Introduction: Why answer calls with headphones?
Xiaomi earphones are no longer just an accessory for listening to music. Modern models — from the budget Redmi Buds to the flagship Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro — support the function of receiving calls, making them a complete replacement for the headset. But how exactly to answer an incoming call if the phone is in the bag and the headphones are connected via Bluetooth?
In this article, we’ll take a look at all the ways Xiaomi headsets manage calls, including touch gestures, voice commands and settings in the Mi Fitness/Xiaomi Wear app. You’ll also learn why the feature doesn’t work and how to fix it. This is relevant for 2020-2026 models, but most tips will be suitable for older devices as well.
Special attention will be paid to three key aspects: 1 Basic methods of answering a call (touch, button, voice). 2) Configuring management through proprietary software. 3) Solving typical problems (no sound, headphones do not determine the call.
How to answer a call in headphones Xiaomi
The manufacturer has a range of options for taking a call, from classic button pressing to intuitive gestures, depending on the headphone model and its generation, and below are all the methods available, from the simplest to the most advanced.
- 🔘 Physical button: relevant for mechanically controlled models (e.g. Mi Basic 2 or Redmi AirDots S.
- 👆 Touch Bar: In touch-controlled headphones (such as Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro), you can answer a call with a double touch on the body.
- 🎤 Voice command: if the headphones support voice assistant (e.g. Google Assistant or Xiao) AI), You can say "Respond" or "Accept a call." It only works when you're actively connected to your smartphone.
- 📱 Through the smartphone screen: even if the headphones are connected, the call can be received by a standard swipe on the phone screen.
Important: In some models (such as the Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro), gestures are customized individually through the app. If double-touching doesn't work, check the settings in Mi Fitness → Devices → [Your model] → gesture control.
Set up call management in the Xiaomi app
Xiaomi’s proprietary software, Mi Fitness (for wearables) or Xiaomi Wear (for new-generation headphones), allows you to flexibly adjust the headset’s response to incoming calls. Without this setup, some features may not work properly.
Instructions for setting:
- Open the Mi Fitness or Xiaomi Wear app on your smartphone.
- Go to the Devices section and select your headphones.
- Find the item Gesture Management or Call Settings (the name may vary depending on the model).
- Activate the Answer Call option and select the desired gesture (e.g., double tap).
- Save the changes and sync the headphones with the phone.
Some firmware has additional options: • Auto-respond to a call (earphones automatically accept a call in 3-5 seconds). • Reject a call (for example, hold a button for 2 seconds). • Do not disturb mode (disables notifications about calls in headphones).
☑️ Checking settings before calling
⚠️ Warning: If the headphones don't respond to touch after setting up your gestures, try resetting them to factory settings. To do this, hold the button on the body for 10-15 seconds until the indicator blinks.
Why Xiaomi Headphones Don't Accept Calls: Typical Problems
Even after you set it up properly, you're going to have situations where the headphones don't detect the incoming call or switch to the sound, and let's look at the main reasons and ways to fix them.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Headphones do not vibrate / do not signal a call | Notifications disabled in Bluetooth settings | Go to Settings → Connected Devices → [Your Headphones] → Notifications and turn on the option |
| The sound goes through the phone speaker, not the headphones. | Failure in audio routing | Call the Quick Settings menu during the call and manually select the headphones as the output device |
| Gestures don't work. | Touch panel contamination or outdated firmware | Clean the headphone case with a dry napkin and update the software through the Mi Fitness app |
| The microphone is not working during a conversation. | Headphones are only connected in Audio mode (without Hands-Free Profile support) | Turn off and reconnect the headphones by selecting the HFP or Headset profile in Bluetooth settings |
A critical feature of Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro models is that if the headphones are connected to two devices at the same time (for example, a phone and a laptop), the call reception function can work unstable.
What if the headphones are not determined by the phone?
Comparison of Xiaomi models by call reception functionality
Not all Xiaomi headphones are equally good at receiving calls, and the table below compares the key characteristics of popular models that affect conversation quality.
| Model | Type of management | Support for voice commands | Microphone quality | Automatic. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Buds 4 | Touch (touch) | Yes (Google Assistant) | Medium (baseline noise reduction) | No. |
| Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro | Touch + button | Yes (Xiao AI/Google) | High (3 noise-canceling microphones) | Yeah (tunes in) |
| Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 | Button | No. | Low (one microphone) | No. |
| Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro | Touch + voice | Yes (full integration) | Premium (ANC + 3 microphones) | Yes. |
For business users who care about quality of communication, the best choice will be Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro or FlipBuds Pro thanks to advanced noise reduction and support. LC3-Budget models like Redmi Buds 4 are suitable for calls, but in noisy places (streets, transport) you can have problems with hearing.
💡
If you talk with your headphones on the street, turn on the “Voice Improvement” option in your phone settings (located in Settings → Sound → Sound Effects) to help your interlocutor hear better by suppressing background noise.
How to improve the quality of calls in headphones Xiaomi
Even in the top-end models, communication quality can be impaired by external factors, and here are some proven ways to optimize sound:
- 📶 Stable connection: keep your smartphone within 10 Walls and metal objects degrade Bluetooth signal 5.0/5.2.
- 🔇 Microphone setup: In multi-mic headphones (e.g. Buds 4 Pro), select Noise Suppression mode in the Mi Fitness app.
- 🔄 Firmware update: the manufacturer regularly releases patches to improve communication. Check the relevance of the software in Mi Fitness → Firmware update.
- 🎧 Proper fit: tight earphones fitting to the ear improves voice transmission. Use appropriately sized earpieces.
For models that support the AAC codec (such as FlipBuds Pro), it is recommended to manually select it in Bluetooth settings: Settings → Connected devices → [Your headphones] → Audio codec → AAC.
This will reduce the latency and improve the clarity of the voice.
⚠️ Warning: If you hear interruptions or interference during a conversation, try disabling Multipoint in your headphone settings. Working with two devices at the same time can create conflicts when transmitting audio.
Alternative ways to manage calls
Besides the standard methods, there are less obvious but useful features:
- 🤖 Voice Assistant: If the headphones support Google Assistant or Xiao AI, You can control voice calls. Examples of commands are: "Respond to the call," "Decline the call," "Call back to the last one".
- ⏱️ Timer Auto Response: In some models (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro), you can set up an automatic response 3-5 seconds after the start of the call).
- 📞 Call forwarding: If the headphones are connected to a tablet or laptop and the call arrives on the phone, use the Call forwarding function in the settings SIM-map.
For smartphone owners Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO There's an optional option available, which is fast control through the notification curtain. When you make an incoming call, swipe down and tap the headphone icon to force the audio output to switch.
💡
Voice commands only work when you're connected to the Internet (required to handle the request by an assistant), and you can't control calls with voice offline.