How to use Xiaomi headphones: from connection to secret functions

Introduction: Why Xiaomi headphones require a special approach

Xiaomi’s headphones have gained popularity thanks to a combination of affordable prices, high-quality sound and advanced features that were previously only available in premium models. However, many users face problems already at the first connection stage – from the inability to find a device in the Bluetooth list to sudden communication breaks. The fact that the connection protocol of Xiaomi headphones is often different from the standard, and the Mi Home or Xiaomi Earbuds proprietary application requires specific settings.

This article doesn't just retell the instructions out of the box, but here you'll find unique solutions for typical problems that aren't covered in the official documentation, like why AirDots 3 Pro doesn't work with an iPhone at full volume, or how to reset Buds 4 without a smartphone. We'll take a look at models from the budget Redmi Buds to the flagship FlipBuds Pro, focusing on their features.

It's important to understand that even if you're a power user, Xiaomi headphones can be counterintuitive. For example, automatic shutdowns at low battery charge in some models occur at 15%, not the standard 5%, which leads to a sudden break in sound. Or Game Mode, which actually increases the latency on Android 12+.

1. Connecting Xiaomi headphones to the phone: step-by-step instructions

The first time you turn on your headphones is critical, and if you don't do it right, you might have problems syncing or not having sound, and here's the right algorithm for all models (except the FlipBuds Pro, which has a separate section):

1. Remove the headphones from the case, they should automatically turn on. If this does not happen, press and hold the touchpad on both headphones for 5 seconds.
2. On your phone, activate Bluetooth and find the device in the list. The name will start with Mi, Redmi or Xiaomi, followed by a model (e.g. Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2).
3. Confirm pairing. Some models (e.g. AirDots 3) will need to enter PIN-code.
4. Wait for the beep in the headphones – a short double squeak means a successful connection.

If the headphones are not determined, check:

• 🔋 Case charge level (indicator should burn white or green) If red, connect the case to charge for 10 minutes.
• 📱 Phone compatibility: Xiaomi headphones optimized for MIUI, But they work with other OSes. iPhones may need to manually connect via Settings. → Bluetooth → Other devices.
• 🔄 Search mode: on some models (e.g. Buds) 3T Pro) you need to double-press the case touch panel to activate the pairing mode.

Make sure the headphones are charged (the indicator on the case is white)

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and remove old headphone connections

Restart your phone if the headphones are not

Check that the headphones are removed from the case (they should automatically turn on)-->

⚠️ Note: Headphones Xiaomi AirDots Pro 2 and newer support dual connection (to two devices at the same time), but only if both devices are running MIUI 12+ Android 10+. On the iPhone, this feature will not be available.

2. Managing gestures and touch panels

All modern Xiaomi headphones are equipped with touch panels, but their setting and sensitivity vary greatly depending on the model. For example, in Redmi Buds 4, one touch is responsible for playback / pause, and in FlipBuds Pro, for calling a voice assistant. Here are the universal gestures that work on most models:

To change the purpose of the gestures:

1. Open the Xiaomi Earbuds app (you can download it from Google Play or the App Store).
2. Select your headphone model in the list of connected devices.
3. Go to the section Customization → Gesture management.
4. Assign the desired actions for each gesture (the options available depend on the model).

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If the touch panels are triggered too sensitively (for example, when ajusting the earphone in the ear), reduce the sensitivity in the settings of the Xiaomi Earbuds application in the Additional → Sensor Sensitivity section.

On active noise cancellation (ANC) models such as the Buds 4 Pro or FlipBuds Pro, long-term retention of the touch panel switches modes:

• 🎧 ANC — Active noise reduction (maximum silence of external sounds).
• 🌿 Transparent mode - skips surrounding sounds (useful on the street).
• 🔇 Turned off – natural sound without processing.

Reproduction control (pause/track)

Volume control

Switching ANC modes

Calling the voice assistant

Other/not using-->

3. Sound tuning: equalizer, spatial sound and secret modes

Xiaomi headphones can be significantly improved with built-in equalizer and hidden settings. For example, Buds 4 Pro has an LDAC mode for high-quality audio, but it automatically shuts down if the Bluetooth signal level is weak.

Equalizer in the Xiaomi Earbuds app

The app offers 12 pre-installed profiles and the ability to create your own:

1. Open Xiaomi Earbuds and choose your model.
2. Go to Sound. → equalizer.
3. Select one of the profiles: 🎵 Bass Boost – Higher Low Frequency (Suitable for Hip Hop, Electronics). 🎸 Rock – accentuates the average frequencies for guitars and vocals. 🎻 Classic – balanced profile with easy high-frequency lifting. 🎤 Voice – Optimized for podcasts and audiobooks.

customize

Hidden sound modes

Some models support additional audio formats that are not enabled by default:

• 🎛️ LDAC (available on Buds 4 Pro, FlipBuds Pro: Go to Settings to activate → Sound. → Sound quality → LDAC. Important: This mode increases the sound delay 50-100 MS, which is critical for gaming.
• 🔊 AAC (Optimized for iPhone: it turns on automatically when you connect to Apple devices, but on Android it can be forced to activate in the Developer Settings → Bluetooth Audio Codec.
• 🎚️ DSEE (on FlipBuds Pro: artificially improves compressed tracks (e.g. from Spotify) → Sound. → Improvement of sound.

⚠️ Attention: Headphones Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro and newer automatically switch to low-quality sound (SBC-codec) if the Bluetooth signal strength is weaker -70 To check the strength of the signal, use the Bluetooth Signal Meter (Android) or nRF Connect (iOS) app).

4.Problems and Their Solutions: Why Xiaomi Headphones Glit

Even the most reliable models can fail, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them that are not described in the official documentation:

Problem 1: Headphones are connected, but there is no sound

Causes and solutions:

• 🔊 Wrong Sound Source: On Android, Check What’s in Settings → Sound. → The sound output is chosen by headphones, not the speaker of the phone.
• 📱 Conflict with other Bluetooth devices: disable all other gadgets (fitness bracelets, smart watches) and reconnect the headphones.
• 🔋 Low charge: If the headphones' charge level is below 10%, they can connect but not play audio.Check the charge indicator in the Xiaomi Earbuds app.
• 🔄 Firmware failure: Reset the headphones to factory settings (clutch the touch panels on both headphones for 15 seconds until the red indicator flashes).

Problem 2: Sound delay in games and videos

Latency is a common problem on Android, and here's how to reduce it:

1. Turn off LDAC or aptX in the Bluetooth codec settings (use AAC or SBC).
2. Enable Game Mode in the Xiaomi Earbuds app (Settings → Game Mode) This reduces latency to 80ms.
3. On Xiaomi/Redmi phones, activate Ultra-Low Latency in Settings → Special Features → Sound Improvement.
4. If you play via Steam Link or Moonlight, reduce the bitrate of the stream to 10 Mbps.

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On iPhone, the audio delay in Xiaomi headphones will always be higher than on Android, due to the limitations of iOS.Average latency on iPhone: 150-200 ms (vs. 80-120 ms on Android with Game Mode enabled).

Problem 3: Headphones are quickly discharged

If the headphones hold a charge less than the declared 5-6 hours:

• 🔋 Check the battery status in the Xiaomi Earbuds app. If the capacity is below 80%, the headphones require a battery replacement.
• 🎧 Turn it off. ANC Transparent mode – they consume up to 30% of additional energy.
• 📴 Turn down the volume: at maximum volume, the headphones will discharge for 3-4 hour.
• 🔄 Turn off your headphones when not in use: They consume up to 5% charge per hour in standby mode.

⚠️ Attention: Headphones Xiaomi Buds 3T Pros and newer ones have a quick-discharge function during storage: if you don't use them for more than 3 days, they will automatically discharge up to 60% to preserve battery capacity.

5. Firmware Update: Why It Matters and How to Do It Right

Xiaomi regularly releases firmware updates for headphones that fix bugs, add new features (like LE Audio support in Buds 4 Pro) and improve sound. However, an incorrect update can lead to headphones "bricking up." Here's how to upgrade safely:

How to check the current version of the firmware

1. Open the Xiaomi Earbuds app.
2. Choose your headphone model.
3. Stick to three points (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Device Information.
4. Find the firmware version line. Current versions on 2026 year: AirDots 3 Pro: 4.7.1_R09 Or newer. 4 Pro: 1.0.16.4 Or newer. FlipBuds Pro: 1.4.18 or newer.

How to update firmware

There are two ways:

1. Through the Xiaomi Earbuds app (recommended method): Connect your headphones to your phone. Open the app and wait for the update notification (or manually check in Settings → Firmware Update). Click Update and wait for the process to complete (the headphones will restart).
2. Through PC (for power users): Download the firmware from the official Xiaomi website (Firmware for Earbuds section). Connect the case with headphones to the PC via USB-Follow the instructions from the firmware archive (usually you need to run a.bat file).