Add Xiaomi Earphone: What it is and how to make a connection

Users of the Xiaomi ecosystem often encounter a mysterious notification or menu item that says "add xiaomi earphone." This phrase, which is puzzling for beginners, is actually a standard system request for pairing the brand's wireless headphones with your smartphone or tablet. Android or the MIUI shell (HyperOS) automatically scans the airwaves for compatible devices in mode (pairing).

In most cases, the appearance of such a message indicates that your Xiaomi Earbuds or Mi True Wireless headphones have gone into standby mode, this can happen immediately after removing them from the charging case, if they have previously been paired with the device, or when you first turn on.

Ignoring this request makes no sense if you are actually planning to use an audio device. When configured correctly, you can use all proprietary codecs and noise reduction functions that may not be available with a standard Bluetooth connection. In this article, we will discuss in detail the algorithms of actions, causes of errors and ways to force the activation of search mode.

Technical essence of the request Add Xiaomi Earphone

The phrase "add xiaomi earphone" literally translates as "add Xiaomi earphone." It's not a translation error or a system bug, but a regular notification from Bluetooth Manager. When you open the case cover, the headphones send a special advertising packet containing the manufacturer's ID and the device model. The smartphone reads this package and, recognizing the vendor, offers a simplified connection scenario.

Unlike third-party vendors, Xiaomiโ€™s technology uses advanced data exchange protocols. Androidโ€™s standard Bluetooth stack only provides basic audio transmission, but active noise reduction (ANC), transparent mode and touch control settings require deep interaction with the operating system. Requesting to add a device is the first step to synchronizing profiles.

โš ๏ธ Warning: If you see this notification but didn't take out the headphones from the case, it's possible the device is too close to the phone in the bag.This could cause the headphone battery to run out quickly due to constant network search.

It is important to understand that a request can appear even on devices that do not formally belong to the Xiaomi ecosystem, if they are installed on the appropriate shell or Google Play Services correctly determine the right kind of search. ID However, the full functionality will only be revealed when using the Xiaomi Smartphone bundle. + Xiaomi Earbuds.

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Use the original storage case. Third-party cases can block the proximity sensor, which will prevent the headphones from going into pairing mode when the lid is opened.

Algorithm of correct pairing of devices

The process of connecting (add) depends on whether you use the headphones for the first time or reconnect them after resetting. To initial setup, you need to remove both headphones from the case. The indicator on the body should start flashing white or orange, which signals readiness to pair.

If an automatic pop-up doesn't appear, you need to go to Bluetooth settings manually. Find your model name on the list of available devices, for example, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Pro or Redmi Buds 3. Click on the name to initiate the handshake process. The system will request confirmation, after which the encryption keys will be exchanged.

โ˜‘๏ธ Checklist of successful connection

Done: 0 / 5

In some cases, especially when using older versions of Android, you may need to manually enter. PIN-The standard code for most Xiaomi devices is 0000 or 1234. Once the procedure is completed successfully, a headphone battery icon will appear in the status bar, confirming the installation of a secure connection.

  • ๐Ÿ” Make sure your smartphone screen doesnโ€™t have old, canned profiles of your headphones โ€“ they need to be deleted before you try again.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Charge the case to at least 20%, as at low voltage, the Bluetooth module can work unstablely.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Keep your phone at a distance of no more. 10-15 cm from the case during the procedure "add".

Role of Mi Fitness and Xiaomi Earbuds

While basic audio works without additional software, full-fledged customization of the Add xiaomi earphone is impossible without a dedicated application. Previously, Mi Earbuds was used, but now its functionality is fully integrated into Mi Fitness (formerly Xiaomi Wear), which is the software that allows you to unlock the hidden capabilities of the device.

Once connected via the Bluetooth system menu, run the Mi Fitness app, which automatically detects the connected headphones and prompts you to add them to the list of devices.

  • ๐ŸŽš๏ธ Set up an equalizer and select sound profiles.
  • ๐Ÿ”‡ Switching noise reduction modes (ANC) transparency.
  • โš™๏ธ Reassign actions when touching (tap, double tap, long press).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Update the firmware headphones (Firmware Update) to improve stability.

