How to connect Xiaomi headphones to iPhone: a complete guide to solving problems

Why Xiaomi Headphones May Not Connect to iPhones and How to Fix It

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones are some of the most popular on the market due to their combination of price, sound quality and functionality. However, iPhone owners often face problems when trying to pair each other: devices can’t find each other, connection is interrupted or sound is distorted, the reason lies in the differences between the Apple and Mi Ecosystem ecosystems, as well as in the features of Bluetooth protocols and codecs.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can connect, from standard Bluetooth pairing to your Mi Home app (yes, it works with iOS!), and how to solve common bugs, from lack of sound to microphone problems. Importantly, LDAC-enabled models (such as the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro) on iPhones will require you to force a switch to AAC or SBC codecs, otherwise the sound will be interrupted.

If you've tried to connect your headphones before and you've got a "Device failed" or "Pair failed," don't be quick to blame the technology. 80 percent of the time, the problem is solved by resetting your headphones or updating your firmware, and let's start with the simplest, standard Bluetooth connection.

Method 1: Standard Bluetooth connection

This is the basic method that works for all Xiaomi models – from the budget Redmi AirDots to the flagship Buds 4 Pro. Instructions are universal for iPhones on iOS 15 and newer, but there are nuances for older versions of the system (more on this below).

To plug the headphones in:

1. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones: 🔋 For most models: Press the button on the case (or touchpad) for 3-5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white and red (search mode). 🎧 For Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro: open the case cover – headphones will automatically go into pairing mode. 🔄 For Redmi AirDots 3: Press and hold the button on the case for 10 seconds until the orange light flashes.
2. Open your iPhone settings: Go to Settings → Bluetooth. Make sure the Bluetooth slider is on (should be green). In the Other Devices list, find the name of your headphones (e.g. Mi True Wireless Earphones or Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro).
3. Confirm pairing: Click on the headphone name in the list. If you have a request for code confirmation (usually 0000 or 1234), type it in. Wait for the message "Connected".

Once successfully connected, the headphones will automatically be detected when the case cover is opened (for models with Auto Pairing).

• 🔊 Volume level on iPhone (buttons on the sidebar or in the Control Point).
• 🎵 Selected sound source: swipe down the upper right corner of the screen (open Control Point) and tap the AirPlay icon – select your headphones.
• 🔋 Headphone charge: if the battery is discharged below 10%, there may be no sound.

Headphones charged (indicator lights green)

Bluetooth on iPhone is on

Headphones in pairing mode (blinking indicator)

Distance between devices not more than 1 meter

iPhones are not active VPN or "In the Airplane" mode»-->

Method 2: Connect via Mi Home (for advanced features)

The Mi Home app allows you to not only connect your headphones, but also update their firmware, adjust gestures or turn on Low Latency for games. However, on the iPhone, the application’s functionality is limited – for example, you can not change the equalizer or activate ANC (noise reduction) for some models.

To connect via Mi Home:

1. Download the Mi Home app from the App Store (free).
2. Sign up or sign in via your Xiaomi account (you can use Google or Apple ID).
3. Click on Add Device (+ in the upper right corner) and select Headphones category.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen: the app will prompt you to turn on Bluetooth and find the headphones.
5. After connecting to the device menu, available settings will appear (for example, checking the charge level or updating the software).

⚠️ Note: iPhone cannot be accessed via Mi Home:

• 🎛️ Set up an equalizer (available only on Android).
• 🔊 Activate Game Mode for Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro (requires Android 10)+).
• 🔄 Update the firmware for models older than 2021 (for example, Redmi AirDots 2).

If the app doesn't find headphones, try:

• 📱 Reboot the iPhone.
• 🔄 Reset your headphones to factory settings (press the button on the case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red).
• 📲 Remove headphones from the list of Bluetooth devices on the iPhone and repeat pairing.

💡

If the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro headphones are plugged in but the sound is interrupted, open Settings → Bluetooth on your iPhone, tap the “i” icon next to the headphones and select “Forget this device.” Then plug them back in again, which will reset the codecs and restore a stable connection.

