How to connect wireless headphones to the phone Xiaomi: instruction + error solving

Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life – they are convenient for listening to music, calling and even watching videos. However, many Xiaomi users (including the Redmi and POCO models) face difficulties in the first pairing: devices do not find each other, the sound is interrupted or there is no communication at all. This article will help you to understand how to connect headphones to your smartphone without errors, what settings to optimize for stable operation, and what to do if something goes wrong.

We will look at not only the standard procedure via Bluetooth, but also alternative methods (for example, through the applications of headphone manufacturers), and also deal with typical problems – from protocol incompatibility to malfunctions. MIUI. Particular attention will be paid to the nuances for popular models of headphones (AirDots, Buds, Sony). WH-1000XM5 et al.) and telephones (Xiaomi) 13/14, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5).

1.Preparation for pairing: what to do before connecting

Before you start connecting, make sure both devices are ready to go, and neglecting these steps often leads to failures, especially if you’re talking about active noise cancelling headphones or low latency gaming models.

First, check the battery power of the headphones and the phone. If the headphones are below 20%, they can automatically shut down to save energy, which will interrupt the pairing process. Xiaomi has this for models with a Qualcomm QCC3040 chip (for example, Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2). On the phone, 15-20% of the charge is enough, but it is better to connect it to the network if you plan a long setup.

• 🔋 Headphone charge: at least 30% (optimally - 50% and higher).
• 📱 Phone Charge: Not Less Than 15%, But Better Connect Charging.
• 🔄 Restart both devices if they have previously been unstable.
• 📡 Make sure there are no interference sources nearby (microwaves, other Bluetooth devices).

Second, update the firmware on your phone and headphones (if possible). Outdated versions of MIUI or firmware headphones may contain compatibility errors. For example, MIUI 13 had a problem connecting devices on the Broadcom BCM43xx chip, which is fixed in MIUI 14. Check the firmware version on the phone at Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.

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If the headphones support the manufacturer’s app (for example, Xiaomi Earbuds App or Sony Headphones Connect), install it INFORMATION – this will simplify the setup and give access to additional features like an equalizer.

2. Standard Bluetooth connection: step-by-step instructions

The most common way to pair via the Bluetooth menu is in your phone’s settings, which works for most headphone models, including the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, Redmi Buds 5, JBL Live 660NC, and others. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid typical errors.

Algorithm of action:

1. Activate pairing mode on the headphones. Usually, you need to hold the power button (or touchpad) for 3-5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and blue (or white depends on the model). For Xiaomi AirDots, this is a combination of holding both buttons at the same time.
2. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth (on some versions of MIUI, the path may differ: Settings → Bluetooth).
3. Turn on Bluetooth and wait for the phone to find the headphones, which should appear on the list of available devices under their own name (for example, "Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2").
4. Click on the headphone name in the list. If necessary, confirm pairing on both devices (sometimes you need to press the button on the headphones or type in the headphones). PIN-code - default is 0000 or 1234).

Headphones are displayed in the list "Connected devices"|The indicator on the headphones stopped blinking and burns with even light|The sound is played through headphones (check in the player)|In the status bar of the phone appeared the Bluetooth icon-->

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

• 🔄 Reboot the headphones: turn them off, wait 10 seconds, then turn them back on in pairing mode.
• 📱 Clear the Bluetooth cache on your phone: go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three dots (menu) → Show system-based → Bluetooth, then press Storage. → Clear the cache.
• 🔍 Check the visibility of the headphones: some models (such as Bose QuietComfort) hide themselves after the first failed connection attempt, in which case you need to reset them to factory settings (usually by holding the power button). 10-15 seconds).

3. Alternative ways of connecting

If the standard method didn’t work, try alternatives, which are especially useful for headphones with advanced features (e.g. LDAC for high-quality audio or aptX Adaptive for low latency).

Method 1: Through the manufacturer's application

Many brands are releasing branded apps to customize their headphones, such as:

• 🎧 Xiaomi Earbuds App for Mi True Wireless Earbuds, Redmi Buds.
• 🎧 Sony Headphone Connect - for the first time WH-1000XM5, WF-1000XM4.
• 🎧 JBL Headphones – for Live, Reflect, Tune.

These apps not only make connecting easier, but also allow you to:

• 🎛️ Set up equalizer and sound profiles.
• 🔊 Activate noise reduction or transparency mode.
• 📊 View the charge level of each headphone separately.
• ⚙️ Update the firmware of headphones (critical for stable operation!).

