How to turn on headphones Xiaomi Earbuds: instructions for all models

Xiaomi Earbuds wireless headphones are a popular solution for music lovers and active users, but even with them, sometimes there are difficulties. The most common problem is that the device does not turn on or respond to presses. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to activate headphones for different models (from Earbuds Basic to Earbuds 4 Pro), including forced reset and troubleshooting.

It's important to understand that the process of switching on can vary depending on the generation of headphones. For example, older models (Earbuds S or Earbuds 2 Lite) use a physical button, and new ones (Earbuds 3 Pro, Earbuds 4) use touch panels. We'll describe each option in detail so you can quickly navigate. If your headphones are discharged or "hangly", there's a separate section in the article to address these problems.

Before you start, check the charge of the case and the headphones themselves — often the cause of "inoperability" lies in the banal discharge. The indicator on the case should burn white or green (depending on the model). If the light bulb does not glow at all, connect the case to charge for 10-15 minutes, and then try again to turn on.

1. Standard way to include Xiaomi Earbuds

Most Xiaomi Earbuds are automatically turned on when removed from the case. However, if this does not happen, use the manual method:

1. Get your headphones out of the case – they should immediately light up with an indicator (usually red or white).
2. Press and hold the touchpad (or physical button on older models) on both headphones simultaneously for 3-5 seconds until you hear an audible beep or see the indicator blink.
3. Wait for the connection – the headphones should automatically connect to each other (the indicators will start flashing synchronously).

On touch-controlled models (Earbuds 3/4 Pro), instead of pressing long, use touching and holding your finger on the panel. In some cases, double tapping may be required to activate.

Get the headphones out of the case.|Check the charge of the cover (the indicator should burn)|Hold the button/sensor for 3-5 seconds|Wait for the audible signal connection-->

If the headphones are turned on but not connected to the phone, go to Settings → Bluetooth on your smartphone and select Xiaomi Earbuds from the list of available devices. On Android, you may need to confirm pairing, on iOS, enter code (usually 0000).

2. How to enable Xiaomi Earbuds with a physical button (old models)

The Earbuds S, Earbuds 2 Lite and some other early versions feature a mechanical button instead of a touchpad. The switching algorithm is slightly different:

• 🔋 Charging the case - make sure the indicator on the case is on (at least red). If not, plug it into charging for 10 minutes.
• 🎧 Removing headphones – take both headphones out of the case and put them on a flat surface.
• 🔘 Long press of the button – press the physical button on the right earphone for 5-7 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white.
• 🔗 Pairing: after blinking, the headphones are ready to connect. Find them in the list of Bluetooth devices.

An important nuance: older models sometimes require you to press the button on both headphones at the same time. If after a long press, nothing happens, try this option.

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If the button on the earphone is stuck or not pressed, gently wipe it with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol, and the dust and moisture often block the mechanism.

If the indicator flashes red but the connection does not occur, it can mean:

• 🔴 Headphones discharged (you need to put in the case for charging).
• 🔄 Resetting is required (instructions in the next section).
• 📱 Bluetooth problems on your phone (reboot your smartphone).

3. Forced resetting of settings (if headphones are not turned on)

If Xiaomi Earbuds don’t respond to taps or flash a non-standard color (e.g., yellow or purple), a hard reset may be required, a procedure that will bring the headphones back to factory settings and often resolves connection issues.

Instructions for discharge:

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the cover of the case and do not remove the headphones.
3. Press and hold the touchpad (or button) on both headphones simultaneously for 10-15 seconds.
4. The indicators will start flashing red and white, and then go out – this is a signal of a successful reset.
5. Close the case, wait 10 seconds, then take out the headphones and try to turn them on again.

Once reset, Xiaomi earphones will lose all the saved connections. When they first turn on, they will be in pairing mode (the indicator flashes white), find them in the list of Bluetooth devices and connect them as a new device.

Note that on Earbuds 3 Pro and newer models, the reset can be done differently, for example, instead of holding the sensor, you need to touch the panel three times for 2 seconds.

Problems with inclusion: diagnosis and solutions

If Xiaomi Earbuds headphones don’t turn on even after reset, use this table for diagnosis:

Critical information: if the Xiaomi Earbuds 3 Pro or newer headphones flash purple, this indicates a firmware failure. In this case, be sure to update them through the official Mi Earphones app (available for Android and iOS). Without an update, the headphones may not work correctly or not turn on at all.

Earbuds Basic/Earbuds S|Earbuds 2 Lite/2 Pro|Earbuds 3/3 Pro|Earbuds 4/4 Pro|Another model-->

If none of these methods helped, check:

• 🔌 Cable and power supply – try charging the case with another cable (preferably original from Xiaomi).
• 📱 Phone Compatibility – Some Older Smartphones Don’t Support Bluetooth 5.0+, Earbuds-needed 3/4 Pro.
• 💧 Moisture or physical damage – if the headphones fell into the water or dropped, the battery or board could fail.

5. Features of inclusion for Xiaomi Earbuds 3 Pro and newer

Headphones Xiaomi Earbuds 3 Pro, Earbuds 4 and Earbuds 4 Pro have improved touch control and support fast connection through Mi Earphones.

• 🔄 Automatic turn on – headphones are activated immediately when the cover of the case is opened (if previously paired with the phone).
• 🎵 Low Delay Mode – for games, it is enabled through triple touching the left earphone (on the Earbuds 4 Pro).
• 🔋 Fast charging – 5 minutes in the case give up to 2 hours of playback (on Earbuds 3 Pro and newer).

To activate the coupling mode on these models:

1. Get the headphones out of the case.
2. Touch and hold the touchpad on both headphones for 3 seconds until you hear the "Ready to pair" voice message.
3. Select Xiaomi Earbuds from the list of Bluetooth devices on your phone.

Important: The Earbuds 4 Pro supports multi-point connectivity (to your phone and laptop at the same time).To enable this feature, go to the Mi Earphones app and activate the option in the Device Connection section.

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Headphones Xiaomi Earbuds 3 Pro and later support automatic switching between devices (for example, from phone to PC).

6. Update firmware via Mi Earphones

If the Xiaomi Earbuds headphones are on, but they are unstable (communication is cut, sound is distorted), the problem may be outdated firmware, which can be updated through the official app:

1. Download Mi Earphones from Google Play or App Store.
2. Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.
3. Open the application and go to the Firmware Update section.
4. If a new version is available, click Update and wait for the process to complete (don’t turn off the headphones!).

Warnings for updating:

⚠️ Warning: Do not remove the headphones from the case during the upgrade.This may cause loss of performance and require contacting the service.

⚠️ Warning: If the update is interrupted due to the discharge of headphones, put them in a case for charging, and then repeat the procedure.

After the update, the headphones will automatically restart. Check their performance - if problems persist, reset settings (section 3).

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Many users make the same mistakes when turning on Xiaomi Earbuds, and here are the most common ones:

• 🚫 Ignoring indicators – if the indicator flashes red, the headphones are discharged, and they need to be charged, not tried to turn on by force.
• 🔄 Improper reset – holding the button for less than 10 seconds will not reset the settings, but only reset the headphones.
• 📱 Connect to multiple devices - if the headphones are already paired with another gadget, they may not connect to the new one.
• 🔋 Use of unoriginal cable – cheap cables may not provide enough current to charge the case.

Another common problem is that one earphone is not working.

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Take out only the working earpiece and check if it connects.
3. If yes, there is a problem in the second headphone (discharge or malfunction). If not, reset the case settings.

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To test the charge of each headphone separately, use the Mi Earphones app, which shows the battery level for the left and right earphones separately.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions