How to connect Xiaomi wireless headphones: instructions for all models

Xiaomi wireless headphones are some of the most popular accessories due to the combination of price, sound quality and functionality. However, even with such devices, users face problems: one earphone does not connect, the sound is interrupted, or the gadget is not detected by the phone at all, most often due to the wrong pairing procedure or malfunction of the Bluetooth module.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to connect Xiaomi headphones (including AirDots, Buds, FlipBuds, Air 2/3 Pro and others), as well as tell you how to eliminate typical errors.

If you’ve just unpacked a new pair of headphones or are trying to reconnect after reset, here you’ll find step-by-step instructions with illustrations (in text format) and helpful tips from experts.

1. Preparing Xiaomi headphones for the first connection

There are several steps that you need to take before you connect your headphones to your phone, both new devices and those that have been used before but have been dropped or have been out of service for a long time.

The main conditions for successful connection:

• 🔋 Make sure the headphones are charged (the indicator on the case should flash or burn white/blue).
• 📱 Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone and make sure it’s not connected to other devices.
• 🎧 Get both earbuds out of the case – they should automatically turn on (on most models).
• 🔄 If the headphones have already been paired with another device, reset the settings (instruction below).

For touch-controlled models (such as the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro), pairing mode activation occurs automatically when first extracted from the case. In older versions (such as AirDots Youth), you may need to hold the button on the case for 5-10 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white alternately.

💡

If the indicator on the case does not respond to pressing, try to connect it to charging for 10-15 minutes. Sometimes a discharged battery blocks the activation of the pairing mode.

2. Standard Bluetooth connection (for Android and iOS)

The most versatile way to connect Xiaomi headphones is to use the standard Bluetooth protocol, which works on all smartphones, regardless of brand, and does not require the installation of additional applications.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Settings. → Bluetooth on your smartphone.
2. Make sure that the Bluetooth slider is active (lit blue/green).
3. Get your headphones out of the case – they should appear in the list of available devices called Mi True Wireless, Redmi AirDots or similar (depending on the model).
4. Click on the headphone name in the list and confirm the pairing.

On the iPhone, the process is identical, but after connecting, you may receive a request for access to contacts and a microphone – this is normal for models with support for voice assistants (Air 2 Pro, Buds 3T Pro).

Headphones are displayed in the list of connected devices|The indicator on the case burns even blue / white|The sound is played synchronously in both headphones.|There is no exclamation point icon next to the name in Bluetooth settings-->

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

• 🔄 Reboot the Bluetooth module on your phone (disable/enable).
• 📵 Make sure the headphones aren’t connected to another device (like a laptop or tablet).
• 🔋 Check the case charge – sometimes a discharged battery blocks device search.

3. Connect via the Mi Home app (advanced settings)

For models with support for proprietary software (for example, Xiaomi Air 2S, Buds 3 Pro) it is recommended to use the Mi Home application. It allows not only to connect headphones, but also to update the firmware, customize controls and check the charge level of each headphone separately.

How to connect via Mi Home:

1. Download and install Mi Home from Google Play or App Store.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required to synchronize settings).
3. Click Add the device (+) in the upper right corner.
4. Select the Audio category and find your headphone model.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen (usually you need to confirm pairing in Bluetooth settings).

After connecting to Mi Home, additional functions will be available:

• 🎛️ Customize touch gestures (for example, double tapping to pause or call a voice assistant).
• 🔊 Equalizer adjustment (preset profiles or manual settings).
• 🔄 Checking and installing firmware updates (critical for bug fixing).
• 📊 Monitoring the level of charge of each headphone and case.

4. Problem Solving: One earphone is not connected

One of the most common problems is when only one earbud is connected and the other is silent or identified as a separate device, and the causes can range from software failure to mechanical damage.

Checklist for diagnosis:

If the problem persists after reset, try forced synchronization:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Pull them out and hold the button on the case (or the touchpad on the headphones) for 15-20 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white.
3. Connect again via Bluetooth.

5. How to reset Xiaomi headphones to factory settings

Reset (or hard reset) is a last resort that helps to eliminate most software failures, and the procedure differs depending on the model, but the general principle is the same: return to factory settings and start pairing from scratch.

The universal method of resetting (for most models):

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the lid and hold the button on the case (usually located behind or below) for 10-15 seconds.
3. The indicator should first go out, and then blink red and white - this is a signal of a successful reset.
4. Close and reopen the case cover – the headphones are ready for a new connection.

For touch-controlled models (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro):

• 👆 Hold the touchpad on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds.
• 🔴 Wait until the indicators start flashing red.
• 🔄 Put the headphones in the case and get them out again - they will go into pairing mode.

💡

Reset removes all settings, including the binding to the Xiaomi account and customization of gestures, after the procedure, the headphones will be like new ones, they will have to be connected and reconfigured.

Important: on Xiaomi Air 2 Pro and newer models, resetting through a button on the case may not work – use a combination of touch touch touches on the headphones themselves (5 brief touches in a row on each).

6. Connect to a laptop or PC (Windows/macOS)

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones can be used not only with smartphones but also with computers, but there are nuances: some models require additional drivers or manually configured Bluetooth codecs (such as AAC or aptX).

Instructions for Windows 10/11:

1. Open Settings → Devices → Bluetooth and other devices.
2. Turn on Bluetooth and press Add Device.
3. Select Bluetooth and wait until your headphone model appears in the list.
4. Confirm the pairing. If the sound is not playing, check the audio output settings (right click on the volume icon → Open audio settings).

On macOS, the process is similar, but you may need to update the headphone firmware through Mi Home (if they are not defined). For models with LDAC support (for example, FlipBuds Pro), it is recommended to manually select this codec in the sound settings for better quality.

💡

If the headphones are connected, but the sound is delayed, try to disable the option Absolute volume (on Android) in Bluetooth settings or install the SBC codec (on Windows).

7. Firmware Update: Why It Matters and How to Do It

The manufacturer regularly releases updates for Xiaomi headphones that fix bugs, improve connection stability and add new features. For example, in the latest firmware versions for the Buds 4 Pro, support for spatial sound and improved noise cancellation has appeared.

How to update firmware:

1. Connect your headphones to your phone via Mi Home.
2. Open the device card in the application.
3. If an update is available, a notification will appear with the Update button.
4. Confirm the installation and wait for the completion (do not turn off the headphones from the case!).

Update time takes 2 to 10 minutes. Do not interrupt the process - this can lead to firmware failure and loss of functionality.

8. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Even after a successful connection, users face typical problems, and here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

• 🔊 Low volume: Check the equalizer settings in Mi Home and turn off volume limits in your phone settings (on Android: Sound) → Safe volume level).
• 🎵 The sound is interrupted: make sure there are no obstacles between the phone and the headphones (walls, metal objects). SBC.
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge: Turn off the automatic device search function in Bluetooth settings and check if noise cancellation is permanently enabled.
• 🔄 Headphones spontaneously turn off: update the firmware and reset settings (section 5). If the problem persists, check the headphones on another device - the phone's Bluetooth module may be faulty.

If none of these methods worked, contact Xiaomi’s service center. Headphones are guaranteed (usually 12 months), and in a factory marriage they will be replaced for free.

💡

Before contacting the service, reset your settings and check the headphones on another device, which will help to eliminate software failures and confirm hardware malfunction.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions