Connecting Xiaomi headphones to iPhones often raises questions among users - despite the universality of the Bluetooth standard, there are nuances between the Android and iOS ecosystems. 4 Pro, Xiaomi Buds 4), and with wired headphones like Mi In-Ear through the adapter Lightning/USB-C. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways of connecting, including bypassing the limitations of iOS, configuring codecs for better sound and solving typical errors like “device not found” or intermittent connection.
Xiaomi headphones feature proprietary chips like a fast pair through Mi AI Assistant or Xiaomi Earphones, which do not work on the iPhone. However, this does not mean that the headset is incompatible: most models support the standard A2DP protocol for audio transmission. The main thing is to properly initialize the pairing and take into account Apple's limitations, for example, the lack of support for LDAC or aptX codecs on most iPhones (except for models with iOS 16+).
If you’re faced with Xiaomi headphones connecting to an iPhone, but the sound is interrupted or the microphone is missing, the problem lies in the iOS settings or the headset firmware. Below you’ll find step-by-step instructions for different scenarios, including a unique way to reset your headphones via a button combination that is not described in the official Xiaomi documentation.
1. Connecting Xiaomi wireless headphones to iPhone via Bluetooth
The standard pairing method works for most models: Redmi Buds 3/4 Pro, Xiaomi Buds 3T/4, FlipBuds Pro and others. Important: before connecting, make sure that the headphones are discharged by at least 20% - when the charge is low, iOS can ignore the device.
Algorithm of action:
- 📱 Open the Settings. → Bluetooth on iPhone and enable search mode.
- 🎧 Remove Xiaomi headphones from the case and hold the pairing button (usually on the back of the case) for 5-7 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white/red.
- 🔍 The list of available devices on the iPhone will appear the name of the model (for example, Redmi Buds 4 Pro.
- ✅ Confirm pairing if a connection request appears (some models require input) PIN 0000).
Once successfully connected, the headphones will automatically be detected the next time you remove them from the case, but the iPhone may “forget” the device after the iOS update – in which case, repeat the procedure.
Make sure your headphones are charged | Turn them off from other devices | Turn on Bluetooth on iPhone |Put your headphones in pairing mode-->
Why iPhone can’t see Xiaomi headphones: 5 reasons and solutions
If the headphones don't appear on the list of available devices, the problem can be in the iPhone and in the headset itself.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Headphones don't appear on the Bluetooth list | Active connection to another device | Reset the connection on the previous device or perform Forget this device in its settings |
| Case indicator doesn't blink. | Case battery discharged | Connect the case to the charge for 10-15 minutes, then try again |
| iPhone gives an error "I couldn't connect" | Headphone firmware conflict | Update your firmware through your Android device (see Section 4) |
| The sound is interrupted every 2-3 seconds. | Intervention of other Bluetooth devices | Disable all other gadgets (smart watches, speakers) and restart the iPhone |
Critical: Xiaomi Dual Mode-enabled headphones (like the Redmi Buds 4 Pro) can automatically switch to the last connected device. To prioritize the iPhone, open the case and hold the reset button for 10 seconds after pairing, which will reset the list of priority devices.
Redmi Buds 3/4|Xiaomi Buds 3/4|FlipBuds Pro| Another model |I don't know the model-->
3. Connecting Xiaomi wired headphones to the iPhone via an adapter
Xiaomi’s wired headphones (like Mi Hybrid Pro HD or Mi Basic) connect to the iPhone via a Lightning → 3.5mm adapter (for models up to iPhone 14) or USB-C → 3.5mm (for iPhone 15 and up).
- 🔌 Use the original Apple adapter – cheap analogues may not support the microphone or control buttons.
- 🎵 B Settings → Music. → EQ Select Preset Flat to avoid sound distortion due to automatic iOS correction.
If there is no sound:
- Check that the adapter is tightly inserted into the connector (on the iPhone 15, try turning it over - the USB-C connector is symmetrical, but the contacts can oxidize).
- Clean the headphone jack from dust with a wooden toothpick (do not use metal objects!).
- Reboot your iPhone by holding the Power + Volume buttons up until the slider appears.
💡
If the microphone on the wired headphones doesn’t work, check if your adapter supports it. CTIA-Standard (4 contacts) Cheap adapters often use outdated OMTP (3 contact), which results in the absence of a microphone.
