Connecting wireless headphones to the phone Xiaomi/Redmi via Bluetooth: step-by-step instructions

Why the headphones don’t connect to Xiaomi via Bluetooth and how to fix it

Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life, but connecting to Xiaomi or Redmi smartphones can sometimes be difficult. Even experienced users can have problems: the device does not find the headphones, the connection is constantly broken or the sound is interrupted. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways of connecting, from standard pairing to solving non-standard errors.

Xiaomi and Redmi phones are unique in their MIUI firmware, which sometimes makes adjustments to the Bluetooth module. For example, some versions of the system have restrictions on the connection of devices from third-party manufacturers (for example, Sony WH-1000XM4 or AirPods), We will tell you how to circumvent these restrictions and set up headphones for stable operation.

If you're connecting wireless headphones to Xiaomi for the first time, we recommend checking their charge and compatibility with your phone model first. TWS-headphones (e.g. QiCY) T12 or Baseus Encok W03) may require additional adjustments to MIUI work-in.

Preparation of headphones and phone to connect

There are several steps that you need to take before pairing your devices, which will help you avoid common mistakes, such as the lack of headphones in the list of available devices or problems with sound.

First, make sure your wireless headphones are charged. Most models (such as Xiaomi AirDots or Redmi Buds 3 Pro) have a charge indicator that lights up when you press the on button. If the indicator flashes red, the headphones are discharged and need to be recharged in the case.

Make sure the headphones are charged (the indicator is white/blue)

Turn on Bluetooth on your phone (Settings → Connections → Bluetooth)

Remove the headphones from the case (they should automatically go into pairing mode)

Disconnect your headphones from other devices (if they were previously connected)

Reboot your phone if Bluetooth has previously been unstable-->

Second, check out the Bluetooth version on your phone. Outdated Redmi models (like the Redmi 4A or Redmi Note 5) only support Bluetooth 4.2, which may limit the functionality of modern headphones. New devices (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13) feature Bluetooth 5.3, which provides a more stable connection and better sound quality.

It is also worth considering that some headphones (for example, Sony WF-1000XM5 or Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro) require the installation of a proprietary application for full operation. In this case, after connecting via Bluetooth, you will need to download the manufacturer’s application from Google Play.

Standard Connection through Android Settings

The easiest way to connect wireless headphones with a phone Xiaomi/Redmi — Use the standard Bluetooth menu. This method is suitable for most models, including Xiaomi Air. 2 SE, Redmi Buds 4 others TWS-headphones.

Instructions are Step-by-step:

1. Open your phone’s settings and go to Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Activate Bluetooth by moving the slider to the right, and wait for the phone to start looking for the available devices.
3. Put the headphones in pairing mode: 🔋 For Xiaomi AirDots: Hold the button on the case 3-5 seconds until the indicator flashes white/red. 🎧 For Redmi Buds: Remove the headphones from the case and hold the touchpad on both headphones 5 seconds. 📱 For headphones of other brands (for example, JBL Tune 125TWS) — see manufacturer's instruction.

Select headphones from the list

Available devices

Confirm the conjugation

Xiaomi

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Once you've successfully connected, you'll see the device list saying "Connected." Now the headphones are ready to use. If the sound doesn't come automatically, check the audio source in the notification panel or playback settings.

Xiaomi AirDots/Redmi Buds

Apple AirPods

Sony WF-1000XM4/XM5

Samsung Galaxy Buds

JBL, Soundcore or Other

I haven't bought it yet.-->

Solving Connection Problems

If the headphones are not connected to Xiaomi/Redmi via Bluetooth, the reasons can vary from software failures to hardware limitations.

Headphones are not displayed in the list of devices

If your phone can’t see the headphones, follow these steps:

• 🔄 Reset the headphones: Put them in the case, close the lid, then remove and hold the pairing button for 10 seconds.
• 📱 Update the firmware MIUI: Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🚫 Remove old connections: In the Bluetooth menu, click on three dots → Clear the cache.
• 🔌 Check compatibility: Some headphones (like AirPods Pro 2) require Bluetooth 5.0+.

The connection is broken or the sound is interrupted.

Unstable connection is often associated with:

• 📶 Interference from other devices: Turn off Wi-Fi or go elsewhere.
• 🔋 Low-charge headphones: charge them to 100% and reconnect.
• 🎛️ Bluetooth Codecs: in Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → Additionally. → Select audio codec AAC or SBC.

If the problem persists, try resetting the network settings on your phone:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Resetting → Network settings Reset.
2. Confirm the action and restart the phone.
3. Reconnect the headphones.

💡

If you use Xiaomi or Redmi headphones, install the official Mi Earphones app from Google Play.It allows you to customize gestures, equalizer and check the charge level of each headphone separately.

