Connecting Xiaomi headphones to a laptop seems like a simple task, but in practice users face challenges, from lack of sound to Bluetooth pairing errors. In this article, we will analyze all current ways of connecting - both for wired models (Mi Basic, Mi In-Ear), and for wireless (Redmi AirDots, Xiaomi Buds, FlipBuds Pro). 10/11, macOS and Linux, as well as the nuances of working with connectors USB-C/3.5 mm.
It’s important to consider that some headphone models (e.g., Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro) require pre-activation via the Mi Home app – even for basic Bluetooth connectivity. We’ll detail each step, including setting up codecs (AAC, aptX) for better sound and solving problems with latency or communication breaks.
1. Connecting Xiaomi wired headphones to a laptop
Xiaomi wired headphones (such as Mi Dual Driver or Mi Hybrid Pro HD) connect via a standard 3.5mm or USB-C connector. However, even here there are nuances - especially if your laptop does not have audio output or uses a combined headphone/microphone jack.
For connection in 3.5 mm:
- 🔌 Insert the headphone plug into the 3.5mm jack on your laptop. Some models (MacBook Pro, Xiaomi ultrabooks) may not have the jack, and you'll need an adapter. USB-C → 3.5 mm.
- 🎧 If there's no sound, check the volume level and the physical health of the cable. On Windows, open the Control Panel. → Sound and make sure the headphones are selected as the default output device.
- 🔄 On macOS, go to System Settings → Sound. → Exit and select connected headphones.
For USB-C connectivity (e.g. Xiaomi Type-C Earphones):
- 🔌 Connect the headphones to the port USB-C. The laptop should automatically recognize them as an audio device.
- ⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi headphones with USB-C Requires the installation of drivers (for example, to support the 24-bit/96kHz). Download them from the official Xiaomi website.
- 🔊 If the sound is distorted, try disabling the audio enhancements in the driver settings (on Windows: Control Panel) → Sound. → Device properties → Additionally).
⚠️ Attention: Headphones Xiaomi Mi ANC Active noise cancellation Type-C may not work on Linux laptops due to lack of support for proprietary codecs. In this case, use Bluetooth or install the 5.15 kernel.+ patchy USB Audio Class 3.0.
2. Connecting Xiaomi wireless headphones over Bluetooth
Xiaomi wireless headphones (AirDots, Buds, FlipBuds series) are connected via Bluetooth 5.0+ protocol. The pairing process is standard, but there are features for different OS and headphone models.
General instruction:
- Put the headphones in pairing mode: 🎧 For Redmi AirDots 3 Pro: Press the button on the case of the charging case for 5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white/blue. 🎧 Xiaomi Buds 4: Open the case cover and press the button for 3 seconds.
- 🖥️ On Windows: Start → Parameters → Devices → Bluetooth and other devices → Addition of a device.
- 🍎 On macOS: System settings → Bluetooth.
- Select the headphones from the list of available devices. The name will contain the model (for example, "Redmi") AirDots_XXX").
After you connect, check the sound quality. If you hear interference or delay, do the following:
- 🔄 Reconnect the headphones (forget the device in Bluetooth settings and pair again).
- 📶 Make sure that your laptop and headphones are no more than 10 meters away without obstacles.
- 🎛️ On Windows, turn off Absolute Volume in Bluetooth settings (via Control Panel) → Devices and printers → Headphone properties → Services).
Make sure the headphones are charged (the indicator on the case is green)|Disconnect headphones from other devices (phone, tablet)|Update Bluetooth drivers on your laptop|Check the compatibility of codecs (AAC/aptX)-->
3. Solving Connection Problems
If Xiaomi headphones don’t connect or don’t work properly, the reason may lie in drivers, system settings, or hardware constraints.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop does not see headphones on Bluetooth | Outdated Bluetooth driver or disabled adapter | Update the driver through Device Manager or download from the laptop manufacturer's website. On Linux, install the bluez package version 5.60+. |
| The sound is interrupted or distorted | Interference from other devices (Wi-Fi, microwave) or low signal strength | Switch your laptop's Wi-Fi to 5 GHz or turn it off temporarily. Also try changing the codec to AAC (in Bluetooth settings). |
| The microphone does not work (in headphones with Hands-Free) | Not the correct input source of sound | On Windows: Control Panel → Sound → Record → Select your headphones as your default device. On macOS, check your settings in System Settings → Sound → Sign in. |
| The headphones are plugged in, but there's no sound. | Conflict of audio drivers or switched off sound at the level of headphones | Reinstall the sound card driver (e.g. Realtek Audio). For touch-controlled headphones, check if the "Mute" mode is activated. |
A critical feature for owners of notebooks with AMD Ryzen processors (series 4000/5000/6000): The built-in Bluetooth module can conflict with Xiaomi headphones due to a bug in the firmware. The solution is to update the laptop BIOS or use an external Bluetooth adapter (for example, the TP-Link UB500).
