Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life, from listening to music to calling and watching videos. Xiaomi smartphone owners (including Redmi and POCO sub-brands) often face the nuances of connecting a headset via Bluetooth, especially when it comes to models with proprietary chips or custom audio profiles. In this article, we will examine not only basic synchronization steps, but also hidden MIUI settings that speed up connection and improve communication stability.
Problems when pairing devices can occur for various reasons: from outdated firmware to conflicts with other connected gadgets. We analyzed typical user errors (for example, when headphones are determined by the phone, but the sound goes through the speaker) and prepared checklists for diagnostics. We will pay special attention to the features of connecting headphones Xiaomi Buds, Redmi AirDots and third-party brands — from Sony. WH-1000XM5 budgetary JBL Tune 125.
Preparation for connection: compatibility check and pre-settings
Before you start pairing, make sure your headphones and smartphone are Bluetooth compatible. Current Xiaomi models (starting with the Redmi Note 10 and Mi 11) support Bluetooth 5.2 or 5.3, which provides a stable connection with most headsets. However, headphones with aptX or LDAC (such as the Sony WH-1000XM4) may require manually enabling these codecs.
Check the following parameters:
- 📱 Bluetooth version on your smartphone: go to Settings → The phone. → Bluetooth version: If the version is below 5.0, some features (e.g. Dual Audio or Dual Audio) LE Audio may not be available.
- 🎧 Headphone protocol: specify in the instructions for the headset supported profiles (A2DP, AVRCP, HFP). Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro requires Bluetooth 5.2+ work LC3 codec.
- 🔋 Battery charge: If the headphones are discharged below 20%, they may not be in pairing mode. Charge them to at least 50%.
Also, disable previously connected devices that may cause interference.
- Open Settings → Bluetooth.
- Click on the gear next to the headphones name (if they have already been connected).
- Select Forget the device.
⚠️ Note: If you connect Xiaomi headphones to a phone of the same brand, activate the Mi Quick Connect feature in Bluetooth settings. It speeds up pairing and automatically adjusts optimal sound parameters.
Step-by-step: how to connect headphones to Xiaomi via Bluetooth
The pairing process depends on the headphone model, but the general scheme looks like this:
- Activate the pairing mode on the headphones: 🎵 For Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro: Press the touch panel on both headphones on 3 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white and red. 🎵 For Redmi AirDots 3: Remove the headphones from the case and hold the button on the case 5 seconds. 🎵 For third-party models (such as Sony) WF-1000XM4): follow the manufacturer’s instructions – you usually need to hold the power button until the indicator flashes.
Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone
- Open Settings → Bluetooth.
- Move the slider to the on position.
- Click Device Search (if the list is empty).
- Select the headphones in the list: The name of your headset will appear in the Available Devices section. Click on it. If required PIN-try the standard options: 0000, 1234 or 1111.
- Confirm pairing: Contact access and call history (for HFP-enabled headsets) may be requested on the screen. Allow access if you plan to use headphones for calls.
Headphones are displayed in the list "Connected devices" | The indicator on the headphones is blue / green | The sound is played through the headset (check in the player) | In the Bluetooth settings there is an "Audio" item for adjusting the sound quality-->
If the headphones are connected, but the sound is going through the speaker of the phone, check:
- 🔊 Sound output: In the notification panel, click on the headphone icon and select them as the output device.
- 🎛️ Media settings: in some firmware MIUI You need to manually assign headphones for music in Settings → Sound. → Output devices.
Problem Solving: Headphones are not connected or turned off
Even after pairing correctly, failures can occur. Consider typical scenarios and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Headphones not detectable | The pairing mode is not activated, low battery charge | Charge the headphones, reset their settings (see the instructions for the model), reboot the smartphone |
| Connection interrupted | Interference from other devices (Wi-Fi, microwaves), outdated firmware | Update MIUI, disable other Bluetooth devices, move closer to your phone |
| The sound is interrupted or delayed. | SBC codec is used instead of aptX/AAC | Enable Advanced Bluetooth Settings and select the Priority Codec (see next section) |
| The microphone is not working. | Not selected HFP profile for calls | In Bluetooth settings, click on the gear next to the headphones and activate Calls and audio. |
To diagnose deep problems, use the developer mode:
- Activate it: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times).
- Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
- Find the Bluetooth partition and turn on the HCI log to record error logs.
