Connecting wireless headphones to the Xiaomi Mi smartphone via Bluetooth: full instruction with problem solving

Why Bluetooth Headphones Don’t Connect to Xiaomi for the First Time

Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life – they are convenient for sports, work and listening to music without wires. 10T, Mi 9 and earlier versions often encounter problems when connecting first: the device does not find headphones, the connection is interrupted or the sound is delayed. MIUI, Bluetooth version limitations and codec incompatibility.

In this article, we will break down the step-by-step instructions for connecting any wireless headphones (including AirPods, Sony WH-1000XM4, Xiaomi AirDots, and others) to Xiaomi Mi smartphones via Bluetooth. You will also learn how to fix typical bugs, adjust the sound for better quality, and check the compatibility of your headphone model with your phone. If you have tried to connect but failed, look at the problem solving section, where we analyze the hidden MIUI settings that affect the stability of the Bluetooth connection.

What wireless headphones are compatible with Xiaomi Mi

Before connecting, it’s important to make sure your headphones are supported by a smartphone. Xiaomi Mi smartphones (starting with the Mi 8) are equipped with Bluetooth module version 5.0 and higher, which ensures compatibility with most modern devices.

• 🎧 Headphones Xiaomi/Airdots: optimized MIUI — Connect automatically via the Mi Bluetooth app (available on Google Play).
• 🍎 Apple AirPods: Compatible but may not support all features (e.g., automatic switching between devices).
• 🎵 Supported headphones AAC/aptX (e.g. Sony, Sennheiser: require manual codec configuration in the developer (see section below).
• ⚠️ Outdated models (Bluetooth 4.0 and below): Can connect, but with limited range and sound quality.

To check the Bluetooth version on your Xiaomi Mi, go to Settings → About Phone → Full Specification → Bluetooth Version. If the version is below 4.2, some features (such as dual audio or low latency) may not work.

Step-by-step: how to connect headphones to Xiaomi Mi

The pairing process depends on the headphone model, but the overall pattern is the same for most devices.

1. Turn on the pairing mode on the headphones: 🔋 For Xiaomi AirDots: Hold the button on the case of the charging case for 3 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white/red. 🍎 For AirPods: Open the case cover and hold the button on the back until the indicator flashes white. 🎧 For other models: see manufacturer's instructions (usually a power button holding combination).
2. Activate Bluetooth on Xiaomi Mi: Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth. Translate the slider to the position On. Click Device Search (the magnifier icon in the upper right corner).

Select headphones from the list

• In the list of found devices, tap the name of your headphones (for example, Mi True Wireless Earphones or the name of your headphones). LE_AirPods).
• Confirm the pairing if a request appears (sometimes you need to enter) PIN-code - default 0000 or 1234).

Charge your headphones to 50% or higher

Make sure the headphones are in pairing mode (blinking indicator)

Disconnect headphones from other devices (laptop, tablet)

Update Xiaomi firmware to the latest version-->

Once you've successfully connected, you'll see "Connected" status in the Bluetooth list of devices. If the headphones support multipoint (simultaneously connecting to two devices), you'll see an additional icon. 📱🎧.

⚠️ Warning: If the headphones don't appear in the list, try rebooting the phone's Bluetooth module. To do this, turn off Bluetooth, then go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Systemic → Bluetooth and hit Stop. After you restart your phone, repeat the search.

Customize sound and codecs for better quality

By default, Xiaomi Mi uses SBC codec — universal, but not the best quality. If your headphones support AAC, aptX or LDAC, you can manually turn them on:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI until the notification “You’ve become a developer!” appears.
2. Select the codec: Open Settings → Additional → Developer Settings. Find the Bluetooth Codec and choose the best option: AAC for AirPods and Apple headphones. aptX/aptX HD for Sony, Sennheiser, Bose. LDAC for high-quality sound (requires Bluetooth 5.0+).

When you change the codec, reconnect the headphones. If the sound starts to break or there's interference, go back to SBC, which is the most stable, though inferior in quality.

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If the sound is lost after changing the codec, try turning off the Absolute Volume feature in the developer settings, which may conflict with the volume control on some headphones.

Problem Solving: Headphones are not connected or turned off

If the connection fails, check the following points:

1. Headphones are not on the list of devices

• 🔄 Reboot the headphones: Put them in the case for 10 seconds, then pull out and re-activate the pairing mode.
• 📱 Reset Bluetooth settings on Xiaomi: Go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → ⚙️ (setting) → Reset the settings. After reset, reset the phone.
• 🛠️ Update the firmware: outdated versions MIUI You may not support new codecs. Check for updates in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

2. the connection is interrupted or the sound is delayed

• 📶 Interference from other devices: Turn off Wi-Fi or move to a place with fewer wireless networks.
• 🔋 Low charge headphones: charge them to 100% – at a level below 20%, failures can occur.
• 🎛️ Codec Conflict: Get Back to the SBC in the developer settings (see section above).

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi Mi models (such as the Mi 9 Lite) have a bug that automatically shuts down Bluetooth when you lock the screen. To fix this, turn off the battery saving feature. → Background Limitation for Bluetooth App.

Additional features: dual sound and autoconnection

Xiaomi Mi smartphones on MIUI 12+ support enhanced Bluetooth features:

Dual sound (simultaneous connection of two devices)

You can stream the sound directly to the headphones and the speaker (or two sets of headphones).

1. Connect the first device (for example, headphones).
2. Turn on a second device (e.g., Bluetooth column).
3. In the notification bar, tap the Bluetooth icon and select Dual Sound.
4. Select the second device from the list.

Note: This feature only works with devices that support A2DP profiles.

2. Autoconnect when opening the case cover

For Xiaomi AirDots and some other models, the automatic connection function is available when opening the case:

1. Install the Mi Bluetooth app from Google Play.
2. Open the app and select your headphones.
3. Activate the Auto Connection option.

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Dual Sound can cause delays when watching video. To synchronize sound and image, turn it off in Bluetooth settings.

Comparison of Xiaomi Mi models for Bluetooth support

Not all Xiaomi Mi smartphones work equally well with wireless headphones, and below is a comparison table of key models:

If your model doesn’t support aptX or LDAC, but you want to improve sound, try using an external Bluetooth transmitter (like a Creative BT-W5) connected via USB-C.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions