How to Connect Xiaomi Headphones to Your Computer: A Complete Guide to Problem Solutions

Why Xiaomi headphones can not connect to your computer?

Xiaomi’s wireless and wired headphones (including Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless, Mi ANC, and wired Mi Hybrid) often face compatibility issues when connecting to a PC. 80% of the time, this is due to the lack of Bluetooth drivers, outdated protocols, or incorrect audio settings in the system. For example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro headphones require support for Bluetooth 5.2+ and LC3 codec, which may not be available on older adapters.

In this article, we will discuss all possible ways of connecting – from standard pairing over Bluetooth to using the Internet. USB-Mi Bluetooth Audio adapters and software, with a focus on Windows solutions 10/11, where most conflicts with the drivers Broadcom and Qualcomm. If your headphones are determined by the system, but there is no sound - check the section about setting up Windows Services and Device Manager.

First, determine the type of your headphones:

• 🎧 Wires (Mi Basic, Mi Hybrid, Mi Dual Driver) – connect via 3.5 mm or USB-C.
• 📶 Wireless. TWS (Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless, Buds 3/4 Pro - Bluetooth only.
• 🔌 Hybrid (Mi) ANC, Some Mi Neckband models support both wire and Bluetooth.

Method 1: Connecting Xiaomi wired headphones to a PC

If your model supports wired connectivity (such as Mi Dual Driver or Mi Hybrid Pro), use a 3.5mm audio jack or a jack. USB-C-On modern PCs and laptops, the connector can be combined (for headphones). + microphone – in this case, an adapter will be required.

Important: Some models (like the Mi ANC Type-C) require a USB-C → 3.5mm digital audio adapter. Conventional analog adapters may not transmit or distort sound. Check compatibility with your model's specifications.

• 🔌 Connect the headphones to the 3.5mm connector (green) on the back of your PC or laptop sidebar.
• 🎛️ If there is no sound, right-click on the icon Dynamic in tray → Open sound parameters → select the analogue output.
• 🔄 On some motherboards (for example, ASUS ROG) You need to include the audio connector in BIOS (section → Onboard Devices Configuration).

Connect the headphones to the correct connector (green for exit)

Check the volume level in Windows (does not turn off the sound)

Update the Realtek Audio driver or IDT High Definition

Try another cable/adapter (exclude mechanical damage)

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Method 2: Connecting wireless headphones via Bluetooth (Windows 10/11)

To connect Xiaomi TWS (such as Redmi AirDots 3 or Mi Buds 4) follow the following steps: Make sure your PC is equipped with Bluetooth 4.2+ - older versions (such as Bluetooth 4.0) may not support AAC or aptX protocols, which will lead to audio interruptions.

Connection algorithm:

1. Turn the headphones on in pairing mode: For Redmi AirDots: hold the button on the case of the charging case for 5-7 seconds until the white indicator flashes. For Mi True Wireless 2: press and hold the touch panels on both headphones.

Start → Settings → Devices → Bluetooth and other devices → Add the device

Bluetooth

Mi True Wireless Earphones 2

0000

1234

Common mistakes:

• ❌ The headphones are connected, but the sound is only in one channel. → Check the sound balance in the Control Panel → Sound. → Device properties.
• ❌ Permanent communication breakdowns → Turn off Bluetooth Energy Saving in Device Manager (adapter properties) → Power management).
• ❌ Poor sound quality → In the headphone settings, select the codec AAC instead SBC (via the control panel → Sound. → Additionally).

netsh winsock reset

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Method 3: Connect via Mi Bluetooth Audio (for ANC models)

For headphones with active noise cancellation (Mi ANC, Buds 3 Pro, Buds 4 Pro), Xiaomi has released the official software - Mi Bluetooth Audio.

• 🎚️ Set up levels ANC/Transparency.
• 🔋 View the battery charge of each headphone.
• 🔄 Update the firmware (if available for your model).

