How to connect wireless headphones to Xiaomi Redmi phone via Bluetooth: full instruction

Introduction: Why don’t Bluetooth headphones connect the first time?

Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life, but their first connection to a Xiaomi Redmi smartphone is often questionable. Even experienced users can have problems: the device is not on the list of available, the connection is interrupted after a few seconds or the sound is transmitted with distortions, the reasons lie in the features of the MIUI firmware and in the settings of the headphones themselves.

In this article, we’ll explore not only the basic pairing procedure, but also nuances that the manufacturer rarely mentions in official instructions, such as why the Redmi Note 12 may not see AirDots headphones after a system update, or how to reset the Bluetooth module settings correctly if previous attempts to connect failed, and pay special attention to the diagnosis of common errors, from 0xAA codes to problems with aptX codecs.

If you've tried to connect your headphones before and you've heard the message "I couldn't connect to the device," don't blame the technology. 80 percent of the time, the problem is solved by changing three or four settings in the developer menu or resetting the cache of Bluetooth services. Next, step-by-step instructions based on the specifics of MIUI 13/14 firmware.

1. Preparation of headphones for connection: pairing mode

Before you look for headphones in the menu of a smartphone, you need to put them in a detection mode (pairing mode), which differs from model to model, but the general principle is the same: the headphones should “signal” about their availability for new devices.

• 🎧 Xiaomi AirDots/Air2/Air3: press the button on the case charger on 5–7 And then the light starts flashing white and red alternately. Air3 Pro is enough to open the case cover - they automatically go into pairing mode.
• 🎧 Sony WH-1000XM4 and other touch-controlled models: Hold your finger on the earphone touchpad for 7 seconds until you hear a voice message saying "Bluetooth pairing".
• 🎧 Apple AirPods (if you connect to Android): Press and hold the button on the back of the case until the indicator flashes white.
• 🎧 JBL/Beats: It is usually enough to hold the power button. 3–5 And then the light flashes. JBL You need to remove the headphones from the case first.

⚠️ Note: If the headphones have already been paired with another device (e.g. a laptop), they must first be removed from the list of connected devices on that gadget. Otherwise, they may not appear in a search on Redmi due to an active connection to the previous host.

Headphone charge > 30% | Headphones removed from case (if required) | Indicator flashes white/red | Headphones not connected to other devices-->

2. Step-by-step instruction: Bluetooth connection on Xiaomi Redmi

Now, the interface process itself. The instruction is universal for all Redmi models (from Redmi 9A to Redmi K60 Ultra), but there may be minor differences in the layout of menu items due to MIUI versions.

1. Open your phone’s settings and go to Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Activate Bluetooth by moving the slider to the right, and wait until the system scans the available devices.
3. Find the headphones in the list. They should show up under their name (e.g. Mi True Wireless Earphones 2). If the device is not found, update the list by clicking on the icon. 🔄 top-right.
4. Click on the headphone name in the list. If you want confirmation, select "Plug" or "Hide".
5. Wait until the process is complete. The "Connected to Device" notification will appear on the screen, and the headphone icon will appear in the status bar.

🔹 Important: Some Redmi models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+) After you connect, you may be asked to select a sound profile (for example, "Phone calls and media"). Choose "All audio" to make the headphones work for both music and conversation.

If the headphones are connected, but the sound is going through the speaker of the phone, check the audio output settings:

1. While playing music or video, click on the speaker icon in the notification panel.
2. In the window that appears, select the name of your headphones.

💡

If the headphones are plugged in but the sound is interrupted, try turning off the dual audio feature in the Bluetooth settings. It may conflict with some headphone models.

3. Common mistakes and their solutions

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, Xiaomi Redmi users often face typical problems, and we have collected the most common errors and ways to fix them in the table:

⚠️ Note: If the headphones are defined as an “Input Device” (e.g. for microphone) after connection but do not produce sound, this indicates a profile failure. A2DP. Decision:

1. Forget the device in Bluetooth settings.
2. Reboot the phone.
3. Connect the headphones again by manually selecting the Media Audio profile.

No device | Connection breaks | Poor sound quality |Other |No problem-->

4. Sound optimization: setting up codecs and HD-audio

By default, Xiaomi Redmi uses a basic SBC codec that provides compatibility with all devices, but does not always give the best sound quality. If your headphones support advanced codecs (for example, aptX, AAC or LDAC), they can be manually enabled:

1. Put the headphones on the phone.
2. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
3. Click on the icon. ⚙️ near the name of his headphones.
4. Select "Sound Quality" or "Code".
5. In the list of available codecs, choose the best option: AAC — Balance between quality and stability (recommended for AirPods and most of the world’s largest markets) TWS-headphone). aptX/aptX HD — High quality, but requires headphone support (suitable for Sony, Bose). LDAC — maximum quality for audiophiles (available on Redmi) K50 Pro and newer).

🔹 Tip: If after changing the codec the sound began to interrupt, return to the SBC or AAC. Some budget headphones (such as Redmi Buds 3 Lite) are unstable with aptX on weak Bluetooth modules.

Redmi models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 processor (such as the Redmi K60) support Dual-Link Bluetooth technology, which allows you to connect two pairs of headphones at the same time. To activate it, go to Settings → Special Features → Sound Improvements → Dual audio.

5. reset Bluetooth settings: when nothing helps

If all previous methods failed, the problem may be a software failure of the Bluetooth module, in which case a complete reset of the wireless connection settings will help. Attention: after this procedure, all the stored devices (earphones, smartwatches, speakers) will be removed and they will have to be reconnected.

Resetting instructions:

1. Open Settings → System and device → Resetting settings.
2. Select "Reset Network Settings" (on some firmware - "Reset Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth").
3. Confirm the action by entering PIN-code.
4. After restarting the phone, try connecting the headphones again.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 14 and newer after reset, you may need to additionally adjust the permissions for Bluetooth. → Annexes → Application management → System applications, search for "Bluetooth" and provide all the permissions requested (especially "Microphone" and "Storage").

6. Advanced Settings: Developer Menu and Hidden Features

For power users who want to maximize Bluetooth, MIUI has hidden settings to activate them:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Press 7 times in a row on the item "Version" MIUI" (A notice will appear saying, “You have become a developer").
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section "More → Developer settings".

If the lag remains, the problem may be in the firmware of the headphones - check the updates through the manufacturer's proprietary application.