Xiaomi’s wireless headphones and Redmi’s sub-brand have been some of the most popular on the market for many years, but even reliable TWS (True Wireless Stereo) devices sometimes fail. Users often face a situation where the right or left earphone stops syncing with the phone, or both modules work independently, turning into two mono-device. In such cases, a Bluetooth protocol software failure requires immediate intervention, and the only effective solution is a complete reset to factory settings.
Hard Reset allows you to clear the internal memory of modules from accumulated pairing errors and force them to move to the search mode for a new device. It is important to understand that the recovery process can vary slightly depending on the particular model, whether it is classic Airdots, more advanced Air 2 or gaming versions of Gaming Edition. Ignoring these nuances often leads to users wasting time trying to apply a universal method where it does not work.
In this guide, we will take a detailed look at the algorithms for different modifications, explain the physics of the process and answer frequently asked questions related to fault diagnosis. You will learn how to interpret the behavior of indicators and what steps you need to take if the standard method failed. A deep understanding of the logic of how Xiaomi accessories work will help you quickly bring your gadget back to life without going to the service center.
Diagnosis: when you need to reset headphones
Before we start taking drastic measures, we need to clearly identify the symptoms that indicate the need for a reset procedure. Most often, the problem is to desynchronize the left and right channels, when one of the headphones is silent or plays back a latency sound. This is a classic sign that the Bluetooth protocol inside the case or modules themselves has failed and requires rebooting the connection logic.
Another alarming sign is the appearance of a device in the list of available networks with a strange name, for example, a double-repeated model name, or the complete invisibility of a smartphone gadget. In some cases, the phone can only see one module, ignoring the second, which makes listening to music in stereo impossible. It is also worth considering resetting if the indicators behave incorrectly: flashing in a non-standard color or do not light up when extracted from the charging case.
If you notice that the sound quality has dropped, there are extraneous noises or interruptions that are not associated with interference on the air, this may indicate a software conflict. Sometimes it helps to simply remove the device from the list of paired on the phone, but if the problem comes back after a short time, then the error is “entered” deep in the memory of the headphone controller.
⚠️ Warning: If the headphones don’t respond to the charger connection and the lights don’t light up even after a long downtime, it may be that the problem lies in the deep battery discharge or contact oxidation, not in the software failure.
Preparation for the procedure: cleaning the list of conjugations
A critical step that is often ignored is to pre-clear the connection history on the smartphone itself. Before you manipulate the physical buttons on the headphones, you need to “forget” the device in your phone’s Bluetooth settings, which breaks the current logical connection and prevents you from automatically reconnecting to the erroneous profile immediately after reset.
Go to the Bluetooth settings on your mobile device, find your Xiaomi Airdots or Redmi Buds in the list, and select the option “Forget the device” or “Unpair the pairing.” After that, it is recommended to turn off the Bluetooth on the phone completely so that it does not try to scan the airwaves for familiar gadgets during the reset process.
It is also worth checking the charge of the charge case and headphones. If the energy level is critically low, the device may not respond correctly to (long press) sensors or buttons, interrupting the reset process halfway. Make sure that the contacts inside the case are clean, and the headphones themselves fit tightly to them, providing stable power during the procedure.
☑️ Preparation for discharge
Universal reset method for classic Airdots and Redmi
Most first- and second-generation models, such as Xiaomi Airdots, Airdots 2, Redmi Airdots and Redmi Airdots Essential, use touch panel reset, which does not require physical buttons on the case body and relies on long-term retention of touch zones on the headphones themselves.
Remove both earbuds from the charger case. If they automatically turn on and start flashing, you need to turn them off. To do this, press the touch areas on both earbuds at the same time and hold them for about 5-7 seconds until the lights go out. Once the devices are turned off, place them back in the case, but do not close the lid immediately.
Now the most important step is to press and hold the touch zones on both headphones simultaneously while in the case (or pulling them out if the model requires it, but for classics you usually need to take it out). Hold your finger for about 20 seconds. First, the indicators can light up red, then start flashing. You need to wait for the indicators to flash three times red (or white, depending on the firmware version), which will signal a successful reset.
