Why Xiaomi headphones are not synchronized: a full analysis of the causes and solutions

Xiaomi wireless headphones are some of the most popular gadgets on the market due to a combination of price, sound quality and functionality. However, even proven models like Redmi AirDots, Xiaomi Buds or FlipBuds Pro sometimes have problems with synchronization. One earphone does not connect, both do not find the phone, the sound is interrupted or the device is not determined by the system. 80% of the time this is solved by software methods, but there are hardware nuances that are worth knowing about.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons Xiaomi headphones might not sync, from the clichéd battery drain to the Bluetooth hardware failures, and give you step-by-step instructions for each situation, including the hidden Android settings that are rarely mentioned in standard guides, and if the problem turns out to be hardware, you’ll learn how to distinguish it from software and what to do next.

Important: the solutions in the article are relevant to all models Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO Headphones (including AirDots) 3 Pro, Buds 4, FlipBuds Pro, etc., and for Android smartphones 10–14 and MIUI 12–15. If your model is older 2019 Check the section about firmware updates - there are critical nuances there.

Top.-10 Reasons Why Xiaomi Headphones Are Not Synchronized

Connection problems are usually divided into three categories: hardware (physical damage), software (software failure) and external (interference, incompatibility), and the following is a full checklist of causes, from the most obvious to the rare.

• 🔋 Battery discharge – even if the indicator is on, the headphones may not turn on when the charge level is below 5%.
• 📱 Bluetooth crashes on your phone – especially after the update MIUI or reset.
• 🔄 Inconsistency of firmware - if one headphone is updated, and the second is not.
• 🎧 Resetting a pair of headphones – often occurs after being pulled from a case or falling.
• 📶 Interference from other devices – Wi-Fi routers at 2.4 GHz, microwaves, wireless mice.
• 🔧 Protocol incompatibility – old headphones (until 2020) may not work with new smartphones.
• 🛠️ Damage to contacts in the case – oxidation or contamination interferes with charging and synchronization.
• 📲 Conflict with other connected devices, such as a smartwatch or speaker.
• 🔄 Failure in the headphone firmware - a forced reset is required.
• 🚫 Lockdown MIUI — New firmware versions have restrictions on connecting "uncertified" devices.

The first 5 can be tested in 10 minutes, and the last 5 will require a more in-depth diagnosis, and we'll break them down in separate sections.

How to diagnose a problem: 3 tests before repair

Before you bring your headphones to the service or buy new ones, do these checks to help you determine exactly what the phone is, whether it's headphones or external factors.

Test 1: Checking headphones on another device

Connect your headphones to another smartphone (preferably not Xiaomi), tablet or PC, and if they work, it's a problem on your phone.

• 🔹 One earphone is not connected. → pair-dropping.
• 🔹 Both are not included → charging-problem.
• 🔹 They're connected, but the sound is interrupted. → jamming.

Test 2: Checking the Bluetooth module of the phone

Turn on the developer mode on your phone (click 7 times on the MIUI version in Settings → About phone) and go to Settings → Additional → For developers. Find the Bluetooth Log or Bluetooth Monitor and turn it on. Try connecting your headphones - if there are errors in the log like Connection failed: status=133 or GATT error, the problem is in the phone's firmware.

Test 3: Checking for physical injuries

Look at this.

• 🔦 Contacts in the case - they should be clean, without green plaque (oxidation).
• 🔦 Headphone indicators – if one does not blink when retrieving from the case, the battery may be damaged.
• 🔦 Headphone case – cracks or dents may indicate internal damage.

💡

If your headphones fall into water or are exposed to extreme humidity, don't turn them on, bring them to the service right away. Attempts to charge or sync wet headphones lead to a short circuit.

One headphone does not connect: how to restore a pair

The most common problem is when the left or right earphone is not synchronized with the phone or the other part of the headset, and it's because of a failure in pairing or discharging one of the batteries, and it's solved by resetting and forced synchronization.

