How to properly set up wireless headphones on Xiaomi phone: from connectivity to fine-tuning

Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life - they allow you to listen to music, answer calls and watch videos without tangled wires. POCO They have difficulty connecting for the first time: the device does not find headphones, the sound is interrupted or the quality leaves much to be desired. This article will help you understand all the nuances from basic synchronization to professional setting of the sound profile.

We’ll look at not only the standard Bluetooth pairing process, but also rare tricks: how to reset headphones to factory settings if they’ve “forgotten” the phone, why Mi True Wireless or Redmi Buds can only connect to one ear, and how to turn on aptX codecs or how to use a new phone. LDAC Special attention is paid to solutions for older smartphone models (for example, Xiaomi Mi). A1) and the new flagships on HyperOS.

If you've tried to connect your headphones before, but you've encountered an error, or if you're not connected to your device, or if your headphones are constantly shutting down, there's a section in this article that diagnoses these problems, and for customization enthusiasts, we've prepared a guide to setting up your equalizer and controlling your gestures.

1.Preparation: What to check before connecting

Before you start pairing, make sure your headphones and phone are ready to go, and often problems arise from trivial things like a dead battery, an airplane mode is on, or outdated firmware.

Let's start with the headphones.

• 🔋 Make sure the headphones are charged (the indicator should burn or blink when turned on).For the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, the minimum charge for connecting is 20%.
• 📦 If the headphones are new, take them out of the box and remove the protective film from the contacts of the charging case - it can block charging.
• 🔄 Headphones should be in pairing mode (usually you need to hold a button on the case or touch panel on one of the headphones for 5-10 seconds until the indicator starts to flash quickly white / blue).

Now check the phone:

• 📱 Make sure Bluetooth is on: swipe down from the top of the screen and check the Bluetooth icon in the Quick Settings Panel. If it's gray, tap it.
• 🛠️ Update the firmware: go to Settings → The phone. → Update the system. MIUI (Below 12.5) there may be bugs with True Wireless headphones.
• 🚫 Turn off the power saving modes: they can interrupt the connection. → Battery and productivity → Power saving mode and select No restrictions.

⚠️ Note: If you connect Xiaomi headphones to a phone of another brand (such as Samsung or iPhone), some features (such as gestures or firmware via Mi Home) may not be available.

2. Standard Bluetooth connection

The easiest way to connect headphones is to use the standard Bluetooth protocol. POCO, including budget smartphones like Redmi 12C and flagships of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra type.

Steps for connection:

1. Open the headphone case cover (if it is a True Wireless model) or turn on the headphones with the power button (for overheads).
2. On your phone, go to Settings. → Connections and sharing → Bluetooth (on HyperOS) or Settings → Bluetooth (on) MIUI).
3. Click Device Search (or Add a new device).
4. In the list, find the name of your headphones (such as Redmi Buds 5 or Mi True Wireless 3) and tap it.
5. Confirm the pairing if a request appears (sometimes you need to enter) PIN-code - default is 0000 or 1234).

Once successfully connected, the headphones will be labeled Connected, and will automatically connect to the phone when turned on (if not reset).

Headphones charged (indicator on fire)

Bluetooth on your phone is on

Headphones in pairing mode (blue/white flashing)

Phone's not in airplane mode.

Other Bluetooth devices disabled (may cause conflicts)-->

If the headphones don’t appear in the list, try the following:

• 🔄 Reboot the headphones: Put them in the case, close the lid, wait 10 seconds, then pull out and activate the pairing mode again.
• 📱 Reboot your phone: Sometimes a simple reboot helps, especially if you’ve had Bluetooth crashes before.
• 🗑️ Remove old connections: go to Bluetooth settings, find previously connected headphones, tap the gear next to the name and select Forget device.

3. Solving Connection Problems

Even after successful pairing, there can be problems: the headphones only connect to one ear, the sound is interrupted or the device is permanently disabled, and let's look at the most common cases and their solutions.

Only one headphone is connected.

If the sound comes from only one headphone (usually the right one), the problem may be:

• 🔋 A discharged battery of one of the headphones (get both out of the case and check the charge indicators).
• 🔄 Unsynchronized headphones (you need to reset them to factory settings - see section 4).
• 🎧 Contaminated contacts in the case (wipe them with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol).

For Xiaomi Buds models 3/4 Pro and Redmi Buds 4 There is a special synchronization mode:

1. Put both earphones in the case.
2. Open the lid and hold the button on the case for 15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white.
3. Wait until the headphones are reconnected (the indicator will become monochromatic).

3.2 Headphones are permanently switched off

If the connection is interrupted every few minutes, check:

• 📶 Distance to phone: maximum stable distance for Bluetooth 5.0 is 10 meters without obstacles.Walls and furniture reduce this radius.
• 📱 Background apps: Some programs (such as Mi Fit or Zepp Life) may conflict with Bluetooth.
• 🔄 Bluetooth Version: The latest version of the protocol must be enabled on the phone. → The phone. → Version. MIUI/HyperOS Update the firmware if necessary.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi phones with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi Note 12 or MediaTek) POCO M5) This can be an aggressive power optimisation for Bluetooth. To turn it off, go to Settings. → Battery and productivity → Battery Optimization, Find Bluetooth App and Choose Without Limits.

Poor sound quality or delay

If the sound is interrupted, wheezing, or late (especially noticeable in games or videos), try:

• 🎵 Change Bluetooth codecs: go to Bluetooth settings, tap the gear next to the headphones and select Additional → Codecs. Music is optimal for aptX or LDAC, talk-in — SBC.
• 📵 Turn off Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interfere with each other on some frequencies.Try to turn off Wi-Fi or switch to 5GHz.
• 🔊 Disable the effects of sound: in Settings → Sound. → Sound effects turn off Mi Sound Enhancer and Equator – they can create additional load.

4. Resetting headphones to factory settings

If the headphones are not connected, malfunctioning or you have "forgotten" the phone, a complete reset can help.

Once reset, all previous connections will be erased, and the headphones will return to the factory settings, which is the only way to fix the error when the device connects but immediately shuts down or does not play sound.

If the reset didn’t work, check the headphones on another device (for example, on a laptop or tablet). If the problem persists, one of the headphones or case may have malfunctioned. In this case, contact the Xiaomi service center (the headphone guarantee is usually 12 months).

5. Sound tuning and gesture control

Modern Xiaomi headphones support customization of sound and control. Let's consider how to adjust the equalizer, change the purpose of gestures and enable additional functions.

Set up the equalizer

To improve the sound:

1. Open the settings → Sound → Equator.
2. Select a profile (like Bass, Rock or Pop) or create yours by moving the sliders.
3. Activate Mi Sound Enhancer to amplify high and low frequencies (but note that this can increase sound latency).

For supported models LDAC (Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro is recommended:

• 🎧 Turn on LDAC in Bluetooth settings (see Section 3.3).
• 📱 Disable Adaptive bitrate in settings LDAC, avoiding quality leaps.

5.2. Gesture control

On headphones Xiaomi and Redmi you can configure actions for:

• 👆 Double touch (by default - playback / pause).
• 👇 Triple touch (skipping a track or calling a voice assistant).
• 👈 Retention (volume control or noise reduction switching).

To change the purpose of the gestures:

1. Install Mi Earphones (for True Wireless) or Mi Headphones (for overhead) from Google Play.
2. Connect the headphones and open the application.
3. Go to Settings. → Managing gestures and select the desired actions.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Buds 3 Lite) don’t have reassignment gestures – they have fixed features.

💡

If the headphones don't respond to touch, wipe the touch panels with a dry wipe. Dust and sweat can block gestures.

Initiation of noise reduction (ANC)

Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro, Buds 4 Pro and Buds 5 Pro models support active noise reduction (ANC). To turn it on:

1. Open the Mi Earphones app.
2. Go to Noise Cancelation.
3. Select a mode: 🔇 ANC — noise-suppression. 🌳 Transparency – Transmission of external sounds. 🎧 Off - standard mode.

For the best effect, choose the size of the bottles (usually come with 3-4 pairs of different sizes), tight fit improves the quality of noise reduction.

