Modern wireless headphones from Xiaomi, such as Xiaomi Airdots, Redmi Airdots and Mi True Wireless Earbuds, have become incredibly popular due to their excellent price-performance ratio. However, many users face difficulties in first getting acquainted with the device, especially when it comes to playback control. Standard actions such as pause or answer a call are often intuitive, but managing a playlist requires a more accurate knowledge of the functionality.
In this article, we will take a look at how to switch tracks on your headphones, look at the differences between models of different generations and teach you how to adjust touch control through the app. You will learn why triple tapping may not work, and how to fix the situation if the headphones stopped responding to your touch.
Understanding the logic of touch panels will allow you to unlock the full potential of the device, and we will look not only at the basic commands, but also at the hidden capabilities available through the software, and this knowledge will help you avoid common mistakes and enjoy music without interruption.
Basic gestures of reproduction control
The main way to interact with Xiaomi headphones is touch control. In most models, including the Redmi Airdots 2 and Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic, switching tracks is a triple tap on the touch zone. It is important to note that the presses must be fast, but not too strong, so as not to knock the earphone off the ear. If you press three times, but too slowly, the device will perceive this as a single or double action.
There's a nuance that depends on the generation of the device. In early software, triple tapping could be reserved for voice assistant, so switching the tracks forward was done by double tapping the right earpiece and triple tapping the left earpiece back, and modern firmware has unified this process, making triple tap the universal standard for moving to the next track on both headphones.
⚠️ Attention: Touch zone on Xiaomi Airdots is often not in the center of the exterior panel, but is shifted closer to the top or bottom edge.If triple tap doesn't work, try moving your finger above or below the brand logo.
To go back to the previous track, the logic of action is similar, but requires the use of the left earphone in some versions, while in others, triple touching of either headphone is enough. The exact configuration depends on the version of the firmware installed at the time of the batch production. If the standard combinations do not work, it is possible that your device is running on the old firmware that requires updating through the Xiaomi Earbuds app.
Remember that to activate the command, headphones must be in the ears, presence sensors (in models where they are provided) or pressure sensors can block the execution of commands if the device is not fixed in the auditory channel, this is done to prevent accidental switching when the headphones are lying in your pocket or on the table.
Differences between Airdots and Redmi Buds
Budget line TWS-Xiaomi’s headphones are constantly updated, and with each new model, the company makes changes to the control algorithms, for example, in the Redmi Airdots S model, the manufacturer changed the logic of the work, making control more responsive. While classic Airdots may have had a delay in reaction, new models respond almost instantly, but require a clearer rhythm of pressing.
The chart below shows you a comparison of control commands for different popular models, which will help you quickly navigate if you have a device that you don't know how to label, and note the track-switching column, because that's where the discrepancies are most likely to occur.
| Model headphones | Next track | Previous track | Voice assistant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Airdots 1 | Triple (Right) | Triple (Left) | Holding 2 seconds |
| Redmi Airdots 2 | Triple (Both) | Triple (Both)* | Holding 2 seconds |
| Mi True Wireless | Double (Right) | Double (Left) | Triple. |
| Redmi Buds 3 | Triple (Both) | Triple (Both) | 3 sec. |
As the data shows, in some cases, switching back requires specific customization or application use. In standard mode, without reconfiguration, the left earpiece is often responsible for returning and the right earpiece is often responsible for moving forward. However, in recent versions of firmware, the company tends to symmetry, allowing you to control the playlist from either side.
⚠️ Note: When buying headphones, pay attention to the labeling on the box. Models with the prefix "S" or "Youth Edition" may have a reduced functionality or changed the logic of the sensors compared to the basic versions.
Also worth mentioning is the Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic, which uses a slightly different touchpad that responds to tapping with a knuckle rather than a pillow, to reduce the number of false positives when correcting your earphone. If you have this one, make sure you knock loudly enough, but carefully.
Configure management through the application
To deepen the functionality of the headphones, Xiaomi has developed a special application Xiaomi Earbuds (formerly known as Mi True Wireless Earbuds), which is available on Google Play and the App Store. Connecting headphones to your smartphone and launching the application, you get access to an advanced control menu where you can reassign actions for single, double and triple presses.
Inside the app, you need to go to the Control Settings section, and you'll see a list of actions available: play/pause, answer a call, activate an assistant, switch tracks. If the standard triple tap doesn't switch the track, you can assign this function to double-press or even hold the button, if that option is supported by your model.
The reconfiguration process is simple and intuitive. Select your headphone (left or right), then select the type of press (e.g., "Double tap") and select "Next track" in the action list. Once you save the settings, the changes apply instantly, and rebooting the headphones is usually not required.
☑️ Checking the application settings
Importantly, the app may not see some very old or Chinese versions of headphones without global certification, and in such cases you can try using third-party applications such as Material Pods or Mi Buds M8, which emulate the functionality of official software and allow you to change gesture settings even for unsupported models.
What to do if the app does not see the headphones?
Triple pressing problems and their solution
The most common complaint users have is that they can't switch tracks with a triple tap. Often the problem is timing. Xiaomi Airdots sensors are set to a specific time interval between touches. If you pause between the second and third taps, the counter is reset, and the earphone perceives this as two separate double taps (pause-play).
Another cause may be pollution of the touch zone: fat from the skin, dust or moisture can shield the signal, making the sensor less sensitive; regular dry-soft rubbing of headphones helps restore normal sensitivity; do not use aggressive chemistry, as it can damage the coating of the sensor.
In some cases, you need to completely reset your headphones to the factory headphones, which helps if the internal controller is “hanging” or misinterpreting commands. To reset, you usually need to put the headphones in the case, pinch the touch areas on both headphones simultaneously for 5-10 seconds (or use a button on the case, if you have one), wait for the flashing indicators, and then re-coup them with the phone.
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Try changing the angle of touch slightly. Instead of pressing strictly perpendicular to the surface, try touching your finger pad at a small angle, as if you were swiping dust, which often helps the sensor to better register the command.
If the software reset didn't work, there might be a problem with the touch sensor hardware, which is rare, but it's possible when moisture gets inside the body or after a big impact, and the only solution is to replace the headphones or use alternative control methods (for example, through a smartphone screen or a smartwatch).
Alternative ways to switch tracks
If touch control doesn’t work for you or isn’t working well, there are other ways to control playback: Most modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have a music widget on the lock screen that lets you switch tracks with one touch of the screen without taking the phone out of your pocket.
You can also use a voice assistant. By activating Google Assistant or Xiao AI (double or triple tap, depending on the settings), you can voice "Next track" or "Previous song," which is especially convenient when your hands are busy or wearing gloves, making touching the sensor impossible.
Owners of Xiaomi smartwatches like the Mi Band or Mi Watch can control music from the wrist. After pairing the bracelet with the phone, a playlist appears on the device menu where you can swipe through tracks, often a more reliable way than messing around with small sensors on headphones.
⚠️ Warning: Controlling via voice assistant requires an active internet connection on your smartphone. If you are in a low coverage area, the command may fail or run with a long delay.
And you can also use the standard media keys on the smartphone itself, and you can always reach out and press the Next button in any player, and although it's less convenient than touch control, it guarantees 100% results in situations where the headphones are moody.
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A combination of control techniques is the best way out. Use a sensor for quick action, and a widget on the lock screen or a smartwatch to accurately select a track when triple tap fails.