Transition to fully wireless TWS-Headphones (True Wireless Stereo) from Xiaomi has become a landmark event for many users, changing the idea of mobile sound. The AirDots, Redmi Buds and Mi True Wireless series have gained popularity due to their compact size and affordable price, but their initial setup often raises questions for beginners. Unlike classic headsets, there are no physical wires, and control is carried out through touch zones and automatic algorithms.
In this guide, we’ll take a detailed look at the whole way from unpacking to fine-tuning the sound so you can make the most of your gadget’s potential.You’ll learn how to pair devices properly, switch between modes of operation, and avoid common errors that lead to left-right channels being out of sync.
Understanding how Bluetooth works in these devices will help you solve communication problems faster. Despite the apparent simplicity, there is a complex logic behind the case and the headphones themselves, requiring compliance with certain rules of operation for a stable connection.
First Enabling and Activating the Device
The process of activating the new Xiaomi AirDots or Redmi Buds begins long before you first hear music. Manufacturers often use special insulation films on charging contacts inside the headphones themselves to prevent battery drain when stored in stock. If you just open the case and try to find the device in the phone, it may not be determined, since the headphones are in sleep mode.
You need to remove both headphones from the charging box and carefully examine their bottom, and the charging contacts often have tiny blue or transparent stickers on them. Removing these films is a critical step: once the contact is closed, the headphones should light up, signaling the start of work.
⚠️ Warning: If the indicators do not flash after extraction from the case, check the charge of the case itself. Sometimes activation requires first charging the box from the network during the course of the test. 15-20 minute.
Once the insulation is removed, put the headphones back in the case and close the lid for 5-10 seconds, then open again. This action initiates the process of automatically pairing the left and right channels together. Only after they "find" each other (usually this takes a few seconds, the indicators start flashing less often or change color), the device becomes visible to your smartphone.
☑️ Primary activation
The process of pairing with a smartphone
When the headphones are in standby mode, their indicators start flashing quickly, often in white or red and blue, at which point you need to go to your smartphone's Bluetooth settings, and the model name should appear on the list of available devices, for example, Mi True Wireless EBs Basic or Redmi AirDots.
It's important to understand the difference between single-channel and dual-channel modes. By default, the device tends to run in stereo mode, but some older models or specific settings may offer only one headphone (usually the right one) connection. The right connection implies that you choose the device once, and the sound is distributed to both channels.
- 🎧 Open Bluetooth settings on your phone and enable search.
- 📱 Find your device in the list (for example, AirDots_ZZ).
- ✅ Click on the name to pair and wait for confirmation.
- 🔊 Check the output of the sound by running any media file.
If the phone sees two devices with the same "L" and "R" prefix, or just two identical names, it's a desynchronization signal, in which case you need to remove both devices from the phone's memory list, put the headphones in the case, pinch the touch areas for 20 seconds to reset, and then repeat the connection procedure again.
Sensor and gesture control
One of the most convenient, but sometimes confusing, features is touch control. Unlike the push-button counterparts, there's no physical click, and all the actions are done with light taps on the outside of the body, and the sensor areas are located on the outer edge of the earphone, and it doesn't require much pressure to act.
The basic instruction set is usually standardized for most Xiaomi and Redmi models. However, depending on the specific firmware version or model (e.g. AirDots 2 vs AirDots Pro), the combinations may vary slightly. The standard scenario involves the use of single, double and triple taps.
| Action. | Team team. | The result |
|---|---|---|
| Single click | 1 tap | Answer the call / pause (Play/Pause) |
| Double click | 2 taps | Next PostNext Activation of Assistant |
| Triple click | 3 taps | Previous Track/Activation of Game Mode |
| Retention | 2 seconds | Calling/Switching Off (without the case) |
For iOS users (iPhone), functionality may be limited due to the features of the operating system. Often double-clicking on the iPhone causes Siri, not a track switch, as Apple prioritizes its voice assistant. On Android devices, you can reassign some actions through the Mi Wear app or Xiaomi Earbuds, but regular means to change the logic of the sensor is not always possible.
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To wake up the headphones, if they're asleep, just touch the touch zone twice. You don't have to take them out of the case or press the buttons on the phone.
Use of a single headphone (Mono Mode)
Monophone Sound Mode is a Unique Opportunity TWS-A headset that allows only one headphone (usually the right one) to be used while the second one is in the case and charging, ideal for long phone conversations or situations where you need to hear the environment.
To activate this mode, just take one earbud out of the case. If they've been paired in stereo before, the device automatically switches to mono-connection standby, and when you connect to the phone, the device list may include a name with the prefix "R" or just a standard name.
⚠️ Note: With a single earphone, the volume may appear quieter than in stereo mode, as only one speaker is running.
If you want to get your stereo back, put the active headphone in the case, close the lid, wait a few seconds and pull out both of the headphones at the same time, they have to automatically find each other and restore the stereo pair, and if that doesn't happen, you'll need to manually reset the settings through prolonged sensor retention.
Why is the left earphone not working in mono mode?
Updating firmware and using applications
For full disclosure of the capabilities of your AirDots, it is highly recommended to use specialized applications. Official utilities such as Xiaomi Earbuds (for the global market) or Mi Wear (formerly Mi Fitness), allow you not only to track the charge, but also to update the internal software of the headphones.
The firmware update is critical if you are experiencing a desynchronization problem, a quiet sound or an unstable connection. Xiaomi engineers regularly release patches that improve the Bluetooth antenna and noise reduction algorithms. To start the upgrade, the headphones must be at least 50% charged and be near the phone.
- 📲 Download the Xiaomi Earbuds app from Google Play or App Store.
- 🔗 Connect headphones to your smartphone via Bluetooth.
- 🔄 Open the application and find the section "Firmware Update".
- ⏳ Wait for the process to end without removing the headphones from the case.
In some cases, if the official app does not see the device (which often happens with Chinese versions of headphones designed for the domestic market), you can use third-party utilities, such as AndroPods or Mi True Wireless EBs Basic.
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Regular firmware updates through the app are the best way to fix sound bugs and improve connection stability without going to the service.
Typical problems and their solution
Even high-quality devices sometimes experience software failures, the most common problem is desynchronization of channels, where the sound comes from only one earbud, or they are defined as two different devices, and users may experience a situation where one earbud discharges faster than the other.
To fix most of the malfunctions, there is a universal algorithm of actions: first, you need to clear the list of conjugate devices on the phone ("Forget the device"), then perform a full reset on the headphones themselves, you need to place them in the case, open the lid and pinch the touch areas on both headphones simultaneously for 20-30 seconds, until the indicators blink several times (usually in red).
If the problem is quiet sound, check the absolute volume settings in (Developer Options) on Android or simply clean the speaker grid of earwax that could have clogged the hole during operation. Using a cotton swab with a little alcohol (carefully!) can do wonders.