Connecting Samsung Galaxy Buds to Xiaomi smartphones: a complete guide to solving typical problems

The compatibility of Samsung Galaxy Buds wireless headphones with Xiaomi devices is a concern for many users who have decided to combine ecosystems of different brands. Despite the fact that both manufacturers use the Bluetooth standard, protocol implementation features and proprietary features can create difficulties when connecting first. In this article, we will discuss not only the basic pairing process, but also the nuances of audio tuning, solving connection problems, and optimizing the work of the headphones for maximum comfort.

It’s important to understand that Samsung Buds was originally designed to work with devices on One UI (Samsung firmware), where all proprietary features like automatic switching between devices or setting up an equalizer through the Galaxy Wearable app are available. On MIUI (Xiaomi firmware), some of these features will be limited, but the basic functions – listening to music, calling and gesture management – work steadily.

Preparation for connection: what to check before pairing

Before you start connecting, make sure your devices meet the minimum requirements for stable operation:

• 📱 Version MIUI: The smartphone must have firmware at least MIUI 12 (for models older than 2020). Older versions may not support Bluetooth 5.0+ protocols, which will lead to communication problems.
• 🎧 Headphone Charge: The Galaxy Buds should have a charge level of at least 30%. With a low charge, the headphones can turn off during pairing.
• 🔄 Settings Reset: If the headphones have previously been connected to another device (especially Samsung), reset via the Galaxy Wearable app or manually (press the touchpads on both headphones for 10 seconds).
• 🛡️ No interference: There should be no other active Bluetooth devices (columns, fitness bracelets) within a radius of 2 meters that can cause interference.

Pay special attention to the Bluetooth version of your Xiaomi smartphone. For example, the Redmi Note 10 Pro and later models are equipped with a Bluetooth 5.2 module, which provides a more stable connection with the Galaxy Buds + and Buds Pro. While budget devices like Redmi 9A (Bluetooth 5.0) can experience audio delays when watching video.

⚠️ Warning: If your Xiaomi smartphone has previously connected to another brand headphones (such as AirDots), clear the list of conjugated devices in Bluetooth settings. Profile conflict may block Samsung Buds connection.

Step-by-step: how to connect Samsung Buds to Xiaomi

The pairing process takes no more than 2 minutes, if you follow a clear algorithm, and here is a general instruction that is suitable for all Galaxy Buds models (including Buds Live, Buds Pro, Buds2) and Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO smartphones:

1. Open the cover of the Samsung Buds case and leave the headphones inside. They will automatically go into pairing mode (the indicator on the case will flash white).
2. On a Xiaomi smartphone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and activate the slider.
3. In the list of available devices, find the name of your headphones (e.g., Galaxy Buds2 Pro (SM-R510)).
4. Confirm pairing on both devices. On the Samsung Buds case, the indicator will change color to green (successful connection).

If the headphones don’t appear in the list, try the following:

• 🔋 Remove the headphones from the case and put them back (reboot the Bluetooth module).
• 🔄 Reboot your Xiaomi smartphone and repeat the search.
• 📵 Enable flight mode for 10 seconds, then turn it off (network reset).

Headphones are displayed in the list of connected devices|The indicator on the case is burning green|The sound is played without delay|Gesture control is working (pause/replay)-->

After the first connection, Samsung Buds will automatically connect to your Xiaomi when you open the cover.However, if you use headphones with multiple devices (such as a laptop), you may need to manually reconnect.

Customization of sound and control: what works and what does not

One of the key limitations when using Samsung Buds with Xiaomi is the lack of full support for the branded Galaxy Wearable app.This means you won't be able to:

• ❌ Set up the equalizer (bass/high frequencies).
• ❌ Update the firmware of the headphones.
• ❌ Use 360 Audio (Space Audio)
• ❌ Configure gestures to call the voice assistant (only Google Assistant will work if it is installed by default).

However, basic management functions remain available:

To improve the sound on Xiaomi, you can use the built-in equalizer in the Music app or third-party players like Poweramp. It is also recommended to turn off MIUI audio effects in the sound settings (Settings → Sound → Sound Effects), as they can conflict with the sound processing in Galaxy Buds.

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If the sound in your headphones is interrupted while watching video, turn on the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version, tap 7 times) option to Turn off the absolute volume of Bluetooth. This will eliminate the volume imbalance between devices.

Solving Typical Connection Problems

Even after successful pairing, users often face a number of problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

1.The headphones plug in, but no sound.

Reasons:

• 🔊 Headphones are chosen as a device for calling, not for media.
• 🎵 The Bluetooth profile is set to HFP (for calls) instead of A2DP (for music).

