Connecting Xiaomi wireless headphones via Bluetooth: a complete guide to debunking errors

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones are no longer exotic — they’re now a standard accessory for millions of users. But even with popular devices like Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless Earphones or Xiaomi Buds 4, beginners often have trouble connecting for the first time, and problems can lie in the non-obvious settings of the smartphone, the features of the headphone firmware, or even in the small things like incomplete charging the case.

This article doesn’t just repeat the standard instruction out of the box – we’ll take a look at all possible connection scenarios (including rare cases), explain why headphones may not be defined by the system, and give unique tips on optimizing the connection. For example, did you know that on some Xiaomi models, you need to hold the button on the case for the first pairing longer than 5 seconds, rather than 3, as indicated in the official manual? or that the Dual Device Connection feature (simultaneous connection to two devices) only works on the firmware above. V12.2.1.44?

This will be useful for owners of budget Redmi Buds. 3 Lite and flagship Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro. We will cover the connection to smartphones on Android (including: MIUI and pure Android, iPhone, as well as laptops and PCs running Windows 11/10. A separate section is devoted to the diagnosis of common errors such as "Device not found" or "Pair failed».

1. Preparing Xiaomi headphones for the first connection

Before you search for headphones on the list of available devices, make sure they are ready to pair. Many users miss this step, which is why they waste time on meaningless attempts to connect.

For most Xiaomi models, the pairing activation algorithm looks like this:

• 🔋 Take both earphones out of your case and make sure they are fully charged (the indicator on the case should be green or white (<20%) It may not appear in the list of devices.
• 📱 Close the case and open it again – this will reset possible connection errors between the headphones and the case (relevant to Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 and newer).
• 🔄 Press and hold the touch button on the case (usually located at the back) for 5-7 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white (pair mode.
• 🎧 If the headphones have already been connected to another device, reset: touch the touch panel three times on any headphone for 2 seconds (on Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro – hold both panels for 10 seconds).

Note that on some models (e.g. Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro) to enter the pairing mode, you need to open the case and simultaneously touch the touch panels on both headphones for 3 seconds, a feature often missed in official instructions.

⚠️ Warning: If the light on the case flashes only red, it means a critically low charge (less than 5%). Connect the case to charge for 10-15 minutes, even if it shows partial charge. Xiaomi headphones can block pairing mode when the battery level is insufficient.

2. Connect to Android smartphone (including MIUI)

The pairing process on Android devices is almost the same for all manufacturers, but Xiaomi has several nuances associated with the branded shell. MIUI.

Instructions for Android 10–14 and MIUI 12–14:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth and turn on the adapter.
2. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones (see section 1).
3. In the list of available devices, find the name of your model (for example, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 or Redmi Buds 4).If the name does not appear, update the list by pulling the screen down.
4. Tap the name of the headphones and confirm the pairing. On some models (Xiaomi Buds) 3T Pro) will need to additionally accept the request for access to contacts and call history – this is necessary for the voice assistant function to work.

Features for MIUI:

• 🔗 If the headphones have already been connected to another Xiaomi device with the same Mi Account, they can automatically sync through the Mi Cloud. To disable this feature, go to Settings → Mi Account → Devices → Synchronization of Bluetooth.
• 🎛️ Nana MIUI 14 the “Priority Connection” option (in the Bluetooth device menu) appeared, which speeds up the connection when the headphones are turned on again.
• 🔊 For supported models LDAC (For example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro in Bluetooth settings you need to manually select “Sound quality» → «LDAC» maximum resolution.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones Xiaomi with MIUI 13+ Bluetooth automatically shutdown can work to save charge. To avoid this, add headphones to Battery Optimization Exceptions (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery → All applications → Bluetooth).

Headphones charged (>30%)|Bluetooth is turned on on on your smartphone|The pairing mode is activated (blinking indicator)|The headphones are not connected to another device.|Updated firmware headphones and smartphone-->

3. iPhone (iOS) connection and compatibility features

While Xiaomi optimizes its headphones primarily for Android, they work perfectly with the iPhone — but with some limitations. AptX/LDAC On iOS, because of which the sound is transmitted only through AAC or SBC.