4. Update the firmware of Xiaomi headphones for compatibility with iPhone
Many connectivity issues are solved by updating the firmware of the headset. However, Xiaomi does not provide an official way to update through iOS.
- Take an Android device (or ask a friend) for a while.
- Install the Xiaomi Earphones app from Google Play.
- Connect the headphones to the Android phone and wait for the update notification.
Important: After updating the firmware through Android, the headphones can "forget" all the associated devices.
- Open the Xiaomi Earphones app.
- Go to Settings → Reset → Save Devices (if the option is available).
For Redmi Buds 4 Pro and later, a beta version of the firmware with improved iOS compatibility is available.
1.In the Xiaomi Earphones app, go to:
Settings → About the program → Firmware version
2. Slap 5 times on version number.
3. Select "Beta Program" and confirm your participation.What if the headphones stopped connecting after the update?
5. Customize the sound and microphone on the iPhone for headphones Xiaomi
By default, iOS can limit sound quality or turn off the microphone for “uncertified” devices to optimize the performance of:
To improve sound:
- 🎶 Go to Settings. → Music and turn off Volume Limitation.
- 🔊 B Settings → Universal access → Audiovisual effects disable Sound Equalization (this will eliminate distortion at high frequencies).
- 🎧 At Control Point (swipe down from the upper right corner) hold the volume slider and select the headphones as the output device.
If the microphone is not working:
- 🎤 B Settings → Confidentiality → Make sure that the permission is enabled for applications (e.g. WhatsApp, Zoom).
- 🔄 Reconnect the headphones: forget the device in Settings → Bluetooth, then pair again.
- 📱 Check if modem modem is activated – it can block access to the microphone.
Unique lifehack for models with ANC (for example, Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro): if noise cancellation is not enabled on the iPhone, activate it manually through double-touch on the earpiece (gesture settings are saved even after reset).
💡
On iPhone 12 and later, for stable microphone operation in Xiaomi headphones, you need to disable the “High-quality voice mode” function in Settings → Cellular Communication → Data Parameters → Voice and Data.
6. Alternative ways to connect (if Bluetooth does not work)
If wireless connectivity is not possible due to hardware issues, consider alternatives:
1. Connect via Apple TV or Mac:
Xiaomi headphones can be connected to an Apple TV 4K or MacBook and then relay audio from the iPhone via AirPlay:
- Connect your headphones to your Apple TV or Mac via Bluetooth.
- On the iPhone, open the Control Point → Sound playback.
- Select Apple TV or Mac as the output device.
2.Using a Bluetooth adapter receiver:
For older iPhone models (up to iPhone 7) with a 3.5 mm connector, you can use an external Bluetooth receiver (for example, 1Mii B06):
- Connect the receiver to the headphone jack on the iPhone.
- Activate the pairing mode on the receiver (usually a long press on the power button).
- Connect Xiaomi headphones to the receiver as a normal Bluetooth device.
3. applications for low-level Bluetooth control:
Apps like Bluetooth Auto Connect (available in the App Store) allow you to manually specify MAC-The headphone address for the forced connection. MAC-address:
1. Connect the headphones to the Android device.
2. Install the Bluetooth Address Finder app.
3. Copy MAC- address and enter it in the app settings on your iPhone.7. Addressing specific problems
Problem 1: The headphones are connected, but the sound is only in one headphone.
⚠️ Attention: This is a typical problem for models with TrueWireless technology when connecting to iOS, and it's due to incorrect synchronization between left and right headphones:
- Put both earbuds in the case.
- Hold the reset button on the case for 10 seconds (the indicator will flash red).
- Remove the headphones and wait 20 seconds – they should synchronize automatically (the indicators on both headphones blink synchronously).
Problem 2: The headphones turn off in 5-10 minutes.
This is due to the energy-saving iOS settings. To fix:
- Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
- Find your headphones in the list and tap the i icon next to the name.
- Turn off the option to disable when not in use (if available).
- In Settings → Battery → Battery status turn off Optimized charging (affects Bluetooth stability).
Problem 3: The microphone only works in hands-free mode.
This is an iOS restriction for non-certified devices.
- During the call, click on the Audio icon in the call interface.
- Select Xiaomi Headphones manually (even if they are already connected).
- If the option is not available, reboot your iPhone with connected headphones.