Introduction: Why you need the right Bluetooth setup for Xiaomi headphones
Xiaomi’s wireless headphones are a combination of sound, convenience and affordable price, but even with these devices, users often face problems connecting to a laptop, from lack of sound to constant communication interruptions, and the reason is not the headphones themselves, but the wrong settings of the Bluetooth adapter or driver conflicts.
In this article, we will examine not only the basic connection, but also the unique features of Xiaomi headphones with different operating systems (Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux), and also consider common errors – for example, why Redmi AirDots or Mi True Wireless Earphones can connect as a “phone”, not as an audio device, you will learn how to make headphones automatically switch between a laptop and a smartphone, and what to do if the sound is interrupted every 5 seconds.
Special attention will be paid to models with support for the AAC codec (for example, Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro) and aptX (found in the premium series), as their configuration requires additional manipulation of Bluetooth drivers on the laptop. If you have already tried to connect headphones, but faced with the error "Device is connected, but no sound" - in the article there is a solution for this case.
What Xiaomi headphones support connection to a laptop over Bluetooth
Not all Xiaomi models work equally well with computers, but here are the key series and their features:
- 🎧 Redmi AirDots (1/2/3/Pro) — budgetary TWS-headphones with a basic profile A2DP. Only codecs support. SBC (standard AAC (Windows may require manual driver installation for stable sound.
- 🎧 Mi True Wireless Earphones (2/2S/Basic) — improved version with support for aptX (only on Android and some laptops with Qualcomm chips). 10/11 To activate aptX, you need to update the Bluetooth driver to the version 22.xxx or higher.
- 🎧 Xiaomi Buds 3/3 Pro/4 — flagship models with ANC (active noise reduction) and support LC3 (Bluetooth 5.2+). Require a laptop with Bluetooth 5.0 or newer, otherwise ANC no-one will work.
- 🎧 Mi Headphones (wired with Bluetooth) – hybrid models like Mi Hybrid Pro HD. Connect like regular headphones, but can conflict with built-in laptop speakers.
Important: If your headphones are from the Redmi Buds or Poco Buds series, they use the same protocols as Xiaomi, but may have other names in the device list (e.g., the Poco Buds, "Buds_X1" instead of "Mi Earphones." That's fine and doesn't affect compatibility.
Preparing the laptop for the connection: checking Bluetooth and drivers
Before you plug in your headphones, make sure your laptop is ready to work with them.
- Check the Bluetooth version: On Windows: Open Device Manager → Bluetooth. In the Adapter properties, see the tab Additional - there is a version (for example, Bluetooth 4.2 or 5.0). On macOS: click on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar → Open Bluetooth settings → Additional. Version is shown at the bottom of the window. On Linux: in the terminal, type hciconfig -a | grep "Version"
Update the Bluetooth driver:
- For Windows: Download the latest version from the laptop manufacturer’s website (e.g. Dell, HP) or through Windows Update.
- For macOS: Driver updates come along with system updates (System Settings → Software Update).
- For Linux, use the commands sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade (Debian/Ubuntu) or sudo dnf upgrade (Fedora).
- On your laptop, open Settings → Devices → Bluetooth and other devices.
- Click Add Add the device → Bluetooth.
- In the list, find your headphones (the name may differ, for example, "Mi True Wireless EB2S" instead of "Xiaomi Earphones").
- Confirm the connection if you have a request to enter PIN-If you want to try 0000 or 1234.
Attention! Some distributions (e.g. Arch Linux) may require additional PulseAudio setup to make the microphone work properly in the headphones.
pactl set-card-profile [card_name] a2dp_sink(where [card_name] — The name of your Bluetooth card can be found by the pactl list cards command).
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If Xiaomi headphones are connected but the sound is interrupted, try turning off the power saving Bluetooth adapter in Device Manager (Windows) or add a setting btusb.enable_autosuspend=n GRUB (Linux).
Common Problems and Their Solutions
Even after a successful connection, users often encounter errors, and here are the most common ones and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Headphones are connected, but there is no sound. | Incorrectly selected sound profile (HSP instead of A2DP) | On Windows: Control Panel → Sound, select your headphones and set Use as the default device. On Linux, switch your profile to A2DP Sink. |
| The sound is interrupted every 5-10 seconds. | Wi-Fi conflict (both operating at 2.4GHz) or weak Bluetooth signal | Turn off Wi-Fi while you listen or switch your router to 5GHz, and update your Bluetooth drivers will also help. |
| The headphones are connected as a headset, not as a stereo. | Bluetooth Driver Does Not Support A2DP Profile | Update the driver to the latest version or install Bluetooth Driver Installer (for Windows). |
| The microphone is not working. | HSP/HFP profile not activated | On Windows: In the Control Panel → Sound. → Record your headphones as the default device. On Linux: use pactl set-card profile [card_name] headset_head_unit. |
| The headphones are off in 10 minutes. | Bluetooth Power Saving Mode Activated | Turn off the option "Allow disabling this device to save power" in the properties of the Bluetooth adapter (Windows). |
The case for Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro: ANC (Noise reduction does not work on a laptop, check if your Bluetooth adapter supports LC3-To do this, type in the Windows command line:
powercfg /energyAnd look up the Bluetooth Low Energy line in the report, and if it says Not Supported, the ANC won't work.
What if Xiaomi headphones are not defined by a laptop at all?
How to Improve Sound Quality and Connection Stability
Even after a successful connection, the sound can be worse than on a smartphone.
- 🔊 Set up the equalizer: Use the built-in equalizer in apps like Equalizer APO (Windows or Sound Source (macOS) to improve sound.
Important: Not all Xiaomi models transmit charge information to a laptop, for example, the first-generation Redmi AirDots do not support this feature.