How to connect a headset to a Xiaomi phone via Bluetooth: a complete guide to error solutions

Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life – they allow you to listen to music, chat on the phone and watch videos without confusing wires. However, even owners of Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO models and flagship series) sometimes have difficulties connecting a headset via Bluetooth. Problems can lie in the phone settings, features of the MIUI firmware, or even in the headset itself.

In this article, we’ll explore not only the standard pairing procedure, but also nuances that are rarely mentioned in official instructions, such as why Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro may not connect to the Redmi Note 12 after updating MIUI 14, how to reset Bluetooth settings on your phone without completely resetting the system, and what to do if the sound in the headphones is interrupted, and you’ll find a table of compatibility of popular models of headsets with different versions MIUI and answers to frequent questions in the FAQ- block.

1. Preparing Xiaomi phone to connect the headset

Before you start pairing, make sure your smartphone is ready to work with wireless devices. Even if you have already connected headphones before, some settings may have gone wrong after updating or resetting.

The first thing you need to check is whether Bluetooth is on.

• 📱 Open Settings on the main screen.
• 🔍 Find the Connections and Sharing section (in older versions MIUI, just Bluetooth).
• 🔄 Transfer the slider to the position On. or tap on the Bluetooth label.

If Bluetooth is already activated, but the headset is not connected, try rebooting the communication module.

1. Turn off Bluetooth in the settings.
2. Turn off your phone for 30 seconds (not a reboot, but a full shutdown!).
3. Turn on your smartphone and activate Bluetooth again.

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On some Xiaomi models (such as the POCO F5), Bluetooth can conflict with Wi-Fi while you’re using it at the same time. If the headset connects but the sound is interrupted, try turning off Wi-Fi while you’re listening.

Also, make sure that the phone has the latest firmware installed. The MIUI 13/14 has been patched with a critical bug connecting Qualcomm aptX and LDAC- headsets.

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, download it and install it.

2. Step-by-step instruction: how to connect a headset to Xiaomi

The pairing process may vary slightly depending on the headphone model (e.g. Xiaomi AirDots vs. Sony WH-1000XM5), but the overall layout remains the same.

1. Turn on the headset pairing mode. Usually, you hold the power button (or a special Bluetooth button) for 5-10 seconds until the indicator flashes blue-red (or just blue). For Xiaomi Buds, press and hold the touchpad on both headphones at the same time.
2. Open Bluetooth settings on your phone: Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth
3. Click on "Device Search"** (or "Add New Device") and the phone will start scanning.
4. Choose your headset from the list. The name usually contains a model (for example, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 or LE_BH205 for non-original devices).
5. Confirm the pairing. If necessary, enter the PIN- code (by default, it is 0000 or 1234).

Make sure the headset is charged (at least 30%).

Disconnect the headphones from other devices (laptop, tablet).

Check that the phone has enabled the “Visible for all” mode (in Bluetooth settings).

If the headset has already been connected before, remove it from the list of devices and repeat pairing.-->

After successful connection next to the headset name will be the inscription Connected. In some Xiaomi models (for example, Redmi Note 11 Pro+) will also display the level of charge of the headphones.

If the headset is connected, but the sound goes through the speaker of the phone – check the playback settings:

• 🎵 When playing music or video, tap the speaker icon in the notification panel.
• 🔊 Select your headset from the list of output devices.

3. Problem Solving: Headset not plugged in or off

Even when paired correctly, there can be failures, and let's look at the most common problems and how to fix them.

If none of these methods worked, try resetting your Bluetooth settings on your phone.

1. Open Settings → System and device → Resetting settings.
2. Select Network Settings Reset (this will also reset Wi-Fi and mobile data!).
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

⚠️ Warning: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Mi 11 Ultra), mobile internet may be lost after resetting the network settings. To restore it, go to Settings → SIM- Maps and Mobile Networks → Access Point (APN) and select the operator manually.

4. Features of connecting Xiaomi headsets to Xiaomi phones

If you use a headphone and phone from one brand (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro + Xiaomi 13), there are additional features available that don’t work with other manufacturers’ devices.

