Connecting wireless headphones to Xiaomi Poco X3: full instructions with nuances

Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life – they are convenient for listening to music, calling and even watching videos. However, users of the Xiaomi Poco X3 (released in 2020) sometimes face difficulties when connecting for the first time: the device does not find the headset, the sound is interrupted or there are problems with the microphone. In this article, we will analyze all the stages of pairing, from preparing the headphones to setting up the sound profile in MIUI 12/13, and also consider typical errors and how to fix them.

The Poco X3’s feature is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G chip, which supports modern audio codecs like aptX and AAC. This means that when connected properly, you’ll get quality audio without delay. However, not all headphones automatically activate these protocols — sometimes manual tuning is required. We’ll show you how to do this, and explain why some models (like AirDots or Sony WH-1000XM4) can behave differently when connected to the same smartphone.

1. Preparation of headphones for pairing

Before you connect the headphones to the Xiaomi Poco X3, make sure they are charged (the indicator should flash or burn in a stable color) and are in pairing mode. Most models activate this mode by holding the power button for 3-5 seconds, but there are nuances:

• 🎧 Xiaomi AirDots: Press and hold the touchpad on both headphones at the same time until the indicators start flashing white and red.
• 🎧 Sony WF-1000XM4: press the button on the case of the charging case for 2 seconds - you will hear the sound signal and see a flashing blue light.
• 🎧 JBL Free X: Hold the button on your right earphone for 5 seconds until the red/blue light flashes.
• 🎧 Apple AirPods: Open the case cover and press the button on the back (for models up to 2nd generation).

If the headphones have already been connected to another device, they need to be reset. For example, for AirDots Pro, this is done like this: press the touchpad three times on each headphone, then hold 10 seconds until reset (the indicator flashes red).

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If the headphones do not respond to presses, put them in a charging case for 10 minutes - sometimes a discharged battery blocks the activation of the pairing mode.

2.Bluetooth activation on Xiaomi Poco X3

Now, to the smartphone settings, Poco X3 uses MIUI to control Bluetooth, and there are several ways to turn on the module:

1. Through the notification bar: swipe from top to bottom to open the curtain and tap the Bluetooth icon (it will turn blue).
2. Through Settings: Go to Settings → Connections & Sharing → Bluetooth and move the slider to the right.
3. Voice Assistant: Say “OK Google, turn on Bluetooth” (voice control preset is required).

Once Bluetooth is activated, the smartphone will automatically scan the available devices. If that doesn't happen, click Device Search in the upper right corner of the screen. Your headphones should appear on the list in 5-10 seconds. If they're not, check if the phone is on flight mode or energy saving, which can block the scan.

3. Step-by-step headphone connection

When the headphones appear in the list of available devices, follow the following steps:

1. Click on the name of your headphones in the list, such as "Mi True Wireless Earphones 2" or "WH-1000XM4."
2. Confirm the pairing by clicking "Connect" or "Pair" (depending on the firmware version).
3. If you request permission to access contacts and calls, select "Allow" - this is necessary for the correct operation of the microphone during conversations.
4. Wait for the "Connected" label to appear, called headphones, and some models (like the AirPods) will also display battery levels.

Once successfully connected, the headphones will automatically connect to the Poco X3 when Bluetooth is turned on, if they are within range (usually up to 10 meters).To check the connection quality, run any audio — for example, a song in Mi Music or a video on YouTube.

Headphones are displayed in the list of connected devices | Headphone indicator is blue/green | Sound is played without interruption | Microphone is running during the call-->

4. Set up sound profiles and codecs

By default, the Xiaomi Poco X3 uses the standard SBC protocol to transmit audio over Bluetooth, but if your headphones support aptX, AAC or LDAC, you can improve the quality.

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Push the gear. ⚙️ near the name of your headphones.
3. Select "Sound Quality" or "Audio Codec" (depending on the version of MIUI).
4. In the list of available codecs, select the priority one, for example, for music, aptX or AAC is better, and for conversations, SBC (less latency).

Note that not all headphones support advanced codecs, such as Xiaomi AirDots Basic only works with SBC, and Sony WH-1000XM4 supports LDAC (for Hi-Res Audio), and if the desired codec is not on the list, then your headset does not support it.