Example of connection via Xiaomi Earbuds App:

1. Install the app from Google Play or AppGallery.
2. Open it and follow the instructions on the screen (usually you need to confirm the pairing in the phone's Bluetooth menu).
3. Once connected, the app will automatically determine the headphone model and prompt you to update the firmware (if available).

Method 2: Developer mode (for experienced users)

If the headphones are plugged in but the sound is interrupted or missing, the problem may be Bluetooth codecs. MIUI often uses SBC, a basic codec with mediocre quality, by default. To turn on AAC, aptX or LDAC, you need to activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings → About Phone and click on the MIUI version 7 times until the notification “You became a developer!” appears.
2. Return to the main settings menu and open Additional → for developers.
3. Find the Bluetooth Codec and choose the best option: AAC – balance of quality and stability (recommended for most cases). aptX or aptX HD – low latency, suitable for games and video. LDAC – maximum sound quality (but can cause stuttering on weak phones).

4. Solving typical connection problems

Even after successful pairing, there can be failures, and below are the most common errors and ways to fix them.

A critical feature for Xiaomi owners on a Snapdragon chip: some models (such as the POCO F3 or Redmi K40) have hardware restrictions on the number of Bluetooth devices simultaneously connected. If you already have a smartwatch or fitness bracelet connected, the headphones may not connect or work unstable, the solution is to turn off unnecessary devices or use Bluetooth Multipoint headphones (such as the Sony WH-1000XM5).

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If the headphones have previously been connected to another device (like a laptop), they can automatically reconnect to it, and to avoid this, remove them from the list of conjugated devices on the old gadget or turn off Bluetooth on it.

5. Sound optimization after connection

Successful pairing is only half the battle, and to get the best sound quality, you have to adjust a few parameters.

Equalizer setting

MIUI has an integrated equalizer, but it's often hidden.

1. Open Settings → Sound → Equalizer (if you don’t have one, install the Mi Sound Enhancer app from Google Play).
2. Choose a preset (Bas, Rock, Jazz, etc.) or set up the sliders manually.
3. Activate the audio effects (for example, 3D-bass-amplifier).

Attention! ANC is a big battery drain. For example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro with ANC enabled reduces the running time from 9 hours to 5-6 hours.

Reduced sound latency (for games and videos)

If the sound in games or videos is behind the picture, the problem is with the Bluetooth codec or the phone settings.

1. In Developer Settings, select the aptX Low Latency or AAC codec (if aptX is not available).
2. In a player (such as VLC or MX Player), enable the Sound Delay Compensation and select the value manually (100-300 ms).
3. For games, use headphones with Bluetooth 5.2+ and LE Audio support (for example, Redmi Buds 5 Pro).

6. Headphone compatibility with Xiaomi phones: what you need to know

Not all headphones work equally well with Xiaomi, and this is due to support for Bluetooth protocols and codecs.

⚠️ Headphones with proprietary chips (for example, Apple) H1/W1 Samsung Exynos may not work with Xiaomi to the fullest extent, for example, AirPods do not support transparent mode and automatic switching between Android devices.

If you are planning to buy new headphones, pay attention to:

• 🔹 Codec Support: Better for Music LDAC or HD, The game is called aptX Low Latency.
• 🔹 Bluetooth Version: 5.2+ Provides stable connection and low power consumption.
• 🔹 Compatibility with MIUI: headphones Xiaomi/Redmi Optimized for the ecosystem and often updated with the phone firmware.

7.How to turn off and reconnect headphones without problems

Many users find that after the first disconnect, the headphones stop connecting automatically or require re-pairing.

Proper disconnection:

1. If the headphones are no longer needed, turn them off (put them in the case or hold the power button).
2. Don’t turn them off via the Bluetooth menu on your phone – this can reset the pairing settings.
3. If the headphones support automatic connection (e.g. Xiaomi Buds), they should restore the connection when removed from the case.

If the headphones are not automatically connected:

1. Remove them from the list of connected devices on your phone.
2. Reset the headphones to factory settings (usually holding the 10-15 second button).
3. Reconnect them as described in Section 2.

⚠️ Attention! Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11 Lite) have a bug: if the headphones were connected to the phone via Swift Pair (fast pairing), they may not appear in the Bluetooth list after disconnecting).

8. Frequent questions and answers