Connecting Xiaomi wireless headphones to iPhone 11: full instruction with troubleshooting tips

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones are among the most popular accessories, thanks to a combination of price, sound quality and battery life. However, iPhone 11 owners often face difficulties when connecting for the first time: devices do not find each other, connection is interrupted or sound is only in one headphone, the reason lies in the features of the Bluetooth protocol between the Apple and Xiaomi ecosystems, as well as in the energy saving settings of iOS.

In this article, you will find a step-by-step guide with key steps, a table on the compatibility of iPhone 11 headphone models, and unique solutions for rare bugs that are not described in the official documentation. For example, why Xiaomi AirDots Pro 2 may not connect after the iOS 17 update, and how to fix it without resetting.

1. Preparing Xiaomi headphones for connection

Before pairing with the iPhone 11, Xiaomi headphones need to be put into search mode, which varies depending on the model, but the general principle is the same: long-term retention of the power button or touch panel.

If the headphones are new, they automatically go into pairing mode when you first turn on. For previously used devices, you will need to reset, which is especially important if the headphones were previously connected to an Android device, in which case they can “remember” the sound profile optimized for another OS, which leads to distortion on the iPhone.

• 🔋 Xiaomi AirDots (all generations): Press the touchpad on both headphones simultaneously for 5-7 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white alternately.
• 🎧 Redmi Buds 3/4 Pro: Press and hold the button on the case case case case case (near the case case case). USB-C) during 10 The indicator will light up in orange, then white.
• 🔄 Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro: Open the case, press the touchpad on both headphones for 3 seconds".
• ⚡ Mi True Wireless Earphones 2: Remove the headphones from the case, press the touch panels for 8 seconds. Indicators will start to pulse with purple.

⚠️ Warning: If the headphones flash only red, it means battery power below 10%, charge the device to at least 30%, otherwise the pairing may be interrupted during the transfer of the sound profile.

Charge the case and headphones up to 50%+

Remove headphones from the Bluetooth list on other devices

Update the headphone firmware (if available)

Shut down. VPN on iPhone (can block data transmission over Bluetooth)-->

2. Step-by-step instruction for connecting to iPhone 11

When the headphones are ready to pair, we move to the iPhone settings. Importantly, on Apple devices, the connection process is different from Android — there is no “quick search” of devices, and sometimes manual input is required. PIN-code (for example, for Xiaomi models with support) LDAC).

Follow the algorithm:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth on iPhone 11.
2. Make sure that the Bluetooth slider is active (green).
3. In the Other Devices list, find the name of your headphones (e.g., "Mi True Wireless Earphones 2"). If the device doesn't show up, update the list by pulling the screen down.
4. Click on the headphone name. If you request a code confirmation, type in 0000 or 1234 (standard PINs for Xiaomi).
5. Wait for the sign “Connected” and the icon of the charge level next to the name of the device.

On some models (for example, Redmi Buds 4 Active), a notification may appear after connecting to the firmware update. Do not ignore it - without an update, there may be problems with the microphone or synchronization of sound in games.

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If the headphones are plugged in, but the sound is only in one of them, open the case, remove both of the headphones and put them back for 10 seconds. Then reconnect. This resets the channel distribution.

3. Customization of sound and microphone after connection

By default, the iPhone 11 can use suboptimal audio settings for Xiaomi headphones, such as enabling audio compression to save charge, which degrades the bass quality.

1. Go to Settings → Universal Access → Audiovisual content.
2. Turn off the audio compression option (if it is active).
3. Return to Settings → Bluetooth, click on the icon “i” next to the headphone name.
4. Select "Use as" → "Stereo Headphones" (if available).

For models with support for ANC (active noise cancellation), such as Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro, additionally:

• 🔇 Turn it on. ANC In the Mi Home app (registration required).
• 📱 In iPhone Settings → Confidentiality → Microphone Allow Access for Mi Home App.

⚠️ Warning: If you hear a hissing background in your headphones after you connect, it may be caused by a codec conflict. → Bluetooth → "i" → Forget this device, then reconnect the headphones by holding the pairing button for 10 seconds (to reset the codec cache).

Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro|Redmi Buds 4|Mi True Wireless Earphones 2|Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro|Another model-->

4. Common problems and their solutions

Even after a successful connection, iPhone 11 users are faced with typical bugs, and here is a list of symptoms and proven ways to fix them:

• 🔊 Sound interrupted: Turn off Wi-Fi Calling in Settings → Cellular connectivity — this feature may conflict with Bluetooth. Also check if low power mode is on.
• 🎤 The microphone is not working: In Settings → Bluetooth → "i" → Select "Always Allow" for the microphone. Redmi Buds 3 Pro may require a firmware update via Mi Home.
• 🔋 Headphones discharge quickly: In Settings → Bluetooth disable the option “Discharge notifications” – it constantly polls the level of charge, which consumes the battery.
• 🔄 Headphones spontaneously turn off: Reset network settings on iPhone: Settings → Mainstream → Transfer or discharge → Resetting network settings.

If Xiaomi headphones are connected, but the sound is only in one of them, the problem may be due to incorrect channel allocation.

1. Put both earphones in the case for 15 seconds.
2. Take them out and wait for automatic reconnection.
3. If it doesn’t help, in Settings → Bluetooth forget the device and connect again, holding the button on the case for 10 seconds.

5. Optimization of headphones with iPhone 11

To improve connection stability and sound quality, perform the following settings:

• 📶 Turn off Bluetooth Automatic Switching: In iOS 14+ There's a feature that automatically switches audio devices. This can cause delays. → Bluetooth → "i" → Connect to this iPhone → Select “Audio only".
• 🔋 Set up energy saving: In Settings → Battery. → Battery status disable the option "Optimized charging" for the case of headphones (if it supports wireless charging).
• 🎵 Choose the best codec: For models with support AAC (For example, AirDots 3 Pro, this codec provides the best audio quality on your iPhone. To activate it, forget the device in Bluetooth and plug it back in.

For gamers: If you use headphones for games (like Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG), turn on low latency in the game settings. In Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro, this mode is activated by triple tapping the touchpad.

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For maximum connection stability, keep your iPhone and headphones at a distance of no more than 10 meters without obstacles (walls, metal surfaces). Bluetooth 5.0 in the iPhone 11 supports a range of up to 40 meters, but in practice, the sound quality deteriorates after 15 meters.

6. Update the firmware of headphones through the iPhone

Many problems (such as communication breaks or a broken microphone) are solved by updating the firmware, but Xiaomi does not officially support updating the headphones via the iPhone - this requires an Android device.

1. Install the Mi Home app from the App Store.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account.
3. Connect the headphones to the iPhone via Bluetooth.
4. Open Mi Home, go to the Devices section" → "Add the device" → Choose a model of your headphones.
5. If the app detects the headphones, it will suggest updating the firmware. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Important: Not all models support the Mi Home update on iOS. For example, Redmi Buds 3 Lite can only be updated via Android. In such cases, contact your friends with an Android device or use an emulator (for example, BlueStacks).

⚠️ Warning: Don't interrupt the firmware update process! If the headphones turn off during the update, they may stop turning on. In this case, you will need to reset via the service menu (you need to simultaneously pinch the touch panels on both headphones for 20 seconds).

7. Alternative ways of connecting

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

• 🔄 Through the regime DFU: For AirDots Pro 2 and later, there is a hidden recovery mode. Put your headphones in your case, then press the button on your case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes blue.
• 📱 Using a companion app: Install Xiaomi Earphones from the App Store.It lets you manually select a sound profile and reset your headphone settings.
• 🖥️ Connecting via Mac: If the iPhone stubbornly doesn't see the headphones, try connecting them to a MacBook, then disable and re-pair with the iPhone.

Models with LDAC support (such as Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro) may require manual codec configuration.

1. Connect the headphones to your iPhone.
2. Open the Mi Home app.
3. Go to the headphone settings and select "Sound Quality Priority".

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi to the iPhone 11