How to turn on Xiaomi Air 2 and Redmi AirDots headphones: the full guide

Modern wireless headphones from Xiaomi, such as the Air 2, Air 2 SE or known in some regions as Redmi AirDots, often cause confusion among new owners on the first acquaintance. The main question that arises immediately after unpacking: how to activate them at all, because the usual power button on the case is simply not. This decision is dictated by the desire for minimalism and tightness of the design, but it requires the user to understand the logic of the device.

The activation process of the gadget depends on its current state of charge and whether the device is completely new or has been used before. Unlike classical electronics, it often turns on automatically when removed from the case, but only if the battery is not in deep discharge. If you just purchased the device in the store, it is likely that the battery inside the case is discharged to a minimum due to long storage in the warehouse.

To successfully launch, you will need to carefully study the equipment and prepare the workplace. Don’t panic if the indicators do not light up immediately – lithium-ion batteries in a state of deep discharge can take some time to “rock” before they give signs of life. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of activation, methods of forced activation and methods of diagnosing malfunctions.

Primary charging as a key to activating the device

The most common reason Xiaomi Air 2 headphones don't turn on is because they don't have a charge. Manufacturers often supply electronics with a charge level of about 30-40%, but when you lie on the shelf for a long time, that stock is gradually depleted. So the first and most important step before you try to turn on is to connect the case to the power source.

Use only a serviceable Micro-USB or USB Type-C cable (depending on the modification of your model) and an adapter with a current of no more than 1 Amp. Connect the device to a computer or a standard network charger. Pay attention to the LED indicator on the front panel of the case: during charging, it should burn red, signaling the accumulation of energy.

The initial charging time can range from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. Don't try to remove the headphones immediately after the cable is connected - let them "eat" at least 15-20 minutes. If the indicator doesn't light up at all, try replacing the cable or cleaning the dust charger connector, as contamination of the contacts is a common cause of lack of reaction.

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Use it to charge the case USB-computer port or weak power supply from an old smartphone (5V 1A). Powerful Quick Charges may not start the process due to too high a starting voltage, which the headphone controller perceives as an error.

Once the indicator on the case has gone out or changed color (usually white or blue, depending on the firmware version), you can consider the device ready for the first run.

First Incorporation and Interconnection Algorithm

When you've made sure that the case is charged, there's a moment of truth. Unlike full-size headsets, there's no Power button. All the mechanics are tied to automatic sensors that respond to the opening of contacts in the case sockets, and to turn on the headphones, you have to do a simple sequence of actions that, in 99% of cases, leads to success.

Open the charger lid and remove both headphones, at which point you should see the LED light flashing on each headphone (usually in white), which means that the device has gone out of sleep and has gone into a pair-search state. If the lights are not burning, try gently pressing the headphones in the case or wipe the metal contacts with an alcohol napkin.

You then activate pairing mode. Usually, when you first turn on, the Xiaomi Air 2 and Redmi AirDots headphones automatically go into TWS Pairing when their indicators start flashing faster or alternately, you just have to open the Bluetooth settings on your smartphone and find the device in the list of available ones.

If you get only one, it may try to find the second one that is still in the case and locked, which will lead to a timeout and re-entry into sleep mode.

Features of activation of different modifications of Xiaomi

Budget line TWS-Xiaomi's headphones are huge, and model names often confuse even power users.Air 2 models SE, Air 2s And the regular Air 2s have similar operating logic, but they can differ in the behavior of the indicators and the response time.

The Air 2 SE (often marketed as the Redmi AirDots 2 or Redmi AirDots S) is equipped with touch panels. When removed, they may not blink immediately if the sensor does not “understand” that the device is being held in hand. In this case, a light touch of the touch zone can activate the LED. The Air 2s model is characterized by wireless charging, and sometimes they can “stick” in the standby wireless charging mode if they are lying on a metal surface.

⚠️ Note: Do not store headphones in a case next to keys or coins. Metal objects can close the charging contacts inside the case, causing constant battery discharge and blocking the ability to turn on.

If you have a wireless charging model, make sure it doesn’t sit on the charger when you try to wire them on, and it’s also worth considering that during cold seasons (below +5°C), lithium batteries can temporarily lose capacity and not give up the current needed to start a Bluetooth module.

Table of indicators and their values

To properly diagnose the condition of the device, LED signals must be correctly interpreted. Different colors and flashing modes tell the user about a specific battery status or operating mode. Below is a summary table for the main Air and Redmi AirDots series models.

Note that in some Xiaomi Air 2 revisions, the color of the indicator may be blue instead of white. This is not a defect, but depends on the batch of LEDs used by the manufacturer.

If you see unusual behaviors, such as flashing red and white at the same time, this may indicate a charge controller error, in which case it is recommended to leave the device on charge for several hours, disconnecting from the network and connecting again.

Problems with inclusion: diagnosis and solutions

There are times when standard methods don't work: headphones are in the case, the case is charged, but when you extract silence and there is no light, it can be caused by oxidation of contacts, software failure or battery failure, and the first thing you need to do is to do a visual inspection.

Check the safety films. The new Xiaomi headphones often have tiny blue or transparent stickers on their charging contacts, and they must be removed before first use, otherwise the circuit won't close and charging won't go away. This is the most common mistake of beginners.

⚠️ Warning: Never use sharp metal objects (needles, scissors) to clean the contacts inside the case.You can damage the spring mechanism (pogo-pin) or short contacts, which will lead to irreversible failure of the electronics.

If there are no films, try to wake up the device with a long charge (more than 2 hours), sometimes the power controller goes into deep protection and requires a long pulse of current to get out of this state, you can also try to clean the contacts gently with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol.

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90% of cases of “defaulting” headphones are solved by removing factory protective stickers from contacts or replacing the charging cable with a better one.

Resetting (Hard Reset) as an Activation Method

If the headphones are on but not paired, or are behaving inadequately (only one ear works), a complete factory reset may be required, a procedure that often helps to revive a device that has been getting stuck in an erroneous state of logic.

Resets on Air 2 SE and analogues typically require the earbuds to be removed from the case and the touchpads on both devices simultaneously, with about 5-10 seconds to be held until the lights flash red (or go out and light up again). The exact combination may vary: some models need to press 5 times, others need to hold.

After discharge, it is necessary:

• 📱 Remove the device from the Bluetooth list on your phone (forget the device»).
• 🔄 Put the headphones back in the case and close the lid.
• ⏳ Wait 10 seconds and retrieve them for another pairing attempt.

This procedure cleans the internal pairing memory and makes the headphones behave like new ones just off the assembly line, and if that didn't work, there's a possible hardware malfunction in the battery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)