How to turn off Xiaomi headphones: from AirDots to Buds 4 Pro

Xiaomi headphones are some of the most popular gadgets due to their combination of price, sound quality and functionality. However, even with such devices, users face basic problems: the headphones do not disconnect from the phone, continue to play sound after being removed from the ears or automatically connect to the wrong device. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to disable wired and wireless models, from the budget Redmi AirDots to the flagship Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro.

It is important to understand that the process of turning off the headphones depends on the type of headphones and their current state. For example, wireless models that support multipoint (simultaneous connection to two devices) can remain active in the background even after manually switching off on a smartphone. We will consider not only standard methods, but also hidden functions that are not written about in the official instructions.

The most obvious way is to turn off the headphones via the Bluetooth settings on the connected device, which works for all Xiaomi models, including the AirDots 2/3, Buds 3/4 Pro and wired Hybrid Pro.

Instructions for Android (MIUI):

Open Settings → Bluetooth.
Find your headphones in the list of devices (the name usually contains Mi, Redmi or Xiaomi).
Put the pin on the gear badge (⚙️) near-name.
Select Disable (not to be confused with Forget the Device!).

For iOS (iPhone/iPad):

📱 Go to Settings. → Bluetooth.
🔵 Find the headphones in the list of My devices.
🔄 Tapping on the round information icon (ⓘ) near-name.
🚫 Select Turn Off.

⚠️ Warning: If the headphones automatically reconnect after turning off, check the Autoconnection settings in the Bluetooth menu. MIUI This option is on by default.

Make sure your headphones are not in firmware mode |Close all apps that use sound (Spotify, YouTube) |Check the headphone charge (at a low level, they can turn off themselves) |Disable the Quick Connection function in the MIUI--> settings

2. Complete removal (forget device) and resetting connection

If Xiaomi headphones continue to connect to the phone even after manually disconnecting, you will have to perform a complete reset, which is true for models with automatic connection when opening a case (for example, Buds 3 Pro or AirDots 3).

How to remove headphones from the device memory:

📱 On Android: Settings → Bluetooth → ⚙️ → Forget the device.
🍎 On iOS: Settings → Bluetooth → ⓘ → Forget this device.
💻 Nana Windows/macOS: Find the headphones in the Bluetooth device list and select Delete.

After that, Xiaomi headphones will be reset to the factory connection settings. To connect them again, you will need to:

Place the headphones in the case and close the lid for 10 seconds.
Open the lid and hold the button on the case (if any) for 5-10 seconds until the indicator flashes white/red.
Connect again via the Bluetooth menu.

What to do if the reset button does not work?

On some models (such as Xiaomi Buds 4), the reset is done by triple tapping the touchpad of the headphone for 2 seconds. If the indicator does not blink, try connecting the headphones to another device and reset from there.

3. Disconnection via Mi Home/Xiaomi Wear app

For Xiaomi headphones with support for branded applications (for example, Buds 3 Pro, AirDots 3 Pro), you can turn off via Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear. This is useful if the standard Bluetooth shutdown does not work.

Step-by-step:

Open the Mi Home app (for older models) or Xiaomi Wear (for newer ones).
Select your headphones from the list of connected devices.
Go to the Device Settings section (Icon) ⚙️).
Find the option to Disable or Remove the device.

In some versions of the application there is a separate section “Connection Management”, where you can:

🔗 Disable automatic connection to the last device.
🔄 Enable/disable multipoint (simultaneous connection to two gadgets).
🔋 View the charge level of the case and headphones.

⚠️ Warning: If after removal through the application, the headphones do not appear in the Bluetooth list, reset the case: place the headphones inside, close the cover and hold the reset button (if any) for 15-20 seconds.

Redmi AirDots (1/2/3 generation)|Xiaomi Buds (3/4 Pro)|Xiaomi Hybrid Pro (wired)|Other Xiaomi |Not Xiaomi-->

4. disable the Xiaomi wired headphones (Hybrid, Dual Driver)

Xiaomi wired headphones (like the Hybrid Pro or Dual Driver) don't have their own power source, so it's easier to turn off -- just take the plug out of the connector. But sometimes they continue to be defined as connected by the system. Here's how to solve this problem:

For Android (MIUI):

📵 Turn off the headphones physically (remove the plug).
🔄 Reboot your smartphone – it will reset the cache of audio devices.
🎧 If the sound is still going through the headphones, check the settings of the Sound. → Output of sound and select the Phone Speaker.

For the iPhone:

🔌 Unplug the headphones.
📱 Go to Control Point (swipe down from upper right corner).
🔊 Hold your finger on the sound control unit and select your iPhone as the output device.

