Modern wireless headphones like Xiaomi Redmi Airdots or Mi True Wireless Earbuds have become incredibly popular due to their excellent price-to-quality ratio. However, Apple smartphone owners often face certain difficulties when pairing these devices in the first place, since the Android and iOS ecosystems differ in the management protocols of Bluetooth accessories. iPhone users are deprived of the ability to use the Mi TWS or Xiaomi Earbuds branded application, which limits the functionality of the headset and requires manual control through system settings.
Despite the lack of specialized software, the connection process remains simple enough and does not require technical knowledge. You do not need to be an electronics expert to make these devices work in conjunction with iOS. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the steps of synchronization, from activating the search mode to fine-tuning the sound and microphone parameters, and also consider the typical errors that can occur in the process.
We will also discuss the compatibility of different versions of the iOS operating system with different generations of Xiaomi headphones. It is important to understand that the algorithms of Bluetooth modules are constantly improving, and old firmware headphones can behave unpredictable with new versions of the iPhone. Let’s figure out how to ensure a stable connection and maximum sound quality of your music content.
Preparation of Airdots headphones for the first pairing
Before you try to find a device in the Bluetooth list on your iPhone, you need to make sure that the Xiaomi Airdots headphones themselves are in the correct mode. By default, immediately after being removed from the charging case, they may try to connect to the last known smartphone, such as a friend's Android device or your old phone. To avoid confusion, first place both headphones back in the case and close it for a few seconds, and then retrieve it.
The key is to activate visibility mode, unlike many others. TWS-Headsets, Airdots don't have a separate pairing button on the body. Search mode is activated automatically when you first turn on or after you reset. If the headphones were previously connected to another phone, it is recommended to reset to factory settings. To do this, touch the touch zones on both headphones at the same time and hold near the headphone. 5-7 seconds until the indicators light up red, and then release.
After reset, the lights should start flashing white, signaling readiness for (mating) it is important to wait until one of the headphones (usually the right one) starts flashing white slowly, and the second one stops flashing or flashing less often - which means that the stereo is formed, and now they are ready to connect to an external signal source.
⚠️ Warning: If the lights flash red and white alternately, this means low battery power.Put the headphones in the case to charge for at least 15 minutes before trying to connect, otherwise the synchronization process may interrupt.
Connection process to iPhone via Bluetooth settings
Now that Xiaomi headphones are in search mode, you can go to the settings of your Apple smartphone. Open the Settings app on the home screen and select the Bluetooth partition. Make sure the Bluetooth slider is active (burns green). If you previously tried to connect these headphones and the connection failed, find their name in the list of "My devices", click on the icon (i) and select "Forget this device" to clear the connection cache.
In the "Other Devices" section, a new gadget should appear. Depending on the model, it can be called Redmi Airdots, Mi True Wireless EBs Basic or just Airdots. Click on the device name to start pairing. iOS will request confirmation of action, and in a few seconds the status will change to "Connected".
Once successfully connected, the sound should automatically switch to the headphones. If this does not happen, open Control Point (swipe down from the top right corner on the iPhone with Face ID or swipe up on models with a button), click on the audio playback icon in the top right corner and select your Airdots from the list of available audio output devices.
☑️ Checking before connection
Features of working with iOS and functionality limitations
It is important for iPhone owners to know that the lack of support for MIUI Link protocol or similar Apple technologies on the Xiaomi side imposes certain limitations. You will not be able to see the exact percentage of charge of each headphone in the Battery widget, as implemented for the AirPods. The charge level will only be displayed as a common icon or as three points in the Bluetooth settings, which is less informative.
In addition, touch zone control on Airdots may not work properly or differently than stated in the instructions. For example, triple tap to call voice assistant on iOS activates Siri, but double tap may not switch tracks unless configured appropriately in the phone itself, which is not possible for this model. All control is reduced to basic functions: call response, pause/playback and activation of Siri.
Why isn't the autopause working?