Sound setting and additional functions

Once connected successfully, you can optimize your sound and customize additional features. MIUI has built-in tools to improve audio quality via Bluetooth.

First, check the quality of the codec:

1. Open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
2. Click on the gear icon next to the connected headphones.
3. Select the Audio Codec and set AAC (for quality and stability balance) or aptX (if supported).

Also in Xiaomi available settings sound effects:

• 🎵 Equator: Settings → Sound. → Equalizer (select preset or manually set up).
• 🔊 Reinforce the bass: activate Mi Sound Enhancer in the same settings.
• 🎧 Spatial sound: available on Bluetooth 5.2 models+ (for example, Xiaomi 12T Pro).

For headphones. Xiaomi/Redmi Additional features are available through the Mi Earphone app:

If you use other brands (such as Sony or Samsung), install their branded apps (Sony Headphones Connect or Galaxy Wearable) that let you update the firmware of the headphones and customize unique features such as adaptive noise cancellation or gesture customization.

Connecting headphones to multiple devices (Multipoint)

Some wireless headphones (e.g., Xiaomi Air 3 Pro or Sony WH-1000XM5) support Multipoint technology, which allows you to connect to two devices at the same time (e.g., a phone and a laptop). However, in Xiaomi/Redmi this feature may not work stable due to the features of the MIUI firmware.

To activate Multipoint:

1. Connect the headphones to the first device (such as a phone).
2. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones (see the instructions above).
3. On a second device (like a laptop), find the headphones in the Bluetooth list and connect.
4. Some models (such as the Air 3 Pro) need to confirm the connection of the second device through the Mi Earphones app.

Please note:

• 📱 On Xiaomi phones with MIUI 13+ Multipoint is more stable.
• 🔋 When connected to two devices at the same time, the battery life is reduced by 20-30%.
• 🎵 The sound quality can be impaired by simultaneous playback from two sources.

💡

Headphones Xiaomi Air 3 Pro and Redmi Buds 4 Pro support Multipoint, but for stable operation requires firmware MIUI 13.5+ and Bluetooth 5.2+.

If Multipoint is not working:

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi Note phones 8/9 and other models with Bluetooth 5.0 You may need to disable Double Audio in Bluetooth settings (Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth → Additionally. → Dual audio. This feature conflicts with Multipoint.

Update of the firmware headphones and phone

If the headphones are connected but are not stable (for example, the sound is periodically turned off or distorted), the cause may be outdated firmware. Updating the headphones and phone software often solves these problems.

Update to the headphone firmware:

• 📲 For Xiaomi/Redmi: Use the Mi Earphones app (Firmware Update section).
• 🎧 For Sony: Headphones Connect app.
• 🍎 For AirPods: Update happens automatically when you connect to your iPhone.

Update MIUI on the phone:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check Updates and install the latest version.
3. After the update, restart the phone and reconnect the headphones.

If the update doesn’t help, try resetting your Bluetooth settings:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find Bluetooth in the list of system applications.
3. Press Warehouse. → Clear cache and data.
4. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting Bluetooth will remove all stored devices, and after the reboot you will have to reconnect your headphones, smartwatches and other gadgets.

Alternative ways of connecting

If standard Bluetooth connectivity doesn’t work, alternative methods can be tried, and are suitable for the rare cases where headphones are not recognized by the system or there are firmware conflicts.

Connection through the manufacturer’s application

Some headphones (such as the JBL Live Pro 2 or Soundcore Life Q30) require you to install a proprietary app for the first connection.

1. Download the manufacturer’s app from Google Play.
2. Launch the app and follow the instructions on the screen.
3. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones.
4. Confirm the connection in the application.

Use of the developer mode

If the headphones are connected but the sound is distorted or missing, you can manually change your Bluetooth settings via the developer mode:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find options: Bluetooth debugging → turn on. Bluetooth codec → select AAC or SBC. Bluetooth sampling rate → set 44.1 kHz.

Reboot the phone.

These settings will help if the sound is interrupted or delayed (e.g. in games or videos), but you should be careful about changing the settings in developer mode, because the wrong settings can worsen the quality of communication.

Connection through AUX-Adapter (if Bluetooth is not working)

If the Bluetooth module on the phone is damaged or the headphones are not supported by the system, you can use a Bluetooth transmitter with an output of 3.5 mm jack.

• Buy a Bluetooth 5.0 → 3.5mm adapter (e.g. Baseus Bt-B02).
• Connect the adapter to the phone via the Type-C → 3.5 mm adapter (if the phone does not have a headphone jack).
• Activate the pairing mode on the adapter and connect the headphones.

This method is suitable for older Redmi models (such as Redmi 3S or Redmi Note 4) where Bluetooth is unstable.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting headphones to Xiaomi