Connecting Xiaomi Earbuds to a smartphone: full instructions from A to Z

Xiaomi Earbuds wireless headphones have become a popular accessory thanks to a combination of sound, convenience and affordable price. However, even with such simple devices, users often have questions: how to make the first connection, what to do if the smartphone does not see the headphones, or how to switch between devices. This article will help you understand all the nuances from basic pairing to solving non-standard situations.

We will look at not only the standard procedure for connecting via Bluetooth, but also the features of working with different models of Earbuds (from Redmi AirDots to the flagship Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro), as well as give practical tips for adjusting sound and saving battery power. If you encounter an error “Device not found” or headphones refuse to connect after updating the firmware – here you will find proven solutions.

1. Preparation of headphones for the first connection

Before pairing with the phone, you need to make sure the headphones are charged and in search mode.Most Xiaomi Earbuds models automatically go into pairing mode when first turned on, but there are nuances depending on the generation of the device.

For models with a case (for example, Redmi Buds 3 Pro or Xiaomi Buds 3T):

• 🔋 Get the headphones out of the case – they should turn on automatically (the indicator on the case flashes white / red).
• 📱 Hold the button on the case. 3-5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white and red alternately (pairing mode).
• 🔊 On some models (for example, Redmi AirDots 2) you need to hold the touch panel on the right earphone for 10 seconds.

For models without a case (for example, Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones Basic):

• 🔄 Turn on the headphones with a long press on the power button (3-5 seconds).
• 🔍 Wait until the indicator flashes blue quickly – this is a signal of readiness to connect.

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If the light flashes red, the headphones are dead. Connect the case to charge for 10-15 minutes, then try again.

Important for models 2023+: Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and newer support Fast Pair technology from Google. If your smartphone on Android 6.0+, headphones will connect automatically when you open the case next to the phone – a pop-up with a suggestion of pairing.

2. Step-by-step instruction for connecting to Android

The process of pairing with Android devices is as unified as possible, but may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI or shell (for example, on POCO or Black Shark).

1. Open Bluetooth settings: Go to Settings → Connected devices → Bluetooth (on MIUI 14: Settings → Bluetooth). Turn on Bluetooth if it is disabled.
2. Activate Search Mode on Headphones: How to do this is described in the previous section. Make sure the indicator flashes white/blue.
3. Select headphones in the list: Your model name will appear in the list of available devices (for example, "Redmi Buds 3 Lite" or "Mi True Wireless Earphones 2").
4. Confirm pairing: Some models will require you to confirm the connection by tapping the touchpad of the headphone (usually one short tap).

Headphones are displayed in the list "Connected devices" |Indicator on the case is lit blue (does not blink) |The sound is played through headphones |The mobile application (if any) displays the level of charge-->

If the headphones don’t appear on the list, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone’s Bluetooth module (disable/enable Bluetooth in settings).
• 📱 Remove the headphones from the list of associated devices (if they were there before) and reconnect.
• 🔋 Check the charge of the case - at a level below 10%, the headphones may not go into pairing mode.

Redmi AirDots (1-f or 2-generation)|Redmi Buds 3/3 Pro/3 Lite|Xiaomi Buds 4/4 Pro|Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones|Another model-->

3. Connection to iPhone (iOS) and features of the work

While Xiaomi Earbuds are optimized for Android, they work perfectly with the iPhone, but there are a few key differences:

Instructions for iOS:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth and turn on the module.
2. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones (see section 1).
3. In the Other Devices list, select your model (the name may appear as "LE-BS-xxx" for older models).
4. Confirm the connection. iPhone doesn't require any additional touches to the headphones.

Restrictions on iOS:

• ⚠️ No support for a proprietary app (such as Mi Earphones or Xiaomi Wear) – you won’t be able to update firmware or customize gestures.
• ⚠️ Codecs: iPhone only uses audio AAC or SBC, While on Android, aptX is available or LDAC (supported-model).
• ⚠️ Charge indication: the level of the headphone battery is displayed only in the Battery widget (you need to connect the headphones once through the Android app).

To improve the sound on the iPhone:

• 🎧 Turn on the settings. → Music. → Equalizer and select Preset "Pop" or "Rock" (increases clarity of the average frequencies).
• 🔊 Turn off Settings. → Universal access → Audiovisual → Monoaudio if the sound seems flat".

4. Set up through a proprietary application (Android)

For Xiaomi Earbuds models released after 2020, the official Xiaomi Earphones app (formerly Mi Earphones) is available.

• 🔄 Update the firmware of headphones (critical for connection stability).
• 🎛️ Customize gestures (e.g., double touch for playback/pause).
• 🔋 View the charge level of the case and each headphone separately.
• 🎧 Selecting noise reduction modes (ANC) Transparency (for supported models).

