Xiaomi headphones don’t connect to your phone – what to do?

Xiaomi's wireless headphones are some of the most popular gadgets because of their price-to-quality ratio, but even they sometimes fail. One of the most common problems is that the headphones suddenly disconnect from the smartphone and don't want to connect back, which can happen after a firmware update, battery drain, Bluetooth failure or mechanical damage, and 80 percent of the time, you can solve the problem yourself without going to the service center.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons why Xiaomi Airdots, Redmi Buds, Mi True Wireless or other models stopped connecting, and give you step-by-step instructions for restoring connectivity. We’ll focus on the hidden MIUI settings that are often ignored in standard manuals. If your headphones don’t respond to buttons, aren’t detected by your phone, or are constantly breaking the connection, you’ll find a solution below.

Basic checks: what to do first

Before you reset or look for complex solutions, make sure that the problem is not in the trivial trivia.More often than not, Xiaomi headphones do not connect because of:

• 🔋 A discharged battery (even if the indicator is on, it is not a charge guarantee).
• 📱 Turned off Bluetooth on your smartphone or In-Air mode.
• 🎧 Wrong order of on (earphones first, then Bluetooth).
• 📴 Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app malfunction.

Start with the simplest steps:

1. Charge the case and headphones for at least 15 minutes (even if the indicator shows charge). For models Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro and FlipBuds Pro use the original cable - cheap counterparts may not give enough current.
2. On Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco, press the power button and select Reboot (not shut down!).
3. Make sure Bluetooth is on: swipe down the screen and check the 📊 → Bluetooth icon. If it's gray, tap it to activate.
4. Try connecting to another device (tablet, laptop, second phone) if the headphones are working, the problem is in your smartphone.

⚠️ Warning: Xiaomi Airdots S and Redmi AirDots 2 headphones may not connect if only one headphone is left in the case. Check that both gadgets are in their places, otherwise communication will not be established.

If the basic checks didn't work, move on to the next step, and pay special attention to the reset clause, which solves 60 percent of the connectivity problems.

2.Reset Xiaomi headphones to factory settings

The most effective way to get back up is hard reset, which removes all the connections you've saved and returns the headphones to a boxy state, and the instructions vary depending on the model.

Xiaomi Airdots, Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the lid and hold the button on the case for 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white (or red and blue for some models).
3. Close the case, wait 10 seconds and open again. The headphones must automatically go into pairing mode (blinking white light).

For Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro, FlipBuds Pro:

1. Put the headphones in the case.
2. Press and hold the touchpad on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds until the indicator flashes red.
3. Get your headphones out of the case – they should automatically turn on the search mode (blinking white/blue).

After discharge:

• 📱 Remove the headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices on your phone (Settings → Bluetooth → ⚙️ next to the name → Delete).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 🎧 Go to Bluetooth, find Xiaomi in the list of available devices and connect again.

⚠️ Warning: On Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and later after reset, you may need to update your firmware through the Xiaomi Wear app. Without this, some features (such as noise reduction) will not work.

Make sure your headphones are charged (>30%)

Remove the device from Bluetooth on your phone

Close all background apps (especially Mi Home)

Use the original charging cable (if required)

Wait 1 minute after reset before reconnecting-->

3. Bluetooth problems on Xiaomi smartphone

If the headphones are resetting but still not connected, the problem may be in your phone’s Bluetooth module, especially for devices on MIUI 12/13/14, where pairing bugs are common.

Here's what we need to do:

1. Clear the Bluetooth cache: Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management. Click on the three dots at the top → Show system. Find Bluetooth, open and select Clear the cache and Clear the data.
2. Reset network settings: Settings → System & Device → Settings Reset → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings This will remove all saved networks and devices, but often solves connection problems.
3. Update your firmware: Go to Settings → About Phone → Update your system and install the latest patches. MIUI 14 fixes critical Bluetooth bugs for Redmi Note 11/12 and Poco X4/X5.
4. Turn off power saving for Bluetooth: Settings → Battery and performance → Energy saving → Settings → Turn off Bluetooth Optimization

If nothing works, try connecting the headphones to another phone (like iOS or Android from another manufacturer). If they work, the problem is exactly in your smartphone.

💡

Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 14 have a hidden Bluetooth diagnostic function. To activate it, type in the Phone app code ##232338## (does not work on all models).

4. Update to the headphone firmware via Mi Home/Xiaomi Wear

Outdated firmware is a common cause of unstable connectivity. Xiaomi regularly releases updates for its headphones that fix bugs with connection, charging and sound.

