How to connect Xiaomi headphones to a smartphone: from pairing to fine tuning of sound

Xiaomi wireless headphones are some of the most popular smartphone accessories for price, quality and functionality. However, even with such devices, users face problems: Bluetooth does not find headphones, sound is interrupted, left / right ear does not sync. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways of connecting, from standard pairing to manual resetting, and give tips on how to optimize the sound and eliminate typical errors.

It’s important to understand that the connect process can vary depending on the model. For example, Redmi AirDots 3 Pro supports Bluetooth 5.2 and has a quick connection function through the Mi Home app, while the budget Redmi Buds 4 Lite requires classic search in the phone’s settings. We will cover instructions for all current lines, including Xiaomi Buds 4, FlipBuds Pro and others.

If you've tried to connect your headphones to your smartphone, but you've failed, don't rush to bring them into service. 90 percent of the time, the problem is solved software-based: just reset your settings, update your firmware, or set up your codec correctly, and let's start with the basic method.

1. Standard Bluetooth connection

It’s a versatile way that works for all Xiaomi models, from AirDots to flagship FlipBuds.The algorithm is the same for Android and iOS, but there are nuances for Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco phones with a proprietary MIUI shell.

Before starting, make sure that:

• 🔋 Headphones charged (the indicator should flash white or red when removed from the case).
• 📱 Bluetooth is enabled on the smartphone (the icon in the top panel or in Settings) → Connections).
• 🎧 Headphones are in pairing mode (usually activated by a long press on the touch panel).

Now, follow the steps:

1. Open the Settings. → Bluetooth on your phone.
2. Press “Add device” (or similar button).
3. In the list, find the name of your headphones (for example, Redmi Buds 4 or Mi True Wireless Earphones 2).
4. Slap it on and confirm the connection.

Headphones charged (indicator flashes)|Bluetooth on your phone is on|Headphones in pairing mode (long press)|Distance between devices ≤ 1 metre-->

If the headphones don’t appear in the list, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on).
• 📦 Remove the headphones from the case and put them back (sometimes it helps to “reset” the headphones).
• 🔌 Connect the case to charging for 10 seconds, then disable (resetting the connection cache).

💡

Xiaomi phones with MIUI 14+ have a “Fast Connection” feature – open the notification curtain and tap the Bluetooth icon, then select the headphones from the proposed devices.

2. Connect via the Mi Home app (for supported models)

Some Xiaomi headphones (for example, Redmi AirDots 3 Pro, Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro) support advanced settings through the proprietary Mi Home app. This allows you not only to connect the device, but also:

• 🎛 Set up an equalizer (bass, high frequencies).
• 🔊 Activate the noisemaker (ANC) transparency.
• ⚡ Update the firmware of headphones.
• 📊 View the charge level of the case and each headphone separately.

Instructions for connecting via Mi Home:

1. Download the Mi Home app from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account (required!).
3. Put the headphones in pairing mode (see section 1).
4. In Mi Home, tap “Add Device” → select the category “Hearbursts”.
5. Follow the instructions on the screen (usually you need to confirm the connection on your phone and headphones).

Important: If the headphones are not defined in the Mi Home, but connect via standard Bluetooth, then your model does not support advanced settings. For a full list of compatible devices, see the official Xiaomi website.

Redmi AirDots (1-3 generation)|Xiaomi Buds (any model)|FlipBuds Pro|Other Xiaomi |Not Xiaomi-->

3. Manual pairing, if the headphones are not

If the standard methods don't work, you'll have to force resets, and this is true for cases where:

• 🔴 Headphones previously connected to another device and "forgot" it.
• 🔄 After updating the firmware of the phone or headphones, a pairing error occurred.
• 🎧 One of the headphones (left/right) is not synchronized with the pair.

Resetting instructions (for most models):

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Open the lid and hold the button on the case (or touchpad on the headphones) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white alternately.
3. Close the case, wait 30 seconds, then open and try again (see section 1).

For models with a separate reset of each headphone (for example, Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro):

1. Get both earphones out of the case.


2. Press and hold the touchpad on the RIGHT earphone for 10 seconds (until red flashes).




3. Repeat for the left earpiece.




4. Put both back in the case, close the lid for 10 seconds.

⚠️ Note: Some models (Redmi AirDots S, Mi True Wireless Earphones Basic 2) only reset via a button on the case!

4.Tune codecs for better sound

Once the connection is successful, you should optimize the sound quality. By default, Android and iOS use the standard SBC codec, which provides average quality. Xiaomi headphones support more advanced codecs:

• 🎵 AAC — Better balance of quality and stability (recommended for iPhone).
• 🎵 aptX – high quality, but can slow down on budget smartphones.
• 🎵 LDAC — Maximum quality (up to 990 kbps), but requires a powerful processor.

How to change the codec on Android:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
3. Slap the icon. ⚙️ near the name of your headphones.
4. Select “Sound Quality” or “Bluetoothooth Codec” (the name depends on the version of MIUI).
5. Try AAC or aptX (if available).

On the iPhone, the codec changes automatically — the system always selects AAC. If the sound is interrupted, try:

• 📱 Turn off “Low Power” in Bluetooth settings.
• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones.
• 🎧 Reduce the distance between the phone and headphones (optimally — ≤ 0.5 meters).

💡

The LDAC codec gives you better sound, but it consumes your headphone battery 20-30% faster. Use it only when listening to high-resolution music (FLAC, WAV).

5. Solving Connection Problems

If Xiaomi headphones refuse to connect, check out the typical reasons:

For active noise reduction (ANC) models (Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro, Buds 3T Pro), additional problems may arise from:

• 🔇 Incorrect fit in the ears (check the size of the earbrushes).
• 🎛 Too high a level. ANC (In Mi Home, reduce the intensity).
• 🔋 Battery discharged (ANC consumes).

⚠️ Warning: If after all the manipulations, the headphones still do not work, check them on another device (tablet, laptop). If the problem persists, it is a hardware defect, requires repair or replacement under warranty.

6. Optimization of the headphones after connection

To make Xiaomi headphones work consistently, follow these tips:

• 🔋 Charge the case regularly – even if the headphones are not used, the battery discharges for the first time. 2-3 month-long.
• 📱 Update the firmware through Mi Home (patches are coming out to fix connection bugs).
• 🎧 Clean contacts on headphones and in the case with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol (oxidation of contacts is a common cause of failures).
• 🔄 Reconnect your headphones once in a while. 1-2 Weeks (this clears the Bluetooth cache on the phone).

For touch-controlled models (Xiaomi Buds 4, FlipBuds Pro) you can reassign gestures to Mi Home:

• 👆 Double touch - playback / pause.
• 👇 Triple touch - the next track.
• 👈 Retention - Calling the voice assistant.

If you use headphones for calls, activate the "Use for calls" option in Bluetooth settings, which will improve the quality of the microphone by disabling some audiophile functions.

7. Connection to multiple devices (multipoint)

Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro, FlipBuds Pro) support simultaneous connection to two devices (e.g., a smartphone and a laptop) to activate this feature:

1. Connect the headphones to the first device (such as a phone).
2. Open Mi Home, go to the headphone settings.
3. Find the option “Multipoint” or “Dual connection” and activate it.
4. Now connect the headphones to the second device via standard Bluetooth.

Multipoint limitations:

• 🎵 The sound will be played from only one device (priority of the last connected device).
• 📞 The first connected device is always used for calls.
• 🔋 Battery consumption increases by ~15-20%.

If the Multipoint option is not available in the Mi Home, your model does not support it.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi headphones