How to connect Xiaomi headphones to iPhone 11: a complete guide with error solutions

Connecting Xiaomi’s wireless headphones to the iPhone 11 seems like a simple task — but in practice, users face unexpected problems: devices can’t find each other, the sound is interrupted or not at all. The reason often lies in the peculiarities of the Bluetooth protocol at Apple, the limitations of iOS on connecting third-party accessories or unique “chips” of Mi/Redmi headphones.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways of pairing — from standard Bluetooth to alternative methods for models with a Qualcomm aptX chip. Separately, we will focus on the hidden iOS settings that block the connection of Xiaomi headphones to the iPhone 11, and give a checklist for troubleshooting. If you have already tried to connect devices and got an error, skip the basic steps and go to the section "Problem Resolution".

1. Preparing Xiaomi headphones for connection

Before pairing with the iPhone 11, Xiaomi headphones need to be switched to search mode. The process differs depending on the model:

• 🎧 Mi True Wireless Earphones 2/2S/3: press the button on the case charger on 3–5 seconds until the indicator flashes white/red.
• 🎧 Redmi Buds 3/4 Pro: Open the case cover and hold the button on the back until double blinking (about) 10 seconds).
• 🎧 Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro: Press and hold the touchpad on both headphones simultaneously for 5 seconds.
• 🎧 Mi AirDots (first generation): Remove the headphones from the case and press the touch panels for 15 seconds before the beep.

If the light doesn't flash or the headphones don't sound, check the charge of the case and the headphones themselves. For USB-C models, use the original cable - cheap analogs may not provide enough current to activate the pairing mode.

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For Xiaomi headphones with LDAC support (such as FlipBuds Pro) before connecting to the iPhone 11, disable this codec in the Android smartphone settings if they were previously paired with it. iOS does not support LDAC, and this can cause conflicts.

2. Standard Bluetooth connection

The most obvious way is to use the iPhone 11's built-in Bluetooth module.

1. Open the settings → Bluetooth on the iPhone.
2. Make sure the switch is in the "On" position (green).
3. Put Xiaomi headphones in search mode (see section 1).
4. In the list of "Other devices" find the name of your headphones (for example, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2S) and tap it.
5. Confirm the connection if a pairing request appears.

After successful connection, the headphones will appear in the section "My devices." If the process is suspended during the "Connect..." stage for more than 30 seconds, restart Bluetooth on the iPhone (turn off / turn on the module) and try again.

Press the reset button on the case (if any)|Make sure your headphones are charged at least 30 times%|Disconnect them from other devices manually|Check that the iPhone is not in “Airplane” mode"-->

3. Alternative methods of connection

If standard Bluetooth doesn’t work, try these options:

Method 1: Use of the Mi Home App

Some models (such as Mi True Wireless Earphones 3) require an official app:

1. Download Mi Home from the App Store.
2. Sign up or sign in through your Xiaomi account.
3. Go to the Devices section → Add Device → select headphones.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen (scanning may be required) QR-case-code).

Method 2: Connect via DFU mode (for firmware)

If the headphones were previously connected to Android and “forgot” the iPhone, reset their settings:

1. Put the headphones in the case.
2. Press the button on the case for 20 seconds (the indicator should go out, then blink red).
3. Repeat the standard connection via Bluetooth.

4. Solving common problems

If the iPhone 11 doesn’t see Xiaomi headphones or the connection is constantly reset, check:

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi headphones with support for aptX (for example, FlipBuds Pro) will work with the iPhone 11 only in mode AAC or SBC. It's an iOS limitation - Apple doesn't license aptX to its devices.sound quality may differ from Android.

5. Sound optimization after connection

To improve the sound, perform these settings on the iPhone 11:

• 🎛️ Enable the Equator: Go to Settings → Music. → Equalizer and select Preset "Bases" or "Rock" for depth of sound.
• 🔊 Turn off Volume Limitation: Settings → Music. → Volume limitation → Off.
• 🎧 Activate Transparent Mode (if supported): In the Mi Home app, enable the option "Ambient Sound" for models with a ANC.

For active noise cancellation (ANC) headphones, check that the feature is enabled in the Mi Home app. On the iPhone 11, the ANC will work, but without the ability to fine-tune (unlike Android).

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If the sound is quiet or distorted after you connect, try manually selecting the AAC codec in the Bluetooth settings (if available). Go to Settings → Bluetooth → (i) next to the headphones → Audio codec.

6. Features of connecting specific models

Some Xiaomi headphones require an individual approach:

Mi True Wireless Earphones 2S

This model supports dual connectivity (to two devices at the same time), but on the iPhone 11, the function may not work.

1. Connect the headphones to your iPhone.
2. Open the Mi Home app and go to the headphone settings.
3. Enable the option of "Dual Device Connection".
4. Connect a second device (such as a laptop).

Redmi Buds 4 Pro

This model is critical to update the firmware, if the headphones don't connect:

• Download the latest firmware version from the official Xiaomi website.
• Connect your headphones to your Android smartphone and update the software through Mi Home.
• Reset the headphone settings (press the button on the case for 15 seconds).
• Reconnect to the iPhone 11.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

User experience shows that 80% of connection problems are due to three factors:

1. Outdated headphone firmware - update it through an Android device.
2. Conflict with other Bluetooth devices – disable all accessories except headphones.
3. iOS Restrictions – Reset network settings on your iPhone (Settings → Basic → Reset or Reset iPhone → Reset → Reset Network Settings).

⚠️ Note: If you’re using an iPhone 11 with iOS beta, Xiaomi’s headphone connection may not work smoothly.

Another common mistake is to try to plug in headphones that are already paired with another device.

1. On your previous device (Android/iOS), go to Bluetooth settings.
2. Find Xiaomi headphones in the list and select “Forget” or “Disable”.
3. Reset your headphones (see Section 3).
4. Reconnect to the iPhone 11.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions