Connect Xiaomi wireless headphones to Honor smartphone via Bluetooth: instruction + error solving

Why Xiaomi Headphones May Not Connect to Honor and How to Fix It

Xiaomi wireless headphones (for example, Redmi Buds 4 Pro, Xiaomi Buds 3T or AirDots 3) and Honor smartphones (series X9a, 90 Lite, Magic V2) work on the standard Bluetooth 5.0+ protocol, but sometimes users face pairing problems. The reasons can lie in both software settings and hardware features of the devices.

In this article, we’ll look at not only the basic connection process, but also the nuances that are often overlooked, from enabling enhanced compatibility on headphones to resetting the Bluetooth cache on a smartphone. Particular attention will be paid to Honor models with the Magic UI shell, where the device search algorithm is different from standard Android.

If your headphones have already been paired with another device (for example, an iPhone or MacBook), before connecting to Honor, they must be reset to factory settings - otherwise there may be profile conflicts.

Preparation of devices before connection

Before pairing, make sure both devices are ready to work:

🔋 Headphone charging: battery level should be at least 30%. Xiaomi headphones with a discharged battery may not appear in the list of available devices.
📱 Software Update: Check the relevance of the firmware on Honor through Settings → System system → Update: Outdated versions of Magic UI (below 7.0 may not support new codec AAC or LC3.
🎧 Pairing mode: most Xiaomi models activate it with a long press (5-7 seconds) on the touch panel before flashing the indicator in white/red-blue.

Important for Xiaomi models with a Qualcomm chip (such as Redmi Buds 4 Active): if the headphones previously connected to an iOS device, they can be blocked by the Apple’s Fast Pair protocol.

💡

If Xiaomi headphones are not defined by Honor, try disabling the Fast Pair feature on your phone in Bluetooth settings. It sometimes conflicts with devices that are not certified by Google.

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

Follow this algorithm for successful pairing:

Activate Bluetooth on Honor: Open Settings → Wireless Networks → Bluetooth. Translate the slider to On. Click Device Search (in some versions of Magic UI, this button is called Add New Device).
Put your headphones in pairing mode: Take the headphones out of the case (they should automatically turn on). Press the touchpad on both headphones simultaneously for 5-7 seconds until the indicator flashes red-blue (for most models) or white (for Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro).

Make the pairing:

In the list of found devices on Honor will appear the name of your headphones (for example, Redmi Buds 4 or Mi True Wireless).
Tap the name and confirm the connection (if necessary, enter PIN 0000 or 1234).

Headphones are displayed in the list "Connected devices"|The indicator on the case is lit green/blue|The sound is played without delay|In Bluetooth settings, the level of charge of the headphones is visible-->

If the headphones are connected, but the sound is only in one channel, check:

🔊 Mono mode: In Bluetooth Honor settings, turn off the Single Headphone option (if it is active).
🎵 Sound balance: go to Settings → Sound. → Balance stereo and set the slider in the middle.

Solving common connection problems

Even if you do the instructions correctly, you can get errors, and let's look at typical scenarios and how to fix them:

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
Headphones are not on the list of devices	Bluetooth cache conflict or outdated firmware	Reset network settings: Settings → System → Reset → Network Reset. Update the headphone software through the Mi Home app (if supported).
The connection is interrupted after 10-20 seconds.	Power saving mode on Honor is activated	Turn off Bluetooth optimization: Settings → Battery → Battery Optimization → Find Bluetooth in the list → Disable.
The sound is interrupted or delayed.	Uses an outdated codec (SBC instead of AAC)	In Bluetooth settings, select Sound Quality Priority (available on Magic UI 7.0+).

What if the headphones are connected, but immediately switched off?

This problem is often related to a Bluetooth profile conflict. Try this: 1. Forget the device in Bluetooth settings (Hearphones → Forget). 2. Reboot the phone. 3. Reconnect the headphones, but before confirming pairing, turn off mobile Internet (sometimes background updates interfere with the process). 4. If it does not help, reset the headphones to factory settings (see section below).

⚠️ Note: Honor smartphones with Kirin processors (such as Honor 90 or Magic 5 Pro) may conflict with Xiaomi headphones on the Qualcomm chip due to different implementations of the Bluetooth stack. AAC In the engineering menu (instruction at the end of the article).

How to reset Xiaomi headphones to factory settings

If the headphones were previously paired with another device or are unstable, perform a full reset:

Place both headphones in the case and close the lid.
Open the lid and hold the button on the case (usually located behind or below) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red.
For models without a physical button (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4): 1. Get the headphones out of the case. 2. Press the touchpads on both headphones for 10 seconds. 3. Wait for the double beep and the white light flashing.
After resetting, the headphones will automatically go into pairing mode.

For models that support the Mi Home application (for example, Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro), the reset can be performed programmatically:

📱 Open the Mi Home app.
🔍 Find your headphones in the list of devices.
⚙️ Go to the Device Settings → Additionally. → Reset.

⚠️ Attention: After resetting headphones Xiaomi Air 2 SE Redmi AirDots 2 may require recalibration of microphones, so after connecting to Honor, launch a voice assistant (such as Google Assistant) and say the test phrase.

Redmi Buds 3/4 series|Xiaomi Buds 3/4 Pro|AirDots (1/2/3 generation)|FlipBuds Pro|Another model-->

Optimizing Sound and Configuring Bluetooth Codecs

By default, Honor uses an SBC codec that provides stable, but not the best sound.

Put the codec on. AAC: Put your headphones on. Open the settings. → - Bluetooth, hit the badge. ⚙️ Next to the headphone name, select Sound Quality. → Quality Priority (this automatically activates) AAC).

Set up the equalizer:

Download the Equalizer FX or Wavelet app from Google Play.
Choose Xiaomi Earbuds Preset or create your profile with enhanced mid-range frequencies (1-4 kHz).

For Honor models on Magic UI 7.1+, a hidden LDAC option is available (only for headphones with support, for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro):

1. Enable Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → Assembly Number (shap 7 times).


2. Go back to Settings → System → Developer settings.




3. Find the Bluetooth Codec and select LDAC.

💡

Using LDAC increases audio quality, but can cause delays when watching videos. For games and movies, it is better to leave AAC or aptX (if supported).

Features of connecting to specific Honor models

The pairing algorithm may vary depending on the Magic UI version and hardware platform:

Honor model	Magic UI version	Features of connection
Honor X9a, X8a	Magic UI 6.1	Requires manually updating the Bluetooth stack via HiSuite. does not support LC3 (use AAC).
Honor 90, 90 Lite	Magic UI 7.0+	Supports Dual Audio (you can connect 2 pairs of headphones at the same time). To activate: Bluetooth settings → Additional → Dual Audio.
Honor Magic V2	Magic UI 7.2	It automatically switches between AAC and aptX Adaptive, and can conflict with headphones on a BES2300 chip (e.g. Redmi Buds 3 Lite).

On Honor smartphones with Snapdragon processors (for example, Honor) X50) Remove Quick Reconnection in Bluetooth Settings if Xiaomi Headphones are periodically disabled. Huawei/Honor and may conflict with third-party accessories.

Frequently asked questions

Can you connect Xiaomi headphones to Honor and iPhone at the same time?

Yes, but with reservations: Most Xiaomi models support multipoint (simultaneous connection to 2 devices), but only if both devices use AAC or SBC. On iPhones, you may need to manually select an AAC profile in Bluetooth settings. When you call actively on one device, the other will automatically be disabled. For stable operation, update the headphone firmware via Mi Home.

Why did the Magic UI update stop plugging in?

This is a typical problem when switching to Magic UI 7.0+, where the Bluetooth stack has changed. Solutions: Reset network settings: Settings → System → Reset → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth. Delete the Bluetooth app cache: Settings → Apps → Show system → Bluetooth → Storage → Clear cache If it didn’t help, roll back to the previous version of Magic UI via HiSuite (instruction on Honor’s official website).

How to check the firmware version of Xiaomi headphones?

Methods vary by model: For Redmi Buds 4 Pro and later: the version is displayed in the Mi Home app in the About Device section. For older models (e.g. AirDots 2): Connect your headphones to your PC via Bluetooth. Use Bluetooth Commander (Windows) to read the information.

Up-to-date versions of firmware for popular models:

Model	Last version
Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro	4.7.9
Redmi Buds 4 Active	1.5.6
AirDots 3 Pro	3.2.1

What if one headphone does not work after you connect?

The problem can be both software and hardware. Order of action: Check the physical connection: Clean the headphone and case contacts with an alcohol wipe. Make sure the earpiece is properly inserted into the ear (on models with a wear sensor, a pause may occur). For right/left earphone: place it in the case, then pull out and hold the touchpad for 10 seconds until flashing red. Check the audio settings on Honor: Settings → Special facilities → Rumor → Monoaudio (disable) If the problem persists, try connecting the headphones to another device. If the malfunction recurs, it is a hardware defect (contact Xiaomi service).

How to improve the quality of the microphone in Xiaomi headphones when calling through Honor?

The quality of the microphone depends on the codec used and the phone settings: 🎤 Activate Noise Reduction: In Bluetooth settings, select Conversation Priority (available on Magic) UI 7.0+). 📞 Use the codec. CVSD for calls: Enable Developer Mode (see above).In Developer Settings, find the Call Codec and select CVSD. 🔊 Turn off sound processing: in call settings (Settings) → Sound. → Call quality) disable Voice Improvement. For Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and newer models in the Mi Home app, a separate Call Mode setting is available - select Voice Accuracy.