⚠️ Note: If after the Windows 11 update, Xiaomi headphones stopped connecting, roll back the Bluetooth driver to the previous version. → Properties → Driver. → Recoil.
4.Tune the sound for better quality
By default, Windows and macOS use universal audio settings that are not always optimal for Xiaomi headphones. To improve the quality of playback, follow the following steps:
On Windows 10/11:
- 🎵 Open the control panel. → Sound. → Headphone properties → Additionally, select the maximum quality (e.g. 24 bits, 48000 Hz).
- 🔊 Turn off all sound effects (such as Dolby Atmos or Sound Improvement) as they may introduce distortions.
- 🎛️ For headphones with support for aptX (such as Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro), install the codec manually via Bluetooth Settings. → Additional parameters.
On macOS:
- 🍎 Go to System Settings → Sound. → Exit and select High Quality.
- 🔊 For models with AAC (All Xiaomi headphones) disable Automatic output switching to avoid reconnections.
On Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.):
- 🐧 Install pulseaudio or pipewire with support A2DP: sudo apt install pulseaudio-module-bluetooth
- 🔧 Edit the file. /etc/bluetooth/main.conf, adding the line: Enable=Source,Sink,Media,Socket Then restart the service: sudo systemctl restart bluetooth
💡
For headphones Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro with support for LDAC on Windows, you need to install a Bluetooth Audio Driver from Qualcomm. Download it from the official website and select the LDAC codec in the device settings.
5. Connect via the Mi Home app (for some models)
Some Xiaomi headphones (such as the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro or FlipBuds Pro) require pre-activation through the Mi Home app – even if you connect them to a laptop, which is due to the need to unlock full functionality (such as ANC or customization controls).
Instructions:
- Install Mi Home on your smartphone (Android or iOS).
- Connect the headphones to your phone via Bluetooth and perform the initial setup in the app.
- After activation, disconnect the headphones from the phone and connect to the laptop – now all functions will be available.
If you don’t have a smartphone, you can use an Android emulator (like BlueStacks), but this method isn’t always stable.The alternative is to find the Mi Home.apk file for Windows 11 (via Windows Subsystem for Android), but it requires technical skills.
How to get around activation through Mi Home?
6. Connect to laptops without Bluetooth (via adapter)
If your laptop is not equipped with a Bluetooth module (for example, the old Lenovo ThinkPad or Dell Latitude models), you can use an external Bluetooth adapter. 5.0 codecs aptX/AAC:
- 🔌 TP-Link UB500 (nanosize, Bluetooth 5.0).
- 🔌 Asus USB-BT500 (Low latency, compatible with Xiaomi).
- 🔌 1Mii B06 Plus (for audiophiles, support for aptX) LL).
Instructions for connection:
- Connect the adapter to USB-port.
- Install drivers (usually automatically, but manual installation may be required for 1Mii).
- Activate the pairing mode on the headphones and connect them through the Control Panel → Devices (as described in section 2).
⚠️ Note: Cheap Bluetooth adapters (priced below 500) ₽) They often do not support AptX codecs and AAC, Check the specifications on the manufacturer's website before buying.
7. Checking the compatibility of Xiaomi headphones with your laptop
Not all Xiaomi headphones work equally well with different laptops, for example, models with LDAC (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro) may not connect to laptops with outdated Bluetooth modules (Bluetooth 4.0).
| Model headphones | Required version of Bluetooth | Supported codecs | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi AirDots 3 Pro | Bluetooth 5.0 | AAC, SBC | It supports ANC but requires activation in Mi Home. |
| Xiaomi Buds 4 | Bluetooth 5.2 | AAC, LC3 | Low latency in Game Mode (only on Windows 11 with the latest updates). |
| Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro | Bluetooth 5.0 | AAC, aptX Adaptive | Requires Android 10+ or Windows 10 20H2+ for full functionality. |
| Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 | Bluetooth 5.0 | AAC, SBC | It does not support multipoint (simultaneous connection to two devices). |
To check the Bluetooth version on your laptop:
- 🖥️ On Windows: Open Device Manager → Network adapters and find the line with Bluetooth.
- 🍎 On macOS: About this Mac → System report → Bluetooth.
- 🐧 On Linux: run the command: hciconfig -a | grep "Version"
💡
If the Bluetooth version on the laptop is below 4.2, Xiaomi headphones will only work in Basic Mode (SBC), which degrades the sound quality.