Connecting wireless headphones to Xiaomi Redmi phone via Bluetooth: full instructions with pictures and tips

Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life – they allow you to listen to music, answer calls and watch videos without getting tangled wires. However, many Xiaomi Redmi users have difficulties when connecting for the first time: devices do not find each other, connection is interrupted or sound is distorted, this guide will help you understand all the nuances from basic settings to solving non-standard problems.

We will consider the pairing process on the example of popular models Redmi Note 12/13 Pro, Redmi 10/11 and POCO X5, but the instruction is relevant for older smartphones on MIUI 12-14. Particular attention will be paid to the settings of codecs (AAC, SBC, aptX), which affect the sound quality, and also to understand why some headphones (for example, AirDots or Sony WH-1000XM5) can connect not the first time.

If you have already tried to connect devices, but faced with the error “failed to connect” or headphones are constantly turned off – at the end of the article there is a section with the diagnosis of problems and a table of compatibility of popular models of headphones with Redmi.

1. Preparation of headphones and telephone for pairing

Before you start connecting, make sure both devices are ready to go, which will eliminate 80% of the typical errors associated with a dead battery or the aircraft mode on.

For headphones:

• 🔋 Charge headphones to at least 30% (most models refuse to turn on at a level below 15%). On Xiaomi AirDots and Redmi Buds, charging is checked by LED in the case: red - less than 30%, blue - more than 60%.
• 📦 Get your headphones out of the case (if that's it) TWS-model - they must automatically turn on. If this does not happen, press and hold the power button. 3-5 seconds.
• 🔄 Reset previous connections (if the headphones were already paired with another device). This usually requires holding the button on the case or earphone. 10-15 seconds before flashing the red/white indicator.

For the Xiaomi Redmi phone:

• 📶 Turn off In-plane mode in the notification curtain or through Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks.
• 🔄 Reboot the Bluetooth module: turn it off in the curtain, wait 10 seconds and turn it back on.
• 🔧 Update the firmware: go to Settings → The phone. → System updates. Outdated versions MIUI (below 12.5) may not support new audio codecs.

Important! If you plug in Apple AirPods or Samsung Galaxy Buds headphones, note that they are optimized for their ecosystems. Xiaomi may not have gestures or Autostop Playback when you remove the earpiece from your ear.

2. Step-by-step instruction: how to connect headphones via Bluetooth

Now, to the interface process itself, follow the instructions strictly by the steps, which ensures that you can connect successfully the first time.

Charge your headphones to 30%+

Turn on the headphones (take out of the case or press the power button)

Turn off "On the plane" mode on your phone.

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone

Reset previous headphone connections (if any)

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Instructions for MIUI 12-14:

1. Open Settings on your phone and select Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Activate the Bluetooth slider (it should turn blue) and the phone will start searching for available devices.
3. Click on the name of your headphones in the list. If they are not, make sure they are in pairing mode (usually the indicator flashes white/blue).
4. Confirm the connection on the phone (a window may appear with a request for permission). On some headphones (for example, JBL Live 660NC), you need to additionally press the button on the case.
5. Wait for the message "Connected." In some cases, the sound will only appear after the music or video is triggered.

If the headphones require input PIN-code (rarely, but found in older models), try standard combinations:

• 🔢 0000 is a universal code for most devices.
• 🔢 1234 - Alternative version.
• 🔢 See the code in the headphone instructions (usually on the last page).

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If the headphones don’t appear in the list, try turning off and re-enable Bluetooth on your phone, and rebooting your headphones (most models need to hold the power button for 10+ seconds).

3. Customize sound and codecs for better quality

Once successfully connected, it’s worth optimizing your audio settings. By default, Xiaomi Redmi uses SBC (basic) or AAC (for Apple devices), but some headphones support more advanced formats like aptX or LDAC.

To change the codecs:

1. Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Bluetooth sound quality.
2. Select the connected headphones from the list.
3. In the Audio codec section, select the available option. For example, for Sony WH-1000XM5, you should choose LDAC (high quality, but more battery consumption), and for Xiaomi AirDots 3, AAC (balance of quality and stability).

