How to connect wireless headphones Xiaomi Redmi Buds to the smartphone: instructions with photos and tips

Why Xiaomi Redmi Buds Headphones Don’t Connect to Your Phone – and How to Fix It

Xiaomi Redmi Buds wireless headphones (including Redmi Buds 3/4/5 Pro, Lite, AirDots) have become one of the most popular gadgets in the line of budget audio thanks to the combination of price, sound quality and battery life. However, even with such devices, users often face problems when connecting first: the phone “does not see” headphones, the connection is interrupted after a few seconds or the sound is only in one earphone. 80% of these problems are solved by the right sequence of actions – and this article is devoted to this article.

We'll not only break down the basic Bluetooth pairing process, but also the hidden MIUI/iOS settings that affect connection stability. For example, few people know that Redmi Buds 4 Pro has a separate mode for low latency game sound — and it needs to be activated manually. You'll also learn how to reset your headphones to factory settings if they've forgotten all previously connected devices, and what to do if the sound is lost after the firmware update.

Preparing headphones for the first connection

Before you try to connect Redmi Buds to your phone, make sure the headphones are ready to pair. A common mistake for beginners is to try to connect to headphones that are discharged or in standby mode.

• 🔋 Charge headphones and case. Connect the case to the charger (use the original cable) USB-C The indicator on the case should flash red while charging and turn white/green at full charge. Redmi Buds 5 Pro requires a minimum of 30% charge for stable pairing.
• 🎧 Remove the headphones from the case. Pull out both earphones - they must automatically turn on (white/red light flashes). If the indicator is not on, press and hold the touchpad on the earphone for 5 seconds.
• 🔄 Reset to factory settings (if necessary). If the headphones have already connected to another device and "do not want" to connect to your phone, reset: Put both earbuds in the case, then press and hold the button on the case for 10-15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white alternately.

Note: Redmi Buds 3 Lite and older models use Bluetooth 5.2+ technology, which requires support from a smartphone. If your Released phone is before 2019 (like the Redmi Note 7), there may be connection issues — upgrade your phone’s firmware or use your headphones in compatibility mode (more on this below).

Step-by-step: how to connect Redmi Buds to an Android smartphone

The process of pairing with your Android phone (including Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO devices) takes no more than 1-2 minutes, if you follow the algorithm. Importantly, on phones with MIUI 12+ there are additional settings for Xiaomi headphones that improve sound and reduce latency.

1. Activate Bluetooth on your phone. Swipe down to open the notification bar and tap the Bluetooth icon. Or go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
2. Run the pairing mode on the headphones. Take both earphones out of the case and hold the touchpad on either of them for 3 seconds until the indicator flashes quickly white.
3. Find the headphones in the list of devices. In the Bluetooth menu on the phone, a device called Redmi Buds XXX (where XXX is the model) will appear.
4. Confirm pairing. The phone may have a request for code confirmation (usually 0000 or 1234). Enter it and press Connect.

Once you've successfully connected, you'll have a headphone icon in the status bar, and in Bluetooth, you'll have status Connected. If the headphones don't connect, check:

Make sure the headphones are charged (the indicator flashes white)

Reboot your phone and headphones (put in the case for 10 seconds)

Disable Bluetooth on other devices nearby (may interfere)

Update the firmware of the phone (in) MIUI: Settings → The phone. → Updating the system)-->

On Xiaomi/Redmi phones, after connecting, a notification will appear with a suggestion to install the Mi Earphones branded application (available on Google Play).

• 🎛️ Equalizer settings (preset profiles: Bass, Clear Sound, Voice").
• 🔊 Adjustments to the noise reduction level (in models with ANC, For example, Redmi Buds 4 Pro).
• ⚡ Check the level of charge of each headphone and case.

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If you only have one earpiece on your headphone, put both earphones in your case for 20 seconds, then pull them out and re-pair them, and 90 percent of the time, that solves the problem.

