Connecting the headset to the Xiaomi smartphone: all ways and solutions to problems

Connecting a headset to a Xiaomi smartphone seems like a simple task — until you encounter typical problems: headphones are not detected by Bluetooth, sound is only in one ear, or the device is constantly switched off, especially for models without a 3.5 mm connector (for example, Xiaomi 13 or Redmi K60), where you have to use adapters or wireless solutions.

In this article, we will analyze all possible ways of connecting - from classic wired headphones to modern ones. TWS-We'll look at the headsets, and we'll also look at why the smartphone might not see the device and how to fix it. MIUI Xiaomi’s signature chips, which can affect the sound quality.

1. Connecting a wired headset through a 3.5mm connector

If your Xiaomi smartphone is equipped with a standard audio jack (for example, Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 Pro), the connection process is as simple as possible. Just insert the headphone plug into the socket, the system will automatically switch the sound to the headset.

• 🔊 No sound after connection – check if the connector is not contaminated (dust or oxidation of contacts often block the signal).
• 🎧 The sound comes only in one headphone – the problem may be in the cable (bend it at the base of the plug) or in the sound balance settings (Settings) → Sound. → Stereo balance).
• 🔄 Smartphone doesn’t switch to headphones – restart the device or clear the app cache MIUI Sound Recorder.

On some models (for example, Xiaomi 11T) the connector can be “hybrid” – combined with an NFC antenna. In this case, use headphones with a metal plug (plastic may not contact).

⚠️ Note: If the microphone does not work in calls after connecting wired headphones, check the settings along the Settings path → Annexes → Rights. → Microphones sometimes. MIUI Blocks access to microphone to save battery.

2. Connect wired headphones via USB-C or Lightning

Xiaomi smartphones without a 3.5 mm connector (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi K50 Gaming) require an adapter or headphones with a USB-C connector.

1. Adapter quality – cheap adapters often don’t support the microphone or give out interference. Xiaomi’s official adapter (MDZ-25-AA) is guaranteed to work, but it’s worth checking compatibility with a particular model.
2. Sound settings – MIUI can activate Hi-Res Audio mode by default, which not all adapters support. Turn it off in Settings → Sound → Sound quality.

To connect:

1. Insert the adapter into the USB-C port of the smartphone.
2. Connect the headphones to the adapter.
3. If there is no sound, restart the device or check if the sound is blocking the Do Not Disturb mode.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mix 4), the adapter may conflict with fast charging. If the smartphone is not charging with the headphones connected, use wireless charging or turn off the headphones while charging.

3. Connecting a wireless headset via Bluetooth

Wireless headphones (like Xiaomi Buds 4 or Redmi AirDots 3) connect via Bluetooth, but there are pitfalls.

1. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones (usually hold the power button for 3-5 seconds until the indicator blinks).
2. On your smartphone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and turn on device search.
3. Choose your headset from the list. PIN-code, usually 0000 or 1234.
4. Confirm the connection on both devices.

If the headphones are not defined:

• 🔄 Reboot the smartphone’s Bluetooth module: Turn off and turn on Bluetooth again, then restart the device.
• 📱 Reset network settings in Settings → Memory and backup copies → Resetting settings → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth.
• 🔋 Check the charge of headphones – some models (for example, Xiaomi Buds) 3T) Not visible in the search with a discharged battery.

Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 14+ firmware have a hidden Bluetooth Connection Priority feature that can block automatic pairing. To turn it off, type ##5376## in the Phone app and select Disable BT Priority.

Make sure the headphones are charged.|Disable other Bluetooth devices|Reboot your smartphone|Update the firmware MIUI-->

4. Solving problems with connecting Bluetooth headset

If the headphones are connected but are not working smoothly (sound breaks, poor quality), the reasons may be as follows:

For models with Qualcomm Snapdragon (such as Xiaomi 12 Pro), codec customization is available. To enable aptX Adaptive or LDAC:

1. Activate Developer Mode (Tap the MIUI version 7 times in your phone settings).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Developer Settings → Bluetooth Settings.
3. Select the priority codec (e.g. AAC for Apple AirPods or LDAC for Sony WH-1000XM5).

5. Connecting the headset via NFC (for supported models)

Some Xiaomi headphones (such as the Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro) support fast connection via NFC.

1. Make sure that NFC is enabled on your smartphone (Settings → Connections & Sharing → NFC).
2. Attach the headphones to the back of the smartphone (where located) NFC-chip).
3. Confirm the connection on the screen.

If NFC-connection is down:

• 📱 Check if the cover is blocking the signal (metal or thick covers may interfere with the signal).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone and headphones.
• 🔧 Update the firmware MIUI — In the old versions, there was a recognition error. NFC-device.

NFC headphones usually support classic Bluetooth connectivity, so if the fast linkage doesn’t work, use the standard method.

💡

If your headphones support a microphone but it doesn’t work in calls, try manually selecting a connection profile. To do this, tap the headset name in Bluetooth settings → “Sound settings” → select “Headset (HSP)” instead of “Audio Device (A2DP)”.

6. Customize the sound for the headset in MIUI

Once you've connected the headset, you should optimize the sound for your needs. MIUI has a few hidden and explicit settings:

• 🎛️ Equator – Go to Settings → Sound. → Equalizer and select preset (e.g. Bass or Voice). Use manual mode to fine-tune the settings.
• 🔊 Sound amplification - in Settings → Special facilities → The sound amplification can be increased for headphones (useful for models with low sound, such as Redmi Buds 3 Lite).
• 🎧 Monosound – if one ear is hard to hear, activate Mono mode in Settings → Special facilities → Sound. → Monoaudio.

For music lovers on smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (for example, Xiaomi 13), Dolby Atmos mode is available:

1. Go to Settings → Sound → Sound Quality → Dolby Atmos.
2. Select the "Music" or "Cinema" profile.
3. Activate the option "Adaptive sound" for automatic adjustment to the headset.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F4 GT) Dolby Atmos mode may conflict with Hi-Res Audio. If the sound starts to distort, turn off one of the modes.

💡

For better sounding wireless headphones, turn off the option "Absolute Volume" in Bluetooth settings, which will allow you to independently adjust the volume on your smartphone and headset, avoiding distortion.

7. Frequent errors and their solutions

Even after you've successfully connected your headset, you can have problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If the problem is not solved by standard methods, try:

• 🔄 Reset network settings (as described above).
• 📲 Update the firmware - in new versions MIUI Frequently correct Bluetooth errors.
• 🔧 Switch Bluetooth module (only for experienced users!).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions