How to connect Xiaomi headphones to the Honor phone: all ways with photos

Connecting Xiaomi headphones to Honor seems like a simple task, but in practice users face nuances, from incompatibility of Bluetooth protocols to problems with drivers in wired models. This is especially true for owners of new Honor devices (Magic5, 90, X9), where the manufacturer actively modifies the firmware MagicOS, removing standard Android features.

In this article, we will discuss 5 working ways of connection - from basic pairing over Bluetooth 5.2/5.3 before using adapters for Type-C and solving problems with the aptX codec. Separately, we will dwell on the unique feature of Honor smartphones 2023–2026 They automatically turn off the audio in the headphones when talking on the phone, unless the priority of the audio devices is set. 4 Pro) with Honor flagships.

1. Bluetooth connection: step-by-step instruction

The most common way is wireless pairing, but even here there are pitfalls: for example, the Honor Magic5 Pro does not support the LDAC codec by default, and the Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro requires manually selecting an AAC profile for stable sound.

To plug the headphones in:

1. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones (usually hold the power button for 3-5 seconds until the indicator blinks).
2. On the Honor smartphone, go to Settings → Bluetooth.
3. Turn on Bluetooth and wait for the device to appear on the list (the name will contain a model, for example, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2).
4. Slip the name and confirm the pairing.

If the headphones are not displayed:

• 🔄 Reboot both devices.
• 📱 Make sure that Visibility for All is enabled on Honor (in Bluetooth settings).
• 🔋 Check the charge of the headphones (below 20% they may not broadcast the signal).
• 🛠️ Update the headphone firmware through the Mi Home app (if the model is supported).

Make sure your headphones are charged | Turn on Bluetooth on Honor|Activate pairing mode on Xiaomi|Check codec compatibility-->

⚠️ Note: On the Honor 80 Pro and newer, dual audio (simultaneously connecting to two devices) only works with headphones on a Qualcomm chip QCC3040 Xiaomi Buds has a 3 chip. BES2300 — They don't support that option.

3.5mm Wired Headphones: Do You Need Adapters?

Modern Honor smartphones (starting with the Honor 20 of 2019) lack the standard audio jack. To connect wired headphones Xiaomi (for example, Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro HD) will require:

• 🔌 Type-C adapter → 3.5 mm (original from Honor or certified, for example Xiaomi) USB-C to 3.5mm).
• 🎧 Headphones with impedance up to 32 ohms (high-omb models may not unlock the potential without an amplifier).

Instructions:

1. Connect the adapter to the Type-C port of the smartphone.
2. Insert the headphone plug into the adapter.
3. When you first connect, select Analog Exit mode (if you receive a request).

Important: Cirrus Logic adapters (such as the original Honor) support 24-bit/96kHz, The cheap Chinese counterparts are limited. 16-bit/48kHz. This is critical for Xiaomi models with Hi-Res Audio support (e.g. Mi Hybrid Pro). HD).

Wireless (Bluetooth)|Wires with Type-C adapter|Wires with a connector of 3.5 mm (old model)|I don't use headphones.-->

3. Codec Customization: Why is the sound interrupted?

One of the common problems when connecting Xiaomi to Honor is the sound cliffs or poor playback quality, due to the mismatch of audio codecs. Honor uses SBC (basic protocol) by default, whereas Xiaomi is often optimized for AAC or aptX.

To change the codec:

1. Put your headphones on Bluetooth.
2. Open Settings → Sound → Bluetooth sound quality.
3. Select Sound Quality Priority and set AAC (for music) or aptX LL (for games).

On Honor models with MagicOS 7.0+ (e.g. Honor Magic V2), the path is different:

Settings → Connected devices → [Name of headphones] → Audio codec

⚠️ Attention: Codec LDAC (High resolution only available on Honor flagships with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chips (e.g, Magic5 On Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro, it works unstable - better to use AAC.

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If you don't have a codec selection option in your settings, install Developer Options and activate Debugging over Bluetooth.

4. Problem Solving: Headphones connect but don't work

A situation where Xiaomi headphones mate with a Honor smartphone, but the sound goes through the speaker of the phone, for devices with MagicOS.

• 🔊 Go to Settings. → Sound. → Sound output.
• 🎵 Select the connected headphones manually (sometimes the system resets priority after a call).
• 🔄 If there is no sound at all, turn off the headphones in Bluetooth, reboot the phone and connect again.

Another common problem is video delay, which is due to buffering the AAC codec.

• 🎮 In games, enable Low Latency mode in Bluetooth settings.
• 📺 For video, use applications with manual sound synchronization (for example, VLC).
• 🔧 Install aptX Low Latency (if headphones support).

5. Alternative ways of connecting

If Bluetooth and wired adapters don’t work, consider these options:

5.1 Connect via USB-C (for Type-C headphones)

Some Xiaomi models (such as Mi Noise Cancelling Headphones) have a USB-C connector and support direct digital audio transmission.

• 🎵 Cleaner sound (no losses during ADC/DAC conversion).
• 🔋 Charging headphones directly from the smartphone.

Disadvantage: when connecting, the charging of the phone is blocked.

5.2 Using Xiaomi Mi AIoT Router for multi-room sound

If you have a Xiaomi router (like the AX3600), you can sync your headphones and Honor smartphone through the Mi Home ecosystem:

1. Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. In the Mi Home app, add a smartphone as a smart speaker device.
3. Choose headphones as the source of sound.

This method is suitable for listening to music with Honor on headphones connected to another device (for example, a tablet).

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For stable performance of Xiaomi wireless headphones with Honor, update the firmware of both devices. In 2026, Xiaomi released a patch for Buds 4 Pro, fixing problems with the AAC codec on MagicOS.

6. Compatible with Honor game mode

Honor smartphones have a proprietary GPUTurbo game mode that optimizes performance but can conflict with Bluetooth audio.If in games the sound in Xiaomi headphones is interrupted:

• 🎮 Turn off GPUTurbo in game settings.
• 🔊 Enable Low Delay Mode for Headphones (in Bluetooth settings).
• 📱 Set a limit FPS at 60 Hz (c Settings) → Display).

For Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and later, the proprietary Game Mode feature is available, which syncs with Honor via Mi Home.

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Open Mi Home → Select headphones → Game settings →
3. Enable Low Lag and Mik Noise Suppression.

7.How to reset Xiaomi headphones to reconnect

If Xiaomi headphones have previously been paired with another device and refuse to connect to Honor, reset:

1. Place the headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Press and hold the button on the case (or the touchpad on the headphones) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white.
3. Open the case cover - the headphones will go into pairing mode.

For touch-controlled models (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4):

Touch and Hold Both Headphones for 5 Seconds → 3 Blinks White → Reset Completed

⚠️ Note: After resetting Xiaomi AirDots 3 Pro lose their binding to the Mi Account. To restore the Find My Device feature, re-add them to the Mi Home app.

FAQ: Frequent questions