How to connect the application:

1. Download Xiaomi Earphones from Google Play (for iOS, the application is not available).
2. Connect your headphones to your phone via Bluetooth (as described above).
3. Open the app – it will automatically determine the model of the headphones.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the pairing.

What to do if the app does not see the headphones?

• 📌 Make sure the headphones are connected to your phone via Bluetooth right before you launch the app.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone’s Bluetooth module (Settings) → Connected devices → Bluetooth → ⚙️ → Reset).
• 📱 Update the app to the latest version (older versions may not support new models).

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Updating your firmware through the Xiaomi Earphones app can solve problems with communication interruptions, poor sound quality or fast discharge. Always install the latest software!

5. Solving Connection Problems

If Xiaomi Earbuds headphones are not connected or permanently disabled, the reasons may be both software and hardware.

Problem 1: Headphones are not found in the Bluetooth list

• 🔋 Check the charge of the case and headphones (the indicator should not burn red).
• 🔄 Reset the headphones: Put them in the case, close the lid, wait 10 seconds, then pull out.
• 📱 On Android, clear the Bluetooth cache: Settings → Annexes → Show it all. → Bluetooth → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 🛠️ If the headphones have previously connected to another device, reset them (see Section 6).

Problem 2: Connection is terminated during playback

• 📶 Check for interference: Other Bluetooth devices (e.g. fitness bracelets) or Wi-Fi routers at 2.4GHz may interfere.
• 🔄 Switch the audio codec: on Android in Bluetooth settings, select Settings → Connected devices → ⚙️ headphone-on → Codec of sound → SBC (stablest).
• 📱 Update the firmware headphones through the official application.

Problem 3: The sound is intermittent or stuttering

• 🎧 Make sure the headphones are no more than 10 meters away from the phone (no obstacles).
• 📵 Turn off battery saving for Bluetooth: Settings → Battery → Saving charge → No restrictions. → Bluetooth.
• 🔊 Check the bitrate in the application (if available): for stability, choose 320 kbit / s instead of 990 kbit / s (on models with a high-performance system). LDAC).

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If the problem only occurs with a particular application (like Spotify or YouTube), clear the cache or reinstall it. Sometimes bugs in the applications interfere with the correct operation of Bluetooth.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi smartphones (for example, POCO F3 Or Redmi Note 10 Pro, there's a bug with Bluetooth 5.2 that can turn off the headphones when you lock the screen. MIUI wait for the update.

6.Resetting headphones to factory settings

If no method works, the last option is to completely reset your headphones, which will remove all the paired devices and return the default settings.

Resetting instructions (universal for most models):

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the case cover and hold the button on the case for 15-20 seconds (the indicator will start flashing red, then white).
3. Release the button when the indicator flashes red-white-red (a successful reset signal).
4. Close and reopen the case cover – the headphones are ready for a new connection.

Features for different models:

• Redmi AirDots 2: Hold the touchpads on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds.
• Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro: Reset is done through the Xiaomi Earphones app (Settings → Reset).
• Mi True Wireless Earphones: Hold the button on the case for 10 seconds until the indicator goes out and blinks again.

⚠️ Note: After reset, the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro headphones may lose the noise reduction settings. They will have to be reconfigured through the app. Also, the reset removes the history of connections to the devices - be prepared to repeat pairing with all gadgets.

7. Optimization of the headphones

To extend the life of your headphones and improve sound quality, follow these guidelines:

Savings in battery charge:

• 🔋 Turn off Bluetooth headphones when not in use (or put them in a case – they will automatically turn off).
• 🎧 Use one headphone in mono mode (e.g. Redmi Buds 3 Lite supports independent work).
• 🔊 Turn it off. ANC (active noise reduction, if not necessary, reduces the time of operation 20-30%.

Sound enhancement:

• 🎛️ In the Xiaomi Earphones app, select the preset equalizer "Bas" or "Jazz" for a more saturated sound.
• 🔊 On Android, turn on Settings → Sound. → Sound quality → High quality (LDAC/aptX) (Not available on all models).
• 🎧 To listen to music, use Hi-Res Audio-enabled apps (such as Tidal or Apple Music).

Headphone care:

• 🧼 Wipe the speakers and body with a dry microfiber wipe (do not use alcohol!).
• 💧 Avoid getting moisture into the case charging connector - this is the main reason for failure.
• 🔋 Charge the case with the original cable (or certified) USB-C) — Cheap cables can damage the power controller.

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Regularly update the firmware of the headphones through the official application. In new versions, plugged bugs, improved sound quality and increased battery life.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi Earbuds