Connecting Huawei headphones to Xiaomi phone via Bluetooth: a complete guide to error solutions

Huawei’s wireless headphones (FreeBuds, TalkBand or Sport series) and Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO) run on different firmware, but that doesn’t interfere with their compatibility via Bluetooth. However, users often face problems: headphones are not on the list of devices, the sound is interrupted or the connection is reset after a few seconds. In this article, a step-by-step instruction with MIUI and EMUI features, as well as unique solutions for models with Kirin and Snapdragon chips.

We'll take a look at not only basic pairing, but also hidden settings (like turning on LDAC for improved sound), diagnosing errors through Developer Settings, and what to do if Huawei headphones refuse to connect to Xiaomi after a firmware update. A separate section is devoted to resetting headphones to factory settings, which helps in 80% of cases of malfunction.

1. Preparation of headphones Huawei and Xiaomi phone to pair

Before connecting, make sure both devices are ready to interact. Huawei headphones must be at least 20% charged (at a lower charge, they may not appear in the list of Bluetooth devices).

• 📱 Version. MIUI: Update the system to the latest stable version (in Settings) → The phone. → System updates) Older versions (below) MIUI 12) may not support Huawei protocols.
• 🔄 Airplane mode: Turn it off – it blocks all wireless connections, including Bluetooth.
• 🔋 Energy saving: Add Bluetooth app to the exclusion list (Settings) → Battery → Battery optimization; otherwise, the system may force the connection to be disabled.

For headphones Huawei FreeBuds 4/5 and FreeBuds Pro requires activation of the pairing mode.

1. Place the headphones in the case and close the cover for 5 seconds.
2. Open the lid and hold the button on the case (or touchpad on the headphones) for 10 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white (for FreeBuds 3) or blue and white (for FreeBuds Pro 2).

⚠️ Warning: If the light flashes only red, the headphones are dead. Connect the case to charge for 15 minutes and try again.

2. Step-by-step instruction for connecting via Bluetooth

Now, to the interface process itself, on a Xiaomi phone, do the following:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Activate the Bluetooth switch (if it is turned off).
3. In the list of available devices, find the name of your headphones (for example, Huawei FreeBuds 5 or the name of your headphones). HUAWEI AI Click on them.
4. Confirm the pairing on the phone (entry may be required) PIN-code - usually 0000 or 1234).
5. Wait for the message "Connected" and the headphone icon in the status bar.

If the headphones don't appear on the list, update the device list by pulling the screen down.For Huawei FreeBuds Pro and newer models, you may need to install the AI Life app (available on Google Play or AppGallery), but this isn't necessary for a basic connection.

3. Solving common connection problems

Even with the right settings, you can get errors.-5 problems and solutions:

To diagnose, connect your headphones to another device (like a laptop), if the problem persists, the headphones malfunction, if they work normally, the problem is with Xiaomi's settings.

⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi phones with Snapdragon chip 8 Gen 1/2 (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro, Redmi K50 Ultra) may conflict with the protocol LE Audio in Huawei FreeBuds headphones 5. Solution: Turn off dual audio in Bluetooth settings.

4.Resetting Huawei headphones to factory settings

If the connection fails, perform a hard reset of the headphones, which will delete all the saved devices and return the default settings.

• 🎧 Huawei FreeBuds 3/4, FreeBuds Pro/Pro 2: Place the headphones in the case, open the lid and hold the button on the case. 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red.
• 🎧 Huawei FreeBuds Lite, Sport: Press and hold the touchpad on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds.
• 🎧 Huawei TalkBand: Hold the physical button on the case for 8 seconds until voice confirmation is heard.

After reset, the headphones will automatically go into pairing mode. Connect them again, as described in section 2. If the reset does not help, check the case for damage (for example, oxidation of contacts).

5. Sound optimization: codec, equalizer and delays

By default, Xiaomi uses the SBC codec for Huawei headphones, which limits the sound quality.

1. Install the Developer Options Editor app from Google Play.
2. Enable Developer Settings (click 7 times on the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
3. In Settings → Additional → Developer Settings, find the Bluetooth Audio section and select:

To adjust the equalizer, use the built-in Mi Music app (Settings → Equalizer) or third-party apps like Wavelet. Turn off Absolute Volume in Bluetooth settings if the sound is too quiet.

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If you notice a delay in sound when watching a video, turn on MIUI Low Latency (in Bluetooth settings next to the headphone name). For games, use headphones in Game Mode (if supported by the model).

6. Features of connecting to specific Xiaomi models

Some Xiaomi phones have unique nuances when working with Huawei headphones:

• 📱 Xiaomi 13/13 Pro, Redmi K60: support LE Audio, but may conflict with FreeBuds 5. Solution – Turn off dual audio in Bluetooth settings.
• 📱 POCO F4/F5, Redmi Note 12: limited support for aptX codec. AAC stability.
• 📱 Xiaomi 12S Ultra, Mix Fold 2: automatically switch to Ultra LDAC, If the headphones support it (for example, FreeBuds Pro 2).

On phones with MIUI 14 and later, the Quick Connect feature is added: just open the headphone case next to the phone and a pop-up window will appear to pair (like the AirPods). If this feature does not work, clear the cache of the Bluetooth application in Settings → Applications → Application Management.

7. Alternative ways to connect (if Bluetooth does not work)

If the Bluetooth on Xiaomi’s phone is faulty or Huawei’s headphones refuse to connect, try alternative methods:

• 🔌 Bluetooth 5.0 Adapter: Connect it to your phone USB-C (support OTG). The headphones will connect to the adapter, not the phone.
• 🎵 Annex AI Life: Sometimes helps to force headphones to connect, even if they don’t show up in standard settings.
• 🔄 Guest Mode: Create a second user on your phone (Settings) → Accounts. → Users) and try to connect from there.

The Bluetooth adapter will require:

1. Buy an adapter with AAC/aptX support (e.g. 1Mii B06 Plus).

⚠️ Attention: Using a Bluetooth adapter drains the phone’s battery 15-20% Don't leave the adapter plugged in unnecessarily.

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If Huawei headphones have previously been connected to another phone on an EMUI (such as the Huawei P40), they can "remember" the Huawei profile and conflict with MIUI. In this case, a headphone reset (section 4) is mandatory.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Huawei to Xiaomi