How to connect Samsung Galaxy Buds headphones to Xiaomi phone: full instructions with problem solving

Combining Samsung Galaxy Buds headphones with Xiaomi phones is not as rare as it might seem. Many users prefer one brand’s eco-style for smartphones, but choose accessories from another manufacturer because of design, sound or functionality. However, connecting Samsung headphones to a Xiaomi device sometimes comes with nuances, from the lack of automatic recognition to problems with sound or microphone.

In this article, we’ll look at all the synchronization options you can get from a standard Bluetooth connection to using third-party apps for advanced features, and you’ll learn why Galaxy Buds might not connect to Redmi, POCO, or Mi, and how to fix common bugs, and if you’re faced with headphones plugging in but the sound is interrupted or one of them doesn’t work, you’ll find a solution here too.

Why Samsung Buds may not connect to Xiaomi: the main reasons

Before we get into the instructions, it’s important to understand why there are problems connecting devices from different brands.

• 🔄 Bluetooth Profile Conflict: Xiaomi and Samsung Use Different Protocol Implementations A2DP (for sound transmission) and AVRCP (This may lead to delays or communication interruptions.
• 📱 Outdated firmware: If the headphones or phone are not updated, sync errors are possible. Buds2 Pro requires a minimum version MIUI 13 for stable employment.
• 🔋 Low battery power: If the headphones are below 15%, they can automatically shut down to save energy.
• 🎧 Residual settings from past devices: If Buds were previously paired with a Samsung phone, they can "remember" it and ignore new connections.

Fun fact: Xiaomi limits some Bluetooth features to third-party devices.For example, Galaxy Buds+ will not have automatic switching between devices (Seamless Switching feature), even if the phone technically supports Bluetooth 5.2.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the likelihood of connection problems increases in the future. 3 In such cases, manual editing of the file may be required. /etc/bluetooth/bt_stack.conf.

Method 1: Standard Bluetooth connection

It’s the easiest and most versatile method that works for all Galaxy Buds models (including Buds Live, Buds2, Buds Pro) and Xiaomi phones (from Redmi Note 8 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra).

1. Open the lid on the Samsung Galaxy Buds charging case and the headphones will automatically go into search mode (the indicator on the case will flash white/green).
2. On Xiaomi phone, go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
3. Turn on Bluetooth (the slider in the top corner) and wait for a device called the Galaxy BudsXXXX to appear on the list (where the XXX is the model).
4. Click on the headphone name and confirm pairing. If you request permission to access contacts and calls, select Allow (this is necessary for the microphone to work).

Once successfully connected, the indicator on the case will light up blue (for Buds+ and newer) or green (for Buds Live). Some Xiaomi models (for example, the POCO F5) may have a notification about low sound quality – this is normal, since the phone detecting device is a “simple” Bluetooth device.

Headphones appear in the list of Bluetooth devices

The indicator on the case is lit with constant light (does not flash)

In the status line of the phone appeared the icon of headphones

The sound is played without delay (check on YouTube or Spotify).

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If the headphones are connected, but the sound is only in one, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the headphones (clip the touch panels for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Disable and reconnect them in Bluetooth settings.
• 🎵 Check the sound balance in the phone settings (Settings) → Sound. → Stereo balance).

Method 2: Use the Galaxy Wearable app (for advanced features)

Samsung’s official Galaxy Wearable app lets you customize gestures, equalizers and firmware updates for Galaxy Buds. However, it doesn’t work well on Xiaomi. Here’s how to install and configure it:

1. Download Galaxy Wearable from Google Play (or via APKMirror if the app is not available in your region).
2. Open the application and resolve all requests (access to location, contacts, microphone).
3. Click Start and select your Galaxy Buds model from the list.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen. If the app doesn't find the headphones, close it, restart the phone and try again.

Important: On Xiaomi phones with MIUI 12 and below, the Galaxy Wearable may not see headphones due to background limitations.

• 🛠️ Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → Galaxy Wearable.
• 🔄 Enable Auto Run, Allow to change system settings and Show over other windows.
• 📱 Reboot the phone.

Forced firmware updates via Galaxy Wearable can cause the headphone settings to reset, check the case charge (should be ≥50%) before the procedure and don’t interrupt the process.

Galaxy Buds Live

Galaxy Buds2

Galaxy Buds Pro

Galaxy Buds2 Pro

Galaxy Buds FE

Another model

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Method 3: Connecting through developer modes (for power users)

If standard methods don’t work, you can try manually setting Bluetooth settings through the developer menu, which is suitable for Xiaomi phones on MIUI 13/14 and later.

Step 1: Activate the Developer Mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Click 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified "You became a developer").

Step 2: Configure Bluetooth settings:

1. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
2. Find the Bluetooth section and turn on:

⚠️ Attention: Change of parameters LDAC or aptX can cause the phone headphones to fail completely. If the sound is gone after the changes, reset your Bluetooth settings to Settings. → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting network settings.

Problem Solving: Headphones are connected but not working

Galaxy Buds are shown as connected, but there is no sound or it is interrupted, and this is a common diagnostic algorithm.

Problem 1: The sound is only in one headphone

Reasons:

• 🔊 The headphone is not synchronized with the case (try putting it back and pulling it out in 10 seconds).
• 🎛️ In the settings of the phone is enabled mono mode (check in Settings). → Special facilities → Rumor).
• 🔋 One of the headphones is discharged (plug the case to charge for 30 minutes).

Problem 2: The sound is interrupted or stuttered

Decisions:

• 📶 Reduce the distance between your phone and headphones (maximum 10 meters without obstacles).
• 🔄 Switch the audio codec to SBC (In Settings → Bluetooth → Settings gear next to Galaxy Buds → Codec).
• 📱 Close background apps that use a microphone (such as WhatsApp or Telegram while calling).

Problem 3: The microphone is not working during calls

What to do:

• 🎤 In Bluetooth settings, click on the gear icon next to Galaxy Buds and turn on Use for calls.
• 📞 Check if the microphone is blocking your hair or cover.
• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones (forget the device in Bluetooth and pair again).

💡

If the sound in your headphones is gone after the MIUI update, try rolling back the Bluetooth stack version. To do this, download the archive from here (look for a theme for your Xiaomi model) and stitch through TWRP.

Reset Galaxy Buds settings to factory

If none of these things worked, the last option is to completely reset your headphones, which will remove all the paired devices and return the default settings.

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the lid and press the touch panels on both headphones for 7-10 seconds. The indicator on the case will flash red.
3. Wait 30 seconds – the headphones will reboot and return to factory settings (the indicator will turn green).
4. Connect them to the phone again (as described in Method 1).

After discharge:

• 🔄 You will have to reconfigure gestures and equalizer (if you used Galaxy Wearable).
• 📱 Phone may request re-authorization to access contacts.
• 🎵 Sound quality will return to standard (without custom settings).

⚠️ Note: Resetting does not help if the problem is a hardware malfunction (for example, damaged speaker or Bluetooth antenna).In this case, contact the service center Samsung — even if the phone Xiaomi, the warranty on the headphones is maintained.

Alternative applications for managing Galaxy Buds on Xiaomi

If Galaxy Wearable doesn't work or doesn't like its limitations, you can use third-party utilities.

• 🎛️ Configure equalizer (including custom presets).
• 🔊 Control the level of noise reduction (ANC).
• 📊 View usage statistics (working time, battery charge).

Top.-3 apps:

Example of Buds Controller configuration:

1. Install the app and give you access to Bluetooth.
2. Select the Galaxy Buds model from the main menu.
3. Go to Equalizer and select a preset (like Bass Boost).
4. Enable ANC or Ambient Sound in the Noise Control section.

💡

The app side cannot unlock all of the Galaxy Buds features (such as 360 Audio or automatic device switching) – a limitation at Samsung’s firmware level.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Samsung Buds to Xiaomi