How to connect wireless headphones Xiaomi to the iPhone 12: instructions with photos and tips

Xiaomi wireless headphones are some of the most popular smartphone accessories due to their combination of price, sound quality and functionality. However, iPhone 12 owners often face difficulties when connecting for the first time: devices do not find each other, connection is interrupted or sound is transmitted with distortions. In this article, we will analyze all the stages of synchronization, from preparing headphones to setting up a sound profile in iOS, and also consider typical errors and how to fix them.

The iPhone 12 is a feature that uses Apple’s W1/H1 chip to optimize wireless accessory experience, which means Xiaomi headphones (like the Redmi AirDots 3 Pro or Xiaomi Buds 4) will run in standard Bluetooth 5.0 mode, without additional “chips” like automatically switching between devices, but with the right setup, the difference in sound and connection stability will be minimal.

It’s important to consider that Xiaomi headphones with LC3 support (like Buds 5 Pro) may show better compatibility with the iPhone 12 after upgrading to iOS 17+, as Apple has added support for this codec. If your headphone model is older than 2022, this point is not relevant.

1. Preparing Xiaomi headphones for connection

Before you connect the headphones to the iPhone 12, they need to be properly initialized. Most Xiaomi models (e.g. AirDots 2/3, Buds 3/4) come in standby mode, and you need to follow several steps to activate:

• 🔋 Charge the case: Connect the case to the power source for 10-15 minutes, even if the indicator shows a charge.
• 🎧 Remove the headphones: Take both earphones out of the case and wait until they flash white/red (depending on the model.
• 🔄 Reset: If the headphones have already been connected to another device, reset. For most models, it is enough to hold the button on the case for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes twice.

Some models (such as the Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro) have a separate pairing button on the body of one of the headphones, in which case hold it for 3-5 seconds until you hear an audible beep or see a blink of blue and red at the same time.

⚠️ Note: If the indicator on the case flashes red for more than 30 seconds, this indicates a critical charging error. Try using another cable or power supply.

Make sure the case is at least 20% charged |

Remove both earphones from the case |

Wait for the indicator to flash (white/blue)|

Reset if necessary (hold the 10 button).+ seconds)-->

2. activation of Bluetooth mode on iPhone 12

Now, to the smartphone settings, on the iPhone 12, you can turn on Bluetooth in two ways:

1. Through Control Center: Swipe your finger from top to bottom down the top right corner of the screen (or bottom to top for models with the Home button) and tap the Bluetooth icon. It should turn blue.
2. Settings: Go to Settings → Bluetooth and move the slider to the right. Here you will see the list of available devices.

Important: After activating Bluetooth, wait until the name of your Xiaomi headphones appears on the list, which usually takes 5-10 seconds.

• 🔄 Reboot the headphones (put them back in the case for 5 seconds and pull them out again).
• 📱 Reboot iPhone 12 (hold the power button) + volume-button).
• 📶 Make sure there are no other active Bluetooth devices nearby (they may interfere with your Bluetooth device).

Redmi AirDots (1/2/3 generation) |

Xiaomi Buds (3/4/5 episode) |

Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro|

Another model-->

3. Step-by-step interface instruction

When Xiaomi headphones appear in the list of available devices on the iPhone 12, follow these steps:

1. Click on the headphone name in the list (e.g. Redmi AirDots 3 Pro or MI True Wireless Earphones).
2. Confirm the connection if a request pop-up appears (some models require you to enter). PIN-code - default is 0000 or 1234).
3. Wait for the "Connected" sign next to the device name. The indicator on the headphone case should stop flashing and burning blue (or go out).

If the process is suspended during the "Connection" stage:

• 🔌 Disconnect your headphones from other devices (such as a laptop or tablet) if they have been connected before.
• 📴 Turn on iPhone 12 Aeromode for 10 seconds, then turn it off and try again.
• 🔄 Reset network settings on iPhone: Settings → Mainstream → Removing or resetting iPhone → Reset → Reset the network settings.

💡

If the headphones are plugged in but the sound is only in one headphone, check the audio balance in the iPhone settings: Settings → Universal Access → Audiovisual Content → Stereo Balance. The slider should be in the middle.

