How to connect wireless headphones to a Xiaomi smartphone via Bluetooth: instruction 2026

Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life: they are convenient for sports, work, listening to music and calls. Owners of Xiaomi smartphones (be it Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or flagship Xiaomi 14) often face questions: how to connect headphones using Bluetooth, why the device is not located or disconnected, and how to adjust the sound for better quality. This article will help you understand all the nuances from basic pairing to solving typical problems.

The process of connecting seems simple, but in practice users face subtleties: for example, Mi True Wireless Earphones may require a special sequence of actions, and older phone models may require firmware updates. We will look at the universal algorithm for all versions of MIUI (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS), and also give tips on optimizing the connection. If you just bought new headphones or want to reconnect old ones, this is the guide for you.

Before you start, make sure your headphones are charged (the indicator should flash or burn white/blue), and the phone is turned on Bluetooth. If the headphones were already paired with another device, they should be reset, we will talk about this in a separate section.

1.Preparation: Compatibility and charging check

Not all wireless headphones work equally well with Xiaomi phones. For example, headphones with a Qualcomm aptX chip (such as the Sony WH-1000XM5) may require special codecs that are not supported on all smartphone models.

• 📱 Smartphone: Make sure your Xiaomi supports Bluetooth 5.0 or later (this guarantees stable connection and low power consumption). → The phone. → Bluetooth version.
• 🎧 Headphones: Check what protocol they use.For example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro runs on Bluetooth 5.3 with support LC3 — This ensures better sound quality.
• 🔋 Charging: Most headphones require at least 20% charge for the first connection. If the indicator flashes red, charge the case for 10-15 minutes.

Apple AirPods are worth a special attention, and although they do connect to Xiaomi, some features (such as automatic switching between devices) won’t work, and there may be no support for AAC codecs on older phones (before the Redmi Note 9).

⚠️ Note: If your smartphone is working on MIUI 12 or older, update your firmware before you connect. Older versions have Bluetooth bugs LE Audio, which can cause headphones to turn off during calls.

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

The connection algorithm is the same for most models, but there are nuances depending on the version of MIUI.

Step 1. Open the headphone settings. Usually, you need to:

• 🔄 Get the headphones out of the case and hold the button on the case (for Xiaomi Buds) 3T Pro – 5 seconds until the indicator flashes white and red.
• 🎵 For AirPods: Open the case cover and hold the button on the back until the LED blinks white.

Step 2: Activate Bluetooth on your phone:

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Turn the switch on to the ON position.
3. Click on Device Search (in MIUI 14, this button may be called Add Device).

Step 3: Select your headphones from the list. The name usually contains a model (e.g. Redmi Buds 4 Active).

• 🔄 Reboot the headphones (put in the case, close the lid, then pull out again).
• 📱 Reboot your smartphone.
• 🔌 Make sure the headphones are not connected to another device (e.g. a laptop).

Step 4: Confirm pairing. On the phone screen, you'll see a request to click "Plug" or "OK." Some models (such as the Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro) can request access to contacts and call history, which is required for the voice assistant feature.

Headphones charged (indicator not red)|

Bluetooth on your phone turned on |

Headphones in pairing mode (blinds white/blue)|

There are no other devices nearby with Bluetooth enabled (may interfere with search)|

Updated firmware MIUI (If the phone is older than 2021)-->

3. Customize sound and codecs for better quality

Once connected, the headphones will work, but the sound may not be perfect. MIUI has hidden settings that allow you to improve the quality:

How to choose a Bluetooth codec:

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Press the badge. ⚙️ near the connected headphones.
3. Select Audio Codec (in some versions of MIUI, this item is hidden – you need to click “More”).
4. Recommended code: 🎵 AAC — The best balance of quality and stability (suitable for AirPods and most headphones). 🔊 aptX LDAC — High quality sound (requires headphone support). ⚡ SBC — Universal, but with the worst quality (used by default).

Additional sound settings:

In Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound quality can be included:

• 🎛️ Equalizer – adjust frequencies to your taste (for example, boost bass for hip-hop).
• 🔇 Noise suppression – if the headphones support ANC (For example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro).
• 🎤 Improved voice – useful for calls.

⚠️ Note: If the sound starts to break after changing the codec, return to the codec. SBC. Some cheap headphones are unstable with aptX on Xiaomi smartphones with a Snapdragon chipset 4xx.

4. Problem Solving: Headphones don't plug in or turn off

If the headphones aren’t located, connect with an error, or permanently break the connection, try the following steps:

Problem 1: No device detected

• 🔄 Reset your headphones: For Xiaomi Buds, hold the button on your case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
• 📱 Clear the Bluetooth cache: Go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Systemic → Bluetooth, click "Clear the cache»**.
• 🔧 Update the headphone firmware: Use the official app for this (e.g. Mi Earphones for Xiaomi models).

Problem 2: Headphones are connected, but there is no sound

• 🔊 Check the volume level – sometimes it resets after connecting.
• 🎵 Make sure the sound is not redirected to the phone's speaker.The notification panel should display the headphone icon.
• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones: turn them off in Bluetooth settings and connect again.

Issue 3: Permanent connection breaks

• 📶 Check for interference: there should be no other devices with Bluetooth enabled (smart watches, speakers) nearby).
• 🔋 If the headphones are under 15%, they can shut down.
• 🔄 In Bluetooth settings, turn off Auto Connection** and connect the headphones manually.

5. Features of connecting Xiaomi headphones to Xiaomi phones

Headphones brand Xiaomi (series Mi Buds, Redmi Buds, FlipBuds) have additional functions when connected to smartphones of the same brand.

• 🎛️ Automatic equalizer setup: When you first connect Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro phone will offer to optimize the sound to your preferences.
• 🔋 Charge display: The notification panel will show the charge level of the headphones and case (works only with MIUI 13 and newer).
• 🔍 Headphone search: If you lose your headphone, you can use the “Find your device” function** in the Mi Earphones app.

To activate all functions, install the official application:

1. Download Mi Earphones from Google Play or App Store.
2. Put the headphones on the phone.
3. Open the app and follow the instructions on the screen.

Headphones Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and newer support the function “Dual connection”** (simultaneously to the phone and laptop), but to activate it you need to manually turn on the mode in the Mi Earphones application.

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If your headphones stopped connecting after the MIUI update, try rolling back the Bluetooth stack version. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version, tap 5 times on the “kernel version” label, then select “Roll back Bluetooth” (not available on all models).

6. How to disable or remove headphones from the list of devices

If the headphones are no longer needed or you want to connect them to another device, you need to turn them off correctly:

Temporary shutdown:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → Bluetooth.
• Press the badge. ⚙️ headphone-on.
• Select “Disable”** (the connection will break, but the device will remain in memory).

Complete removal (forget device):

• 🗑️ In the same headphone settings menu, click "Delete" or "Forget the device».
• 🔄 Confirm the action. Now the headphones can be connected to another gadget.

If the headphones are not removed (for example, due to a failure), reset the network settings:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Resetting → Network settings Reset.
2. Confirm the reset. This will remove all stored Bluetooth devices and Wi-Fi networks.

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Before selling or transferring your headphones to another person, always reset the device completely on all the gadgets they were connected to, which will protect your privacy (for example, call history may be stored in the memory of some models).

7. Compatibility with other devices: can you connect Xiaomi headphones to an iPhone or laptop

Xiaomi headphones work not only with smartphones of this brand, but also with other devices.

Connection to iPhone (iOS):

• ✅ It works without problems, but some features (such as fast connection or charge display) may not be available.
• ⚠️ Codec AAC Supported, but sound quality may be inferior to Android connectivity.
• 📱 To connect: Open Bluetooth settings on your iPhone, hold the button on your headphone case until Mi True Wireless appears in the list.

Connection to a laptop (Windows/macOS):

• 🖥️ Windows. 10/11 headphones connect as usual, but you may need to update your Bluetooth drivers (download from the laptop manufacturer’s website).
• 🍎 Sometimes there are problems with the codec on the Mac. AAC — In this case, manually select SBC sound-tuning.
• 🔌 For stable operation, turn off the energy-saving mode for the Bluetooth adapter (in Windows Device Manager).

If the headphones are plugged in but the sound is interrupted, try:

1. Reduce the distance between the headphones and the device (maximum 10 meters without obstacles).
2. Disable other Bluetooth devices (mouse, keyboard).
3. Update the firmware of the headphones through the Mi Earphones app (even if you connect to a non-Xiaomi device).

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting headphones to Xiaomi