Connecting Xiaomi wireless headphones to a laptop: the full guide 2026

Why Xiaomi Headphones Don’t Connect to Laptops and How to Fix It

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones are among the most popular gadgets, thanks to a combination of price, sound quality and convenience. However, when you first connect to a laptop, users often face problems: the device is not on the Bluetooth list, the sound is interrupted or not at all. The reasons can lie in the settings of the headphones themselves (AirDots, Buds 3/4 Pro, FlipBuds), and in the configuration of the laptop – from outdated drivers to conflicts with other Bluetooth devices.

In this article, we will analyze all ways to connect Xiaomi headphones to laptops on Windows. 10/11, macOS and Linux, and we'll solve some of the common problems, from no sound to permanent disconnection. LC3 (Like Buds. 4 Pros that require updated drivers to work properly.

If you've tried to plug in your headphones before, but you haven't succeeded, skip the introductory section and go straight to the "Problem Solutions" section, which contains universal methods that work even for older models like AirDots Youth.

Preparing Xiaomi headphones for connection

Before pairing with a laptop, Xiaomi headphones need to be put into search mode, the procedure varies depending on the model, but the overall algorithm is the same.

1. Charge the headphones. Make sure the charge level of the case and the headphones themselves is at least 30%. To check, open the cover of the case - the indicator should burn white or green (red / orange means low charge).
2. Remove the headphones from the case. Most models (AirDots 3 Pro, Buds 3T) automatically turn on when removed.
3. Activate the pairing mode: 🔹 Single tap: On touch-controlled models (such as Buds 4), tap and hold both earphones for 3-5 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white. 🔹 Button on case: AirDots 2 and the like press and hold the button on the back of the case (near the back of the case) USB-C) flashing. 🔹 Automotive: Newer models (Buds 5 Pro) can include pairing automatically when first removed from the case.

If the indicator does not flash or is lit in a monolithic color, the headphones are already connected to another device, in which case they need to be reset (instructions in the section "Reset settings").

Connecting to a laptop on Windows 10/11

On Windows laptops, the Xiaomi headphone connection is usually easy, but there are nuances: For example, older Bluetooth drivers may not support modern codecs like AAC or LC3, making the sound hoarse or intermittent.

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your laptop. 🖥️ Press Win. + A → Find the Bluetooth tile and activate it. 🔧 Alternatively: Go to the settings → Devices → Bluetooth and other devices.
2. Add a new device. 🔍 Click "Add Bluetooth or other device» → Choose "Bluetooth». 🎧 In the list, find your headphones (the name will contain Mi, Redmi or Xiaomi.

Confirm the pairing.

• ✅ On the laptop, a notification will appear "Connected." If there is no sound, check the output device (click on the speaker icon in the tray).

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Once connected, check the sound quality in the headphone settings. You can set the equalizer in the Mi Earphones App (for Android), but on Windows, these settings do not apply. Instead, use a system equalizer or third-party programs like Equalizer APO.

Connect to a MacBook or laptop on macOS

On Apple devices, connecting Xiaomi headphones is usually easier than on Windows, but there are some nuances: for example, macOS can “forget” the device after rebooting or incorrectly display the charge level.

1. Activate Bluetooth. 🍎 Click on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar (or go to System Settings). → Bluetooth). 🔄 Make sure Bluetooth is on (the icon must be blue).
2. Find the headphones in the list. 🎧 Your Xiaomi should appear under Devices.The name can appear as Mi True Wireless or Redmi Buds. ⚠️ If the headphones don’t show up, restart them (put them in a case for 10 seconds and pull them out again).

Plug in and set up.

• ✅ Press "Connect." Once successfully paired, the headphones will automatically connect when removed from the case.
• 🔊 To check the sound, open “Sound” in the system settings and select the headphones as the output device.

Note for M1/M2 users: On Apple Silicon chips (M1, M2, M3), Bluetooth is more stable, but some headphone models (such as the AirDots 3 Pro) can give out a delay in audio when watching video.

Connect to a Linux laptop (Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint)

On Linux, Bluetooth devices are often problematic due to the BlueZ stack. Xiaomi headphones can connect, but the sound will only go through HSP/HFP (low quality, like in the headset) and not through A2DP (stereo sound).

1. Install the necessary packages. sudo apt install pulseaudio-module-bluetooth pavucontrol For RPM-based distributions (Fedora, OpenSUSE): sudo dnf install pulseaudio-module-bluetooth pavucontrol
2. Turn on Bluetooth and find the device. 🐧 Open "Settings» → «Bluetooth (or use a blueman). 🔍 Click "Add device" and select your headphones.

Set up a sound profile.

• 🎛️ Run pavucontrol (PulseAudio graphic mixer).
• 🔊 Go to the tab "Configuration» → Find your headphones. → Choose a profile A2DP Sink, not HSP/HFP).

If the sound never appears, try manually switching the profile through the terminal:

pactl list cards | grep -i xiaomi # Find the card number (e.g. card 1)


pactl set-card-profile 1 a2dp_sink # Replace 1 with your card number

For PipeWire users (Fedora 36+, Ubuntu 22.10+):

wpctl status


wpctl set-default 123 # Replace 123 with your headphone ID

If the sound is interrupted or interference after you connect, try turning off Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for your headphones:

sudo btmgmt le-off

This command temporarily disables the BLE, which can improve connection stability on some adapters.

Problem Solving: No sound, communication breaks, errors

Even after a successful connection, Xiaomi headphones may not work properly, and below is a list of the most common problems and ways to solve them, sorted by the frequency of support calls.

1.The headphones are connected, but there's no sound

• 🔇 Check the output device. On Windows, click on the speaker icon in the tray. → Choose your headphones. macOS/Linux Do the same in the sound settings.
• 🔄 Reboot the Bluetooth stacks. On Windows: Win + X → Device Manager → Bluetooth adapters → Turn off/on the adapter. On macOS: turn off/on Bluetooth in the menu bar. On Linux: do: sudo systemctl restart bluetooth
• 🎵 Resetting headphone settings. See section "Reset to factory settings».

2.The sound is interrupted or interference is occurring.

• 📶 Disable other Bluetooth devices (mouse, keyboard), remove laptop from Wi-Fi routers (2.4 GHz interferes with Bluetooth).
• 🔧 Update drivers. On Windows, download the latest drivers for your Bluetooth adapter from the laptop manufacturer’s website (not Microsoft Update!).
• 🎧 Check the firmware on the headphones. Some models (Buds 3 Pro) require an update through the Mi Earphones app (Android only).

3. Headphones are not on the list of devices

• 🔋 If the light on the case is red, charge the headphones to at least 30%.
• 🔄 For most models, put the headphones in your case. → Hold the button on the case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
• 🖥️ Check the Bluetooth adapter. On Windows, open Device Manager and make sure the adapter is working properly (no exclamation points).

4. The sound only goes into one earpiece.

This is a typical problem for models with master-slave architecture (e.g. AirDots 2).

• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones. Put both earphones in the case, pull them out and reconnect them.
• 🧲 Reset the settings. See the instructions below.
• 🎛️ Check the sound balance. On Windows: Control Panel → Sound. → Device properties → Levels. → Balance.

Resetting Xiaomi headphones to factory settings

If Xiaomi headphones have previously been connected to another device or are not working smoothly, they must be reset.

Once reset, Xiaomi headphones will be ready for a new pairing. If the reset does not help, check them on another device (such as a smartphone) to rule out hardware malfunction.

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Resetting the headphones removes all the paired devices from their memory, and after this procedure, they must be reconnected on all gadgets (laptop, phone, tablet).

Additional settings for better sound

Even after a successful connection, the sound in Xiaomi headphones may not be perfect: too quiet, with distortion or without bass.

1. Equalizer adjustment

• 🎛️ On Windows: Use Equalizer APO + Peace GUI Download presets for Xiaomi on forums (for example, Bass Boost for Xiaomi Buds).
• 🍎 On macOS: Enable the equalizer in System settings → Sound. → Exit (select headphones) → press "Settings» → equalize).
• 🐧 On Linux: Use PulseEffects or EasyEffects to process real-time audio.

2. Codec optimization

Xiaomi headphones support SBC, AAC and LC3 codecs (in new models) to force you to choose the codec:

• 🖥️ On Windows: Install Bluetooth Audio Receiver from the Microsoft Store → Select your preferred codec in the device settings.
• 🍎 On macOS: Codecs are automatically selected, but you can reset Bluetooth settings: sudo pkill bluetoothd
• 🐧 On Linux: Use pactl to select a codec (terminal knowledge required).

3. Reduced sound delay

Lag is especially noticeable when watching videos.

• 🎬 On Windows: Enable the "For Games" mode in the sound settings (click on the speaker icon) → «Spatial sound» → «Windows Sonic»).
• 📱 Update the firmware. Some models (Buds 4 Pro) support Low Latency Mode after the update.
• 🔌 Use Bluetooth 5.0+. If your laptop is older than 2018, buy an external Bluetooth adapter (e.g. TP-Link). UB500).

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi to a laptop