Method 3: Connect via NFC (for supported models)

Some flagship Xiaomi models (such as the Buds 4 Pro or FlipBuds Pro) support fast pairing via NFC.This method only works on the iPhone 7 and later (with an NFC chip), but has limitations:

• 📱 iPhone. NFC It only works for reading tags, not data transfer (unlike Android).
• 🔗 Rapid conjugation through NFC It is possible only if the headphones were already connected before (for the first setup still need Bluetooth).

How to use NFC to connect:

1. Open the headphone case cover.
2. Bring the top of your iPhone (where the camera is) to the NFC label on the case (usually marked with an N icon).
3. On the iPhone screen, a notification will appear with a suggestion to connect - confirm the action.

If NFC-coupling doesn't work:

• 🔋 Make sure the headphones are charged (the indicator on the case is white).
• 📱 Check that the iPhone is enabled Bluetooth and NFC (In Settings → NFC).
• 🔄 Reset the headphones: Put them in the case, close the lid for 10 seconds, then remove them.

Table compatibility headphones Xiaomi with iPhone

Not all Xiaomi models work equally well with iPhones, and below is a comparison of key features for popular headphones:

⚠️ Note: If your model does not support codecs AAC (For example, the old Redmi AirDots, the sound on the iPhone will be transmitted through the SBC — This can lead to delays and deterioration in quality, in which case we recommend updating the firmware of the headphones through an Android device (if possible).

Solving typical problems when connecting

Even after successful pairing, iPhone users face challenges, and we'll look at the most common and ways to fix them.

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

Causes and solutions:

• 🔊 Wrong sound source: At Control Point (swipe down right) click on the AirPlay icon and select your headphones.
• 🎵 Headphones turned off: Some models (such as Buds 3 Pro) have touch controls – double tap your right or left earphone to turn on/off the sound.
• 🔋 Low charge: If the headphone battery is discharged below 5%, they can plug in but not play sound.
• 📱 Conflict with other devices: The headphones may have remained connected to another gadget (such as a MacBook or Android smartphone.

Problem 2: Permanent connection breaks

If the headphones turn off after a few minutes or when moving, try:

• 📶 Reduce distance: The maximum stable distance for Bluetooth 5.2 is 10 meters, but walls and interference reduce it to 3-5 meters.
• 🔄 Reset network settings: On iPhone go to Settings → Mainstream → Removing or resetting iPhone → Reset → Reset the network settings.
• 📱 Disable Wi-Fi: Sometimes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth conflict on the same range (2.4GHz).Try to turn off Wi-Fi while using the headphones.
• 🔋 Update firmware: For Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and newer, check for updates in the Mi Home app.

Problem 3: The microphone is not working during calls

If the interviewer does not hear you:

• 🎤 Check your microphone settings: During the call, click on the Audio icon and select your headphones as the microphone source.
• 🔊 Clean the microphone: On Xiaomi headphones, microphones are located on the bottom of the case - check if they are clogged with dust.
• 📱 Turn off noise cancellation: On some models (Buds 3 Pro) ANC It can suppress your voice. Turn it off through Mi Home.
• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones: Remove them from the list of Bluetooth devices and pair again.

How to Improve Sound Quality on iPhone

Even if the headphones are successful, the sound can be frustrating — especially if you're used to AirPods.

1. Forced to activate the AAC codecs:

• Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
• Press the "i" icon next to the headphones.
• In the Audio section, select High-quality Sound (if available).

2. Set up the equalizer in the applications:

There is no system equalizer on the iPhone, but it can be configured in apps:

• 🎵 Apple Music: Settings → Music. → Equalizer (select Preset More Low or Rock).
• 🎧 Spotify: Settings → Reproduction → Equalizer (manual setting).
• 🔊 Boom 3D (Pay: allows you to create a user profile of the sound.

3. Turn off noise cancellation (if not necessary):

On models with ANC (e.g. Buds 4 Pro), noise cancellation can distort sound.

• Through Mi Home (if available).
• Double touch on the earpiece (setting gestures in the instructions).

4. Use monosound (if synchronization problems):

If the sound in the headphones is not synchronized (latency between left and right), turn on the monosound:

• Go to Settings → Universal Access → Audiovisual Content → Monosound.

💡

For the best sound on an iPhone with Xiaomi headphones, always choose AAC codecs – they are optimized for the Apple ecosystem and give less latency than SBC.

Frequent Questions (FAQ)