How to connect wireless headphones to Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 phone: a complete guide with error solutions

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is one of the most popular mid-range smartphones, released in 2017, but still actively used by millions of users. Despite its age, the device supports modern wireless technologies, including Bluetooth 4.2, which allows you to connect headphones wirelessly to it. However, many owners face difficulties: the phone does not see the headphones, the sound is interrupted, the pairing is reset after rebooting.

In this article, we will explore all possible ways of connecting, from basic pairing to alternative methods for unusual situations. MIUI You can also find a table of headphone compatibility, a checklist to diagnose problems and answers to frequent questions that are not covered in standard instructions.

1. Preparing the phone and headphones for connection

Before you start pairing, make sure both devices are ready to connect. There are a few nuances on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 that are often overlooked:

• 🔋 Headphone battery charge: most models require at least 20-30% If the light flashes red, put the headphones on charge first.
• 📱 Update MIUI: on older versions of the firmware (below) MIUI 10) there may be problems with Bluetooth A2DP (Sound protocol. Check the relevance of the software in Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🎧 Headphone pairing mode: most models (for example, Xiaomi AirDots or Sony) WH-1000XM3) There's a separate button to activate the search mode. Hold it. 5-10 Seconds until the blue/white indicator flashes.
• 🚫 Conflict connections: If the phone is already paired with other devices (such as a smartwatch or speaker), they may interfere with the new connection.

Features of the Redmi Note 4: some firmwares have power saving mode for Bluetooth that automatically disables the connection via 10-15 minutes of inactivity. To avoid this, go to Settings → Battery and productivity → Power Saving Mode and Add Bluetooth to the Exclusion List.

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If the headphones have previously connected to another phone, reset them to the factory settings. 15-20 Seconds (see the exact method in the instructions for the model).

2. Standard Bluetooth connection: step-by-step instructions

This is the most common method, which works for 90% of wireless headphones. Follow the instructions carefully, as there are several pitfalls on the Redmi Note 4:

1. Activate Bluetooth on your phone. To do this, swipe down from top to bottom to open the notification bar, and click on the Bluetooth icon. Or go to Settings. → Bluetooth.
2. Turn on the pairing mode on the headphones (usually a long press on the power button or a special Pair button). The indicator should flash blue and red (or white - depending on the model).
3. On your phone, click Device Search. In the list, find the name of your headphones (for example, Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 or Earbuds Basic). JBL Tune 500BT) and tap him.
4. Confirm pairing if you request a connection.Some headphones (such as Samsung Galaxy Buds) may require input. PIN-code - usually 0000 or 1234.
5. Wait for the message Connected. Now the headphones must automatically be defined as a sound output device.

If the headphones are connected, but the sound is going through the speaker of the phone, check the playback settings:

1. Open the notification bar and hold the Bluetooth icon.
2. Slap the gear icon next to the headphones' name.
3. Choose Use for Media Audio.

Headphones appear in the list of connected devices |

The indicator on the headphones burns even blue (does not blink)|

The sound is played through the headphones, not through the phone speaker.|

In Bluetooth settings, next to the headphone name there is a tick Connected"-->

3. Alternative ways of connecting

If the standard method didn’t work, try one of these options, which is especially useful for the Redmi Note 4, as it often has problems with Bluetooth drivers.

Method 1: Connection through the manufacturer's application

Many brands (such as Sony, JBL, Xiaomi has branded headphone management apps that not only make pairing easier, but also allow you to customize the equalizer, update the firmware of the headphones and monitor the charge level.

• 📲 Xiaomi AirDots: Download Mi Earphones from Google Play.
• 🎵 For Sony. WH-1000XM: Use Sony Headphones Connect.
• 🔊 For JBL: attachment JBL Portable.

After installing the application, follow the instructions on the screen – it is usually enough to turn on Bluetooth and headphones, and the rest will be done automatically.

Method 2: Reset Bluetooth settings on your phone

If the phone doesn’t see headphones or the connection is constantly reset, try resetting your Bluetooth settings:

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Clear Cache (if there is no such option, skip this step).
3. Go back to the basic settings and select Applications → Application Management.
4. Find Bluetooth in the list of system applications, open it and click Storage → Clear the data.
5. Restart the phone and try again.

Method 3: Connecting via ADB (for power users)

If the headphones are detected, but the sound is not played, the problem may be in the audio routing settings. ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

You'll need:

• Computer with installed ADB-driver.
• USB-cable.
• Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers).

Execute the following commands in the terminal (command line):

adb shell settings put global bluetooth_a2dp_offload_enabled 0


adb shell settings put global bluetooth_hfp_client_available 1




adb reboot

These commands disable hardware acceleration for Bluetooth and force the protocol to activate HFP, What can solve the sound problem.

Xiaomi (AirDots, Buds, etc.)|

Sony (WH-1000XM, WF-1000X etc.)|

JBL (Tune, Live, Reflect, etc.)|

Apple AirPods|

Others (specify in the comments)-->

4. headphone compatibility table with Xiaomi Redmi Note 4

Not all wireless headphones work equally well with the Redmi Note 4. Below is a table of compatibility of popular models, taking into account the features of Bluetooth 4.2 and firmware. MIUI.

If your model isn't in the table, look out for the Bluetooth protocol it supports.Redmi Note 4 works with the following codecs:

• 🎼 SBC — basic, supported by all headphones.
• 🎵 AAC — It is better for music, but can cause delays.
• ❌ aptX/aptX HD — Not supported due to Bluetooth limitations 4.2.
• ❌ LDAC — It is also not available on this model.

5. Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even after a successful connection, Redmi Note 4 users often encounter errors, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:

Problem 1: The phone can't see the headphones

Causes and solutions:

• 🔍 Headphones are not in pairing mode: hold the power button 10-15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing quickly.
• 📵 Bluetooth is turned off in energy saving mode: go to Settings → Battery → Power saving mode and disable Bluetooth restrictions.
• 🔄 Conflict with other devices: Remove all saved Bluetooth devices in Settings → Bluetooth and try to connect again.
• 🤖 Bluetooth service failure: Go to Settings → Annexes → All applications → Bluetooth and click Stop, then restart the phone.

Problem 2: The sound is interrupted or delayed

This is a problem for the Redmi Note 4 due to the weak processor and the older version of Bluetooth.

• 🎬 Delayed video viewing: Enable Developer Mode (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI, Tap 7 times) and activate Turn off the absolute Bluetooth volume in Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
• 🔊 Sound Interrupts: Turn off Wi-Fi (if not used) – it can interfere at the 2.4 GHz frequency used by Bluetooth.
• 📱 Low performance: Close all background apps (especially instant messengers and games) through Recent apps.

Problem 3: Headphones are connected, but sound is going through the speaker

This happens when the phone doesn't recognize the headphones as a sound output device.

1. Open the notification bar and hold the Bluetooth icon.
2. Put the gear next to the headphones.
3. Enable the Use for Calls and Use for Media Audio.
4. If there are no options, go to Settings. → Sound. → Output sound and select headphones manually.

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If neither of these methods worked, try connecting the headphones to another phone, and if they work properly, it's a problem in the Redmi Note 4 (possibly a faulty Bluetooth module).

6.Sound optimization after connection

Even after successful pairing, the sound may not be perfect. The Redmi Note 4 has a few hidden tweaks to help improve the quality:

Equalizer setting

MIUI It has a built-in equalizer, but it is hidden in the settings:

1. Open the standard Music (or Mi Music) app.
2. During playback, tap the Equalizer icon (three stripes).
3. Choose a preset (Bas, Rock, Jazz) or create your own.

For more fine-tuning, download third-party apps like Equalizer FX poweramp.

Activation of high-quality sound mode

In some firmware MIUI There is a hidden option to improve the sound via Bluetooth:

1. Activate the Developer Mode (as described above).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the Bluetooth Audio Quality option and select High (AAC).
4. Reboot the phone.

Shutting down the sound compression

Some apps (like YouTube or Spotify) compress audio to save traffic.

• 🎧 In Spotify: Settings → Sound quality → Very high (premium subscription required).
• 📺 On YouTube: Enable high quality audio in playback settings (cog icon in player).

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If you use noise-canceling headphones (such as Sony) WH-1000XM4), Turn off the “Adaptive Sound” feature in their proprietary app – this will reduce delays when watching videos.

7.Security and privacy when using Bluetooth

Bluetooth connections can be vulnerable to attacks, especially if you connect in public places, and the following steps will help protect your data:

• 🔒 Turn off Bluetooth when not in use: This will not only save battery power, but also prevent unauthorized connection.
• 👤 Use "hidden mode": in Settings → Bluetooth → Include the option of visibility of the device → Never, if it's available).
• 🔄 Regularly update the firmware: in older versions MIUI There were vulnerabilities that allowed you to connect to the device without confirmation.
• 🚫 Don’t connect to unknown devices: If the phone requests confirmation of connection to an unfamiliar gadget, reject the request.

The Redmi Note 4 feature is that some firmwares have enabled automatic connection to known devices, which is convenient but not secure, to turn off this feature:

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Additional.
3. Turn off the automatic connection option.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)