Also worth noting is the latency of audio when watching videos. Although the AptX protocol is supported by many Xiaomi models, the iPhone uses AAC and SBC codecs. This provides good quality, but in rare cases, audio and video sequences can be desynchronized in certain applications that are not optimized for external Bluetooth devices.
Solution: if the iPhone can't see the headphones
The situation when the Apple smartphone ignores the presence of Xiaomi Airdots is quite common and usually solved by rebooting the Bluetooth module. Try turning off Bluetooth in the settings, wait 10 seconds and turn on again. If this does not help, completely reboot the iPhone. Often iOS system services "hang" and stop scanning the airwaves for new devices.
The second common reason is that the left and right headphones are out of sync. If they don't "see" each other, they won't be able to transmit the signal to the phone. For forced soldering of the pair's stereo, turn off Bluetooth on the phone, put the headphones in the case, then take them out and quickly press them 5 times on the touchpads of both headphones. They should flash red several times, which means reset, then repeat the pairing procedure.
If the problem persists, check the device list in Bluetooth settings. If there are multiple "Airdots" or "Mi True Wireless" entries, delete everything. Sometimes the iPhone remembers the device as a "head phone" and an "audio device" separately, creating a conflict of priorities.
Compatibility table for Airdots models and iOS versions
Not all headphone models are equally good friends with different versions of the operating system. Below is a table that will help you navigate the possible nuances of connecting different versions of the Redmi and Mi to the iPhone.
| Model headphones | Minimum version of iOS | Codecs. | Features of work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Airdots (1-gen) | iOS 10.0+ | SBC, AAC | Frequent breaks on iOS 15+ |
| Redmi Airdots 2 | iOS 11.0+ | SBC, AAC | Stable connection |
| Mi True Wireless 2 Basic | iOS 12.0+ | SBC, AAC | Good compatibility |
| Redmi Buds 3 Lite | iOS 13.0+ | SBC, AAC | Requires resetting when changing OS |
Microphone setting and call quality
The quality of voice transmission when talking through Xiaomi Airdots on the iPhone depends on which earphone is chosen as the main one. In stereo mode, the microphone often works only on one of the headphones (usually the right one). If the interlocutor complains about a quiet voice, try during a conversation to move the earphone to the other ear or touch the touch zone to change the active channel, if the model allows.
To improve the quality of calls in your iPhone settings, go to Settings → Universal Access → Audio Visualization. Here you can turn on the “Mono-audio” function, which sometimes helps balance the sound if one of the channels is quieter. Also make sure that the Bluetooth settings for the connected device activate “Phone” and “Audio login”.
⚠️ Warning: When using headphones in hands-free mode (such as WhatsApp or Telegram messengers), the sound can switch to mono mode and become quieter.This is the standard iOS behavior to save charge and reduce delays, not a malfunction.
Optimizing energy consumption and stability
To keep the Airdots lasting longer and holding their charge, try not to leave them in a discharged state. Lithium polymer batteries degrade faster if the voltage drops below a critical level. If you don't plan to use the headphones for more than a month, charge them up to 60-80% and store them in a dry place.
Also, avoid using headphones in areas with powerful sources of radio interference, such as microwave ovens or industrial equipment. Bluetooth protocol operates at 2.4 GHz, which is heavily congested in apartment buildings. If the sound is interrupted, move away from the Wi-Fi router or switch it to 5 GHz if possible.
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Wipe your headphone contacts with an alcohol napkin once a month. Case oxidation is a common reason that headphones stop charging and die at the most inopportune moment.
Regular clean speakers also affect sound quality.Sulphur and dust can clog the mesh, making the sound deaf and quiet.Use a soft dry brush or sticky tape to clean, but don't use sharp objects to avoid damaging the membrane.
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The stability of Xiaomi Airdots on the iPhone is 90% dependent on the purity of charging contacts and the absence of old pairing profiles in the phone’s memory.