The Complete SRAM AXS System Setup Guide: App Operation and Shift Mode Adjustment

The Complete SRAM AXS System Setup Guide

SRAM AXS wireless electronic shifting is known for its clean control logic and wireless design. Compared to the complex button customization of Shimano Di2, AXS setup logic is more intuitive — but dig deeper and you’ll find it offers just as much room for customization. This article covers every function and setting trick in the AXS App.

AXS App Basic Operation

Download and Pairing

1. Download the SRAM AXS App (iOS / Android)
2. Make sure all AXS components are awake (press any shift button)
3. Open the App’s Bluetooth search — the system will automatically detect nearby AXS components
4. Add all components (front derailleur, rear derailleur, shifters) to the same “Bike Profile”

Main App Function Areas

Function	Description
My Garage	Manage all paired AXS components
Bike Profiles	Create component combinations for different bikes
Component Info	View firmware version, battery level, and usage stats for each component
Personalize	Customize button functions and shift modes
Firmware	Manage firmware updates

AXS Button Configuration

Default Control Logic

The AXS shifter (hood) has two independent buttons, with this default configuration:

Action	Function
Left shifter button	Front derailleur shift (big ↔ small chainring)
Right shifter top button	Rear derailleur: easier gear (toward larger cog)
Right shifter bottom button	Rear derailleur: harder gear (toward smaller cog)
Left + Right pressed together	AXS function trigger (customizable)

AXS design philosophy: left hand controls the front derailleur, right hand controls the rear — simple and intuitive. This is quite different from Shimano’s design, which uses two directions on each side.

Customizable Button Options

On the Personalize page in the AXS App, you can reassign each button to:

• Rear derailleur shift up / down
• Front derailleur shift
• Compensating shift up / down
• No function

Compensating Mode (Automatic Gear Ratio Compensation)

This is AXS’s most important smart feature, similar to Shimano’s Semi-Synchro.

How It Works

When you press the front derailleur shift button, the rear derailleur automatically adjusts to maintain a similar gear ratio.

Example:

• Current: 48T chainring × 15T cog (ratio 3.2)
• Shift to 35T chainring
• Rear derailleur automatically jumps from 15T to 11T (ratio 3.18)
• Result: cadence stays nearly the same, and the transition is very smooth

Compensating Settings

Setting	Description
Off	Front and rear shifting are completely independent
1 gear	Rear compensates by 1 gear when front shifts
2 gears	Rear compensates by 2 gears when front shifts
3 gears	Rear compensates by 3 gears when front shifts
Auto	System automatically calculates the optimal compensation

Recommendation: Most riders can simply use Auto — the system calculates automatically based on your gear ratio setup. If you feel the compensation is too much or too little, switch to a manual fixed number of gears.

Sequential Shift Mode

The AXS 12-speed system supports Sequential mode, arranging all gear ratios into one continuous sequence:

1. The system calculates all front/rear gear ratio combinations
2. Removes overlapping ratios
3. Arranges them from lightest to heaviest into one continuous sequence
4. The rider only needs to shift “up” or “down” — the system automatically decides whether to shift the front or rear derailleur

How to enable: In the AXS App → Personalize → Shift Mode → Sequential

Pros: Simplest to operate, no need to think about front/rear shifting at all
Cons: Front shift timing is fixed, which may not suit your needs on climbs

Multi-Shift Settings

AXS Multi-Shift

Holding down a shift button triggers continuous shifting, which can be adjusted via:

• Continuous shift speed: Fast / Medium / Slow
• Trigger delay: how long you must hold the button before continuous shifting begins

Setting path: AXS App → Personalize → Multi-Shift

AXS Blips Auxiliary Buttons

The AXS system supports additional Blips satellite buttons, which can be installed on:

• TT extensions: for shifting in a time-trial position
• Tops of the handlebar: for shifting while climbing in a hoods-up grip
• Frame tubing: for special needs

Each Blips button can be independently configured in the AXS App.

Battery Management

Checking Battery Level

The AXS App shows the exact battery percentage for each component:

Component	Battery Type	Battery Life
Rear derailleur	eTap rechargeable battery	About 60 hours of riding
Front derailleur	eTap rechargeable battery	About 60 hours of riding
Shifter (12-speed)	CR2032 coin cell	About 2 years

Power-saving tip: AXS components automatically go to sleep after about 5 minutes of inactivity, and wake up when any button is pressed. If not using the bike for an extended period, it’s best to remove the batteries.

Battery Interchangeability

The rechargeable batteries for the front and rear derailleurs are completely identical and interchangeable — one of AXS’s biggest advantages. On long rides, you can carry one spare battery and swap it into whichever derailleur runs low.

Firmware Updates

Update Process

1. Open the AXS App → Firmware page
2. The system automatically detects available updates
3. Update each component in sequence (recommended order: shifters → front derailleur → rear derailleur)
4. Each update takes about 2-5 minutes per component
5. After updating, it’s recommended to re-calibrate the front derailleur position

Update Precautions

• Make sure battery level is above 30%
• Do not close the App or move out of Bluetooth range during the update
• If an update fails, hold the button on the battery for 10 seconds to reset, then retry
• Major firmware updates may add features or improve shifting performance, so it’s a good idea to check periodically

AXS System Troubleshooting

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
Cannot pair	Component asleep	Press any button to wake it
Shift delay	Low battery	Charge or replace the battery
Front derailleur unresponsive	Not properly paired	Re-pair in the App
Ghost shifting	Firmware issue	Update to the latest firmware
Rough shifting	Mechanical issue	Check limit screws and B-tension

Recommended Setup Configurations

General Road Riding

• Buttons: default configuration (left front, right rear)
• Compensating: Auto
• Multi-Shift: Medium speed

Race Mode

• Buttons: left button reassigned to rear multi-downshift (for quick acceleration)
• Compensating: 2 gears
• Multi-Shift: Fast speed

Climbing-Oriented

• Buttons: default
• Compensating: Off (manual control of front shift timing)
• Multi-Shift: Slow speed (to avoid overshooting)

The AXS system’s setup is simple but not simplistic. It’s recommended to regularly check component status and battery levels via the App, and confirm all components are properly connected before every important ride.

Related Reading

• The Complete Electronic Shifting Troubleshooting Manual: Common Issues and Solutions for SRAM AXS and Shimano Di2
• The Complete Guide to Wireless Electronic Shifting Battery Management: Maintenance for SRAM AXS, Shimano Di2, and Campagnolo EPS
• In-Depth Review of the SRAM Rival eTap AXS: An Affordable Entry Point into Wireless Shifting
• Electronic Shifting System Maintenance: Key Points on Battery Management and Firmware Updates