• 🎧 Fast Connection: When paired for the first time, the phone automatically loads the headset’s proprietary software, which speeds up subsequent connections.
• 🔋 Charge display: The notification panel shows the battery level of each headphone and case.
• 🎛️ Gesture settings: in Settings → Connected devices → Headphones can be reassigned to tap or swipe.
• 🔊 Adaptive sound: Some models (e.g. Buds 3T Pro) automatically adjust the equalizer to the genre of music.

But there are some nuances: Xiaomi Buds, for example, may not work properly with MIUI phones for the global market (Global ROM) if the headset is designed for the Chinese market.

1. Check the firmware region of the phone in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
2. If it says China and the headset is purchased for Global, it may require a flashing.

Also note the Bluetooth version in your phone and headset:

• The 📱 Xiaomi 12/13 series supports Bluetooth 5.3, which provides minimal audio delay.
• 🎧 Xiaomi Buds 4/4 Pro also run on Bluetooth 5.3, but require MIUI 13+ to work smoothly.
• ⚠️ If a phone is older than 2020 (e.g., Redmi Note 9 with Bluetooth 5.0), then some features (e.g., LDAC) may not be available.

Xiaomi AirDots/Buds

Sony WH/WF-1000XM

Apple AirPods

JBL/Samsung

Another.-->

5. Sound optimization: codec, equalizer and delays

Even if the headset is successfully connected, the sound may not be perfect. MIUI has hidden settings that will help improve the quality of playback.

Choosing an audio codec is one of the key parameters. By default, the phone chooses SBC (the most versatile, but not the best quality) to change the codec:

1. Put the headset on.
2. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
3. Slip on the ⚙️ icon next to your headset name.
4. Choose an Audio Codec and try AAC (for Apple headsets), aptX (for high quality), or LDAC (for Hi-Res Audio).

Important: LDAC codec is supported only on Xiaomi flagship models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro or MIX Fold 2) and requires a headset with similar support (e.g. Sony WH-1000XM5).

For fine tuning of sound, use the built-in equalizer:

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

If you notice a delay in sound (such as when watching a video), try:

• 🎮 Enable Game Mode in Bluetooth settings (available for Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and later).
• 📶 Turn off Wi-Fi or switch to 5 GHz (2.4 GHz may cause interference).
• 🔄 Reconnect the headset to Settings → Bluetooth → Additional → Connection Priority.

6. How to disable or remove the headset from the phone memory

If you no longer plan to use headphones or want to connect them to another device, you need to turn them off correctly.Simply turning off Bluetooth is not enough - the phone will automatically connect to the headset the next time it turns on.

To turn off the headset temporarily:

1. Open the notification bar and hold the Bluetooth icon.
2. Tapping on the name of your headset will break the connection.

To remove the headset from the phone’s memory (for example, before selling headphones):

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Click on ⚙️ next to the headset name.
3. Choose to Delete (or Forget the Device).

⚠️ Warning: Some Xiaomi models (e.g., POCO X3 Pro) may be confused when the device is removed from Bluetooth to connect other gadgets (e.g., smartwatches).

If you plan to connect the headset to another phone, but it is “not visible”, reset it. For most models of Xiaomi Buds, this is done:

1. Put the headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Hold the button on the case for 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes red.
3. Open the lid - the headphones will go into pairing mode.

7.Compatibility of headsets with different Xiaomi models

Not all wireless headphones work equally well with Xiaomi phones, and below is a table of compatibility of popular headsets with different versions of MIUI and chipsets.

If your model is not in the table, look for the Bluetooth version in your phone and headset:

• 📱 Bluetooth 5.0 and below: There may be problems with True Wireless headphones (e.g., one headphone may be turned off).
• 🎧 Bluetooth 5.2+: Requires MIUI 12.5+ to fully operate LE Audio.

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For maximum compatibility, use a headset and phone of the same brand (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro + Xiaomi 13).This ensures support for all features, including adaptive noise emitter and low latency.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting a headset to Xiaomi