headphones during the cold season, the sensors may be less responsive due to the low temperature.
Basic commands for controlling playback
The standard command set is the same for most devices in the ecosystem, and it allows you to perform basic actions without connecting to a smartphone screen, and the logic of actions is based on the number of touches and the duration of retention.
To pause the track or start it again, you just need to tap the sensor on any of the headphones, which works even if the smartphone is locked, since the control is directly through the HFP/A2DP Bluetooth protocol.
If you want to skip the current track and turn on the next one, double tap is used. It is important to keep the rhythm: the second tap should follow immediately after the first one, but not be too fast for the system to perceive this as a shaking of the hand. To return to the beginning of the track or include the previous track in the playlist, you usually need a triple tap of the left earpiece.
- 🎵 Single touch: Start / pause / Answer to the call.
- ⏭ Double touch (right): Next track.
- ⏮ Triple touch (left): Previous track.
- 📞 Long press (2 seconds): Call disable / Assistant activation.
☑️ Verification of basic functions
Volume control without a smartphone
One of the most popular features is the ability to change the volume directly from headphones, which Xiaomi models do through long-term retention of the touch zone, but by default, this feature may be inactive or configured to call the voice assistant.
To change the sound level, you need to pinch the sensor on the left or right earphone (depending on the model) for more than 2 seconds. In some firmware, short retention activates Google Assistant or Xiao AI, and long (about 3-4 seconds) changes volume. If you can not change the volume, check the settings in the application.
⚠️ Note: Some budget models, such as the first versions of AirDots, may not have a touch volume control function, in which case control is only possible through the buttons of the smartphone.
There is also an alternative way to control through Android system commands if the headphones support an AVRCP 1.6 profile.This allows you to use standard volume buttons on the connected device that will broadcast the signal to the headset.
Why doesn't the volume change?
Customize gestures through the Mi Home app and Xiaomi Earbuds
Specialized software is needed to fine-tune the headphones’ behavior. Android’s standard Bluetooth menu is often limited to basic features, while Xiaomi’s Earbuds (or Mi True Wireless Earbuds) app gives full access to the configuration.
Once you connect your headphones to your smartphone, open the app and find the Settings or Gesture Management section, where you can reassign actions for single, double and triple touch, for example, you can turn off the assistant call so that you don't accidentally activate it during workouts, and replace it with switching tracks.
It's important to keep an eye on the headphone firmware version. Manufacturers regularly release updates that improve connection stability and add new gestures. Update is done through the same app when the battery is charged.
| Action. | Standard setting | Possible alternative | Models. |
|---|---|---|---|
| One touch. | Play/Pause | Voice assistant | All TWS |
| Two touches. | Track. | Previous track | AirDots, Buds |
| Three touches | Pre-track. | The game mode (Low Latency) | Gaming Edition |
| Retention 2c | Call off. | Noise suppression (ANC) | Pro version |
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The Xiaomi Earbuds app is a must-have tool to unlock the full potential of headphones, allowing you to customize gestures to suit your habits.
Specificity of management in game mode
The Gaming Edition is a special feature, with headphones like the Redmi AirDots 2 Gaming Version often reserved for triple tapping into low-latency mode, which is critical for synchronizing audio and video in games.
When the game mode is activated, the indicator may flash a certain color, signaling a decrease in ping. However, in this mode, the quality of the audio codec may decrease slightly for the sake of speed.
If you use headphones for mobile gaming, make sure that the Bluetooth settings turn off the option "Absolute volume" if you see desynchronization, sometimes this helps stabilize data transfer over the aptX Low Latency protocol.
- 🎮 Triple touch: In/out of game mode.
- 🔋 Indication: Blinking the indicator when changing the mode.
- 📉 Delay: Decrease to 60-80 play-mode.
Solving Track Switching Problems
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the headphones stop responding to switching commands, often due to the desynchronization of the left and right channels. TWS-systems one headphone is a master transmitting a signal to the second, and a failure in this chain blocks control.
To troubleshoot, reset your headphones completely, usually by removing them from the case and holding the sensors for a long time (10-15 seconds) until the indicators light up in red or white, and then re-pairing the Bluetooth menu of the smartphone, removing the old device.
⚠️ Warning: When you reset your headphones, your pairing history is removed. Make sure you're ready to reconnect them to your phone and other devices.
The problem can also be a codec conflict: If your smartphone is trying to use LDAC or aptX HD, and the headphones are running in basic SBC mode, commands can get lost. Try changing the developer menu on Android to change the priority audio codec to SBC or AAC for verification.