Modern wireless headsets from Xiaomi, such as the popular AirDots, Redmi Buds or Mi True Wireless, are designed with the maximum autonomy of each module. However, users often face a situation where devices stop “seeing” each other, and sound is played from only one channel, a phenomenon known as desynchronization, requires the forced pairing of the left and right modules before connecting to a smartphone.
The process of reconnecting depends on the specific model and version of the firmware, but the basic principle remains the same for the entire Mi True Wireless ecosystem: you need to run a special search mode in which both headphones will find each other and combine into a single stereo pair. If you ignore this step and try to connect them to the phone separately, you will get two independent devices (Mono), which will make listening to music impossible in the usual format.
In this guide, we will discuss all the preparation steps, basic reset methods and fine-tuning for different generations of headsets. Follow the sequence of actions carefully, as a violation of the timings during reset can lead to the procedure not working the first time. Proper synchronization is the key to stable operation of the Bluetooth connection.
Preparation for the interface procedure
Before starting active actions, it is necessary to ensure the right conditions for the interaction of devices. The battery charge in both modules and in the charging case should be sufficient to ensure that the devices do not turn off at the critical moment of flashing the connection. It is recommended to place the headphones in the case and wait 10-15 minutes, even if the indicators indicate a charge.
The second important step is to clean up your connection history, so on your smartphone or tablet, you need to find your headset’s name (e.g. Mi True Wireless EBs Basic) on your Bluetooth list and select the option to “Forget the device” or “Delete” to break old, possibly corrupted, communication protocols.
It's also worth checking the cleanliness of the contact areas, and there are metal charging contacts on the bottom of each earphone and inside the case, and if they get dust or earwax, the device may not correctly detect where the case is, which will disrupt the reset process.
- 🔋 Make sure the indicators on the case are lit when placing the headphones inside.
- 📱 Remove the headset profile from Bluetooth settings on all previously used gadgets.
- 🧼 Wipe the contacts with dry lilaless fabric to ensure a reliable connection.
☑️ Readiness for synchronization
After completing these preparatory steps, you can move to a direct reset, and ignoring the preparation often leads users to waste time repeating the same actions to no avail.
Basic method of resetting through touch panels
The most common method, relevant to AirDots, AirDots S and early Redmi Buds, involves using touch zones on enclosures. The algorithm of actions here is critically dependent on timing accuracy, so it is recommended to act quickly and clearly.
Remove both earbuds from the charge case. They should automatically turn on. If one of them does not catch fire, press and hold the touchpad until you see the flashing indicator. Now you need to simultaneously press the touch areas of both devices and hold them for 5-7 seconds, at which point the indicators should often blink red, which signals the beginning of the reset process.
Once the lights are gone or lit up red, put both modules back in the case. Wait for the charging lights to light up. In 10 seconds, retrieve them. Now they have to start flashing white quickly, waiting for the connection, which means that the left and right channels have communicated with each other.
⚠️ Attention: You need to press the touch panels at the same time. If you press one headphone before the other for a couple of seconds, you will not reset, and you just turn on the voice assistant or tracks.
For some modifications, such as the Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2, the procedure may differ slightly in the number of blinks, in which cases the retention can take up to 20 seconds until the characteristic double or triple blinking of red light appears.
Resetting using a button on the charging case
Newer models, including the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2, 2S, 2 Basic and the flagship Mi Buds 3/3 Pro, feature a physical button on the case itself.This mechanical switch greatly simplifies the process and makes it less dependent on the user's response to touch panels.
Place both headphones in the charge case and leave the lid open. Find a button on the case (usually located on the end or inside between the seats). Press and hold this button for 10-15 seconds. The indicator on the front of the case should start flashing white or orange, indicating the activation of the reset mode.
Unlike sensory, you don't have to take the device out. It's inside the case. Once the light goes out or changes the way you blink, release the button. Close the lid for 5 seconds, then open it again. The headphones are ready for a new pairing.
- 🔘 Make sure the button on the case is not stuck and has a clear tactile response.
- 👁️ Watch the color of the indicator: orange often means pairing mode, white – readiness.
- 🔌 If the case is discharged, the button method will not work, as power is required for the controller.
Using a physical button minimizes the risk of error, as you don't have to coordinate the two hands at the same time while holding two small plastic blocks, which is especially handy if you have thumbs or hands shaking.
Sync with Mi Home and Xiaomi Earbuds
For the advanced Xiaomi and Redmi ecosystem models, there is a software management method that allows not only resetting but also updating the firmware, which often solves the problem of desynchronization at the root.
Connect your headphones to your smartphone in mono mode (at least one of them should work). Open the app and find your device on the list. If an update is available, the system will prompt you to install it. The controller firmware often contains Bluetooth stack bug fixes that prevent future desynchronization.
Inside the app, a "Reset Earbuds" feature can also be available, and pressing this button initiates a software reset similar to sensor retention, but performed at the firmware level, a softer and safer method.
| Model headphones | Type of discharge | Retention time | Indication of success |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirDots / Redmi Buds | Sensor (5-7 sec) | Before the red flash. | Red flashing 2 times |
| AirDots 2 / 3 | Sensor (20 sec) | To triple blinking | Triple red flashing |
| Mi True Wireless 2 / 2S | The button on the case | 10-15 seconds | White flashing |
| Mi Buds 3 / 3 Pro | The button on the case | 10 seconds. | Orange indicator |
Using official software also allows you to check if the problem is hardware. If the application sees the charge of each headphone separately and their percentages vary greatly, perhaps one of the modules has a defect in the battery.
Problem Solving: One earphone is not working
A common situation is that you have done a reset, but only one device appears again in the phone's Bluetooth list, or the second earpiece is silent, which may indicate that the stereo pair has not formed, and the phones see them as two different mono devices with the same name.
In this case, try to force the search mode on the silent earphone. Remove both devices from the case. Turn off Bluetooth on the phone. Press and hold the non-working earphone sensor until it turns off, and then again for a long time (up to 10-15 seconds) until it starts flashing. Then repeat the procedure for the second. After that, they must find each other.
If the problem persists, check if the phone automatically connected to one of the headphones during the reset procedure. Sometimes the phone manages to grab the connection before the headphones communicate with each other, in which case you need to remove the device again and repeat the reset when the Bluetooth on the smartphone is turned off.
⚠️ Note: If one of the headphones is discharged deeper than the other (for example, 5% against 40%), They may not connect. Charge them to a level at least. 20-30% before synchronization.
Also, consider that some older AirDots models have a feature: if you hold the sensor for a long time, they can switch between modes (for example, activation of Google Assistant).
Features of connecting to different operating systems
The procedure for linking the headphones themselves is universal, but the process of their subsequent connection to the phone has nuances depending on the OS. On Android devices, permission to access contacts and location is often required to correctly display the battery charge of each headphone.
On iOS devices (iPhone, iPad), the process usually goes faster, but the system is stricter on security protocols. If after resetting the iPhone sees the headphones, but does not connect, try in the Bluetooth settings to click on the icon “i” next to the device and select “Forget this device”, then restart the smartphone itself.
For Windows PC users In this case, a bundle of headphones has nothing to do with each other - a problem in the transmission of the stream.
- 📱 On Android: Enable geolocation when first pairing to run the battery widget.
- 🍏 On iOS: Make sure the iOS version is updated to the latest available.
- 💻 On Windows: Check your audio settings and select the default output device.
Xiaomi’s cross-platform make it easy to switch between devices, but each new gadget requires a separate authorization procedure in the Bluetooth menu, even if the headphones are already connected to each other.