Connecting wireless headphones to Xiaomi Mi 9 via Bluetooth: full instruction with error solutions

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, even with a simple task like connecting to a smartphone, Xiaomi Mi 9 users sometimes face difficulties. In this article, we will discuss not only the basic pairing process, but also the nuances that will help to avoid common mistakes.

The Xiaomi Mi 9, released in 2019, features a Bluetooth 5.0 module that provides a stable connection to most modern headphones. However, the features of MIUI firmware (especially in older versions) can affect connection speed and sound quality. If you first connect headphones or encounter problems — for example, the device does not find the headset or the sound is interrupted — this instruction will help to understand the causes and eliminate them.

We'll look at this.

• 🔹 Step-by-step connection of headphones to the Mi 9 via Bluetooth
• 🔹 Set up sound profiles for better quality
• 🔹 Solving typical problems (no sound, connection breaks)
• 🔹 Optimizing the battery when using wireless devices

1. Preparation of headphones and smartphone for pairing

Before connecting, make sure both devices are ready to go. For the Xiaomi Mi 9, that means:

• 📱 Bluetooth enabled (check in notification curtain or Settings) → Connected devices)
• 🔋 Adequate battery level (less than 15% can cause connection breakage)
• 🔄 Updated firmware MIUI (Older versions may not support new codecs)

For headphones:

• 🎧 Fully charged battery (especially important for the TWS-headphone)
• 🔄 Pairing mode (usually activated by long pressing the power button or automatically when first switched on)
• 📦 No physical damage (check if the charging connector is not contaminated if the headphones are not turned on)

If the headphones have already been connected to another device, they may need to be reset. For example, for AirPods, you need to press the button on the back of the case until the orange indicator flashes. For Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earphones, hold the touchpad on both headphones for 10 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white.

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If the headphones don't go into pairing mode, try putting them in a case for 30 seconds, then remove and turn them on again. This resets temporary connection errors.

2. Step-by-step connection instruction

Now, to the process itself, follow the instructions carefully, and skipping the steps can lead to errors.

1. Activate Bluetooth on your smartphone Open Settings → Connected devices → Bluetooth and move the slider to the “On” position. Alternatively, swipe down the screen to open the notification bar, and tap the Bluetooth icon.
2. Put the headphones in pairing mode for most models: 🎧 Xiaomi Mi True Wireless: Take the headphones out of the case and hold the touchpad on both for 3 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white. 🎧 AirPods: Open the cover of the case and press the button on the back (the indicator should flash white). 🎧 Sony WH-1000XM: Hold the power button for 7 seconds until you hear the voice message “Bluetooth pairing».

Find the headphones in the list of devices

Bluetooth menu on Mi 9 The name of your headphones will appear (for example, Mi True Wireless Earphones or the name of your headphones). LE_Bose QC35). Tap the name to start pairing.

Confirm the connection.

A request for code confirmation (usually 0000 or 1234) may appear on the screen, enter it if required, and after successfully connecting, the headphone name will be marked "Connected".

Important for the Xiaomi Mi 9: if the headphones don’t connect the first time, try turning off and back on Bluetooth on your smartphone. In some versions of MIUI, a bug occurs with the caching of devices.

3. Set up sound profiles and codecs

Once connected, you should optimize the sound quality. Xiaomi Mi 9 supports several audio codecs that affect bitrate and latency:

• 🎵 SBC — basic codec, works with all devices, but compression worsens the quality.
• 🎵 AAC — Best for music (used in AirPods and most smartphones).
• 🎵 aptX – High quality, but not supported by all headphones (e.g. Sony) WH-1000XM4).
• 🎵 LDAC — maximum bitrate (990 kbps), but can cause breaks on a weak signal.

To select the codec:

1. Put the headphones on.
2. Open the Settings. → Connected devices → Settings (⚙️) headphone-name → Sound quality.
3. Choose your preferred codec (AAC is recommended for balance of quality and stability).

If you do not have a codec selection option in the settings, then your headphones support only SBC or AAC. In this case, you can improve the sound through a uniform equalizer (for example, the Wavelet application).

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For a stable connection to the LDAC codec, keep your smartphone and headphones at a distance of no more than 1 meter.

4. Solving common problems

Even after a successful connection, there can be difficulties, and let's look at typical scenarios and how to fix them.

🔊 No sound in the headphones.

If the headphones are connected, but the sound goes through the speaker of the smartphone:

• 🔄 Reboot the headphones (put in the case for 10 seconds and take out).
• 📱 In the Bluetooth menu, click on ⚙️ Next to the headphones and select "Use for calls and media».
• 🔈 Check if the In Phone mode is activated in the player (for example, YouTube or Spotify).

🔄 Permanent connection breaks

Causes and solutions:

• 📶 Weak Bluetooth signal: Remove other connected devices (fitness bracelets, smartwatches).
• 🔋 Low-charge headphones: charge up to 50% and above.
• 📱 Firmware conflict: Update MIUI Up to the latest version or reset your network settings (Settings) → System system → Resetting settings → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings).

⚠️ Note: if the breaks only occur in a particular application (e.g., in Zoom or in the scalp). PUBG Mobile, the problem may be the microphone settings. → Annexes → Permit management → Microphone and check access rights.

🎧 Headphones connect, but are not defined as a headset

It's relevant to TWS-headphones (such as Xiaomi AirDots), which are sometimes only recognized as a "playback device" to fix:

1. Turn off the headphones in the Bluetooth menu.
2. Forget the device (press) ⚙️ → «Forget it»).
3. Reboot your smartphone.
4. Reconnect the headphones.

5. Battery optimization when using Bluetooth

Wireless headphones and Bluetooth module consume battery power. On Xiaomi Mi 9 you can reduce energy consumption without loss of quality:

• 🔋 Turn off the constant search for devices in Settings → Bluetooth → Additionally. → Visibility of the device.
• 📴 Activate the "Battery Saving" mode in Settings → Battery, but exclude from optimization applications players (for example, Spotify or YouTube Music).
• 🔄 Use the codec. AAC instead LDAC — It's less energy-intensive.

It is also worth tracking which apps are actively using Bluetooth.

1. Open Settings → Battery → Battery usage.
2. Press three points (⋮) → «Use of Bluetooth».
3. Check if there are any suspicious apps on the list (like fitness trackers that constantly scan devices).

⚠️ Note: if you notice that the headphone battery began to sit down for 1-2 hours instead of the stated 5-6, Check them for fake batteries. Download the AccuBattery app and compare the actual capacity to the passport.

6. Features of connecting to Xiaomi Mi 9 on different versions of MIUI

MIUI firmware is regularly updated, and there may be nuances with Bluetooth in different versions.

If you have a Xiaomi Mi 9 on MIUI 10 or 11 and your headphones are late, try:

1. Install an alternative player (such as Poweramp) that supports audio buffer settings.
2. Turn off Absolute Volume in Developer Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For Developers.

MIUI 14 has a problem with automatically reconnecting the headphones after a call.

• Open Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone.
• Turn off the Bluetooth permission.
• Reboot your smartphone.

7. Alternative ways of connecting

If the standard pairing does not work, you can use bypass methods.

🔗 Connection through the manufacturer’s application

Some headphones (such as Sony Headphones Connect or JBL App) require the installation of proprietary software to work properly. For Xiaomi Mi True Wireless, download Mi Earphones from Google Play.

• 🎛 Set up sensor control.
• 🔊 Update the firmware of headphones.
• 📊 View the charge level of each headphone separately.

🔄 Use of the developer mode

In rare cases, the inclusion of debugging by Bluetooth helps:

1. Activate the Developer Mode (as described above).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the Bluetooth debugging option and turn it on.
4. Reboot your smartphone and reconnect.

⚠️ Warning: Do not enable Bluetooth debugging on a permanent basis – this could create a vulnerability to attacks over wireless networks.

📱 Connection through third-party applications

If the built-in Bluetooth is unstable, try:

• 🔹 Bluetooth Auto Connect – Automatically restores connection after break.
• 🔹 SoundAssistant – allows you to flexibly configure the routing of sound.
• 🔹 Developer Options – for fine-tuning audio buffer.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting headphones to Xiaomi Mi 9