Connecting Xiaomi headphones to iPhone 12: a complete guide to problem solving

Introduction: Are Xiaomi headphones compatible with the iPhone 12?

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones are a popular accessory among Android users, but many iPhone 12 owners doubt their compatibility with the Apple ecosystem.In fact, most Xiaomi models (from the budget Redmi AirDots to the premium Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro) support the universal Bluetooth 5.0/5.2 protocol, allowing them to connect to any smartphone, including the iPhone 12.

However, there are nuances: some features (such as advanced noise cancellation or gesture customization) may not work to the fullest due to the limitations of iOS. In this article, we will discuss the unique steps to connect Xiaomi headphones to the iPhone 12, including solving typical errors (such as the error code 4e or microphone problems), as well as optimizing the sound for maximum quality.

What Xiaomi headphones support iPhone 12?

Before buying or connecting, it’s important to make sure your model is compatible with iOS 14+ (the minimum version for iPhone 12).

Note that even if the model is supported, features like adaptive noise reduction or equalizer can be limited. For example, the Xiaomi Air 2 Pro on the iPhone does not allow you to adjust the level of ANC through standard settings - only with physical buttons on the headphones.

⚠️ Attention: Xiaomi headphones with Qualcomm chip QCC3040 (For example, FlipBuds Pro can automatically switch to Low Latency mode when connected to an iPhone, which reduces the sound quality. To avoid this, turn off the mode in Bluetooth settings (if available).

Step-by-step: how to connect Xiaomi headphones to the iPhone 12

The connection process depends on the type of headphones: TWS (True Wireless) or conventional Bluetooth headphones. Let's consider both options.

For TWS-Headphones (e.g. Redmi AirDots 3)

1. Remove the headphones from the case – they should automatically go into pairing mode (the indicator will flash red and white).

2. On iPhone 12, open Settings → Bluetooth and make sure the slider is turned on.

3. In the list of available devices, find the name of your headphones (for example, Redmi). AirDots_3_R You can press the right earpiece.

4. Confirm connection. If you have a request for input PIN-Use 0000 (standard code for most Xiaomi models).

For standard Bluetooth headphones (for example, Xiaomi Hybrid Pro)

1. Turn on the headphones, holding the power button for 5-7 seconds until the indicator starts flashing blue (pairing mode).

2. On iPhone 12, go to Settings → Bluetooth.

3. Select headphones from the list. If the name doesn't show, try turning off/on Bluetooth on your iPhone or rebooting your headphones.

4. Once connected, check the sound in any player (e.g. Apple Music).

Make sure your headphones are charged (minimum 30%)

Disconnect your headphones from other devices (Android, PC)

Update iOS to the latest version (Settings → Main → Software Update)

Reboot your iPhone if the headphones aren’t defined-->

⚠️ Warning: If the audio is interrupted or distorted after you connect, check the Bluetooth codecs in your iPhone settings. → Bluetooth → (i) next to the headphones → Codec of sound and select AAC instead SBC (if available).

Solution: Xiaomi headphones do not connect to the iPhone 12

Even with the right pairing, there can be errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

• 🔴 Headphones don't show up in the Bluetooth list: Reset your headphone settings (hold the power button for 15 seconds until the indicator double blinks). Turn off Bluetooth on other devices that may have previously connected to headphones. Check if your iPhone is on Air Mode or Energy Saving (they can block device search).
• 🔊 There is only one sound in the earphone (for the purpose of the TWS): Put both earbuds in a case, then pull out and wait 10 seconds - they should sync. On iPhone, forget the device (Settings) → Bluetooth → (i) → Forget this device and reconnect it, check if the contacts in the case are contaminated (wipe them with an alcohol napkin).
• 📱 Permanent communication interruptions: Turn off the iPhone function Automatic sound switching (Settings) → Bluetooth → (Make sure there are no obstacles (walls, metal objects) between the iPhone and the headphones. Try turning off the Wi-Fi on your iPhone, which sometimes interferes with Bluetooth.

Headphones are undetectable

The sound is only in one headphone.

Permanent communication breakdowns

No problem.

Another problem.-->

If none of these things worked, check the firmware on the headphones. Some models (such as the Xiaomi Air 2 SE) require an update through the Mi Home app, but it's not available for iOS, and you'll have to use an Android device to upgrade.

Optimizing Sound: Settings for Better Quality

By default, the iPhone uses the SBC codec for Bluetooth devices, which doesn't always provide the best quality.

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth and click on the icon (i) next to the connected headphones.
2. If you have a sound code option available, select AAC (it is better optimized for Apple and supports higher bitrates).
3. Include the Equalizer in Settings → Music → Equalizer and select Preset Pop or Rock (depending on genre).
4. Turn off Volume Limitation in Settings → Music → Volume Limit if the sound is too quiet.

For active noise cancellation (ANC) models such as the Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro, the setup is done with physical buttons:

• 🎧 Switch on/off ANC: triple-touching on the touchpad of the headphone.
• 🔇 Transparency mode: Touch retention for 2 seconds.
• 🔊 Volume adjustment: swipe up/down panel (if supported).

💡

If the sound in Xiaomi headphones seems “empty” or without bass, try turning off the low-latency audio feature in Bluetooth settings. It reduces lag, but worsens the sound quality due to compression.

How to Reset Xiaomi Headphones If They Don’t Work with iPhone 12

If the headphones are connected but are not working smoothly (for example, they spontaneously turn off or do not reproduce sound), a complete reset will help.

After reset, Xiaomi headphones will return to factory settings, and they will have to be connected to the iPhone 12 again as a new device. If the reset did not help, the problem may be a hardware malfunction (for example, a damaged Bluetooth module in the headphones).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (such as AirDots Youth Edition) require re-synchronization after reset. Put them in a case, close the lid for 10 seconds, then pull out - they must automatically connect.

Alternative ways to connect: if Bluetooth is not working

If Bluetooth on iPhone 12 refuses to connect Xiaomi headphones, you can use workarounds:

• 🔌 Bluetooth adapter → 3.5mm: Buy a Bluetooth transmitter with a 3.5mm output (e.g. Avantek) APTX). Connect the transmitter to the iPhone via Lightning → 3.5mm adapter (company with iPhone 12).Put Xiaomi headphones with transmitter.
• 💻 Connect via Mac or iPad: Connect your headphones to a MacBook or iPad, then enable Shared Audio in Bluetooth settings. On iPhone 12, select the headphones as a sound output device through Control Point → Sound.
• 🎵 Use of management apps: Install SoundCore or Equalizer Fx from the App Store to manually adjust the sound. ANC (For example, FlipBuds Pro, try Headphones Control, which allows you to control noise cancellation.

These methods won’t replace full Bluetooth connectivity, but they will help to temporarily resolve the problem until you find the cause of the malfunction.

💡

If the iPhone 12 doesn’t see Xiaomi headphones even after reset, check if the phone is enabled with Tracking Restriction (Settings → Privacy → Tracking) mode.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions