Xiaomi’s True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headphones, known as Redmi Airdots, Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic, Airdots 2 and S, have become a hit in the low-cost audio market. They are popular for their excellent value for money, but many users have difficulty initially configuring and understanding the logic of the indicators. Often, after unpacking, owners are faced with a situation where only one headphone is running, or the device is not visible in the Bluetooth list.
To avoid these problems and unlock the full potential of an audio device, you need to follow the initial synchronization algorithm, and it's important to understand that these headphones don't just connect to your phone like a normal Bluetooth headset, but first have to pair up with each other to create a single communication channel, only then they become visible to external gadgets.
In this guide, we will take a detailed look at all stages of operation, from the first charge to fine-tuning gesture control. You will learn how to interpret the flashing indicators correctly, how to reset to factory settings in case of errors, and what hidden opportunities these compact Mi True Wireless Earbuds have. Proper handling of the device will prolong the battery life and ensure a stable connection.
Initial preparation and activation
The first step before starting use is to check the battery charge. Although devices often come with a partial charge, it is recommended to put a case with nested headphones on charge for at least one hour. This uses a Micro-USB port (in older models) or Type-C (in newer versions) located on the end of the case. The indicator on the front of the case will light up red during charging and go out or become white/green when fully charged.
The critical thing is to remove the protective film from the charging contacts on the headphones themselves. If you notice that the headphones don't light up when you put them in the case, check if the thin film in the factory prevents you from contacting the pins in the recesses, and it needs to be carefully removed to ensure that the energy is transferred.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use "fast" chargers from smartphones with currents above 1A to charge a case of headphones. High current can damage the power controller, which will lead to rapid battery degradation or complete failure of the device. USB-computer port or power supply with a current of 500 mA.
After charging, remove both earbuds from the case, and you'll notice that the lights will start flashing. Initially, they'll flash red and white in turn, which is the pairing mode between the left and right earbuds. You'll have to wait until one of the headphones (usually the right one) flashes white slowly, and the other one goes out, which means that the stereo is formed, and now the device is ready to look for the phone.
Connection with Android and iOS devices
The process of connecting to a smartphone is almost identical to Android and iOS operating systems, as it uses the standard Bluetooth protocol. Once you have made sure that the headphones have gone into standby mode (slow white flashing of one of them), open the Bluetooth settings on your mobile device. Turn on the wireless module if it was turned off, and start searching for new devices.
The list of available devices will show the name of your model. For the base version it will be Redmi Airdots, for the second version it will be Redmi Airdots 2, and for the model S it will be Mi True Wireless Earbuds S. Click on the name to initiate pairing. The system can request confirmation of the access code - in this case just confirm the action. Successful connection is usually accompanied by a voice message "Connected" in the headphones themselves.
While the connection is successful, some features, such as displaying the charge of each headphone in a separate widget or automatically switching between iCloud devices, may not be available or work incorrectly compared to the original AirPods.
☑️ Checking before connection
Managing functions and gestures
The headphones are controlled by physical buttons located on the body of each headphone, or through touch zones (depending on the specific modification). The logic of the buttons is universal for most models of the Airdots line. Single pressing of the button of any of the headphones pauses the track or resumes playback. If you are talking on the phone, a short press will answer an incoming call or end an ongoing conversation.
To switch songs, double tap is used. Two quick clicks on the right earpiece (Right) will switch the track to the next, and double tap on the left earpiece (Left) will return to the beginning of the current composition or turn on the previous track in the playlist, a feature that is especially convenient when exercising when it is inconvenient to get the phone out.
Special attention should be paid to the function of activating the voice assistant, which requires triple pressing the button of any headphone. Depending on the settings of the smartphone, this action will call Google Assistant, Siri or Xiao AI. Also, triple pressing can be used to re-dial the last number in standby mode.
| Action. | Right earphone (R) | Left earphone (L) |
|---|---|---|
| Single tap | Pause/Start/Respond | Pause/Start/Respond |
| Double-push | Next track | Previous track |
| Triple press. | Voice assistant | Voice assistant |
| Containment (2 seconds) | Dismissing the call/Refusal | Dismissing the call/Refusal |
Features of the game mode
Working with indicators and statuses
Understanding color is key to making a wireless headset comfortable. Indicators tell the user the current state of the device without having to check the screen of the smartphone every time. For example, if the indicators flash quickly in red and white when extracted from a case, it means finding each other. If you see a rare flash of white on one headphone, the device is ready to connect to the phone.
When talking or listening to music, the lights don't usually burn to save energy. However, when the battery is low, the earphone will start to give signals. A red flash every few seconds warns of a critically low charge level, after which the device can automatically shut down. The constant burning of the red indicator when placed in the case indicates the charging process.
⚠️ Note: If the headphone lights flash red and white at the same time and don’t stop even after a minute, it means that the synchronization between the channels is lost, in which case the sound will come from only one earphone, or they will be defined by the phone as two different devices. Resetting procedure required.
You should also look at the indication in the case itself. Depending on the model, the color of the indicator on the case of the charging case can change. Red when you open the case cover (without removing the headphones) signals that the battery of the case itself is discharged. White or green indicates sufficient energy levels to fully charge the headphones.
Resolving problems and resetting settings
The most common problem users face is the left and right earphones being out of sync, which can happen after one of them is zero, the phone's software is updated, or the Bluetooth protocol is crashed, and the phone sees two Redmi Airdots devices or only hears one side of the headphone, and the solution is a full reset.
To perform the reset, you need to place both earphones in the charging case. Once you make sure they start charging (the indicators light up), remove them simultaneously. While the indicators flash red and white, quickly press and hold the touch zones (or physical buttons) on both earphones simultaneously for 5-7 seconds. The indicators should blink red several times, after which the reset process will be completed, and the headphones will go back to pair search mode.
If the reset didn't work, try "forgetting" the device in your smartphone's Bluetooth settings. Remove the Redmi Airdots profile from your list of previously used devices, turn off Bluetooth on your phone, put the headphones in your case, close it for 10 seconds, and then repeat the pairing procedure from scratch. Often this helps clear the connection error cache.
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When cleaning earwax, use a dry soft brush or cotton swab slightly moistened with alcohol. Avoid getting moisture inside the speaker mesh, as most Airdots models do not have full IPX7 moisture protection and can fail.
Technical specifications and compatibility
Xiaomi Airdots headphones are based on the Realtek chip, which provides stable connection and support for the SBC codec. Although the AAC codec is also supported by most models, the quality of the audio transfer depends largely on the capabilities of your smartphone. Android devices are characterized by support for profiles A2DP (stereo sound), HFP (hands free) and AVRCP (media management).
Battery life is about 4 hours of continuous music playback at medium volume. The case allows you to charge the headphones about 2-3 times, which increases the total running time to 12-16 hours. It is important to consider that using the maximum volume level reduces battery life.
The compatibility of the devices is wide: they work with any gadget that has a Bluetooth module 4.2 and above. This includes not only smartphones, but also tablets, laptops, Smart TVs and even some gaming consoles. However, to use all the control functions (for example, switching tracks) on the computer, you may need to additionally configure drivers or use third-party software, since standard Windows drivers sometimes incorrectly process commands from the buttons of the headset.
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Correct reset sequence: Extract from the case -> Press buttons until red flash -> Put in the case -> Reconnect to Bluetooth. This solves 90% of the sound problems.