4. Set up sound profile and codecs

When successfully connected, it is recommended to optimize the sound. By default, the iPhone 12 uses an SBC codec, which provides a stable connection, but not the highest sound quality.

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth and click on the icon “i” next to the headphone name.
2. In the Sound section, select High-quality audio (if available) to activate the AAC codec, which is better optimized for Apple devices.

For Xiaomi models that support aptX or LDAC (like Buds 4 Pro), these codecs on the iPhone 12 are not available — iOS does not support them at the software level. In this case, the only way to improve sound is to use third-party applications like Equalizer Fx or Boom 3D (but they work with restrictions due to Apple policy).

⚠️ Note: If after connecting Xiaomi headphones, the sound in apps (for example, YouTube or Spotify) is delayed, try turning off the Low Latency feature in Bluetooth settings (if any.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even after a successful connection, iPhone 12 users may face a number of challenges.

🔊 The sound is interrupted or lost.

Reasons:

• 📶 Interference from other devices: Wi-Fi router, microwave or other Bluetooth headsets can cause interference. Solution: turn off the extra devices or move closer to the iPhone.
• 🔋 Low headphone charge: At battery level below 15%, the connection becomes unstable.
• 📱 iOS Background Processes: Close all apps via App Switcher (swipe up from the bottom of the screen).

🎵 No sound in one earpiece.

This is most often related to:

• 🧹 Contact contamination: Wipe metal contacts on headphones and in a case with an alcohol napkin.
• 🔄 Sync failure: Put both headphones in the case, close the lid for 10 seconds, then pull them out again.
• 🔊 iOS Settings: Check the audio balance in Settings → Universal access → Audiovisual content.

🔋 Fast discharge of the headphone battery

If the headphones are discharged in 1-2 hours:

• 📴 Turn off the Active Noise Maker function (ANC), If you have it in your model.
• 🔊 Reduce the volume to 70-80% – high sound levels significantly reduce the operating time.
• 🔄 Update the headphone firmware through the Mi Home app (if available for your model).

6. Optimization of headphones with iPhone 12

To maximize your experience, use these tips:

• 🔊 Set up the equalizer: In apps like Spotify or Apple Music, choose Preset Pop or Rock – they are best suited for Xiaomi speakers.
• 🎧 Use mono-connection: If you only need one headphone, take it out of the case first - the second will automatically shut down (does not work on all models).
• 📱 Turn off automatic switching: In iOS 15+ The iPhone can switch between the headphones and the speaker itself. To avoid this, go to Settings. → Bluetooth → i (near the headphones) → Connect to this iPhone and select Audio Only.

For touch-controlled models (such as Xiaomi Buds 4), learn touch combinations:

• 🟟triple_tap: Calling the voice assistant (Siri).

💡

For stable operation of headphones Xiaomi with iPhone 12 is recommended to turn off Bluetooth on other devices within a radius of 5 meters. This will reduce the likelihood of interference and connection breaks.

7. Alternative ways of connecting

If the standard method doesn’t work, try alternatives:

📱 Connection via the Mi Home app

Some models (for example, FlipBuds Pro) require pre-configuration through the proprietary application:

1. Download Mi Home from the App Store.
2. Sign up or sign in through your Xiaomi account.
3. Turn the headphones on in pairing mode and follow the instructions in the app.

🔄 Manual connection

If the headphones are not listed:

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Press the other device... (bottom of the screen).
3. Type the model name manually (e.g. Redmi AirDots 3) and wait for the search.

🖥️ Connecting via Mac (if iPhone can’t see headphones)

Sometimes it helps to connect to the computer:

1. Connect your headphones to a MacBook or iMac.
2. Disconnect them from the Mac.
3. Try connecting to the iPhone 12 again.

8. Comparison of Xiaomi models on compatibility with iPhone 12

Not all Xiaomi headphones work equally well with iPhones, and here is a comparison table of popular models:

The best choice for the iPhone 12 is models that support AAC codec (such as Buds 3 Pro or FlipBuds Pro), which provide clearer sound and lower latency compared to the SBC.

💡

If you often listen to music through YouTube or watch videos, pay attention to headphones that support Low Latency (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro), which will reduce the dissynchronization of sound and images.

FAQ: Frequent questions