5. Resolving typical problems

Even after a successful connection, Poco X3 users may face a number of challenges, including the most common and ways to solve them:

• 🔇 No sound in the headphones: Check if the "Silent Sound" mode is activated in the settings (Settings) → Sound. → Make sure the headphones are selected as the output device: while playing audio, tap the speaker icon in the notification panel and select them. Reset the headphones (put in the case for 10 seconds and pull out).
• 🔄 Constant communication interruptions: Turn off Wi-Fi — sometimes both modules (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) are running at the same frequency (2.4 GHz) and interfere with each other. Reduce the distance between the phone and the headphones (optimally, up to 1 meter). → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times) turn off "Bluetoothbug".
• 🎤 Microphone not working: In Bluetooth settings, tap the gear next to the headphones and turn on "Use for calls." Check if an app (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) blocks access to the microphone. Update the firmware of the headphones through the branded app (for example, Mi Headphones for AirDots).

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If the problem persists after all the manipulations, try to forget the device in the Bluetooth settings and reconnect it, which solves software failures in 80% of cases.

⚠️ Note: If the headphones are plugged in but the sound is interrupted every 2-3 seconds, the cause may be a defect in the battery in one of the headphones. Try using them separately - if the problem disappears, then you need to replace the battery.

6. Optimizing the battery for stable operation

Xiaomi Poco X3 is known for its energy efficiency, but some MIUI settings can negatively affect the performance of Bluetooth devices, to extend the battery life of the headphones and avoid sudden shutdowns:

1. Turn off Bluetooth Automatic Shutdown: Settings → Battery and Performance → Application Power Management → Bluetooth → Turn off “Background Limitation”
2. Add headphones to optimisation exceptions: Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Optimisation → Select apps → Find “Bluetooth” and disable optimization
3. Activate High Performance Mode for Bluetooth (available in MIUI 13+): Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → Additional → Performance Mode → High Performance

Important: If you use active noise cancellation (ANC) headphones, such as the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro, turn off the ANC when the phone's battery is low (less than 20%), a feature that greatly increases power consumption.

7.Use of proprietary management applications

Many headphone manufacturers offer their own applications for audio customization, firmware updates and charge monitoring. The following are relevant for Xiaomi Poco X3:

• 📱 Mi Headphones (for AirDots, FlipBuds): Allows you to update the firmware of the headphones, adjust gestures (for example, double-touch for pause), check the charge level of each earphone separately.
• 📱 Sony | Headphones Connect (for the first time) WF-1000XM4, WH-1000XM4): Activation of noise reduction and "Transparency" mode, setting up the equalizer. Update of the headphone software.
• 📱 JBL Headphones (for) JBL Free, Live Pro+): Level adjustment ANC. Adjusting the voice of the assistant (Google Assistant or Alexa).

To avoid conflict, don’t install headphone apps you don’t use, and check permissions: some programs (like Sony Headphones Connect) require geolocation and contacts to work properly.

⚠️ Note: Headphone applications may conflict with MIUI Optimizations is Xiaomi’s built-in optimization system. If the headphones start to turn off after installing the app, add it to auto-start exceptions: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Auto-start → Find the application and turn on auto-start

8. Alternative ways of connecting

If the standard Bluetooth connection is unstable, alternative methods can be used:

• 🔌 Bluetooth 5.0 Adapter: Connects to Poco X3 through USB-C It provides a more stable connection, useful for audiophiles or when using aptX headphones. LL (low-key).
• 📶 Wi-Fi Direct: Some headphones (such as Bose QuietComfort Ultra) support Wi-Fi connectivity. → Connections → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct and select your device.
• 🎵 Audio through USB-C: If the headphones support wired connectivity (e.g. Sony) WH-1000XM4 with a cable in the set, you can use it USB-C → 3.5 mm adapter, in which case the delay will be minimal.

Note: when using the USB-C → Bluetooth adapter, the built-in Bluetooth module of the smartphone is turned off, and all other devices (for example, a fitness bracelet) will cease to work wirelessly.

FAQ: Frequent questions