How to connect Honor headphones to Xiaomi smartphone: all ways + problem solving

Connecting Honor headphones to Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task, but in practice users face nuances, from incompatibility of Bluetooth protocols to the lack of sound in wired models. The problem is complicated by the fact that brands use different wireless standards – Honor (especially models after separation from Huawei) are often optimized for the HarmonyOS ecosystem, and Xiaomi works on MIUI with its own audio settings.

In this article, we will look at all possible ways of connecting, from standard Bluetooth connection to the use of adapters for wired headphones (relevant for Xiaomi without a 3.5 mm jack), focusing on solutions for models with Kirin (Honor) and Snapdragon/mediatek (Xiaomi), where codec conflicts can occur, and you will find a table of compatibility of popular models and instructions for eliminating typical errors, for example, when the headphones are connected, but the sound only goes to one ear.

1. Connect Honor headphones to Xiaomi over Bluetooth

Wireless is the most common way, but it requires the right setup on both devices.

  • πŸ”‹ Make sure the Honor headphones are charged (minimum 30% battery). - Honor Earbuds models X3 Magic Earbuds may not appear in low-charge search.
  • πŸ“± On Xiaomi smartphone, turn on Bluetooth in the Quick Settings panel or through Settings β†’ Connections β†’ Bluetooth.
  • πŸ” Check that the headphones are activated pairing mode (usually hold the power button). 5-7 seconds before flashing the indicator).

Follow the step-by-step instructions:

  1. Open the Xiaomi Settings menu β†’ Bluetooth and tap "Device searchΒ».
  2. In the list, find the name of your headphones (such as Honor Choice Earbuds or Magic3 Pro).If the device doesn't show up, update the list by pulling the screen down.
  3. Tapping the headphone name and confirming the pairing. Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12) may require input. PIN-code - default is 0000 or 1234.
  4. Once connected, check the sound in any player. If there is no sound, go to Settings β†’ Sound β†’ Sound output and select the headphones manually.

Headphones are displayed in the list of connected devices|The indicator on the headphones is lit with even light (does not flash)|The sound is played without delay|The microphone works in calls (check in the "Dictorphone")-->

Important! Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 14+ can trigger the dual connection function (for headphones that support Dual Mode). If the sound is interrupted, turn it off in the Bluetooth settings.

2. Connection problems and their solutions

If Honor headphones don’t connect to Xiaomi or don’t work properly, the reasons can range from software failures to hardware incompatibility.

Problem.Possible causeDecision
Headphones are not in searchThe pairing mode is not activated or the headphones are already connected to another deviceReset the headphones to factory settings (hold the power button 10-15 seconds). On Honor Earbuds 2 SE models, use the touch combination Γ— 3 times.
Connection is cut offCodec conflict (e.g. LDAC vs AAC)In Settings β†’ Bluetooth β†’ Sound settings, select the AAC or SBC codec (more stable).
The sound only goes to one ear.Failure to synchronize stereo pairs or contamination of contacts (for wired)For wireless: turn it off and reconnect it. For wired ones, clean the connector with alcohol.
Sound delay (lag)High latency codec (aptX on older chips)Switch to SBC or upgrade your headphone firmware through the Honor AI Life app.

If the problem persists, try resetting your network settings to Xiaomi:

Settings β†’ System β†’ Resetting β†’ Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth

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Before reset, save your Wi-Fi passwords – they will be deleted along with your Bluetooth settings.

3. Connecting Honor wired headphones to Xiaomi

Many Honor models (such as Honor) AM61 or AM115) have a wired connection through 3.5-However, modern Xiaomi smartphones (starting with Mi) 10 redmi K40) They often don't have that connector. USB-C/Lightning-adapter.

Here's what to consider:

  • πŸ”Œ For Xiaomi with USB-C The adapter of Xiaomi Type-C to 3.5mm (articular MDZ-23-DA). Avoid cheap Chinese adapters – they may not support the microphone.
  • 🎧 If the headphones have a built-in microphone, make sure the adapter supports the device. CTIA/OMTP-standard (usually specified in the characteristics).
  • πŸ”Š On some Xiaomi models, for example, POCO F4) sound through the adapter can be quieter – check the volume settings in Settings β†’ Sound. β†’ Additionally.

