Synchronization of Xiaomi headphones: from connection to troubleshooting

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones are some of the most popular accessories, thanks to their combination of price, sound quality and functionality. However, even with such devices, users face challenges ranging from basic connectivity to synchronizing sound between left and right earphones. In this article, we’ll look at all the synchronization methods, from standard Bluetooth pairing to solving specific problems like different volumes or delays in games.

We’ll focus on Redmi AirDots, Xiaomi Buds, and Mi True Wireless Earphones, because their synchronization algorithms may be different. If you just bought headphones and you don’t know where to start, or your Xiaomi suddenly stopped working synchronously, you’ll find step-by-step instructions illustrating key points.

Important: the synchronization procedure can depend not only on the headphone model, but also on the firmware version of your smartphone or PC operating system. We took these nuances into account and prepared universal solutions that work on Android 10+, iOS 14+ and Windows 10/11.

1. Basic connection of Xiaomi headphones to a smartphone

The first step is pairing the headphones with your device. For most Xiaomi models, the process is the same, but there are nuances for different versions of Bluetooth.

To plug the headphones in:

• 📱 Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone: go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth (on Android) or Settings → Bluetooth (on iPhone).
• 🎧 Take the headphones out of the case, they will automatically go into pairing mode (most models will light up a white or blue indicator). If the indicator does not flash, press and hold the button on the case for 3-5 seconds.
• 🔍 In the list of available devices, find the name of your headphones (such as Redmi AirDots 3 Pro or Xiaomi Buds 4) and click Connect.

Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco Android phones may be notified of additional features (such as spatial sound or gesture settings) and allow access to these features to unlock the full potential of the headphones.

💡

If the headphones are not determined, try resetting them: put both earphones in the case, then press and hold the button on the case for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.

Once paired successfully, the headphones will automatically connect to the smartphone when removed from the case. If this does not happen, check:

• 🔋 Case and headphone charge (minimum level for connection is 10%).
• 📶 Distance to smartphone (no more than 10 meters without obstacles).
• 🔄 Other Bluetooth devices (which may interfere)

2. Synchronization of left and right earphone

One of the most common problems is when one of the headphones (usually the left one) is not connected or is running separately from the right one, which is due to a failure in the synchronization protocol, especially after updating the firmware or battery discharge.

To restore synchronization:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid for 10 seconds.
2. Get both headphones out at the same time – they should automatically sync (the indicators on both headphones will flash the same).
3. If synchronization does not occur, press and hold the touchpad on the right earphone for 15 seconds until you hear the beep.
4. Reconnect to the smartphone.

Redmi AirDots 2/3 and Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 models may require manual resets:

Put both headphones in the case|Close the lid for 10 seconds.|Press and hold the button on the case for 20 seconds (until the indicator flashes red)|Get your headphones out and wait for automatic synchronization.-->

If the problem persists, check:

• 🔄 Compatibility of the Bluetooth version of the smartphone and headphones (e.g. AirDots 3 Pro require Bluetooth 5.2+ for stable operation).
• 📦 Contact integrity in the case – sometimes oxidation or pollution interferes with charge and synchronization.

3. Synchronization setting for games and video (removing audio delay)

Sound lag (latency) is a common problem when watching videos or games. In Xiaomi headphones, this involves using the default SBC codec, which is not optimized for low latency.

For Android:

• 📱 Install Developer Options (if not already activated): Go to Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI and click on it 7 times until the “You are a developer” notification appears.
• 🔧 Go back to Settings → Additional → For developers and find the Bluetooth Codec option. Select AAC or aptX (if supported).
• 🎮 For games, enable Low Lag mode in Bluetooth settings (available on MIUI 12+).

For Windows:

1. Open the settings → Devices → Sound.
2. Select your Xiaomi headphones and click on Device Properties.
3. In the section Additionally, mark Disable audio enhancements and select the 16-bit, 44100Hz format.

For iOS, the options for setting up codecs are limited, but you can try:

• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones to Settings → Bluetooth, having previously forgotten the device.
• 📱 Disable background app updates in Settings → Main → Content updates.

4. Multi-device synchronization (multipoint)

Not all Xiaomi models support simultaneous connection to two devices (e.g., a smartphone and a laptop).

• 🎧 Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro (Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint).
• 🎧 Redmi AirDots 3 Pro (limited support)
• 🎧 Mi True Wireless Earphones 3 (only after the firmware update).

To connect the headphones to two devices:

1. First, pair the headphones with the first device (for example, a smartphone).
2. Turn on Bluetooth on a second device (like a laptop) and find the headphones in the list of available ones.
3. Press "Connect." Headphones will automatically switch between devices depending on activity (for example, when playing sound).

If the multipoint doesn't work:

• ⚠️ Make sure both devices support Bluetooth 5.0+.
• ⚠️ Update your headphone firmware through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app.

⚠️ Warning: When connected to two devices simultaneously, audio quality may be impaired due to Bluetooth bandwidth distribution. For critical tasks (e.g., calls), it is recommended to disable the second device.

5. Update the firmware of headphones for stable synchronization

The manufacturer regularly releases firmware updates that fix synchronization errors, improve sound and add new features.To update Xiaomi's headphones:

For Android:

1. Install the Xiaomi Wear app (for Buds) or Mi Home (for AirDots) from Google Play.
2. Connect the headphones to your smartphone and open the app.
3. Go to the device section and find the Firmware Update item.
4. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions (usually 30-50% charge and a stable internet connection are required).

For iOS:

• 📱 Use the Xiaomi Wear Lite app (limited functionality).
• 🔄 iPhone firmware updates are less common, so check the version’s relevance on Xiaomi’s official website.

After the firmware update, the Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro headphones received support for the LC3 codec, which reduced the audio latency by 30% compared to previous versions.

6. Solving problems with different volume in headphones

If one earpiece plays quieter than the other, it may be due to:

• 🔊 Failure of the speaker (physical failure).
• 📱 Settings for the sound balance on the device.
• 🎛 Failure in the firmware of the headphones.

To address the imbalance:

1. On Android: go to Settings → Sound → Left/right speaker balance and set the slider to the middle position.
2. On Windows: Open Control Panel → Sound → Device Properties → Levels and check the balance.
3. Reset the headphone settings (instructions in section 2).
4. If the problem persists, check the headphones on another device – this will help to rule out hardware malfunction.

⚠️ Warning: In Xiaomi Buds 4 and newer headphones, volume imbalances may be due to the adaptive noise reduction feature. Turn it off in the Xiaomi Wear app if it's active.

If after all the manipulations the difference in volume remains, contact the service center - this may indicate damage to the speaker membrane or problems with the microphone (in models with ANC).

7. Synchronization with the TV or console

Connect Xiaomi headphones to Smart TV or game console (PS5, Xbox) is possible, but there are limitations:

For Android TV (e.g. Xiaomi Mi TV):

• 📺 Go to Settings. → Devices → Bluetooth.
• 🔍 Find the headphones in the list and plug them in.
• 🔊 In the audio settings, select the headphones as the output device.

For Sony/Panasonic/LG TV:

• 📺 Many models don't support Bluetooth out of the box. Use a Bluetooth transmitter (like an Avantek) connected to the audio output TV.
• 🔄 Sound delay with such a connection can reach 200-300 ms.

For PlayStation 5:

1. Use Sony’s official Bluetooth adapter or connect headphones via USB Bluetooth dongle (e.g. 8BitDo).
2. In the console settings, select Settings → Sound → Access to headphones.

For Xbox Series X/S:

• 🎮 Microsoft consoles don't officially support Xiaomi headphones. Use an audio transmitter with an optical output connection.

💡

For minimal delay when connecting to TV, use headphones with support for the aptX Low Latency codec (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro).

8. Alternative synchronization methods (if Bluetooth does not work)

If Xiaomi headphones refuse to connect over Bluetooth, try alternative methods:

Through USB-C adapter (for PC):

• 🖥 Buy a Bluetooth adapter with Bluetooth 5.0+ support (e.g. TP-Link UB500).
• 🔌 Connect it to the USB- port of the computer and re-pair.

Through low-latency applications:

• 📱 On Android, install SoundAssistant or Bluetooth Auto Connect for forced connection.
• 💻 On Windows, use Bluetooth Command Line Tools to reset the Bluetooth cache:

bthprops.cpl


(In the window that opens, delete all devices and restart your PC)

Through Developer Mode (for Android):

1. Activate Developer Mode (as in Section 3).
2. Turn on the Bluetooth debugging option.
3. Reconnect the headphones.

⚠️ Warning: Using third-party Bluetooth adapters can lead to driver conflict.Before buying, check compatibility with your headphone model on the adapter manufacturer's website.

Frequently asked questions