What is the name of the Xiaomi headphone app: official and alternative options

If you are the lucky owner of Xiaomi wireless headphones — whether it is AirDots, Buds or FlipBuds — the first question arises: what application should you install to make them work? Unlike other brands (for example, Sony or JBL), Xiaomi does not have a single universal solution – the choice of software depends on the model, region and even the firmware version.

In this article, we will look at all the official Xiaomi headphone apps, their features and limitations, and consider alternative programs for those who want more features. You will learn how the management in Mi Earphones and Xiaomi Wear differs, which models are supported, and what to do if the application does not find your headphones.

Official Xiaomi apps for headphones: comparison and features

Xiaomi has a number of apps to manage their gadgets, and headphones are no exception, and there are two major official programs: Mi Earphones and Xiaomi Wear, and we'll see what's different and which one's right for your model.

Mi Earphones is a dedicated app designed exclusively for headphones, and it supports most models, including AirDots Pro 2, Buds 3 Pro and FlipBuds Pro. Here you will find advanced audio settings, equalizer, firmware updates and charge monitoring. However, there is a significant disadvantage: it is not available on Google Play for European regions, users from Russia and the CIS will have to install it manually through APK.

Xiaomi Wear (formerly Mi Wear) is a more versatile app that manages not only headphones, but also fitness bracelets, smartwatches and other gadgets of the Mi Ecosystem ecosystem. Its plus is that it is officially available on Google Play and the App Store, but the functionality for headphones is trimmed here. For example, Xiaomi Wear does not have a separate equalizer for some models, and firmware updates can come with a delay.

• 🎧 Mi Earphones: full control of sound, equalizer, firmware, but not in official stores for Europe.

Supported headphone models: compatibility table

Not all Xiaomi headphones work equally well with official apps, such as budget models like the AirDots Youth Edition may have a minimal set of features, while the flagship Buds 4 Pro supports all features, including spatial sound and adaptive sound. Below is a table of compatibility of the main models with Mi Earphones and Xiaomi Wear applications.

If your model is not in the table, check it on the official Xiaomi website or in the instructions. Also, it is worth considering that some features may appear only after updating the headphone firmware. For example, in Buds 3 Pro, LDAC support appeared only with the firmware version 3.7.1.0.

⚠️ Note: Mi Earphones may not recognize headphones purchased in European stores due to differences in regional firmware, in which case try changing the region in your phone settings to India or China.

How to install and configure Mi Earphones (step-by-step instructions)

Since Mi Earphones is not available on Google Play for most regions, you will have to install it manually.

1. Download. APK-A file from a reliable source (recommended by APKCombo or APKMirror) Pay attention to the version: the last stable at 2026 is 2.8.5.
2. Before installing, allow installation from unknown sources: go to Settings → Security → Install unknown applications and select the browser through which the file was downloaded.
3. Install the APK and open the app, and when it first starts, it will request Bluetooth, Locations and Notifications — allow everything.
4. Turn the headphones into pairing mode (usually you need to press the button on the case for 5-7 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white and red).
5. In the app, click Add Device and select your model from the list. If the headphones don't show up, reboot the Bluetooth on your phone.

After a successful connection, you will see the main menu with tabs:

• Status - the level of charge of headphones and case.
• Sound equalizer effects (e.g. 3D Audio for FlipBuds Pro).
• Control - setting gestures (double touch, hold).
• Update – check new versions of the firmware.

Update the headphone firmware to the latest version

Customize gestures to suit your needs (for example, triple touch for voice assistant)

Activate the function "Find headphones" in the settings

Check the microphone in test mode-->

If some features are not available after you connect (for example, there is no equalizer tab), this may mean that your headphone model has a stripped-down firmware for the European market, in which case flashing to the global or Chinese version will help - but this is a risky procedure that can take away warranty.

Alternative applications: when official is not enough

If you don't like the functionality of official programs, you can pay attention to third-party solutions, which often offer more options for customizing the sound, but have their disadvantages - for example, may not support firmware updates or work unstable.