⚠️ Note: If the headphones Xiaomi Buds turn off 5-10 seconds after connecting, update their firmware through the application Mi Earphones.Outdated versions of the software may conflict with the new version. MIUI 14+.
How to reset Xiaomi Buds headphones to factory settings?
Customization of sound quality: codecs, equalizer and hidden MIUI functions
By default, Xiaomi uses an SBC codec that provides basic compatibility, but not the highest sound quality. If your headphones support aptX, AAC or LDAC, you can manually turn them on:
- Open Settings → Bluetooth.
- Press the gear next to the connected headphones.
- Select Sound Quality (or Audio Codec in newer versions of MIUI).
- Set priority codec. For music, aptX Adaptive or AAC is recommended, for calls, mSBC is recommended.
Set up the equalizer further:
- 🎶 Open the Music app (or Mi Music).
- 🎶 Go to Settings. → equalizer.
- 🎶 Choose a preset or create your profile (e.g., boost low frequencies for bass).
For headphones Xiaomi available branded functions:
- 🔍 Spatial sound: activated in Settings → Sound. → Sound effects (required) MIUI 13+).
- 🎤 Noise suppression: for models with ANC (For example, Buds 4 Pro) set the noise reduction level in the Mi Earphones app.
💡
If the sound is quieter after you connect the headphones, check the volume limit in Settings → Sound → Safe Volume. Turn it off or set a higher limit.
Connecting two headphones at the same time (Dual Audio)
Dual Audio allows you to connect two audio output devices to Xiaomi, such as headphones and a speaker, which is convenient for sharing music or watching movies, but not all models support this option:
| Smartphone model | Dual Audio support | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13/13 Pro, Redmi K60 | Yes (Bluetooth 5.3) | Maximum sound delay of 50 ms |
| POCO F5, Redmi Note 12 | Yes (Bluetooth 5.2) | It does not work with aptX and LDAC codecs. |
| Xiaomi 11T and older | Partially (SBC only) | Possible interference with simultaneous reproduction |
To activate Dual Audio:
- Connect the first headphones (as described above).
- Enable the second device (e.g., JBL Flip 6) in pairing mode.
- In Bluetooth settings, click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Dual Audio.
- Confirm the connection of the second device.
⚠️ Note: When using Dual Audio, the battery of a smartphone discharges 15-20% faster, and some applications (for example, YouTube or Netflix) can block the output of sound to two devices at the same time.
Features of connecting headphones of different brands
Xiaomi smartphones usually work well with headsets from other manufacturers, but there are nuances:
Apple AirPods (all generations)
They are connected as standard Bluetooth headphones, but:
- 🍎 Automatic Switching and Spatial Audio are not available.
- 🍎 The quality of the sound is limited by the codec AAC (no aptx).
- 🍎 For the firmware headphones will require an iPhone.
Sony WH-1000XM4/XM5
Requires manual codec configuration:
- Put the headphones on the phone.
- In Bluetooth settings, select Sound Quality → LDAC (Priority: Quality).
- Install Sony Headphones Connect to set up the ANC.
JBL, Samsung, other brands
For most models, standard connectivity is sufficient.
- 🔊 Samsung Galaxy Buds may require installation of the Galaxy Wearable app (does not work on all firmware) MIUI).
- 🔊 For JBL Live Pro 2 activate Game Mode in their proprietary app to reduce latency.
💡
FastPair-enabled headphones (like Google Pixel Buds) connect to Xiaomi faster, but require Google Play Services to be enabled.
Energy saving and optimization of headphones
Wireless headphones consume battery power, especially when using ANC or high-end codecs.
- 🔋 Turn off Bluetooth when the headphones are not in use (even in standby mode they consume). ~5% charge per hour).
- 🔋 In the developer settings (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers, turn on Limit background Bluetooth activity.
- 🔋 For Xiaomi headphones, turn off Automatic Detection in the Mi Earphones app if you don’t use a fast connection.
Also set up automatic shutdown:
- Open Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Management
- Find the Bluetooth app in the list and set to Limit Background Activity.
- For headphones with a wear sensor (such as Xiaomi Buds 3T), activate Autopause in their settings.
If the headphones are quickly discharged, check:
- 🔌 Case charging cable (use original or certified) USB-C).
- 🔌 Storage temperature (optimum: 10-35)°C; in frost, the battery capacity falls).
- 🔌 Case firmware version (update through manufacturer's app).