Xiaomi wireless headphones are some of the most popular smartphone accessories due to the combination of price, sound quality and battery life. However, even with such devices, users face problems when connecting for the first time: the smartphone “does not see” the headphones, the connection is constantly broken or the sound is interrupted. In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step instructions for all Xiaomi models (from the budget Redmi Buds to the flagship Mi True Wireless), and also solve typical errors that occur when pairing.
Xiaomi’s headphones feature a proprietary Low Latency protocol that doesn’t work on all Android devices. If your smartphone isn’t from Xiaomi, you may need to adjust it further, and we’ll tell you how to check compatibility, update the firmware of the headphones, and even reset them to factory settings if the standard connection doesn’t work.
1. Preparation of Xiaomi headphones for pairing
Before connecting, make sure that Xiaomi headphones are charged and in search mode.Most models automatically go into this mode when first turned on, but if they were already paired with another device, a reset will be required.
To activate the coupling mode:
- 🔋 Charging headphones: place them in a case and connect them to a power source for 10-15 minutes. the indicator on the case should burn white or red (depending on the model).
- 🎧 Extract from the case: get both headphones - they must automatically turn on (the indicator blinks).
- 🔄 Manual reset: If the headphones don’t go into pairing mode, press and hold the touchpad on both headphones for 10-15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white.
Important: Xiaomi Mi True Wireless 2 and later support Dual Mode, which allows you to connect to two devices at once, but for the first pairing, this mode must be disabled via the Mi Earphones app.
Charge the case and headphones|Remove the headphones from the case|Make sure the indicator flashes white/red|Disable headphones from other devices in Bluetooth settings-->
2. Step-by-step instruction for connecting to Android
The pairing process is the same for most Xiaomi models, but may vary slightly depending on the version of Android.
- Activate Bluetooth on your smartphone: go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth and turn on the switch.
- Start a device search by clicking on "Search" or "Add device." Headphones should appear on the list as Mi True Wireless, Redmi Buds 3 or similar (depending on the model).
- Select the headphones in the list and confirm the pairing. PIN-Type in 0000 or 1234 (for older models).
- Wait for the connection to be completed: the indicator on the headphones should stop flashing and burn with even blue or white light.
On smartphones. Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO When you connect, you automatically install the Mi Earphones app, which allows you to customize gestures, equalizers and check the charge level. If the app does not appear, download it from Google Play.
Redmi Buds 3/3 Pro|Mi True Wireless 2|Xiaomi Buds 4| Another model |I don't know-->
3. Solving Connection Problems
If the smartphone does not find the headphones or the connection is broken, the reasons can be both software and hardware.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The smartphone doesn't see headphones | Headphones are not in pairing mode | Reset your headphones (hold the sensor for 10 seconds) and repeat the search |
| The connection breaks in a few seconds. | Conflict with other Bluetooth devices | Disable all other gadgets (fitness bracelets, speakers) and reconnect |
| The sound is interrupted or delayed. | Outdated headphone firmware | Update the firmware through the Mi Earphones app |
| The headphones are plugged in, but there's no sound. | The correct sound source is not selected. | In the notification panel, select headphones as the output device |
If the problem persists, try resetting your Bluetooth settings on your smartphone:
- Go to Settings → System → Reset → Network Reset.
- Confirm the reset and restart the device.
- Reconnect the headphones.
What if the headphones are connected to only one device?
4. Update of Xiaomi headphone firmware
Outdated firmware can cause connection problems, audio delays, or a fast battery drain.
- Install the Mi Earphones app from Google Play (or Mi Home for older models).
- Connect the headphones to your smartphone.
- Open the app and go to the “Firmware Update” section (if an update is available, a notification will appear).
- Follow the instructions on the screen. Don't turn off the headphones during the process!
The update process takes 2-5 minutes. Once complete, the headphones will automatically restart. If the update is interrupted, a full reset may be required (see section 5).
💡
After updating the firmware, reset the Bluetooth cache on your smartphone: go to Settings → Apps → Show all apps → Bluetooth, click Clear Cache. This will help avoid conflicts with the new firmware version.
5.Reset Xiaomi headphones to factory settings
If the headphones are glitchy, not connected or unstable, a complete reset will help.
- 🔄 Redmi Buds 3 / Mi True Wireless 2: Place the headphones in the case, then press and hold the button on the case for 20 seconds until the indicator flashes red 3 times.
- 🔄 Xiaomi Buds 4 / Buds 4 Pro: Remove the headphones from the case, then simultaneously touch the touch panels on both headphones and hold for 15 seconds until you hear the beep.
- 🔄 Older models (Mi AirDots): reset via the Mi Home app under Device Settings».
Once reset, the headphones will forget all the paired devices and have to be reconnected, which also helps if the headphones only connect in mono mode (one earphone works, the other does not).
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi Buds models 3T Pro and later case reset can lead to the lock of headphones if they were tied to the Mi Account.
6. Sound and control optimization
Once successfully connected, customize your headphones for maximum comfort. The Mi Earphones app offers:
- 🎛️ Equalizer: Select a preset profile (“Bases”, “Voice”, “Balance”) or create your own.
- 👆 Gesture management: assign double/triple touch actions (such as switching tracks or calling a voice assistant).
- 🔋 Charge Display: Enable the widget for a quick view of the battery level of headphones and case.
- 🎙️ Low Latency: Reduces sound latency to 88ms, but can reduce running time.
For models with ANC (active noise cancellation), such as the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, you can adjust the noise suppression level in the settings or turn on the “Transparency” mode for conversations.
💡
Low Latency is useful for gaming and video, but increases battery consumption by 15-20%.Switch it off if you listen to music or podcasts to extend your battery life.
7. Compatible with non-Xiaomi smartphones
Xiaomi headphones work with any Android device, but some features may be limited.
- 📱 Samsung/Galaxy: No Mi Low Latency support, possible audio delays in games.
- 🤖 Google Pixel: Mi Earphones app is not installed, equalizer settings are not available.
- 🍎 iPhone: connection is possible, but without branded features (for example, fast parking sound when removing one headphone).
To check the compatibility:
- Make sure your smartphone supports Bluetooth 5.0 or later (check in Settings → About Phone).
- For models with ANC (such as Buds 4 Pro) requires Android 10+.
- If the sound is interrupted, disable the aptX or LDAC codecs in the Bluetooth settings (they may conflict with the Xiaomi protocol).
⚠️ Note: On smartphones Huawei with EMUI 12+ Xiaomi headphones may be blocked automatically due to security policies. Add headphones to Trusted Devices in Bluetooth settings.