After triple blinking, release the headphones and put them in the case. Close the lid and wait a few seconds. Then re-extract them - they should go into pairing mode (fast flashing with a white indicator), and you can find them in the list of Bluetooth devices as new, previously unconnected hardware.
What to do if the timing does not match?
Reset models with a physical button on the case (Air 2, Air 2s, Pro)
More modern models such as the Xiaomi Air 2, Air 2s, Air 2 Pro and Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 have a simplified recovery system. They have a special physical button hidden in the recess on the back or bottom of the charging case, which makes it much easier to do and minimizes the risk of error when synchronizing the press timing.
First, place both earbuds inside the charging case and make sure they're magnetized and start charging (the headphones should catch fire). Leave the case cover open. Find a round button on the case. You'll need a thin object, like a toothpick or a paper clip, to press it.
Press and hold the button on the case for 10-15 seconds.The status indicator on the front of the case (or on the headphones themselves, depending on the model) will start flashing white, and then may flash red or orange.As soon as you see the characteristic flashing indicating a reset (usually a quick blink or change of color), release the button.
After this procedure, the headphones will completely clear the memory of previous connections. Close the case, open it again and check the indication - it should signal readiness for a new pairing. You can now activate Bluetooth on the phone and search for devices again.
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Use a plastic card or non-metallic item to press the reset button so that you don’t accidentally close contacts inside the recess if the case design has open elements.
Specificity of resetting game versions and Lite models
Game modifications such as Redmi Airdots Gaming Edition, as well as simplified versions of Lite or Youth Edition, can have their own peculiarities in the logic of the indicator. In some cases, the reset algorithm is similar to the classic models, but the time intervals can be reduced or, conversely, increased. For example, Gaming Edition often requires to hold sensors a little longer, up to 30 seconds.
The models with different color indicators deserve special attention. If in the classic reset is indicated by red blinking, in some versions of Lite it can be a rapid pulse with blue or violet light. It is important not to confuse the fast pairing mode (which is activated immediately after extraction) with the reset mode. Reset mode always precedes the pairing mode and often accompanied by a change in color or rhythm of blinking.
For models without an explicit button on the case and with non-standard sensor location (for example, on a leg, like the Air 2 Lite), the principle remains the same: long-term retention of touch areas when switched off or when switched off. If the standard 20 seconds do not work, try to increase the interval to 30-40 seconds, making small pauses between attempts so that the controller can reboot.
| Model headphones | Type of management | Duration of retention | Indication of discharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airdots / Redmi Airdots | Headphone sensor | 20-25 seconds | Triple flashing red |
| Air 2 / Air 2s | The button on the case | 10-15 seconds | White flashing of indicator |
| Gaming Edition | Headphone sensor | 25-30 seconds. | Blinking indicator (color varies) |
| Air 2 Lite | Foot sensor | 20 seconds. | Consecutive blinking |
Solving the problem: if the reset did not help
There are situations where even after all the instructions are done, the headphones are not behaving correctly. One of the common reasons is that one of the modules is stuck in mono-earphone mode, in which case you have to turn off both headphones (holding 5-7 seconds), put them in the case, close the lid, and only then repeat the reset procedure, doubling the retention time.
If the phone sees the headphones but doesn't connect, try clearing the Bluetooth cache in the settings of the Android smartphone itself. To do this, search the System Apps menu, select Bluetooth, and click Clear Cache and Erase Data, which will restart the operating system's Bluetooth stack, which often solves compatibility issues.
In rare cases, the problem may be due to the difference in the versions of firmware on the left and right earphone, especially if they were bought separately or one of them was replaced under warranty. In such a situation, synchronization may not be possible without flashing through special utilities, which is extremely difficult to do at home. If nothing helps, there is probably a hardware malfunction of the battery or board.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to disassemble headphones or open a case if the device is warranty, this will lead to loss of warranty service. If the reset does not help, contact an authorized service.
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A successful reset does not guarantee a solution to hardware problems. If one earphone discharges faster than another after reset or wheezes, a battery replacement or speaker is most likely required.