Step-by-step instructions for iOS 15-17:

1. Open the Settings. → Bluetooth and activate the adapter.
2. Put the headphones in pairing mode (see section 1).
3. In the list of “Other devices” find the name of your model (may be displayed as LE-... or Mi-...).
4. Tap the name and wait for the “Connected” status to appear.

What iPhone owners need to know:

• 🔊 The sound quality will be lower than Android due to the lack of advanced codecs, the difference is especially noticeable on bass and high frequencies.
• 📱 Features like “Double-Tap to Call Voice Assistant” will only work with Siri, not Google Assistant.
• 🔋 On iOS, there is no way to track the charge of each headphone separately – only the overall battery level of the case.
• 🔄 For models with ANC (Active noise cancellation may require manual activation through touch panels, as iOS does not support control of this feature via Bluetooth menus.

If the headphones are connected but the sound is interrupted or there is interference, try:

• Turn off Low Power Consumption in Bluetooth settings (iOS 17)+).
• Reboot your iPhone and headphones (put them in your case for 10 seconds).
• Remove the headphones from the list of devices and connect again.

💡

On iPhone with iOS 16+ You can turn on "Low Charge Notifications" for headphones. → Bluetooth → (Icon "i" next to headphones) → Battery notifications.

4. Connection to a laptop or PC (Windows) 10/11)

The pairing of Xiaomi headphones with a Windows computer usually does not cause problems, but there are nuances with Bluetooth drivers and the choice of sound profile. Most often, users are faced with the fact that the headphones connect, but the sound is only through the “Headphone” (mono), not “Stereo”.

Instructions for Windows 10/11:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on PC: Start → Settings → Devices → Bluetooth and other devices.
2. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones.
3. Click "Add device» → Bluetooth and select your model from the list.
4. After connecting, check that the sound menu (PCM on the speaker icon) → Open sound parameters) headphones selected as "Output device».

If the sound is only in mono mode:

• 🔊 Go to the Control Panel. → Sound. → (pick out the headphones) → Properties → Additionally, set the format "16 bits, 44100 Hz (quality)" CD)».
• 🔄 Remove the device and reconnect by selecting “Sound only” instead of “Sound and data” when you request it».
• 🔧 Update the Bluetooth driver via Device Manager (find Bluetooth Adapter, click PCM) → «Update the driver»).

For models with AptX or LDAC (Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro will be required for Windows:

• Install AptX codecs from Qualcomm (download from the official website).
• In the audio settings, select "AptX Support" manually.
• Use Windows 11 to use it 22H2 Or newer, older versions may have problems with LHDC.

⚠️ Note: Some laptops with Intel AX200/AX210 Bluetooth adapters may cause sound stuttering when using codecs AptX/LDAC. The solution is to roll back to the version driver 22.10.0 (available on Intel's website).

5. Solving common connection problems

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, Xiaomi headphones may not connect or work unstable, and we will analyze the typical errors and how to fix them.

If the headphones are connected but do not reproduce the sound:

• 🔊 Check if they are selected as “Output Device” in the audio settings.
• 📱 On Android go to Settings → Annexes → All applications → Bluetooth and clear the cache.
• 🔧 On Windows, disable “Exceptional Control” in the properties of headphones (Control Panel) → Sound. → Properties → Additionally).

For models with ANC (noise reduction, if the function is not working:

• Make sure the headphones sit tightly in the ears - microphones ANC position-sensitive.
• Update the firmware via Mi Home (available for Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro and later).
• On iOS, activate. ANC manually double-touching the touchpad.

💡

If Xiaomi headphones don’t connect to the device after updating the firmware, try resetting them by holding the button on the case for 15 seconds before resetting the indicator (blinking in red-blue-white).

6. Connection optimization: how to make the connection more stable

Even after successful pairing, the connection may not work perfectly: the sound is interrupted, there are delays or the headphones spontaneously turn off. Here's how to avoid this.

