Xiaomi Airdots headphones do not mate with each other: what to do

When wireless headphones stop working in pairs, users are often taken by surprise. Instead of automatically connecting to each other when removed from the charging case, devices begin to behave as two independent mono-gadgets, in which case Xiaomi Airdots can broadcast sound from only one ear, or refuse to connect to the smartphone altogether, creating the appearance of complete breakdown.

The problem of desynchronization (desync) is a classic for budget and medium-budget. TWS-The main reason is often a software failure, in which the right and left channels forget the communication protocol between each other, which does not mean a physical breakdown of the speakers or the battery, but only requires a forced reboot of the internal logic of the controller.

Before you take your device to a service center or write angry reviews, you need to eliminate simple logical errors. In most cases, a full reset returns the headset to factory parameters and restores communication between channels. Below we will discuss in detail the algorithms for different versions of firmware.

Why Xiaomi Airdots Stop Seeing Each Other

Understanding the nature of the malfunction helps to choose the right treatment method. TWS-In the case of headsets, one ear (usually the right one) is a master device and the other is a plume. If the connection between the headsets is broken, the smartphone sees two devices with the same name or only one of them.

A common cause of communication failure is the discharge of one of the headphones to a critical level. When the battery of one of the channels goes to zero, the power controller can reset the pairing settings. After charging, the device turns on, but no longer remembers its "partner".

It’s also worth considering the impact of third-party gadgets: If your Airdots have previously been connected to another phone or tablet, they may try to automatically reconnect with the last active device, ignoring the current smartphone.This creates the illusion that the headphones aren’t working even though they’re just busy.

⚠️ Attention: If one of the headphones was submerged in water or hit hard, the software reset may not help. If moisture enters the case, the oxidation of the contacts could disrupt the Bluetooth module.

Sometimes the problem lies in contamination of the contact areas, the load or dust on the charging pins prevents full charge, which leads to unstable operation of the controller, and regular cleaning of contacts with an alcohol wipe helps to avoid false readings of the charge level.

Basic diagnostics and preparation for resetting

Before you do complex manipulations, you need to make sure that the problem is not related to elementary things. Check the charge level in the case and the headphones themselves. The indicators should be evenly lit when placed in the case.

Delete old connection profiles on your smartphone. Go to Bluetooth settings, search the Redmi Airdots or Xiaomi Earbuds Basic list, and click "Forget device" or "Unpair pairing." This is a critical step, as old configurations may conflict with a new attempt at sync.

Make sure both earbuds have the same firmware version. Although this is rarely checked by the user, sometimes updating one channel (for example, through the Xiaomi Earbuds app) and not updating the second one leads to incompatibility of the software versions.

Check if your smartphone is power-saving. Aggressive power-saving settings can block the Bluetooth module from running in the background, preventing the pairing process from being completed.

Method 1: Hard Reset for older versions

Early Xiaomi Airdots (often labeled as Xiaomi Earbuds Basic) use a mechanical reset method through touch panels, which is effective in 80% of desynchronization cases.

Put both earbuds in the charge case and close the lid. Make sure they start charging (the indicators should flash red). Then remove them at the same time. If they don't start flashing white light (pairing mode), then they can't see each other.

Press and hold the touchpads on both headphones simultaneously, hold them for about 5-7 seconds until the lights flash red, signal that the reset has been successful, and then place them back in the case.

Once you return to the case, close the lid and wait 10 seconds. Open and remove the headphones again. They must now enter the fast pairing mode (fast flashing white), and one of the devices must automatically connect to the second.

⚠️ Warning: Do not let your fingers go immediately after the first blinking while clamping the sensors.

Method 2: Reset for new versions (20 seconds)

In the newer revisions of Xiaomi Airdots 2 and Redmi Airdots S, the reset algorithm has been changed by the manufacturer.A short press here no longer works, long fixation is required.

Remove the headphones from the case. At the same time, tap the touch zones of both devices and hold them for 20 seconds. Don't worry about the headphones turning on, off and on again, which is a normal reaction to prolonged pressing.

After 20 seconds, the lights should flash 3-5 times red, which means that the Bluetooth memory module is cleared. Immediately after that, put the gadgets in the case.

Now, the process of pairing between the left and right channels should start automatically, and if you don't see a white flash after 1-2 minutes, repeat the procedure, but keep the headphones closer together.

Problems with charging case and contacts

Sometimes the culprit for the headphones not pairing is the case itself. If the case does not transmit charge to one of the channels, it can be discharged even if the indicator is on. A false charge reading blocks the Bluetooth module.

Clean the contacts. Use a cotton swab soaked in isopropyl alcohol to wipe the golden contacts on the headphones themselves and the pins inside the case. Remove all the dust and oxides.

Check the case without headphones. Connect the charger to the case. The front indicator should catch fire. If the indicator doesn't respond, maybe the problem is in the cable or the power supply, not the headset.

If one of the headphones is still not charging after cleaning the contacts, the charge controller inside the device may have failed, in which case the software methods are powerless.

Firmware and software recovery

For advanced users, there is a method of flashing through special utilities, but it requires skills in working with ADB and specific software. However, for most Xiaomi models, there is a simpler way - the official application.

Download the Xiaomi Earbuds app (or use MIUI functionality if you have a Xiaomi phone). Connect your headphones (even if only one channel is running). Version (firmware) may be available in the app.

If you have Update, do it, and it will overwrite the code and eliminate synchronization bugs, and in some cases, resetting the network settings on the smartphone itself helps.

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Try connecting your headphones to a device on another operating system (like iOS or another Android) if they pair normally, the problem is with your main phone's Bluetooth settings.

You should try the adb shell am start command. -n com.android.settings/.bluetooth.BluetoothSettings, If you have access to the debugging USB, to completely clear the cache of the Bluetooth stack system, although this is an extreme measure.

⚠️ Warning: Do not try to sew headphones with third-party untested dumps from the Internet. You can "brick" the device, after which recovery will be possible only with a soldering iron.

Hardware malfunctions: when nothing helps

If the reset, the cleaning, the reconnection didn't work, there's a high probability of physical breakdown. TWS-The headset is failing the battery. Lithium polymer batteries are degraded by the 2-3 year-long.

The second option is to move the speakers or Bluetooth antenna contacts away from the board, which often happens after falls, and inside the earphone you can see a disconnected plume if you carefully open the body (which is difficult due to the adhesive connection).

The third option is death, and if the controller is burned by a power surge or a static, the earphone becomes a piece of plastic, and then the repair is not economically viable.

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If after all the manipulations, one earphone does not give signs of life (no light, no sound, no reaction to charging for more than 2 hours), most likely, the battery or board is faulty.

In case of hardware breakdown, it is cheaper to buy a new copy than to try to repair the old one, given the complexity of disassembly and the cost of the original components.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)