Redmi Buds pairing with iPhone (iOS): features and nuances

While Redmi Buds are optimized for Android devices, they work well with iPhones (iOS 12 and later), but there are a few key differences:

1. There is no proprietary app. Apple doesn't allow Mi Earphones to be installed on iPhones, so the equalizer and ANC settings will have to be adjusted manually through Settings → Music → Equalizer.
2. Limited charge information. iOS only shows the charge level of the case, but not individual headphones (unlike Android).
3. Loud delays in games: Due to the Bluetooth stack in iOS, the audio delay can reach 200-300 ms. For games, use Low Latency (if supported by the model).

Instructions for connecting to the iPhone:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth and turn it on.
2. Remove the headphones from the case and hold the touchpad for 3 seconds (the indicator should flash white).
3. In the list of devices, find Redmi Buds XXX and tap it.
4. Confirm the connection (no code required).

If your iPhone can’t see the headphones, try:

• 🔄 Reboot iPhone and headphones (put in the case for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Forget the device in Bluetooth settings (if it was already there) and repeat pairing.
• 🔌 Connect the headphones to another device (Android), then try connecting to the iPhone again.

Customization of sound and gesture control

Once connected successfully, you should configure gesture control and audio profiles to maximize the potential of the headphones.

To adjust gestures on models with support:

1. Open the Mi Earphones app (for Android).
2. Choose your headphone model.
3. Go to the Touch Management section.
4. Assign actions for single/double/triple touch (e.g., calling voice assistant or switching ANC).

For noise reduction settings (ANC):

• In the Mi Earphones app, select Noise Reduction.
• Select Active (maximum noise reduction), Balanced or Transparent (talking) mode.
• On the Redmi Buds 5 Pro models, the ANC intensity setting (weak/medium/strong) is available.

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Redmi Buds 4 Pro and newer headphones support AAC codec for iPhone and aptX Adaptive for Android. To enable aptX, go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → Cog settings next to headphones → Audio codec and select aptX Adaptive (available on Android 10+ phones).

Update of the firmware headphones: why and how

Xiaomi regularly releases firmware updates for Redmi Buds that fix bugs, improve sound and add new features. For example, the Redmi Buds 4 Pro update from March 2026 fixed the problem with a connection break during a conversation and added support for the LC3 codec for better compatibility with Android 13+.

To update the firmware:

1. Make sure the headphones are connected to the phone and the case charge level is at least 50%.
2. Open the Mi Earphones app.
3. If an update is available, a notification will appear with the Update button.
4. Press Update and wait for the process to be completed (the headphones will reboot).

After the update:

• 🔊 Check the sound – sometimes the equalizer settings are reset.
• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones to the phone (forget the device in Bluetooth and hide again).
• 📱 Update the Mi Earphones app to the latest version on Google Play.

Addressing common problems

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

If Redmi Buds headphones don’t connect at all, try:

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 14+ There's a bug that can cause Bluetooth to freeze after connecting to multiple devices in a row. To reset the Bluetooth module, go to Settings. → The phone. → All parameters. → Network reset and select Bluetooth Settings Reset.This will remove all saved devices, but solve the connection problem.

Tips for care and extension of service life

To make Redmi Buds last longer, follow these guidelines:

• 🧼 Clean your headphones. Once a week, wipe the speakers and body with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol (do not use water!). To remove earwax from the speaker mesh, use a soft brush (come complete with some models).
• 🔋 Don't leave your headphones on charge more. 24 This reduces battery life, using the original cable or certified cable. USB-C/Micro-USB.
• 🌡️ Temperature: Do not leave your headphones in direct sunlight or in the cold (optimum temperature: 0)°C to 35°C) The battery may be affected by overheating or hypothermia.
• 🎧 Always put your headphones in your case when not in use, which protects them from dust and mechanical damage. Avoid wearing headphones around your neck without a case (risk of losing or damaging your headphones).

If the headphones stopped holding the charge:

• Try battery calibration: completely discharge the headphones (before turning off), then charge the case and headphones to 100% without interruption.
• Check the status of contacts in the case - if they are oxidized, gently clean with a swallow or alcohol.
• If the operating time is reduced by more than 30%, you may need to replace the battery (contact the service).

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The average battery life in Redmi Buds is 2-3 years (300-500 charge cycles), after which the capacity is reduced by 20-30%, and the headphones hold less charge than the stated time.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Redmi Buds