Modern fully wireless headphones from Xiaomi and Redmi are compact devices that often face software failures due to their miniature nature. Users may notice that the gadget has stopped syncing with the smartphone, the sound has become quiet or intermittent, and one of the headphones simply stopped responding to touch. In such situations, a regular disconnection through the phone's Bluetooth menu is often powerless, since the problem lies deeper in the cache of the device itself or the desynchronization of the left and right channels.
That's why you need to do a full reset, or what's called Hard Reset, which brings the headset back to factory status, erasing all temporary files and forcing the reconnection process to start, and it's important to understand that the reset algorithms can vary depending on the model, whether it's the popular Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic or the more advanced AirDots Pro.
In this article, we will take a look at all the known ways to resuscitate the Chinese giant’s audio devices, learn how to interpret the flashing of indicators correctly, what actions to perform first, and how to avoid common errors that can permanently disable electronics. The key to a successful reset is to completely ignore the device in the Bluetooth settings of the phone until all the manipulations with the case are completed.
⚠️ Before starting the procedure, make sure that the charge of the case and the headphones themselves is at least 30-40%. Interrupting the reset process due to battery discharge may result in the inability to further activate the device.
Preparation for the resetting procedure
Before you start to take action with the buttons and sensors, you need to perform a number of preparatory steps on the side of your smartphone. Ignoring this stage is the most common cause of a failed reset, as the phone can try to automatically reconnect to the headphones at the most inopportune moment, interrupting the reboot cycle.
The first thing you need to do is go to your mobile device's Bluetooth settings. Find your model in the paired device list, such as Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 or Redmi Buds 3 Lite. Click on the gear or information icon next to the name and select the option to "Forget the device" or "Unpair" to remove the encryption keys and connection history from the phone's memory.
After that, it is strongly recommended to completely turn off the Bluetooth module on the smartphone, this will prevent background search of the device by Android or iOS. While you are manipulating the headphones, the phone should not “see” them and try to establish a connection. Only after the reset procedure is completed and the corresponding signal appears, you can activate the wireless module again.
☑️ Preparation for discharge
It is also worth checking the physical condition of the contacts. If you see dust, pile or oxidation on the metal contacts inside the case or on the legs of the headphones, wipe them with dry lilaless fabric. Poor contact can lead to the headphones not realizing that they are in the case, and the reset procedure will not start correctly.
Reset headphones Xiaomi Mi AirDots and Redmi AirDots
AirDots and Redmi AirDots (including Basic, S, 2) are some of the most popular models on the market, and the feature is that there is no physical button on the case to control the reset, so the entire procedure is performed through the touch panels on the headphones themselves.
First, remove both earbuds from the charger case. Make sure they're on (usually they turn on automatically when removed). Now you need to turn them off manually. To do this, press and hold the touchpads on both earbuds simultaneously for 5-7 seconds until the lights go out. This is a critical step - reset is possible only from the off state.
When the headphones are off, put them back in the case, but don't close the lid. Now press the touch areas on both headphones again and hold the touch areas on both at the same time. This time, you need to hold it longer, about 20 seconds. Watch the indicators: they should flash red a few times, and then start flashing white. This is a signal that Hard Reset has been successful, and the headphones have gone into pairing mode.
What to do if the indicators do not flash?
Once the procedure is completed successfully, the indicators can flash at different frequencies, which means finding each other. Put the headphones in the case and close the lid for 10 seconds, then open and remove them. Now they must be ready for a new pairing.
Instructions for models with a button on the case
More advanced models, such as the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2/2S/2SE, AirDots Pro or FlipBuds Pro, often feature a functional button on the case of the charging case.This greatly simplifies the process, making it look like a reset headphones from Apple AirPods.
Place both headphones inside the charge case. Make sure the case cover is open. Find a round button on the case (usually located on the front or bottom edge). You need to press and hold this button for 10-15 seconds. The status indicator located next to the button or on the front panel will start flashing white at a high frequency.
Once you see a quick white flash, release the button, which means that the headphones have cleared their memory and they've gone into pairing mode, and now you can close the case cover, wait a few seconds, and open it again, and the headphones are ready to search with the new device.
| Model headphones | Type of management | Duration of retention | Indication of success |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mi AirDots Basic | Headphone sensor | 20 seconds. | Red, then white flashing |
| Mi True Wireless 2S | The button on the case | 10-15 seconds | White flashing |
| Redmi Buds 3 Pro | The button on the case | 10 seconds. | Orange blinking |
| Mi FlipBuds Pro | The button on the case | 10 seconds. | White flashing |
Solving Channel Dissynchronization Problems
One of the most annoying problems is when the headphones are on, the phone sees them, but the sound is only coming from one ear, or the left and right channels are operating independently of each other. TWS-module.
If the standard reset didn't work, try the "deep cleaning" method. For models without a button on the case (AirDots series), there is a nuance: after you have performed the reset (hold 20 seconds), do not rush to connect them to the phone. Leave them lying on the table. They should automatically find each other. Usually one indicator flashes quickly, and the second one slowly until they mate, after which only one of them will blink.
If automatic channel pairing does not occur, repeat the reset procedure, but this time, after the indicators flash white (reset mode), immediately quickly tap the sensors of both headphones 5 times in a row. In some versions of Xiaomi firmware, this action forcibly triggers the TWS-Link mode, forcing the left and right channels to search for each other in priority mode.
⚠️ Note: When channel desynchronization, removing the device from the phone's Bluetooth menu is a must.As long as the phone remembers the old configuration, it may try to broadcast the sound to only one channel, considering it to be the main channel.
The specifics of the resetting of gaming and PRO-model
Flagship models such as Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Pro or Gaming Edition gaming can have customization apps of their own, such as Xiaomi Earbuds or Mi Wear. In some cases, software reset via the app works more efficiently than hardware.
Go to the app, plug in your headphones, and find the About or Settings section, and there may be the Resetting of your headphones option, and using the software method ensures that not only will the Bluetooth bundle be reset, but also the equalizer, noise reduction and touch control settings that may have been changed by the user.
However, if the headphones are not connected at all and the application does not see them, only the hardware method remains. For low-latency gaming versions, an additional procedure is sometimes required: after resetting and connecting to the phone, you need to re-activate Game Mode mode through triple touching the sensor, since after reset, all profiles return to factory values, where this mode can be disabled by default.
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Use the official Xiaomi Earbuds app to check the firmware version. Often, reset and connection problems are solved by simply updating the headphone software to the latest version.
Frequent errors and ways to fix them
Even following the instructions, users may encounter difficulties. Often the problem is not the algorithm of actions, but the little things that are overlooked, such as contamination of the charging contacts inside the case. If the contacts are oxidized, the earphone may not receive a signal that it is in the case, and therefore does not respond to long presses.
Another common mistake is not enough retention time. Users often release a button or finger from the sensor immediately after the indicator blinks. Remember, blinking often means just entering standby mode, and the reset occurs with longer retention (up to 20-30 seconds), you need to wait for the color change or blinking pattern described in the instructions for your model.
Also, consider the battery discharge factor: If the case is discharged to zero, it may not give enough current to initiate the reset process, even if the indicators are dim. Connect the case to charging for 15-20 minutes before trying to reset.
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90% of reset problems are solved by thoroughly cleaning the charging contacts in the case and repeating the procedure with increased button retention time.
If neither method worked, it could be a hardware problem, a Bluetooth module or battery failure, and you should go to an authorized service center.