Connecting Huawei FreeBuds Pro to Xiaomi smartphone: full instruction with error solutions

Pairing Huawei FreeBuds Pro wireless headphones with Xiaomi phones (including Redmi and POCO models) seems like a simple task at first glance, but in practice users often face nuances. The fact that both companies use their own fast connection protocols (Huawei Share and Mi Quick Connect), which do not always interact correctly with each other. In this article, we will discuss not only the standard Bluetooth pairing process, but also reveal hidden MIUI settings that will help stabilize the connection and improve sound quality.

The FreeBuds Pro feature is support for LC3 (for low latency) and AAC (for high sound quality), but Xiaomi smartphones based on Qualcomm Snapdragon sometimes prioritize SBC, a less efficient codec. We will show you how to manually choose the optimal protocol and avoid problems with interruptions.

1. Preparation of headphones and telephone for pairing

Before you start connecting, make sure both devices are ready to interact. Huawei FreeBuds Pro should be charged at least 20% - with a lower charge level, they may not enter search mode.

Headphone charge (the indicator on the case should burn white or green)|

Disable headphones from other devices (in the Bluetooth menu of the previous smartphone)|

Update FreeBuds Pro firmware through the Huawei AI Life app (if available)|

Turn on Bluetooth on Xiaomi and remove old “dead” devices from the list|

Disable power saving mode on Xiaomi (can block stable connection)-->

On Xiaomi, it is recommended to temporarily disable the Automatic Sound Switching feature (located in Settings → Connected Devices → Bluetooth Settings). This option sometimes interferes with the correct pairing with devices of other brands. Also check that your phone has the latest version of MIUI installed - in old builds (below MIUI 12.5), there may be no drivers for Bluetooth 5.2 to work correctly.

If you've previously connected FreeBuds Pro to another device, reset their settings.

1. Place the headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the back of the case for 10 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
3. Open the lid - the headphones will go into pairing mode (the indicator flashes white).

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If the indicator on the case does not respond to the hold of the button, connect the case to charging for 5 minutes - sometimes a discharged battery blocks the reset.

2. Standard Bluetooth connection

The basic pairing method works on all Xiaomi smartphones, but may require additional actions to work smoothly.

1. Open the settings on your phone and go to the Bluetooth section.
2. Activate Bluetooth (the slider at the top of the screen).
3. Open the case cover of FreeBuds Pro – the headphones will automatically go into search mode (blinking white LED).
4. In the list of available devices, find Huawei FreeBuds Pro and tap it.
5. Confirm the pairing on the phone and wait for the notification “Device is connected”.

Once successfully connected to the Bluetooth menu, the ✓ icon and battery level will appear next to the headphone name, but here’s an important caveat: by default, MIUI can limit Bluetooth bandwidth for “non-native” devices.

1. Tap the name Huawei FreeBuds Pro in the list of connected devices.
2. Turn on the options: 🔊 Media Audio (for listening to music) ☎ Calls and audio (for conversations) 📱 Connecting to two devices (if necessary)

Absolute volume.

MIUI 14|

MIUI 13|

MIUI 12.5|

Old version (below 12)|

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3. Solving Connection Problems

If the headphones are not detected or permanently disabled, the problem may lie in the conflict of Bluetooth protocols.

Pay special attention to the codec item. By default, MIUI can force SBC even if the headphones support AAC or LC3. To change this:

1. Activate Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
2. Go back to the Settings → Additional → Developer settings.
3. Find the Bluetooth Codec and select AAC.
4. Reconnect the headphones.

To control headphones through gestures, familiarize yourself with the factory settings:

Important: If you use Google Assistant or Alice from Yandex, disable the assistant call via triple tap in the headphone settings. Otherwise, random touches can activate voice input during a conversation.

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For maximum compatibility, disable the “Automatic Connection to Audio Devices” option in Bluetooth settings, which will prevent conflicts when Xiaomi tries to switch to the phone speaker during a call.

5 Use of the Huawei AI Life app on Xiaomi

The official Huawei AI Life app allows you to expand the functionality of FreeBuds Pro, but on Xiaomi smartphones, its work has features. You can download it from APKMirror or Huawei AppGallery (direct installation from the Huawei website can be blocked by MIUI for security reasons).

After installation:

1. Open the app and allow all permissions you request (especially Bluetooth and Location).
2. In the main menu, select Headphones → FreeBuds Pro.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen for pairing.
4. After the connection is available: 🔋 View the level of charge of each headphone and case 🎛️ Customization of gestures and noise reduction modes 🔄 Update of the headphone firmware

Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro), the app may not show the charge level of the headphones, due to MIUI restrictions on access to Bluetooth device data, and a workaround is the use of third-party utilities like Bluetooth Battery Monitor.

Alternative methods of connection

If standard pairing doesn’t work, try alternative methods:

• 🔄 Fast Pair mode: Some Xiaomi models (starting with the MIUI 13) support a fast pair from Google. To activate: Hold the button on the FreeBuds Pro case for 2 seconds. The phone will display a notification "New headphones detected.

Use of the second device

Huawei

"Connection to two devices"

FreeBuds Pro

Xiaomi

Resetting the network

Settings → System → Network reset

Bluetooth

For advanced users, there is a method of connecting via ADB (requires an unlocked bootloader):

adb shell settings put global bluetooth_a2dp_sink_enabled 1


adb shell settings put global bluetooth_hfp_client_enabled 1

These commands force A2DP (for music) and HFP (for calls) profiles to be activated, which can help if MIUI blocks them automatically.

7. Frequent errors and their elimination

Even after a successful connection, users face typical problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI headphones stopped connecting, reset the network settings on the phone (Settings) → System system → Newer versions of firmware sometimes reset the permissions for Bluetooth devices.

If none of the methods worked, check the compatibility of your Xiaomi model with Bluetooth 5.2. Some budget devices (for example, Redmi 9A) only support Bluetooth 5.0, which can cause problems with FreeBuds Pro. In this case, you can either accept limited functionality or use headphones with another device.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions