The combination of Xiaomi and iPhone headphones is a popular solution among users who value sound quality and accessibility. However, many people face problems when connecting first: devices do not find each other, the connection is interrupted or the sound is transmitted with distortions, the reason lies in the differences between the Bluetooth protocols between the ecosystems of Apple and Xiaomi, as well as in the features of the codecs that use headphones (for example, AAC, SBC or aptX).
In this article, we’ll look at not only the basic pairing process, but also the nuances that manufacturers keep quiet about, such as why AirDots or Buds 4 Pro can connect to iPhones not the first time, how to reset headphones to factory if they “forgot” the previous device, and what iOS settings should be changed for stable operation, and you’ll learn which Xiaomi models are best compatible with iPhones, and which can cause problems due to outdated versions of Bluetooth.
Why Xiaomi headphones can not connect to the iPhone?
The main problem is the difference in implementation of the Bluetooth protocol: Apple devices use proprietary extensions for Bluetooth 5.x, optimized for its ecosystem, while Xiaomi focuses on standard profiles.
- 🔍 Codec incompatibility: iPhone defaults to use AAC, But some Xiaomi headphones (especially budget) work better with the same headphones. SBC, What can cause delays in sound.
- 🔄 Previous Connections Conflict: If the headphones were previously paired with an Android device, they may "forget" the iPhone after rebooting.
- 📱 iOS restrictions: Starting with iOS 16, Apple tightened security policies for Bluetooth devices, which can block automatic connectivity.
- ⚡ Power saving: Xiaomi headphones with Low Latency Mode (like Buds 3 Pro) can conflict with iOS optimizations to save battery life.
In addition, some headphone models (such as the Redmi Buds 3 Lite) have an outdated version of Bluetooth 5.0 that doesn’t support all the features of the iPhone 13/14/15 with Bluetooth 5.3.
Preparing Xiaomi headphones for connection
Before pairing with an iPhone, you need to make sure that the headphones are in search mode. For different models, the activation process of this mode is different:
- 🎧 Redmi AirDots / AirDots 2: Press the button on the case for 10 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white and red.
- 🎧 Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro: Open the cover of the case and press the touch panel on both headphones at the same time on the 3 seconds.
- 🎧 POCO Buds X1: Press the button on the back of the case 3 times in a row.
If the indicator does not flash or is lit red, it means that the headphones are discharged or are in reset mode.
- Put the headphones in the case and connect it to charging for 10 minutes.
- Remove the headphones and repeat the procedure of activating the pairing mode.
- If the indicator still does not respond, reset (instructions in the next section).
Headphones charged (indicator lights green or white)|
The case closed for at least 5 seconds before opening |
Headphones removed from the case and are located next to the iPhone|
On the iPhone disabled mode “On the plane” (Settings) → Flight mode)-->
Step-by-step instructions for connecting
When the headphones are ready to pair, do the following on your iPhone:
- Open Settings on your iPhone and go to the Bluetooth section.
- Make sure the Bluetooth slider is on (should be green).
- In the list of Other devices, find the name of your headphones (for example, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 or Redmi Buds 4).
- Click on the headphone name and wait for the inscription Connected.
If the headphones are not listed:
- 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on iPhone: Turn it off and on again.
- 📱 Reboot your iPhone (sometimes helps with Bluetooth cache conflicts).
- 🎧 Turn off and re-enable the headphones (put them in the case for 10 seconds, then remove them).
Once you've successfully connected, check the sound quality. If you hear interference or delay, go to Settings → Bluetooth, click on the i icon next to the headphone name and select Forget this device, then repeat the pairing.
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If the headphones are plugged in but the sound is interrupted, try turning off the Low Latency feature in your headphone settings (if any).This may require the Mi Home app or Xiaomi Wear on your Android device.