If the Xiaomi Hybrid headphones are connected via a USB-C adapter, try:

🔌 Disable the adapter and reconnect it.
🔄 Settings menu → Connected devices find the adapter and disable it manually.

💡

If Xiaomi’s wired headphones start to “wheeze” after turning off, check the 3.5mm connector for dust or oxidation. Carefully clean it with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

5. Forced Disconnection through Developer Mode (for Power Users)

If Xiaomi headphones are “hang” in the system and do not turn off in standard ways, you can use the developer mode on Android. This method is suitable for all models of Bluetooth headphones, but requires caution.

How to turn on the developer mode and turn off headphones:

Go to Settings. → The phone.
Tap 7 times on the MIUI version until you become a developer.
Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
Find the Network → Bluetooth section and select the Bluetooth Device List.
Slap on the headphones and select Forced Disconnect.

Alternative method via ADB (for PC):

adb shell settings put global bluetooth_headset_priority 0


adb shell am broadcast -a android.bluetooth.headset.profile.action.CONNECTION_STATE_CHANGED -e android.bluetooth.profile.extra.STATE 0

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect actions in developer mode can disrupt the Bluetooth module. Do not change other settings unless you are sure of their purpose.

💡

Forced shutdown through developer mode resets all active Bluetooth connections, including smartwatches, fitness bracelets and other gadgets.

6. Solving problems with "non-disabled" headphones

Sometimes Xiaomi headphones continue to play the sound or remain connected despite all attempts to disconnect.

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
The headphones automatically connect after disconnection	Quick connection function in MIUI	Turn off the settings → Bluetooth → More
The sound goes through the headphones, although they are turned off.	Failure in audio routing	Restart your phone or reset your sound settings
Headphones don’t appear in the Bluetooth list	Resetting case settings	Hold the button on the case for 15 seconds
One earpiece still works.	Unsynchronized headphones	Place both in the case and wait for synchronization.

If none of the methods worked, try resetting the network settings on your smartphone:

📱 Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting network settings.
🔄 After resetting, all Bluetooth devices will be removed and will have to be reconnected.

7. disable Xiaomi headphones on other devices (PC, Mac, Smart TV)

Xiaomi headphones can be connected not only to smartphones, but also to laptops, TVs and even gaming consoles.

Windows 10/11:

🖥️ Open the settings. → Devices → Bluetooth and other devices.
🔍 Find the headphones in the list and click Remove the device.
🔄 If the headphones don’t turn off, open Device Manager, find them in the Sound, Video and Gaming Devices section, and manually disable them.

macOS:

🍎 Go to System Settings → Bluetooth.
🖱️ Put the cursor on the headphones and press the cross (❌) remove.
🔊 If the sound continues to go through the headphones, open System settings. → Sound and select Embedded speakers.

Smart TV (MI TV, Samsung, LG):

📺 Go to Settings. → Sound. → Sound output → Bluetooth devices.
🔗 Select Xiaomi headphones and turn them off.
🔄 If TV sees no other output devices, reset the audio settings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you turn off just one Xiaomi headphone, leaving the second one on?

Yes, but only for models with mono-mode support (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro or AirDots 3). To do this: Take both headphones out of the case. Place one headphone back in the case and close the lid. The remaining headphone will work on its own. For older models (e.g. AirDots 1), this mode may not be supported.

Why Xiaomi headphones don’t turn off after the case closes?

This is a typical problem for headphones with Always-On function. Solutions: Check the settings in the Xiaomi Wear app - disable the Auto Connect option. Reset the case (hold the button for 10-15 seconds). Update the headphone firmware through the official app.

How to turn off Xiaomi headphones completely (not just disconnect from your phone)

Most Xiaomi models don't have a physical switch off button. To turn them off completely: Place both headphones in the case. Close the lid - in 5-10 minutes, the headphones will automatically turn off. To force the switch off, hold the touchpad on both headphones for 10 seconds (until flashing red). Wireless models (such as the Hybrid Pro) turn off immediately after the plug is removed.

What to do if Xiaomi headphones connect to other devices?

This is because of the pairing mode enabled. To prevent the connection: Reset your headphones to factory settings (see section 2). Turn off Bluetooth on all your devices and re-bind. In the Xiaomi Wear app, turn off the Visibility for All (if any) option. If the headphones are already connected to someone else's device, the owner will have to manually remove them from his Bluetooth list.

How to turn off audio notifications (voice prompts) in Xiaomi headphones?

Voice alerts (e.g., Connected, Charging Low) are turned off via the app: Open Xiaomi Wear or Mi Home. Select your headphones. Go to Settings → Voice prompts. Turn off the slider or select No Sound. For older models (e.g., AirDots 1), this option may not be available.