Instructions for connection:

  1. Connect the adapter to the USB-C port of the smartphone.
  2. Insert the headphones into the adapter. On the Xiaomi screen should appear a notification "Hearphones connected".
  3. If there is no sound, check: Clean connector (oxidation or dust can block contact). Output settings: Settings β†’ Sound β†’ Output β†’ Wired headphones.
Why can't the adapter work?
Not all adapters support digital audio (DAC). Cheap models often convert the signal to analog with loss of quality. For audiophiles, we recommend adapters with external DAC, for example, Xiaomi USB-C DAC (QUD-01-ZM).

4. Compatibility of Honor and Xiaomi models

Not all Honor headphones work equally well with Xiaomi, and the following is a compatibility table for popular models (the data is relevant for MIUI 14 and HyperOS):

Honor headphone modelType of connectionCompatibility with XiaomiNotes
Honor Earbuds X3Bluetooth 5.2βœ… Complete.Supports AAC and SBC, and it's possible to lag when watching videos.
Honor Magic EarbudsBluetooth 5.3βœ… Complete.It works with LC3 (low latency), but requires a MIUI 14+.
Honor Choice EarbudsBluetooth 5.0⚠️ PartialYou may not connect to Xiaomi on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro).
Honor AM61Wires (3.5 mm)βœ… Complete.It requires an adapter for models without a jack. The microphone only works with the original adapters.
Honor FlyPods 3Bluetooth 5.2❌ ProblemsIt uses a proprietary codec from Huawei. The sound can be interrupted.

For marked models «⚠️ Partial” or «❌ Problems recommended:

  • πŸ”„ Update the firmware of headphones through the Honor app AI Life (available from AppGallery or APKMirror).
  • πŸ“± Install an alternative launcher (e.g. Nova Launcher) on Xiaomi if the interface is problematic MIUI.
  • πŸŽ›οΈ Manually select the codec SBC in the developer settings (Settings) β†’ The phone. β†’ Version. MIUI β€” Tap 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings β†’ For developers β†’ Bluetooth codec).

Honor Earbuds X3|Honor Magic Earbuds|Honor Choice Earbuds|Honor AM61 (wired)|Another model-->

5. Sound adjustment after connection

Even if the headphones are successfully connected, the sound can be quiet, distorted or unstable.

1. Selection of Bluetooth codecs:

  • 🎡 AAC β€” The best balance of quality and stability (recommended for music).
  • πŸ”Š SBC β€” Universal but with less detail in sound.
  • 🚫 aptX LDAC β€” Can cause lags on Xiaomi with Mediatek chips.

To change the codec:

Settings β†’ Bluetooth β†’ Settings (cog next to headphones) β†’ Audio codec

Equalizer settings:

MIUI has an integrated equalizer, but it doesn't work with all headphones.

  1. Open the settings β†’ Sound β†’ Equator.
  2. Select a preset (such as Bass or Rock) or set up manually.
  3. If the option is inactive, install a third-party player (such as Poweramp or Neutron).

πŸ’‘

For ANC (noise-cancellation) headphones, turn off the feature in the Honor AI Life settings if interference is heard. On Xiaomi, noise-cancellation can conflict with the microphone during calls.

Microphone problems:

If the person does not hear you in the phone:

  • Check that the headphones are selected as the Settings input device β†’ Apps β†’ Permissions β†’ Microphone.
  • Turn off the Voice Improvement feature in call settings (Phone β†’ Settings β†’ Voice Improvement).
  • For Honor Earbuds X3 models, update the firmware through Honor AI Life – in older versions there was a bug with a microphone on Android 12+.

