How to fix Bluetooth latency in Xiaomi headphones: from simple ways to deep customization

The audio delay in Xiaomi wireless headphones is one of the most common problems faced by users of AirDots, Buds 3/4 Pro, FlipBuds and others. Lag between video and audio can reach 0.3-1 seconds, making watching movies, streams or games simply unbearable, the reasons lie in the hardware limitations of the Bluetooth codec (for example, SBCs AAC), and in the software settings of the smartphone or the headphones themselves.

In this article, we will discuss 7 working methods for eliminating delay, from basic (reconnect, reset) to advanced (setting codecs, changing the priority of Bluetooth in the system). Particular attention will be paid to the hidden parameters of the developer on Android, which allow you to manually specify the bitrate and type of codec for a particular device.

Important: If you use Xiaomi headphones with a TV or a PC, the solutions will be different — read about this in a separate section. First, let’s determine what type of delay you are concerned about.

1. Diagnosis: What type of delay do your headphones have?

Before you start setting up, you need to understand what you are dealing with. There are three types of delay in Xiaomi headphones:

• 🔊 Audiologue – the sound lags behind the video (typical for YouTube, Netflix, games) Cause: codec incompatibility or buffering.
• 🎮 Lag - delay when pressing buttons in games (for example, in the game). PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty.Customer: high Bluetooth ping.
• 📱 System delay – the sound is interrupted or floats even in the menu of the smartphone, indicating problems with drivers or interference.

To determine the type accurately, conduct a test:

1. Turn on the video on YouTube and compare the movement of the character's lips to the sound.
2. Run a game with dynamic sound (such as racing) and appreciate the synchrony.
3. Try listening to music offline (without video) – if the lags remain, the problem is systemic.

If the delay is only manifested in certain applications (for example, in TikTok or Twitch), the buffering settings of the service are to blame, in which case, resetting the app cache or using alternative players (for example, VLC instead of the standard one) will help.

Basic methods: reconnection, resetting and updating

Start with simple steps -- 60 percent of the time, they solve the problem without deep customization.

Remove headphones from the list of conjugate devices | Turn off/turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone |Reboot your headphones (press the power button for 10 seconds) | Update the headphone firmware via Mi Home| Check for OS updates on your smartphone-->

How to reset Xiaomi headphones? For most models (AirDots Pro 2, Buds 3) the algorithm is the same:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case for 15-20 seconds (the indicator should flash red/white).
3. After resetting, the headphones will appear in the list of available devices as new.

Updating the firmware is a critical step, for example, in Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro version 4.7.15 fixed the delays when using the LC3 codec.

1. Install the Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Wear for new models).
2. Connect the headphones and go to the Device Profile → Software Update.
3. If the update is not available, check the account region (should match the headphone region).

⚠️ Attention: Do not interrupt the process of updating the firmware of the headphones! If the indicator on the case flashes blue, then there is a data transfer - removing the headphones from the case or turning off Bluetooth will lead to "bricking" of the device.

Setting up Bluetooth codecs: which one to choose for the minimum lag?

The main reason for the delay is the use of outdated or unoptimized audio codecs. By default, Android and iOS choose SBC, a universal but slow codec. For Xiaomi headphones, faster alternatives are available:

How to change the codec on Android?

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version and tap 7 times on the build number.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the Bluetooth Codec and select AAC or aptX (if supported).
4. Reconnect the headphones.

On iPhones, manual codec change is not possible – the system automatically selects the AAC, which usually gives an acceptable latency (~120 ms).

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If there is no aptX or LC3 in the codec list, upgrade the firmware of your headphones and smartphone. For example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro supports LC3 only with a MIUI 14+.

4. Optimizing smartphone settings for minimal lag

Even with the right codec, the delay can be sustained due to background processes or suboptimal system settings.