We also recommend that you include:

• 🎧 Sound enhancement – bass and high frequency enhancement (not working on all models).
• 🔊 Mono mode – if one earphone is lost or discharged.
• 🎵 Adaptive sound – automatic adjustment to ambient noise (available on the Internet) MIUI 13+).

Note: On Redmi Note 10/11 and older, aptX and LDAC codecs are supported only on MIUI 13+ firmware. If the desired codec is not on the list, update the system.

4. Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even after a successful connection, there may be problems, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

Problem 1: The headphones are plugged in, but there is no sound.

• 🔊 Check the volume level on your phone and headphones (some models have a separate regulator).
• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones: turn them off in Bluetooth settings and connect again.
• 📱 Restart your phone – sometimes the sound driver “hangs».

Problem 2: Permanent connection breaks.

• 📶 Make sure there are no interference sources nearby (Wi-Fi routers, microwaves).
• 🔋 Check the charge of the headphones – at a level below 15%, the connection can become unstable.
• 🔧 Reset network settings: Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth.

Problem 3: The sound is interrupted when the video is played.

Problem 4: The phone can't see the headphones.

⚠️ Note: If the headphones don’t appear in the list of available devices, check if they support Bluetooth 4.2.+. Older models (until 2018) may not work with Redmi MIUI 12+ due to the change in the interface protocols.

• 🔍 Make sure the headphones are in search mode (the indicator flashes quickly).
• 📱 Try connecting from another phone - if it doesn't work, the problem is headphones.
• 🔧 Update the firmware of the headphones (if possible). For example, for Xiaomi AirDots updates are released through the Mi Home app.

5 Additional features: gestures, voice assistants, multi-connection

Modern wireless headphones support not only sound playback, but also other useful functions. Here is how to set them up on Xiaomi Redmi:

1. Gesture control:

• 👆 Double-touch earphone: usually responsible for playback/pause. Redmi Buds 4 can be reassigned to call voice assistant.
• 👇 Finger retention: switching tracks or turning on noise reduction mode (on Sony) WH-1000XM5).

To change the purpose of gestures, use the headphone manufacturer’s proprietary app (such as Sony Headphones Connect or JBL App).

Voice assistants:

• 🎤 Nana MIUI Google Assistant is the default. To call it, press and hold the button on your headphones (if supported).
• 🔧 To change assistant to Alice or Siri (for AirPods) go to Settings → Annexes → By default. → Voice input.

3. Multi-connection (Multipoint):

Some headphones (such as the JBL Live 660NC or Sony WF-1000XM4) can connect to two devices simultaneously.

1. Connect the headphones to the first device (e.g., Redmi).
2. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones (usually hold the button for 3-5 seconds).
3. Connect to the second device (laptop, tablet).
4. In the headphone settings (via the app), enable the Multipoint option or Double Connection.

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Multi-connection can cause problems with connection stability if both devices are actively using headphones (for example, music is playing on a phone and laptop at the same time).

6. How to disable or remove headphones from your phone memory

If you no longer plan to use headphones or want to connect them to another device, you need to properly disable or remove them from the list of associated devices.

Temporary shutdown:

• 🔌 Turn off the headphones or put them in the case (for the purpose of the TWS-model).
• 📱 On your phone, turn off Bluetooth in the notification curtain or through Settings → Bluetooth.

Complete removal (forget device):

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Push the gear. ⚙️ headphone-name.
3. Select Forget this device (or Delete it).
4. Confirm the action. Now the headphones can be connected to another phone.

⚠️ Note: If you remove the headphones from Redmi memory but don’t reset them (via button retention), they can automatically connect back the next time you turn on Bluetooth. To avoid this, reset the headphones to factory settings.

7. headphone compatibility with Xiaomi Redmi: table of supported models

Not all wireless headphones work equally well with Xiaomi Redmi. Below is a table of compatibility of popular models with an indication of possible problems:

If your model is not in the table, check the specifications on the manufacturer's website, the main thing is that the headphones support at least one of the codecs: SBC, AAC or aptX.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting headphones to Xiaomi Redmi