Decision:

1. Open the notification bar on Xiaomi and make sure that the Galaxy Buds are selected as the playback device.
2. Go to Settings → Bluetooth, click on the gear icon next to the Galaxy Buds and select Media Audio.

2. Permanent communication breakdowns

Reasons:

• 📶 Weak Bluetooth signal due to physical barriers (walls, furniture)
• 🔋 Low charge headphones or case.
• 📱 Conflict with other connected devices (e.g., Mi Band).

Decision:

• 📍 Reduce the distance between your smartphone and headphones (optimally, up to 1 meter).
• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 🚫 Turn off other Bluetooth devices temporarily.

3. Sound delay when watching video

This problem is common to all Bluetooth headphones because of the specifics of the codecs. On Xiaomi, the delay can be amplified by optimizing power consumption.

Decision:

• 🎬 Use players that support delay compensation (e.g. VLC or MX Player).
• 🔧 Turn on the developer settings (Disable the absolute volume of Bluetooth) and reconnect the headphones.
• 📱 Turn off the power saving mode for the application in which the video is played.

⚠️ Warning: If the headphones stopped connecting after the MIUI update, try removing them from the list of associated devices and resetting the Galaxy Buds settings (clamp the touchpads for 10 seconds), often due to changing the Bluetooth protocols in new firmware versions.

The sound is interrupted.|Delay in watching videos|Not connected the first time.|Poor quality of microphone|Other-->

Optimizing work: how to extend the autonomy time

Samsung Galaxy Buds are known for their energy efficiency, but when used with Xiaomi, the operating time can be reduced by 10-15% due to the peculiarities of connection management.

• 🔋 Turn off automatic device search in Bluetooth settings (Settings → Bluetooth → Additional → Device Visibility). This will reduce background power consumption.
• 🎧 Use one earphone (mono mode) if you don't need stereo sound. To do this, only remove one earphone from the case, and the second one will automatically turn off.
• 📴 Turn off charge notifications in the case (if duplicated in MIUI).This reduces the number of background requests over Bluetooth.
• 🔄 Regularly update the firmware of the case (via Samsung device, if available). New firmware versions optimize power consumption.

Important: When using the Galaxy Buds Pro or Buds2 Pro with Xiaomi, the ANC (active noise cancellation) function will work, but turning it on reduces battery life by 20-25%. If the priority is long-term work, use Ambient Sound mode (transparency) or turn off the ANC completely.

Also, pay attention to temperature: When using headphones in the cold (below +5 ° C), the operating time is reduced to 3-4 hours due to the peculiarities of lithium polymer batteries, in such conditions, keep the case in your pocket closer to the body to maintain optimal temperature.

Alternative ways to connect: what to do if Bluetooth is not working

If standard Bluetooth pairing is not possible (e.g., due to hardware faults on the smartphone), alternative methods of connection can be used.

1. Connection via Bluetooth 5.0 adapter

If your Xiaomi is older than 2018 and does not support Bluetooth 5.0+, you can use an external adapter that connects via USB-C or OTG. For example, adapters on a CSR 8510 or Broadcom BCM20702 chip provide a stable connection to the Galaxy Buds.

Instructions:

1. Connect the Bluetooth adapter to your smartphone via the OTG- cable.
2. Put the headphones in pairing mode.
3. In Bluetooth settings, select the adapter as the main device.

2. Use of management applications

While the Galaxy Wearable doesn’t run on MIUI, there are third-party apps that partially restore functionality:

• Buds Controller (for Galaxy Buds+ and later) – allows you to adjust gestures and check the charge level.
• SoundAssistant – gives access to advanced sound settings, including a separate volume control for headphones.

⚠️ Warning: When using an external Bluetooth adapter, there may be a delay of up to 300 ms. This is due to dual signal processing (smartphone → adapter → headphones). This is not critical for listening to music, but for games or videos it can be noticeable.

Comparison with the original headphones Xiaomi: which is better?

Many users are wondering whether to buy Samsung Galaxy Buds for Xiaomi, or better to choose the original Xiaomi AirDots?

The choice depends on priorities:

• 🎧 If sound and noise cancellation are important, Samsung Buds is out of competition.
• 📱 If you want full integration with MIUI (notifications, quick settings) - AirDots is better.
• 💰 If the budget is tight, Xiaomi offers the best price/quality ratio.

However, if you already own Galaxy Buds, connecting them to Xiaomi is justified – the sound benefits outweigh the inconvenience of settings.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds on Xiaomi lose some of the branded features (equalizer, 360 Audio), but retain excellent sound quality and noise cancellation. For most users, this is a compromise that is worth it.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions