How to properly connect wireless headphones Xiaomi: instructions for all models

Xiaomi wireless headphones pairing: where to start

Xiaomi wireless headphones are some of the most popular accessories due to their combination of price, sound quality and functionality. However, even with such devices, users often face problems when first connecting or re- pairing. In this article, we will analyze all possible scenarios, from basic settings to solving non-standard errors.

It is important to understand that the pairing process can vary depending on the headphone model (e.g. Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless Earphones, Xiaomi Buds), the type of device (smartphone, laptop, TV) and the firmware version. We will cover all current methods, including Bluetooth 5.0/5.2 connection, use of the proprietary Mi Home app and manual settings for non-standard devices.

If you’ve tried to plug in your headphones but have encountered an error (e.g., the device is not in place, the sound is interrupted, or one headphone is not working), there’s a separate section on problem-solving, and we’ll also tell you how to reset your headphones to factory settings and what to do if they forget a previously paired device.

Preparation of Xiaomi headphones for pairing

Before you start connecting, make sure your headphones are ready to pair, and here are some key points that users often miss:

• 🔋 Charging headphones: Make sure the charge level of the case and the headphones themselves is not lower than 30%. When the charge is low, the pairing process can be interrupted. Check the indicator on the case: if it flashes red, the headphones need to be charged.
• 📦 Removal from the case: Get both headphones out of the charging case – some models (such as Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro) only automatically turn on when you remove them simultaneously.
• 🔄 Pair mode: Most models go into search mode automatically when first turned on. If the headphones have already connected to another device, you may need to manually reset (press the button on the case or earphone on the headset). 10-15 seconds before flashing the white/red indicator).
• 📱 Device Compatibility: Check if your smartphone/laptop supports Bluetooth 4.2 or higher.Outdated versions (e.g. Bluetooth 4.0) may not provide a stable connection to Xiaomi.

If you connect your headphones to a Xiaomi smartphone, we recommend upgrading your firmware to the latest version via Settings → About Phone → System Update. This will eliminate possible bugs with Bluetooth stack, especially relevant for models on MIUI 12/13.

Interface with Android smartphone (including Xiaomi)

Connecting to an Android smartphone is the most common scenario, and let’s look at two ways: standard (via Bluetooth settings) and advanced (using the Mi Home app).

Method 1: Standard Bluetooth connection

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth on your smartphone and turn on the adapter.
2. Take the headphones out of the case and wait until the indicator starts flashing white/blue (pairing mode).
3. In the list of available devices, find the name of your model (for example, "Redmi"). AirDots_R" You can press the right earpiece.
4. Confirm pairing if you request it. Some models (such as the Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro) may require additional confirmation in the Mi Home app.

Important: If the headphones don't appear on the list, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your smartphone (disable/enable adapter).
• 📵 Remove headphones from the list of associated devices (if any) and repeat the search.
• 🔋 Check the charge of the case - at a level below 10%, the headphones may not go into pairing mode.

Method 2: Connect via the Mi Home app

The Mi Home app provides advanced settings for Xiaomi headphones, including firmware updates, touch gesture adjustments, and checking the charge level of each headphone separately.

1. Download Mi Home from Google Play (or App Store for iOS).
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required to synchronize settings).
3. Click Add Device (+) → Select Audio Category → Find your headphone model.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen. The app will automatically find the headphones in pairing mode and prompt you to update the firmware (if a new version is available).

Download the latest version of Mi Home| Register your Xiaomi | Turn on Bluetooth and GPS on your smartphone | Get your headphones out of your case and wait for the indicator to flash-->

Note: Some smartphones (such as POCO or Redmi with custom firmware) may not see the Mi Home headphones, in which case use the standard Bluetooth connection method.

Connection with iPhone (iOS) and other devices

While Xiaomi is optimizing its Android devices, the headphones are also working with iPhones, MacBooks, Windows PCs and even Smart TVs.

Connection to iPhone or iPad

The process of pairing with Apple devices is almost no different from Android, but there are several features:

1. Open the settings → Bluetooth on the iPhone.
2. Take the headphones out of the case and wait for the indicator to flash (usually white/blue).
3. In the list of devices, select your model (for example, "Mi True Wireless"). EB2 Basic_R").
4. Confirm pairing. On iOS, you may see a notification about an "uncertified accessory" - that's okay, click Connect.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi headphone features won’t work on the iPhone, for example: 🎵 Customization of touch gestures (only basic commands: playback / pause, next track). 🔊 Set up equalizer via Mi Home (the app does not support iOS for headphones). 📊 Display the charge level of each earphone separately (only the total charge of the case will be shown.

Connection to Windows PC or MacBook

Desktops and laptops also support Xiaomi’s wireless headphones, but it’s important to check out the Bluetooth adapter version here:

Instructions for Windows 10/11:

1. Press Win + I → Devices → Bluetooth and other devices.
2. Turn on Bluetooth and press Add Device → Bluetooth.
3. Select headphones from the list (for example, "Redmi") AirDots_2_R").
4. Wait for pairing to complete. If no sound appears, check Sound → Playback devices and select the headphones as the default device.

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If your headphones are plugged in on Windows but there's no sound, try removing them from your device list, restarting your PC, and re-pairing, often solving the driver problem.

Addressing interface problems

Even with the right connection, users are faced with common errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Headphones are not on the list of devices

If your Xiaomi isn’t showing up when searching, follow these steps:

• 🔄 Reset the headphones: Put them in a case for 10 seconds, then pull out and wait for the indicator to blink.
• 📵 Remove old connections: Headphones can "remember" up to 8 devices. If the list is full, they will not show up for new ones. Reset them with a long press of a button on the case (15 seconds).
• 📱 Check your smartphone settings: On Android, open Settings → Bluetooth → In addition, turn on the option "Visibility for all devices".
• 🔌 Update your headphone firmware: Launch Mi Home, find the headphones in the device list and check for updates.

Problem 2: Only one headphone is connected

If only the right or left earphone works, the reason is usually as follows:

• 🔋 One of the headphones is discharged: Check the charge indicators on each headphone (if any). Put both in the case on the headphone. 5-10 minute.
• 🔄 Sync failure: Remove both earphones from the case, wait for the blink, then put back for 10 seconds.
• 🎧 Problem with the main earphone: Most Xiaomi models have the right earphone as the main one. If it doesn't connect, reset (press the button on the case for 15 seconds).

⚠️ Warning: If the headphones are still out of sync after reset, check the physical condition of the contacts in the case. Oxidation or contamination may prevent charging one of the headphones, resulting in loss of communication. Clean the contacts with an alcohol napkin.

Issue 3: Persistent communication breakdowns

If the sound is interrupted or the headphones are turned off after a few minutes, the reasons may be as follows:

Resetting Xiaomi headphones to factory settings

If none of these things work, you might need to completely reset your headphones, which will remove all the conjugated devices and bring the settings back out of the box.

For models with a button on the case (Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless)

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the back of the case for 15-20 seconds.
3. The indicator will flash red and white – this is a signal of a successful reset.
4. Take the headphones out of the case - they will automatically go into pairing mode.

For models with touch control (Xiaomi Buds 3/4, FlipBuds)

1. Get the headphones out of the case.
2. Touch and hold the touchpad on both headphones simultaneously for 10 seconds.
3. The indicators will start flashing red, then white - the reset is complete.

⚠️ Note: After reset, Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and later headphones may require reconfiguration via Mi Home to activate noise reduction and gesture customization functions.

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Resetting the headphones removes all the stored devices and returns the settings to the factory, and after this procedure, the headphones will be visible on the Bluetooth list as a new device.

Additional settings and chips

Once paired successfully, you can customize your headphones to suit your needs, and here are some useful features that many people don't know about:

Setting up sensory gestures

Xiaomi Buds 3/4, FlipBuds Pro and others support customization of gestures through Mi Home:

• 👆 One touch: Play/pause (default) can be reassigned to the voice assistant.
• 👆👆 Double-touch: Next track. Alternatively, the previous track or the noise cancellation switch off.
• 👆👆👆 Triple touch: Activate the voice assistant (Google) Assistant/Siri).
• 👆 Retention: Switching noise reduction modes (for models with ANC).

To change the gestures:

1. Open Mi Home and select your headphones.
2. Go to Settings. → Gesture management.
3. Select an action for each gesture and save the changes.

Activation of low delay mode (Game Mode)

For gamers and video viewers, minimal sound latency is important. Xiaomi headphones have a hidden low latency mode that turns on like this:

1. Connect the headphones to your smartphone.
2. Open Mi Home → Select headphones → Sound settings →
3. Activate the option “Low Delay Mode” or “Game Mode” (available for Redmi AirDots 3, Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and later).

Important: This mode slightly reduces the sound quality (codec compression), but the latency decreases from ~200 ms to ~80 ms, which is critical for gaming.

Check the level of charge of each headphone

Through Mi Home you can see the exact percentage of charge of each headphone and case separately:

1. Open the app and select headphones.
2. The main screen will display the level of charge in the form of a diagram.
3. For detailed information, click on the headphone icon → Battery status.

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If you have an iPhone, you can check the charge level of the headphones through the Battery widget on the home screen, but it will only show the overall charge of the case, not each headphone separately.

FAQ: Frequent questions about pairing Xiaomi headphones