Method 1: Manual pairing (for most models)

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Pull them out and hold the touch buttons on both headphones for 15 seconds until the indicators start flashing red and white (or blue and red - depending on the model).
3. Place the headphones back in the case for 10 seconds, then pull out - they should automatically sync (the indicators will light up the same).
4. Connect to your phone as a new device.

Method 2: Case Reset (for AirDots 3, Buds 4)

Some models support reset via the case:

1. Open the case cover and make sure the headphones are inside.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (usually located behind) for 20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
3. Close the lid, wait 30 seconds, then reconnect.

Make sure the headphones are charged (the indicator burns when removed from the case)|

Turn off Bluetooth on all devices except your phone for connection |

Check that the headphones of the same model (sometimes users confuse left / right from different headsets)|

Remove headphones from the list of conjugated devices in the phone settings-->

If the reset did not help, the problem may be:

• 🔋 A discharged battery of one of the headphones (try charging the case for 2-3 hours).
• 🛠️ Damaged Bluetooth module in the headphone (requires repair).
• 📱 Conflict with the firmware of the phone (update) MIUI Or go back to the old version).

Firmware Update: Why It Matters and How to Do It Right

More than 30 percent of Xiaomi headphone sync problems are due to outdated firmware — especially on 2019-2021 models (AirDots 2, Buds 3).The company regularly releases updates to fix Bluetooth bugs, improve stability and compatibility with new versions of Android. If your headphones haven't been updated for more than a year, this is the first reason for checking.

How to check the firmware version

Most Xiaomi models don’t have a direct way to see the firmware version, but it can be identified indirectly:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open the Mi Earphones app (download from Google Play if it isn’t).
3. Go to About device or Settings section – the current version of the software should be displayed there.

If the app doesn’t exist or it doesn’t show a version, try an alternative method:

1. Turn on the developer mode on the phone (see the diagnostics section).
2. Connect your headphones and open Settings → Connected devices → Settings (cog next to the headphones) → The firmware version.

How to update firmware

There are two ways:

1. Automatic Update: Connect your headphones to your phone. Open Mi Earphones and go to Settings → Software Update. If an update is available, follow the on-screen instructions (usually you need to keep your headphones next to your phone for 5-10 minutes).

Manual update via file

• Download the latest firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website (support section).
• Place the file in the root of the phone’s memory (not in folders!).
• In the Mi Earphones app, select Manual Update and specify the downloaded file.

How to reduce interference

• 📶 Change the Wi-Fi channel in your router settings (select the least loaded in the range 1-5 or 12-14).
• 📱 Disable other Bluetooth devices (fitness bracelets, speakers, keyboards).
• 🔌 Remove sources of interference: microwave, wireless charging, USB-hubs 3.0.
• 🔄 Use the codec. AAC instead SBC (In the Bluetooth settings of the phone or the Mi Earphones app).

If the problem persists, try the test elsewhere, for example, on the street or in a room without Wi-Fi. If the headphones are working normally, the interference is to blame.

💡

Xiaomi headphones support the LC3 codec (in newer models), which is less prone to interference than the SBC. To turn it on, upgrade the firmware of the headphones and phone to the latest version.

Charging problems: why headphones don't turn on

If the headphones don't respond to the buttons and are not detected by the phone, the first reason is a dead battery, but even if the indicator in the case is on, it doesn't guarantee that the headphones are charged.

Signs of charging problems

• 🔋 The case charges, but the headphones are not (the indicators on them do not burn).
• 🔋 Headphones discharge in 1-2 hours instead of the declared 5-6.
• 🔋 The indicator on the case flashes red when connected to the charger.
• 🔋 Headphones are turned on only after multiple extraction from the case.
• Background Limitation for Bluetooth: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Points (menu) → Special Access → Battery Optimization Look for “Bluetooth” or “System Settings” → Select “No Limits”
• Reset Bluetooth settings: Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth → Three points (menu) → Reset settings

Frequent questions about synchronizing headphones Xiaomi

If your problem is not solved, describe it in the comments with the headphone model, phone and MIUI version.