Settings on the smartphone:

• 📶 Turn off Wi-Fi Assist or Auto-Switch Wi-Fi/Mobile data – this can cause conflicts with Bluetooth.
• 🔋 Add headphones to the "Battery Optimization Exceptions" (on the MIUI Android with Power Saving Function).
• 🎵 In Bluetooth settings, select “Sound Quality Priority” (if available) instead of “Stability Priority».

Headphone settings:

• 🔄 Regularly (every 1-2 months) reset your headphone settings to clear the pairing cache.
• 🔋 Keep the charge above 20% – when the battery level is low, the headphones can automatically turn off to save energy.
• 📦 Keep your headphones in your case when not in use – this prevents accidental connections to other devices.

External factors:

• 📡 Avoid using headphones near interference sources: microwave ovens, 5GHz routers, wireless charging.
• 🚶 If the sound is interrupted while you’re moving, try moving your smartphone to another pocket (e.g., left to right) – this can improve signal stability.
• 🌡️ In freezing weather (< -10°C) battery life of headphones is reduced by 30–40%, a) the connection may become unstable.

For models with Dual Device Connection support (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro):

• To connect to two devices at once, first pair the headphones with the first device, then open the case and hold the button for 3 seconds - the indicator will start flashing blue (multithreading mode).
• To switch between devices, touch the touch panel twice on any headphone.

7. Update to Xiaomi headphone firmware

Many connectivity and stability issues are addressed by firmware updates. Xiaomi regularly releases patches that fix Bluetooth communication errors, improve sound quality and add new features (such as codec support).

How to update firmware:

1. Install the Mi Home app (available for Android and iOS).
2. Connect the headphones to your smartphone and open Mi Home.
3. Press «+» → «Add the device» → «Headphones and select your model.
4. If an update is available, a notification will appear. Click Update and wait until it is completed (don't turn off Bluetooth!).

Important nuances:

• 🔋 Make sure the charge is on the cover. >50% – when the battery level is low, the update may be interrupted.
• 📶 Connect your smartphone to a stable Wi-Fi network – the update is downloaded via the Internet.
• ⏳ It can take up to 10 minutes. Don't close the Mi Home or take the headphones out of the case.

The latest firmware versions for popular models (at the time of 2026):

• Redmi Buds 4: V1.7.0.4 (Fixed connection issues with iOS 17).
• Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro: V1.4.1.8 (support added LE Audio).
• Mi True Wireless Earphones 2: V1.2.9.6 (Improved stability of AptX).

⚠️ Warning: If your headphones stop connecting after the firmware update, do a full reset: put them in your case, then hold the button on your case for 15 seconds until you blink in red, blue, white.

8. Alternative ways of connecting (for experienced users)

If standard methods don't work, you can try alternative connectivity options, which require a little more effort, but often help in difficult cases.

Connection through ADB (Android):

If the headphones are defined by the system but not connected, you can manually initialize the pairing through ADB:

adb shell am start -a android.bluetooth.devicepicker.action.LAUNCH -n com.android.settings/.bluetooth.BluetoothDevicePickerActivity


adb shell cmd bluetooth_manager pair [MAC- headphone address

To find out MAC-address, use the command:

adb shell dumpsys bluetooth_manager

Use of third-party applications:

• Bluetooth Auto Connect automatically restores the connection when it breaks.
• Developer Options (on Android) → Turn on "Bluetooth version" AVRCP» 1.6 for better compatibility.
• Mi Fit (for older models) – sometimes allows you to connect when the Mi Home doesn’t see the device.

Linux connection:

Distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora may have codec problems. AAC. Decision:

sudo apt install pulseaudio-module-bluetooth


pactl load-module module-bluetooth-discover

Then, in PulseAudio Volume Control (pavucontrol), select a profile «A2DP Sink».

MacOS connection:

On a MacBook with chips M1/M2 Xiaomi headphones can connect in Low Power Mode, which degrades sound:

1. Open Terminal and enter: sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.Bluetooth.plist ControllerPowerState -int 1
2. Restart the Mac.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi headphones