Why Redmi 8 Pro may not see headphones and how to fix it
Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life – they are convenient for listening to music, calling and even watching videos. However, owners of the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro sometimes face problems when connecting for the first time: the phone does not find the device, the sound is interrupted or the headphones turn off after a few seconds. In this article, we will discuss not only the standard pairing procedure, but also the hidden MIUI settings that will help stabilize the connection.
The Redmi 8 Pro features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 chip with Bluetooth 5.0, which means the phone supports modern protocols including AAC and aptX, but can conflict with some budget headphone models due to codec incompatibility. We'll show you how to check the current codec and force it to change if necessary.
If you've tried to plug in your headphones and you've encountered an error, don't be quick to blame the device. 60 percent of the time, the problem is that MIUI's power-saving settings are incorrect, which aggressively shut down Bluetooth backgrounds, and then you'll learn how to turn off that "optimization" and ensure a stable connection.
Preparation of headphones and phone for pairing
Before you start connecting, make sure that both devices are ready to go. For Redmi 8 Pro, it is critical to update the firmware to the latest version - old MIUI builds had Bluetooth bugs fixed in patches of 2021-2022. You can check the relevance of the software in the Settings menu → About the phone → System Update.
As for headphones, they need to:
- 🔋 Charge to at least 30% (at low charge, some models refuse to be included in the pairing mode).
- 🔄 Reset to factory settings if they have previously connected to another device (usually this is done by holding the power button long for 10-15 seconds).
- 🎧 Transfer the search mode (on the majority) TWS for this you need to hold the touch panel or button for 3-5 seconds before the indicator flashes).
Important! If you use multipoint headphones (simultaneously connecting to two devices), disconnect them from other gadgets before pairing with the Redmi 8 Pro. Otherwise, the phone may not see the device or connect with errors.
Step-by-step: how to connect headphones via Bluetooth
The pairing process on the Redmi 8 Pro is not much different from other smartphones on MIUI, but there are nuances associated with the shell.
- Activate Bluetooth on your phone: Open Settings → Bluetooth and move the slider to the “On” position. Alternatively, you can swipe down the notification bar and tap on the Bluetooth icon.
- Start device search: Click on Device Search (or Add New Device depending on MIUI version).
- Select headphones from the list: When your headphones appear on the list (like Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 or AirPods Pro), tap it. If the device doesn't show up, update the list by pulling the screen down.
- Confirm pairing: A request for code confirmation (usually 0000 or 1234) may appear on the screen. Enter it and click "Connect".
Once successfully connected, the headphones will be marked “Connected” and an icon for the headphones, and will automatically connect to the phone when turned on (if not reset).
☑️ Checklist before connection
Customize Bluetooth codecs for better sound
By default, the Redmi 8 Pro uses an SBC codec, which is universal, but not the best. If your headphones support AAC (Apple AirPods), aptX (Sony, JBL) or LDAC (Sony WH-1000XM), you can force them to switch to improve the sound. Here's how to do this:
- Put the headphones on the phone.
- Install Developer Options (if not already activated) via Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times on this item).
- Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
- Find the Bluetooth Codec and select the option supported by your headphones (for example, aptX HD for Sony WH-1000XM4).
If the sound starts to break after changing the codec, go back to SBC, which means that the headphones or phone can’t handle the flow.
| Codec | Bitreit | Supported headphones | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBC | 328 kbps | All Bluetooth headphones | Universal, but the compression of sound is noticeable |
| AAC | 250–320 kbit/s | Apple AirPods, Beats, some Android models | Better for music, but can lay on Android |
| aptX | 352 kbps | Sony, JBL, Bose, Sennheiser | Low latency, good for video |
| LDAC | up to 990 kbps | Sony WH-1000XM3/XM4, some TWS | High quality but high battery consumption |
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If you don't have the right option on the codec list, try turning off the headphones, rebooting the phone, and reconnecting them. Sometimes MIUI doesn't identify the codecs you support the first time.
Problem Solving: Phone Can't See Headphones or the Sound is Interrupted
If the Redmi 8 Pro doesn’t find headphones or the connection is unstable, check the following points:
- 📱 Reboot your phone and headphones, and 30 percent of the time, it solves the problem with the hung Bluetooth module.
- 🔌 Turn off battery savings for Bluetooth. Go to Settings → Battery → Select apps, find “Bluetooth” and select “No Limitations».
- 🎛️ Reset your network settings. Sometimes your saved network profiles conflict. Do it in Settings. → System system → Reset → Resetting network settings.
- 🔄 Update the firmware on the headphones. For Xiaomi Airdots and other brands, patches often come out to fix compatibility issues.
If the sound is interrupted during the listening session:
- Make sure there are no physical barriers between the phone and the headphones (walls, metal objects).
- Disable other Bluetooth devices (fitness bracelets, smart watches) that may cause interference.
- Try to turn off Wi-Fi – sometimes 2.4GHz channels conflict with Bluetooth.
⚠️ Attention! If your headphones are connected but only sound is in one channel (left or right), check them on another device, which may indicate a hardware malfunction of the headphones, not the phone.
What if the headphones are connected, but immediately switched off?
How to disable automatic connection of headphones
By default, the Redmi 8 Pro automatically connects to previously paired headphones when they are turned on. If this interferes (for example, you use several pairs of headphones), turn off the auto-connection:
- Open Settings → Bluetooth.
- Slap the icon. ⚙️ headphone-name.
- Uncheck the box from the item "Automatic connection".
Now the headphones will only be manually connected, so to get back the automatic connection, repeat the steps and turn on the option again.
⚠️ Attention! After you turn off the auto-connection, the headphones may not appear in the list of available devices until you put them in pairing mode (long press on the power button).
Additional features: gesture management and voice assistants
Many wireless headphones support gesture control (e.g., double-touch for playback/pause) or voice assistants (Google Assistant, Alice). On the Redmi 8 Pro, these features are configured as follows:
- 🎵 Music management: For Xiaomi Airdots and similar models, gestures are customized in the Mi Home or AIoT app (if headphones are supported). For AirPods, use the AirBattery app from Google Play.
- 🗣️ Voice Assistant: To activate Google Assistant with a double touch, go to Settings → Annexes → Google Assistant → Headphones and turn on the option.
If your headphones don't show up on the list of compatible devices for voice assistant, check if they support Google Fast Pair. A list of supported models can be found on Google's website.
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For stable gestures and voice assistant, make sure that the phone has all the necessary permissions for applications (microphone, notification access).