How to install and use:

1. Download the program from the official website of Xiaomi (section Audio).
2. Connect the headphones to your PC via Bluetooth (as in Method 2).
3. Start Mi Bluetooth Audio – the program will automatically determine the model.
4. In the Settings section, activate ANC or Transparency Mode.

💡

Mi Bluetooth Audio only works with headphones that support Mi Hybrid Digital protocol. If your model is not determined, check compatibility on the Xiaomi website.

Limitations:

• ⚠️ The program does not support Redmi AirDots (only Mi True Wireless and Buds series).
• ⚠️ MacOS and Linux are limited (no) ANC, Basic information only).
• ⚠️ To update the firmware requires a connection to the smartphone Xiaomi (via the application Mi Home).

Method 4: Connect to macOS (features and problem solving)

On Macs, Xiaomi headphones can connect with audio delays or poor quality due to the limitations of the AAC protocol in macOS. For example, Mi True Wireless 2 on the MacBook Pro (M1) often gives stutters when listening to music through Spotify.

Instructions for macOS:

1. Turn on Bluetooth in the menu bar (icon) 📶).
2. Transfer the headphones to pairing mode (see Method 2).
3. In System Settings → Bluetooth, select headphones from the list.
4. If the sound is interrupted, turn off Automatic Sound Switching in the Sound settings.

Solutions for improving sound:

• 🔧 Use Bluetooth Explorer (included in Xcode) to force codec selection AAC:
• 🔄 Reboot the Bluetooth module via the Terminal: sudo pkill bluetoothd
• 🛠️ For M1/M2 Mac update the firmware of headphones through the smartphone Xiaomi (in the Mi Home app).

💡

On macOS Ventura and later, Xiaomi headphones can be defined as an input device instead of a headphone. To fix this, remove the device, restart the Mac and reconnect.

Method 5: Connect to Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora)

In Linux distributions, Xiaomi headphones often run into problems due to the lack of drivers for Broadcom or Qualcomm chips. For example, on Ubuntu 22.04, Redmi AirDots 3 can connect, but the sound will only go in mono mode.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Bluetooth support packages: sudo apt install pulseaudio-module-bluetooth bluez-tools
2. Reboot services: sudo systemctl restart bluetooth pulseaudio
3. Turn on the headphones in pairing mode and perform in the terminal: bluetoothctl power on agent on scan on pair [MAC-address headphones] connect [MAC-headphone]

Solving the problem:

💡

In Linux, for stable work of headphones Xiaomi recommended to use the kernel 5.15+ and distributions with current versions of BlueZ (for example, Ubuntu 22.04 or Fedora 38).

Problem Solving: No sound, communication breaks, poor quality

If the headphones are connected, but the sound is absent or distorted, perform a diagnosis using the following algorithm:

⚠️ Note: On Windows 11 after update KB5028254 (July 2023) may be missing the sound in the headphones Xiaomi due to a conflict with the driver Intel Smart Sound Technology.Solution: roll the driver through the Device Manager or install the version from the Intel site.

• 🔍 Check the Bluetooth driver: Open Device Manager (Win) + X → Device Manager. Find the Bluetooth section → Right-click on the adapter → Update the driver. If the update didn't work, delete the device and restart the PC.

Set up the sound service:

Enter the command line (on behalf of the administrator):


net stop Audiosrv




net start Audiosrv

Turn off the power saving:

• In Device Manager → Bluetooth Adapter Properties → Power Management → uncheck the tick from Allow Shutdown...

If the problem is not resolved:

• 🔄 Try connecting your headphones to another device (smartphone) – if the problem recurs, the headphones themselves are faulty.
• 📡 For Redmi AirDots and Mi True Wireless, reset by holding the button on the case for 15 seconds (until the red indicator flashes).
• 🖥️ On Windows 10, turn off Sound Improvements: Control Panel → Sound. → Device properties → Improvements → Shut it down.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi headphones to PC