โš ๏ธ Warning: Do not interrupt the firmware update process inside the application. If the battery sits down while writing new data to the headphone memory, the device can turn into a "brick" and will no longer be determined by the phone.

For iPhone users, the appโ€™s functionality may be limited compared to the Android version. Some high-resolution codecs, such as LDAC or aptX Adaptive, may not be supported on iOS due to the limitations of Appleโ€™s operating system itself, regardless of the headphone model.

Why can't the app see the headphones?
If Mi Fitness doesnโ€™t find the device, even though itโ€™s displayed in Bluetooth, try pressing the gear next to the headphone name in Bluetooth and select โ€œForget the device.โ€ Then repeat the pairing procedure again, running the application before removing the headphones from the case.

Comparison of models and codec support

The phrase "add xiaomi earphone" is versatile, but the connectivity experience and features available vary greatly depending on the model. Flagship series such as the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro support advanced features like spatial audio, while budget Redmi Buds offer only a basic set.

Model headphonesType of connectionSupport for ANCAnnex
Xiaomi Buds 4 ProBluetooth 5.3Hybrid (up to 48 dB)Mi Fitness
Redmi Buds 4 ActiveBluetooth 5.3No (ENC only)Mi Fitness / Xiaomi Earbuds
Mi True Wireless 2Bluetooth 5.0HybridXiaomi Earbuds
Xiaomi FlipBuds ProBluetooth 5.2Adaptive (up to 40 dB)Mi Fitness

When you add a device, the system automatically detects it_capabilities_ And it offers an interface, and for example, for models with wireless charging, the status bar can display the charge level of the case itself, which models without this feature will not.

Importantly, to activate some features, such as automatic switching between devices (Dual Device Connection), you need both devices to work under MIUI 13 or higher.

Diagnostics of detection problems

Often, users are faced with a situation where the request "add xiaomi earphone" does not appear, or the phone simply does not see the headphones. The first reason is usually a discharged battery. If the indicator on the case does not light up when you open, set the device on charge for at least 15 minutes.

The second common problem is sticking the Bluetooth module in your smartphone, which is when you reboot your phone or force Bluetooth service to stop through the developer menu, and check if the phone is running flight mode or energy saving, which can limit background scanning.

๐Ÿ“Š Have you encountered problems connecting Xiaomi headphones?
Yeah, the phone can't see the headphones.
Yeah, but reconnecting helped.
No, it's working perfectly.
I use other brands.

If the headphones were previously paired with another device, they may try to connect to it automatically, ignoring your current phone, in which case you need to turn off Bluetooth on your old device or reset the headphone settings. This usually requires pinching the touch areas on both earphones for 10-15 seconds before changing the color of the indicator.

  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Check if the air is overloaded: in places of congestion of people (metro, offices) there may be a lot of interference.
  • ๐Ÿงน Clean the charging contacts on headphones: oxidation can prevent a proper start.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Remove the device from the list of โ€œMy devicesโ€ in the Mi Home app if it is there hung.

Resetting and re-registration

When standard methods fail to perform the "add xiaomi earphone," the radical but effective method is the "Hard Reset" -- which brings the headphones back to factory settings, erasing all previous pairs and configurations. The procedure may differ from model to model, but the general principle is similar.

For most Mi True Wireless and Redmi Buds, you need to place your headphones in a case, open the lid, and hold the reset button on the case (if you have one) for 10 seconds. If there is no physical button, you use touch control: simultaneously touch the touch zones on both headphones and hold for about 20 seconds until the indicator flashes orange three times.

Reset sequence without button:


1. Put the headphones in the case.




2. Open the lid.




3. Press and hold sensors (15-20 seconds).




4. Wait for the orange blink.




5. Close the case and open it again for the regime.

โš ๏ธ Warning: After reset, the headphones will forget all the devices, and you will have to re-pair with each gadget you plan to use them with.

Once reset successfully, the phone will find the device as new, which often solves the problem of desynchronizing the left and right channels, when the sound is only coming from one side, flashing the internal modules when reset does not occur, only the pairing memory is cleared.

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Resetting headphones solves 90% of connectivity, unstable sound, and channel desynchronization problems, the first step in any major failure.

What to do if only one headphone is connected?
This is a common problem called T outsynchronization.