Modern. TWS-Headphones from Xiaomi are famous for their sound quality and stability, but even the most reliable technology sometimes fails. Users often face a situation where one of the earbuds stops syncing with the other, the Bluetooth connection becomes unstable, or the device completely stops responding to smartphone commands. In such cases, the only effective solution is to return to factory parameters, which allows you to eliminate program errors and channel desynchronization.
Hard Reset is a very different procedure than simply cutting power or breaking the connection in the phone menu, which forcibly clears the internal memory of the headset from accumulated errors and resets all user settings to the “out of the box” state. It is important to understand that after this procedure you will have to re-pair the device with your smartphone, removing the old profile from the list of available Bluetooth gadgets.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the known reboot methods for various product lines, including the Redmi Buds, Mi True Wireless and AirDots series. We will look not only at standard algorithms of actions, but also at the specific nuances that are characteristic of different versions of firmware and hardware revisions. Careful follow-up will help you restore the functionality of the gadget without contacting the service center.
⚠️ Before starting the procedure, make sure that the case and the headphones themselves are charged at least on the basis of the 30-40%. Interrupting the reset process due to battery discharge may lead to incorrect operation of the power controller.
When a complete headphone reset is required
Many users panic at the first sign of unstable work, although sometimes the problem is solved by simply restarting the smartphone. However, there are clear symptoms indicating that it is necessary to programmatically reset the audio device. If you notice that the sound has become deaf, one of the channels is missing or the indicators behave chaoticly, you should not ignore this.
Most often, the reset needs to be done when the left and right channels are out of sync. Normally, one headphone (master) connects to the phone and transmits a signal to the second (slave). If they fail, they can stop "hearing" each other, working as two independent mono-device, and reset is also necessary if the headset is not visible in the Bluetooth list or constantly loses connection at a short distance.
Another common reason is to change the main device: If you’ve previously connected your headphones to your friends’ tablet or laptop, they may automatically try to connect to the latest known gadget when turned on, ignoring your phone, in which case cleaning the list of paired devices inside the headphone memory is a must-do step for the new setup.
- 🔴 Headphones are seen in Bluetooth as two separate devices with the same or similar name.
- 🔴 The sound is played only in one headphone, or one of them is silent when calling.
- 🔴 Indicators flash a non-standard color or do not light up when extracted from the case.
- 🔴 Inability to connect the device to a new smartphone due to authorization errors.
Preparation for the discharge procedure
Before you start manipulating your buttons and sensors, you need to do a series of preparatory steps, which minimizes the risk of errors in the process and ensures that the reset will be successful. The first thing you need to do is completely remove your headphone profile from your Bluetooth settings on your smartphone.
After deleting the profile, it is recommended to turn off Bluetooth on the phone completely, which will prevent attempts to automatically reconnect when the headphones are in setup mode. If you have a Mi Wear or Xiaomi Earbuds app, force it to close through the task manager so that background processes do not interfere with the procedure.
Special attention should be paid to the purity of contacts. Oxidation or contamination of charging areas on headphones and inside the case can lead to the fact that the device will not correctly determine the moment of placement in the case or extraction from it.
☑️ Checklist of preparations
Universal method of discharge through the case
Most of Xiaomi’s current wireless headphones, including the popular Redmi Buds 3/4 and Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2, use a single reset logic tied to the functional case button. This method is considered the most reliable, as it eliminates random touch taps on the headphones themselves. First, place both headphones in the charging case and make sure they are securely fixed by magnets.
You need to leave the case lid open. Find a small circular button on the case, which is usually located on the end or back wall between the indicators. You need to press this button and hold it for a certain time. The standard interval is 10 to 30 seconds, depending on the particular model and version of firmware.
Watch for the indication: during the retention process, the LED light will flash, usually red or white, and then light up with a straight light or change the blinking frequency. This is a signal that the reset was successful, and the headphones went into the search mode for a new device to pair, then you can close the case and open it again for a start.
Resetting headphones without a button on the case
Some budget and compact models, such as the Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic or Redmi AirDots, do not have a physical button on the charging case. In such cases, all control logic is transferred to the touch or mechanical pads on the headphones themselves. This method requires greater accuracy and timing, since sensors can be sensitive to the force of pressing.
Remove both earbuds from the case. You need to press and hold the touch zones (or physical buttons) on both headphones at the same time. Hold them for about 5-7 seconds before turning them off, and then continue holding them for another 15-20 seconds. It's important to keep your fingers on even if the lights go out - they should light up again, signaling you to enter reset mode.
The indication of successful completion of the process usually looks like a quick flash of white 2-3 times, after which the headphones will turn off. If the first time failed, you may not have synchronized the press on the left and right earbuds. Try to repeat the procedure by ensuring that you simultaneously touch the sensors. Sometimes it helps to put the headphones on the table and press them with both fingers at the same time.
⚠️ Attention: When reset via touchpads, there is a risk of accidentally activating the voice assistant or starting music playback if timings are down.Try to perform actions in silence so as not to activate third-party commands.
Specificity of resetting different Xiaomi models
Xiaomi’s audio lineup is huge, and manufacturers often make algorithm changes for different series. For example, Gaming Edition gaming models may have a special low-latency mode that also requires resetting when desynchronization occurs. The table below shows key procedural differences for popular series.
| Model headphones | Type of management | Retention time | Indication of success |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Buds 3 / 3 Pro | The button on the case | 10 seconds. | White indicator flashes 3 times |
| Mi True Wireless 2 / 2S | Headphone sensor | 20 seconds (after off) | Red indicator on 1 sec. |
| Redmi AirDots S / Basic 2 | The button on the case | 15-20 seconds | The indicator flashes white |
| Mi Buds 3T / 4 | The button on the case | 10 seconds. | Orange light (reset), White (pairing) |
For flagship Active Noise Reduction (ANC) models such as the Mi Buds 3T Pro, the reset procedure can also restore microphone calibration. If the noise maker doesn't work properly after reset, it's a good idea to additionally check firmware updates through the Mi Wear app. In some cases, factory resets return the equalizer settings to standard, so your personal sound profiles will be lost.
Solving Frequent Problems After Resetting
Even after completing all the steps successfully, users may encounter situations where the device is behaving unpredictably, such as the phone sees the headphones but fails to connect, giving an error "Unable to connect." In this case, you need to completely clear the Bluetooth cache on the smartphone. For Android, this can be done through the Apps menu by finding the Bluetooth system process and selecting "Clear Cache" and "Clear Data".
Another common problem is the quick discharge of one of the headphones after reset, which may indicate that the reset was not complete, and one of the channels remained in standby mode, consuming energy. Repeat the reset procedure again, but increase the time of holding the button by 5-10 seconds. Also check whether the headphones fit tightly to the contacts in the case.
If neither method works, the problem may be hardware-based, the power controller malfunctions or battery degradation may have occurred independently of the software, and the software reset is powerless, requiring a diagnosis at an authorized service center.