• 📱 Turn off power saving for Bluetooth: go to Settings → Battery → Power saving mode and add Bluetooth to exceptions.
• 🔄 Reset your network settings: in Settings → SIM-maps and networks → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth.
• 🎵 Enable Game Mode: Mi Home for some models (Buds 3 Pro) has a separate profile "Game Mode" with reduced latency.
• 🚫 Close background apps: especially instant messengers and streaming services that may occupy a Bluetooth channel.

For smartphone owners Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco There is a hidden setting that reduces the buffering of sound:

1. Enable the Developer Mode (as described above).
2. Go to For Developers → Audio → Bluetooth A2DP buffer.
3. Set a 512 (default 1024) to reduce latency by 30 to 50 milliseconds.

⚠️ Attention: Reducing the Bluetooth buffer can cause data packets to be lost and short-term noise interruptions in interference areas. If you hear a crack or interrupt, return the value to 1024.

There are no similar settings on the iPhone, but you can try:

1. Turn off Sound Quality Improvement in Settings → Music → EQ (select "Off.").
2. Enable Low Consumption Mode (strangely, but sometimes reduces lag).

5. Specific Model Problems: AirDots, Buds 3/4 Pro, FlipBuds

Some Xiaomi models have unique bugs that require an individual approach:

• 🎧 Xiaomi AirDots (1-3 generation): A common problem is desynchronizing the left/right earphone. Solution: reset the headphones, then plug in the right and then the left (not at the same time!).
• 🎧 Buds 3 Pro: Delayed games due to activation ANC. Turn off noise cancellation in Mi Home or use Transparency mode".

For AirDots Pro 2 and Buds 3: If the delay only appears on YouTube or Netflix, try:

1. In the application settings, turn off Adaptive bitrate.
2. Use the browser version of the service (in Chrome, the lag is often less).
3. Install an alternative player (e.g. NewPipe for YouTube).

6. Connect to PC, TV and other devices

Xiaomi headphones are often used not only with smartphones, but also with Windows PC, Mac, Smart TV. Here the delay can be even more noticeable due to the characteristics of the drivers.

For Windows 10/11:

1. Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
2. Find your Bluetooth adapter (such as Intel Wireless-AC or Qualcomm Atheros).
3. Update the driver through Update the driver → Automatic search.
4. If the lag remains, install the driver manually from the adapter manufacturer's website.

For Smart TV (Samsung, LG, Xiaomi TV):

• 📺 Turn off the Lipsinc function (lip sync) in the sound settings.
• 📺 Use an external Bluetooth transmitter (for example, 1Mii B06), as embedded modules TV often work with delay.
• 📺 Connect your headphones through Xiaomi TV Box – there is usually less lag.

For Mac: The delay is often due to the AAC codec, which Apple has optimized for its AirPods.

1. Install Bluetooth Explorer (included in Additional Tools for Xcode).
2. Turn on Force-sco-over-hci for your headphones.
3. Or use the Avnery Bluetooth 5.0 adapter with aptX support.

7 Hardware solutions: if nothing helps

If the software methods have failed, the problem may be:

• 🔋 Discharged battery headphones (at the level of charge) < 20% lag increases).
• 📶 Interference from other devices (Wi-Fi routers at 2.4 GHz, microwaves).
• 🔧 Faults Bluetooth module in headphones or smartphone.

What do I do?

• 🔄 Try headphones with another device (like a tablet) and if lag remains, the headphones are a problem.
• 📡 Switch the router to 5 GHz (2.4 GHz causes interference for Bluetooth).
• 🔧 If headphones are guaranteed, contact the Xiaomi service center - a defect in the antenna is possible.

For Buds 3 Pros and older, there's a radical method of firmware through Fastboot, which is risky, but sometimes helps:

1. Download the firmware for your model from the XDA Developers forum.
2. Connect the headphones to the PC via ADB (instructions are in the archive with firmware).
3. Run the command: fastboot flash bluetooth bluetooth.img

⚠️ Attention: The wrong firmware can bury headphones! This method is recommended only for experienced users.

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If the delay only appears in one app (like PUBG Mobile), the problem is not with the headphones, but with the game settings. Try to reduce the graphics quality or turn off the sound effects.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the delay in Xiaomi headphones