When Bluetooth stops finding your Xiaomi Earbuds or AirDots, it often takes you by surprise: You take your headphones from your case, but they’re not on the list of available devices on your smartphone. This is a common problem that can be caused by a software glitch in the MIUI or HyperOS operating system, as well as physical factors.
Before you panic and bring a gadget to the service, it is worth analyzing the sequence of actions. Often the reason lies in a banal battery discharge or a “hung” wireless module, 80% of the time the problem is solved by forced resetting of headphones to factory settings through prolonged retention of touch zones.
We'll go through the main failure scenarios and how to fix them, and it's important to understand that Bluetooth algorithms can interfere with the phone's energy-saving modes, which causes the device to disappear from view.
Primary diagnostics and charge check
The most obvious, but often ignored, reason is power out, because if the headphones were in the case for a long time, their batteries could go into a deep discharge, and in this state, the Xiaomi TWS does not turn on and transmit the signal.
Put the case with headphones on charge for at least 30-40 minutes. The indicator on the case should light up, signaling the process. If the indicator does not respond, check the cable and power supply, as the problem may be in the power source.
Also worth paying attention to contacts: Oxidation or contamination of charging pins on the headphones themselves can interfere with the transmission of current.
⚠️ Warning: Don't try to turn on your headphones if they've been empty for months. Let them rock on charging, or the lithium-ion battery may not start.
After charging, try to remove the headphones. If the lights flash, the device is ready to go. If there is silence, the battery or power controller may have failed.
Activation of the pairing mode (Pairing Mode)
A common mistake users make is to expect the headphones to become visible immediately after being removed from the case.However, if the device has previously been paired with another gadget, it may automatically try to connect to it while remaining invisible to search.
Forcing the device to go into detection mode requires action, and for most Redmi Buds and Mi True Wireless models, both earbuds must be removed from the case.
Then press and hold the touch zones on both headphones simultaneously for 5-7 seconds. The indicators should start flashing quickly in white (or red and white alternately), which means activating Pairing mode.
☑️ Verification of the interface
Only after a quick blinking appears can you open the Bluetooth menu on your smartphone and start searching. If you don't, the phone may simply not "see" the device because it's hidden from prying eyes for security reasons.
Cleaning the list of associated devices
Conflicts in the Bluetooth database on your smartphone are another common culprit, and if your phone has an old profile of your headphones with erroneous encryption keys in memory, the new connection may be blocked.
You need to completely remove the device from the list. Go to Settings → Bluetooth, find your Xiaomi Earphones in the list of “Conjugated devices” and click on the gear icon or arrow next to the name.
In the menu that opens, select "Unpair/Forget" or "Unpair/Forget" and then reboot your smartphone to clear the cache of Bluetooth services.
- 📱 Open Bluetooth settings on your phone.
- ❌ Find your headphones in the list and select "Forget".
- 🔄 Reboot the smartphone completely.
- 🔍 Re-search the devices again.
This is especially true if you have changed your phone or reset your network settings before, and old profiles can create phantom connections that interfere with normal operation.
Reset Xiaomi headphones to factory settings
If simple methods don't work, you need a full reset, which returns the internal logic of the headphones to their original state, removing all pairing errors.
The algorithm of actions can vary depending on the model. For Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 and analogues, you need to place the headphones in the case, open the lid and hold the button on the case (if any) for 15-20 seconds until the display changes.
For models without a button on the case (e.g. Redmi AirDots), the sensor method is used: Remove the headphones, turn them off (holding 5 seconds), then turn the sensors back on and hold them for 20 seconds until the indicators flash several times red.
Exact instructions for different models
After reset, the headphones will automatically go into search mode, delete them from the phone’s memory (as described in the previous section) and pair them again as if they were a new device.
Problems with the operating system and drivers
Sometimes the problem is not with the headphones, but with the software of the smartphone. Android updates or MIUI shells may contain bugs that disrupt the communication module.
Check for system updates. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and press the Update Check button. If there is one available, install it.
It's also worth checking the power saving settings. Aggressive algorithms can kill the process of finding Bluetooth devices to save charge.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth version | 5.0 and higher | Characteristics of the phone |
| Visibility | Included. | Bluetooth settings |
| Codec | SBC / AAC | Developer parameters |
| Energy saving regime | Disabled (during search) | Battery |
In some cases, resetting network settings helps. Go to Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth.This action will delete all stored Wi-Fi passwords and Bluetooth keys, but often resolves system conflicts.
Hardware malfunctions and interference
Physical damage can also be ruled out: Falls, moisture or simply a factory defect of the Bluetooth module can cause the headphones to stop emitting a signal.
If you are close to powerful sources of radiation (wi-fi routers, microwaves, power lines), the Bluetooth signal (operated at 2.4 GHz) can be jammed.
Try going out into the open or stepping away from the router, and if you see your headphones on another location, it's because of the radio interference.
⚠️ Warning: If your headphones fall into water, do not charge them or try to turn them on. Put them in a dry silica gel container for at least 24 hours.
If none of the software methods helped, and the headphones are not visible elsewhere, there is a high probability of hardware failure of the antenna or controller.