Reset Xiaomi headphones to factory settings
If the headphones have previously been connected to another device and refuse to mate with the iPhone, perform a full reset.
| Model headphones | Resetting method | Sign of successful discharge |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi AirDots (1-3 generation) | Press the button on the case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red 3 times. | The indicator flashes white/red alternately. |
| Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro | Put the headphones in the case, then press the touch panels on both headphones for 10 seconds. | The indicator on the case flashes orange. |
| POCO Buds X1 | Press the button on the case 5 times in a row with an interval of 1 second. | The indicator goes out, then lights up in blue. |
| Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 | Press the touch panels on both headphones for 5 seconds (earphones should be outside the case). | The voice assistant says “Reset successful.” |
After reset, the headphones automatically go into pairing mode, now they can be connected to the iPhone as new devices. If the reset did not help, check if the connection is blocked by the tracking restriction feature in iOS (more on this in the next section).
⚠️ Warning: Reset removes all stored connection profiles, and if the headphones were previously paired with an Android smartphone, they will have to be reconnected after the reset.
iPhone settings for stable Bluetooth operation
Even after a successful connection, Xiaomi headphones can work unstable due to the iOS settings.
- Turn off Tracking Restriction: Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Geolocation Services → System Services and disable Tracking Limitation. This feature may block some Bluetooth devices from connecting.
- Set codec priority: By default, the iPhone uses AAC, but for some Xiaomi models it's better to force SBC on. To do this: Connect the headphones. Open Settings → Bluetooth and tap on the i icon next to the headphones. Select Forget this device, then plug in again - sometimes this resets the codecs.
Turn off Automatic Switching.
If you have multiple Apple devices (such as iPhones and MacBooks), the automatic switching feature may interfere.
It is also worth updating iOS to the latest version: in the new versions, compatibility with Bluetooth 5.2/5.3 devices has been improved. To check for updates, go to Settings → Main → Software Update.
What if the headphones are connected but there is no sound?
Solving common problems
Even after a successful connection, users face typical problems, and here's how to solve them:
1.The headphones plug in, but the sound is interrupted
Reason: Codec conflict or interference from other Bluetooth devices.
- 📵 Make sure there are no other active Bluetooth gadgets (fitness bracelets, speakers) nearby).
- 🔇 Turn off the microphone in the headphones (if you do not use it): go to Settings → Bluetooth → i → Microphone and choose Never.
- 🔄 Reconnect the headphones manually, previously turning them off at the Control Point.
2.Only one earpiece works
The reason: failure of synchronization between left and right headphones.
- 🎧 Put both earphones in the case for 10 seconds, then remove.
- 🔄 On iPhone, forget the device and connect again.
- 🔋 Check the charge of the headphones – sometimes one of them discharges faster.
3 Headphones discharge quickly when connected to an iPhone
The reason: iOS can use the more energy-consuming Bluetooth protocol.
- ⚡ Turn off the Active Noise Reduction function (ANC), if there is.
- 📱 In iPhone settings, disable Background app updates to save energy.
- 🔋 Use the original charging case – unoriginal may not provide enough current.
⚠️ Note: If headphones Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro discharged for 1-2 When you connect to your iPhone, it may indicate a conflict with Spatial Sound. → Music. → Spatial sound.
The best Xiaomi models for iPhone in 2026
Not all Xiaomi headphones work equally well with iPhones, but here are the models that show the best compatibility:
| Model | Bluetooth version | Support for codecs | Features of compatibility with iPhone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro | 5.3 | AAC, LC3, aptX Adaptive | Supports Low Latency Mode, but may require manual codec selection. |
| Redmi Buds 4 Active | 5.3 | AAC, SBC | A budget model with minimal connection problems. |
| POCO Buds X1 | 5.2 | AAC, SBC | Good autonomy, but there are possible delays in the sound in games. |
| Mi True Wireless Earphones 3 | 5.2 | AAC, aptX | It’s a stable connection, but aptX doesn’t work with the iPhone. |
If you want maximum compatibility, choose models that support AAC and Bluetooth 5.2/5.3. Avoid outdated Bluetooth 4.2 headphones (such as Redmi AirDots Basic) – they may not connect to new iPhones or work with permanent cliffs.
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For games on iPhone, it is better to choose headphones with support for Low Latency Mode (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro), but be aware that this mode can deteriorate the sound quality.