One of the most popular alternative applications is MaterialPods (formerly Xiaomi Earphones Controller), which supports most Xiaomi models and offers:

• 🎛️ Advanced equalizer with presets and the ability to create your profiles.
• 🔊 Setup ANC (Active noise reduction for models where possible.
• 📊 Detailed usage statistics (work time, charge level in dynamics).
• 🔄 Manually check firmware updates (but installation still requires official software).

Another option is Earbuds Battery, which is an app that specializes in monitoring the level of charge and notifies when the headphone battery is discharged to a critical level, useful for those who often forget to put their headphones on charging.

⚠️ Note: Apps may request access to the Accessibility Service for gestures, and be careful to only grant permissions to highly rated programs.

If you choose to use alternative software, remember:

• ❌ It will not replace the official firmware update app.

Hidden features of Xiaomi headphones that you didn’t know about

Even if you’ve been using Xiaomi headphones for a long time, you’re probably unaware of some hidden features that aren’t always obvious, but can greatly improve the experience.

1. Low Latency Mode (Low Latency Mode)

This feature reduces the latency of sound when watching videos or games, and it is activated in different ways depending on the model:

• In AirDots Pro 2 and Buds 3 Pro – triple touch on the earpiece.
• In FlipBuds Pro – through the Mi Earphones app in the section Sound settings.

Note that in this mode, the sound quality deteriorates slightly, but the annoying mismatch between sound and picture disappears.

2. Voice notifications in Chinese

Some models (such as the AirDots 3 Pro) use voice prompts in Chinese when they are connected or discharged, and can be turned off or replaced with English via the app:

1. Open Mi Earphones.
2. Go to Settings → Voice prompts.
3. Choose to Disable or English (if available).

Microphone and speaker test

Few people know that official applications have a built-in hardware test that will help you check if the microphones and speakers are working correctly, and to run it:

1. In Mi Earphones, go to Settings → Diagnostics.
2. Choose a microphone test or a speaker test.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (e.g., say a phrase to check the microphone).

💡

If your headphones suddenly lose sound in one of the speakers, try resetting them to the factory settings. To do this, put the headphones in the case, then press the button on the case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red 3 times.

Activation of the "For Play" mode

Buds 4 Pro and later have a special gamer mode that optimizes the sound for shooting games and other dynamic games.

Mi Earphones → Sound settings → Game mode

In this mode, enhanced low frequency playback is activated and latency is reduced.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with official apps, users are struggling, and we're going to look at some of the most common problems and ways to solve them.

1.The app doesn't see headphones

If Mi Earphones or Xiaomi Wear don’t detect your headphones, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off and turn on again).
• 📱 Remove the headphones from the list of associated devices and connect them again.
• 🔋 Check the charge level of the headphones – if it is below 10%, some features may not work.
• 🌍 Change your phone region to China or India (in language and region settings).

2. Firmware is not updated

If the app says there are no updates, but you know that a new version has come out:

• 📲 Check that you have the latest version of the app (Mi Earphones or Xiaomi Wear).
• 🔌 Connect your phone to charge – sometimes a firmware update requires stable power.
• 📡 Switch to mobile internet (if you use Wi-Fi) or vice versa.
• 🕒 Wait. 1-2 Day – sometimes updates roll out gradually by region.

3.The headphones discharge quickly

If the battery is running too fast, check:

• 🔊 Turn it off. ANC Transparent treatment if you do not use it.
• 📶 Turn down the volume – at maximum, the headphones consume much more energy.
• 🔄 Reset the headphones to factory settings (possibly lost the settings of energy saving).
• 🔋 Check out the case - if it doesn't charge headphones to 100%, its battery may have worn out.

⚠️ Note: If your headphones start to work worse after the firmware update (for example, there are interferences or reduced battery life), try to roll back to the previous version. For this, Mi Earphones sometimes has the option of rolling back the firmware in the updates section. If you don’t, please contact Xiaomi.

💡

Before updating your firmware, always check other users’ reviews on forums (such as 4PDA or MIUI Superforum) and sometimes newer versions contain bugs that make your headphones worse.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions