How to connect Xiaomi wireless headphones to iPhone: a complete guide to error solutions

Xiaomi wireless headphones are a popular accessory among iPhone users, but their connection does not always go smoothly. Unlike Apple gadgets, which sync with iPhones in seconds thanks to the W1/H1 chip, devices from Mi or Redmi require manual tuning via Bluetooth. In this article, we will analyze all the steps from preparing headphones to eliminating typical errors such as “no device visible” or “no sound”.

Xiaomi headphones are often dual-mode (like Mi True Wireless Earphones or Redmi Buds 4 Pro), where each headphone is connected separately, which can confuse iPhone owners who are used to automatic synchronization of AirPods. We will show you how to activate pairing mode, what iOS settings to check and what to do if the headphones are connected, but the sound is only in one channel.

1. Preparing Xiaomi headphones for connection

Before pairing with an iPhone, make sure the headphones are charged (the indicator should flash white or blue) and are in search mode. Xiaomi models have two key features:

• 🔋 Case Charge: If the indicator on the box is not on, connect it to charge for 10-15 minutes. Some models (for example, Mi AirDots Pro) do not activate Bluetooth if the charge level is below 20%.
• 🎧 Reset to factory: If the headphones have already been paired with another device, you need to "forget" them. To do this, hold the button on the case (or touchpad on the headphones) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white at the same time - this is a reset signal.
• 📱 Disconnect from other gadgets: make sure the headphones aren't connected to another phone, tablet or laptop. Otherwise, the iPhone won't see them.

In models with touch control (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 or Redmi Buds 5 Pro) to activate the pairing mode, you need to touch and hold the touch panel on both headphones simultaneously for 3-5 seconds. In older versions (for example, Mi AirDots Basic) - hold the button on the case.

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If the indicator on the case flashes red, it means low charge. Connect the case to charge for 30 minutes, even if the headphones show a sufficient level of charge - sometimes the controller blocks pairing when the case battery is discharged.

2. Step-by-step instruction: connecting to an iPhone

When the headphones are ready, move on to the iPhone setup. Importantly, on iOS 16 and newer devices, the algorithm is slightly different from the older versions. We'll look at the universal way that works on all iPhones from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

1. Open the settings: Go to Settings → Bluetooth and make sure the slider is turned on (should be green).
2. Activate your search: iPhone will start scanning available devices. Xiaomi headphones should appear on a list called Mi True Wireless..., Redmi Buds... or similar (exact name depends on the model).
3. Select a device: tap the headphone name in the list. If you have a request for code confirmation (usually 0000 or 1234), type it in.
4. Wait for pairing: status should change to Connected. Some models (Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro) may need additional confirmation in the pop-up window.

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

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth: Turn off and turn on Bluetooth again in iPhone settings.
• 📴 Reboot the headphones: Put them in the case, close the lid, wait 10 seconds and pull them out again.
• 📱 Update iOS: Go to Settings → Mainstream → Update and install the latest version (relevant for iOS 15 and below).

3. Typical problems and their solutions

Even after a successful connection, users are faced with bugs, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Special case: if you have a model with support LC3-codec (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro), but the sound is through AAC, Try to manually select the codec:

1. Connect the headphones to the Android device.
2. In the Mi Home app, select Headphone Settings → Codec → LC3.
3. Return to your iPhone and reconnect your headphones.

4. Sound and control settings on iPhone

Once you have your headphones on, you can customize them to suit your needs. There are several options available on iOS:

• 🎛️ Equator: Go to Settings → Music. → Equalizer and select the appropriate profile (e.g. Bass or Rock).
• 🔊 Volume balance: If the sound is uneven, check Settings → Universal access → Audiovisual → Stereo balance.
• 🎵 Automatic Switching: In Settings → Bluetooth → (i) next to the headphones, turn on the option "Connect to this iPhone".

Active noise cancellation (ANC) models such as the Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro have the following touch panels:

• 👆 One touch: playback/pause.
• 👆👆 Double touch: the next track (right earpiece) or the previous (left-handed).
• 👆👆👆 Triple touch: on/off ANC.

Note: on the iPhone, you can not update the firmware of Xiaomi headphones - this requires an Android smartphone with the Mi Home application. However, after the update, all the settings will remain and will work with iOS.

5.Why Xiaomi headphones are quickly discharged from the iPhone?

Many users complain that Xiaomi’s wireless headphones sit down faster when connected to an iPhone than to Android, due to differences in Bluetooth protocols:

• 🔋 Codec AAC: iPhone default uses this codec, which is more resource-intensive than SBC (standard).
• 📡 Continuous scanning: iOS more often polls devices over Bluetooth, which increases power consumption.
• 🔄 Background: If the headphones are connected to iCloud (the “Automatic Switch” option), they spend a charge synchronizing with other Apple devices.

To extend the working hours:

1. Turn off Automatic Switching in Bluetooth settings.
2. Use headphones in mono mode (only one headphone) if you don't need stereo sound.
3. Turn off your headphones when not in use – many Xiaomi models don’t have auto-switching when inactive.

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Xiaomi headphones with Bluetooth 5.2+ support (such as the Redmi Buds 4 Pro) consume 20-30% less power when connected to the iPhone 12 and later thanks to the optimization of the LE Audio protocol.

6. Compatibility of Xiaomi models with different versions of iOS

Not all Xiaomi headphones work equally well with iPhones, and the following is the compatibility table for popular models:

For models with hybrid ANC (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro) on the iPhone will be available only basic noise cancellation. Advanced settings (ANC level, transparent mode) can only be set through the Mi Home app on Android.

Note: If you upgraded your iPhone to iOS 17 and your headphones stopped connecting, try “forgetting the device” in your Bluetooth settings, and then repeat pairing. In the new version, Apple has tightened requirements for Bluetooth profiles, which may make some older Xiaomi models “uncertified.”

7. Alternative ways of connecting

If the standard method doesn’t work, try alternatives:

• 🔄 Through the regime DFU: Some models (e.g. Mi AirDots Pro 2) support forced firmware updates via the DFU-It requires connecting your headphones to your PC using the Mi Flash Tool, but it's risky and requires experience.
• 📱 Through Android-mediator: connect headphones to Android phone, update the firmware through Mi Home, then pair with iPhone.
• 🔌 Through the adapter: if the headphones support USB-C (For example, Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro, you can use a wired connection via the Lightning adapter. → USB-C.

For models with low latency (game mode) on iPhones, this mode is activated automatically when you start games or videos.

1. Connect the headphones to Android.
2. In Mi Home, activate the "Low Lag" option.
3. Return to the iPhone, the setting will remain.

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If Xiaomi headphones connect to the iPhone, but the sound is delayed in the video, try manually synchronizing the audio and video in the player (for example, YouTube has the option “Sync Sound”).

FAQ: Frequent questions