1. Install the official application: For older models (Airdots, Redmi AirDots) - Mi Home. For new ones (Buds 3/4 Pro, FlipBuds) - Xiaomi Wear.

Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.

Open the application, find your model in the list of devices and go to its settings.

Update

Important nuances:

• 🔌 Headphones must be charged at least 50%, otherwise the upgrade will not start.
• 📶 Connect your phone to stable Wi-Fi – upgrade via mobile internet may interrupt.
• ⏳ The process can take up to 10 minutes. Don't close the app or take the headphones out of the case.

⚠️ Warning: If the headphones are turned off or discharged during the firmware update, they may stop turning on, in which case only a complete reset via the button on the case (see section 2).

💡

Updating your firmware through Xiaomi Wear is the only way to enable support for new codecs (like LC3 for better sound) on Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and newer headphones.

5 Mechanical damage and hardware problems

If the software methods didn't work, it might be a physical malfunction.

• 🔌 Bad Case Contact: Oxidation or contamination of contact areas causes the headphones to not charge or turn on.Wash the contacts with a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol (do not use water!).
• 🎧 Bluetooth antenna damage: If the headphones were falling or subjected to severe vibration (such as in a backpack), the antenna plume could have moved away, in which case only repairs would help.
• 🔋 Battery bloating: If the case or headphones are getting worse and the operating time is 2-3 times shorter, the battery is probably worn out, and you can only replace it at the service center.
• 💧 Moisture: Even if the headphones are protected by IPX4/IPX5, prolonged exposure to sweat or rain can cause corrosion. After getting wet, immediately dry the device in rice or silica gel for 12–24 hours.

How to check if there is a hardware problem:

1. Try connecting your headphones to 3-4 different devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop). If they don't work anywhere, the problem is with them.
2. Light a flashlight in the case connector: if the contacts are blackened or covered with white coating, this is oxidation.
3. Listen to if there's any extraneous noise (coding, noise) when you connect, which could indicate damage to the speaker or microphone.

If you are sure that the problem is hardware, contact the Xiaomi service center.

• Replacement of contacts in the case: ~800-1500 ₽.
• Bluetooth antenna repair: ~1500–2500 ₽.
• Battery replacement: ~1200–2000 ₽ (depending on model).

⚠️ Warning: Don't try to disassemble the headphones yourself -- 90 percent of the time, it causes permanent failure. Xiaomi cases use adhesives, and if you open them sloppy, you can damage the plumes.

6. Compatibility and Bluetooth codec issues

Xiaomi headphones may not connect or work with interference due to incompatibility of Bluetooth codecs, which is especially true for smartphones not from Xiaomi (for example, Samsung, iPhone or devices on pure Android).

Here are the codecs that support different models:

How to solve problems with codecs:

• 📱 On Android: go to Settings → Bluetooth → ⚙️ next to the headphones → Sound quality and select SBC (most compatible codec).
• 🍎 On iPhone: the codec is automatically selected by the system. If the sound is interrupted, try turning off Sound Improvement in Bluetooth settings.
• 💻 On Windows/macOS: Install the latest Bluetooth drivers. Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro may require manual installation of the aptX codec via the Realtek Audio Console.

If the headphones are connected but the sound is interrupted or late, try:

1. Disable Absolute Volume in Bluetooth settings (on Android).
2. Reduce bitrate in the codec settings (if there is such an option).
3. Connect the headphones to another device and check if the problem is recurring.

7. Alternative ways of connecting (if nothing helps)

If the standard methods don’t work, try the non-obvious solutions:

Connect via Mi Home (for older models)

Some headphones (such as the Xiaomi Airdots Youth Edition) require a mandatory connection via the Mi Home:

1. Install Mi Home from Google Play or AppGallery.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account.
3. Press + → Add the device → Headphones.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen (scanning may be required) QR-case-code).

Developer Mode (for experienced users)

On Xiaomi smartphones, you can enable hidden Bluetooth settings:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find options: Bluetooth Codec Quality → Select SBC. Bluetooth Codec Bandwidth → Set Standard. Disable A2DP- Optimization → Turn on.

Restart your phone and try to connect again.

Connect via FastPair (for new models)

Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and newer headphones support Google's FastPair technology, which makes pairing easier.

1. Make sure that your phone includes Google Play Services and Nearby Devices.
2. Open the case with headphones next to the smartphone.
3. Wait for the pop-up notification New device detected and click Connect.

To connect:

1. Reset the headphones (Section 2).
2. On your iPhone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and select Xiaomi from the list.