6. Battery optimization and autonomy

Wireless headphones discharge faster if functions like ANC or LDAC. Here's how to extend your work time:

• 🔋 Turn it off. ANC, If you don’t need it, it saves up to 30% of your charge.
• 📵 Use it. SBC instead aptX/LDAC listening to podcasts or audiobooks (less energy consumption).
• 🔄 Turn off your headphones when not in use: Many models automatically turn off after 5 minutes of inactivity, but some (such as Redmi Buds 3) remain on standby.
• 🌡️ Avoid overheating: Do not leave headphones in the sun or near heat sources (e.g. on the dashboard of a car).

The average operating time of Xiaomi headphones:

If the headphones are discharged too quickly (less than 50% of the stated time), check:

• 🔌 Cable and Power Unit: Use the Original Cable USB-C (for new models) or a proven adapter with a current of at least 1A.
• 📉 Battery status: Mi Earphones app has a Battery status section where you can check battery wear.
• 🔄 Update the firmware of the headphones: in the same application check for updates (Update section).

💡

Use of noise reduction mode (ANC) Cuts headphones down by 20 to 40 percent, and disable them when they're not needed to extend their autonomy.

7. Update to the headphone firmware

The manufacturer regularly releases firmware updates for headphones that fix bugs, improve sound and add new features.

1. Install the official app: For True Wireless headphones: Mi Earphones. For overheads: Mi Headphones.

Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.

Update of the PO

Update

Example of the update interface for Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro:

Software version: V12.4.5.8 (current)




Update available: V12.4.7.2




Size: 3.2 MB




Changes:




Fixed the problem with connecting to iOS




- Improved noise cancellation in "Transport" mode




- Optimized energy consumption

⚠️ Warning: Do not interrupt the update process - this can cause a firmware failure. If the headphones stopped turning on after a failed update, try resetting them (see section 4) and repeat the procedure. If this does not help, contact the service center.

After the update:

• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones to the phone.
• 🎧 Check the sound and gestures – sometimes the settings are reset.
• 📋 Save the update log (there is an Update Log section in the app) if you need to contact support.

8. Alternative ways of connecting

If a standard Bluetooth connection doesn’t work or you need to use headphones with multiple devices at once, consider alternative options.

8.1.Mi Home Connection (for Xiaomi ecosystem devices)

Some headphone models (such as Mi True Wireless Earphones 2) can be connected via the Mi Home app:

1. Install Mi Home from Google Play.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account.
3. Press + in the upper right corner and select Add Device.
4. Select the Audio category and find your headphone model.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen (you will need to turn on the pairing mode on the headphones).

Advantages of connecting via Mi Home:

• 🔗 Automatic sync with other Xiaomi devices (e.g. Mi Notebook or Mi TV) TV).
• 📊 Access to advanced settings (for example, settings) ANC level-by-level).
• 🔔 Low battery notifications right in the app.

8.2 Multi-connection (to two devices simultaneously)

Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and newer models support two devices at once, to activate this feature:

1. Connect the headphones to the first device (such as a phone).
2. Open Mi Earphones and go to Multi-Connection.
3. Activate the option and follow the instructions to connect to a second device (like a laptop).

Limitations of multi-connection:

• 🎵 The sound will only be played from one device at a time.
• 📞 When an incoming call is made to any of the devices, the sound will automatically switch to it.
• 🔋 Battery consumption increases by 10-15%.

8.3 Connect via Google Fast Pair (for Android)

Xiaomi headphones support Google Fast Pair technology, which speeds up the pairing process.

1. Make sure your phone is enabled with Bluetooth and Fast Pair (Fast Pair must be active in Bluetooth settings).
2. Open the headphone case cover (they should be in pairing mode).
3. On the phone screen, a pop-up window will appear with a suggestion to connect - tap Connect.

Fast Pair also allows you to:

• 📲 Switch between devices on one Google account.
• 🔔 Get notifications about low battery charge headphones.
• 🔍 Find your headphones if they are lost (through Find My Device).

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting headphones to Xiaomi