6. Alternative ways of connecting

If standard methods don’t work, try alternatives:

1. Connect via Honor AI Life app:

  • Download the app from AppGallery or APKMirror (not available on Google Play).
  • Register with your Huawei ID account (you can create a new one).
  • In the Devices section, select your headphones and follow the instructions on the screen.

2.Use of two phones (for models with Dual Connection):

Some Honor headphones (such as Magic Earbuds) support simultaneous connection to two devices, to connect them to Xiaomi:

  1. First, connect the headphones to another phone (like Honor or Huawei).
  2. Activate Dual Connection mode in the headphone settings.
  3. On Xiaomi, turn on Bluetooth device search – headphones should show up as available.

Connect via Xiaomi Bluetooth Audio (for older models):

Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and below have a proprietary Bluetooth device management app to find it:

Settings β†’ Applications β†’ All applications β†’ System β†’ Bluetooth Audio

You can manually add a device if standard search does not work.

πŸ’‘

If Honor headphones do not connect to Xiaomi in any way, the problem may be in the hardware incompatibility of Bluetooth chips, in which case only replacing the headphones or smartphone will help.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

User experience shows that most problems arise from small things, and here's what to check first:

⚠️ Note: Honor headphones with support for Huawei HiRes Audio (such as the FlyPods Pro) may not work properly on Xiaomi due to lack of certification.

  • πŸ”„ Headphone reset: If the device has previously been connected to another phone, perform a reset (usually hold both buttons). 10-15 squirt).
  • πŸ“΅ Conflict with other devices: Disable Bluetooth on all other gadgets (laptops, tablets) that may have previously connected to headphones.
  • πŸ”‹ Battery Savings: On Xiaomi, Turn off Bluetooth Power Saving Mode in Settings β†’ Battery. β†’ Energy saving regime β†’ Bluetooth.
  • πŸ”Š Monosound: If the sound is only in one ear, check the sound balance in Settings β†’ Special facilities β†’ Stereo sound balance.

If the headphones are connected but there is no sound:

  1. Reboot your smartphone.
  2. Check if the β€œIn Phone” mode is activated in the sound settings (Settings β†’ Sound β†’ Sound Output).
  3. Remove the headphones from the list of connected devices and pair again.
What if the headphones are connected, but immediately switched off?
This issue is often related to Bluetooth version conflict. For example, Honor Earbuds X3 (Bluetooth 5.2) may not work smoothly with Xiaomi Redmi 9A (Bluetooth 5.0). Solution: 1. Update your smartphone firmware. 2. Enable developer mode and change the Bluetooth version to AVRCP 1.6 (in Settings β†’ For Developers β†’ Bluetooth AVRCP Settings. 3. Use headphones in Low Lagency Mode (if any).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I connect Honor Earbuds X3 to Xiaomi 13 Pro?
Yes, but there may be problems with the LC3 codec. We recommend manually selecting AAC in Bluetooth settings. Also update the headphone firmware through Honor AI Life.
Why are Honor headphones connected but the sound is interrupted?
Causes: Codec conflict (try SBC); weak Bluetooth signal (hold your smartphone closer to your headphones); background apps use a microphone (close all programs except the player).
How to connect the Honor AM61 wired headphones to the Xiaomi 12T (no 3.5 mm connector)?
You'll need a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter with CTIA-standard support (such as the original one from Xiaomi). Connect the adapter to your smartphone, then insert the headphones. If there's no sound, check the audio output settings in Settings β†’ Sound.
Can I use Honor headphones to make calls to Xiaomi?
Yes, but: The microphone may not work smoothly on models with ANC. In some cases, you will need to manually select the headphones as the input device in the microphone settings. For better quality, turn off noise cancellation in the Honor AI Life app.
Why Xiaomi doesn’t see Honor headphones in Bluetooth search?
Possible causes and solutions: Headphones are not paired - reset them (hold the power button 10-15 seconds); Conflict with other devices - turn off Bluetooth on all other gadgets; outdated smartphone firmware - update MIUI to the latest version; hardware incompatibility - check for codec support in the characteristics of the headphones.