Xiaomi wireless headphones are not only a stylish accessory, but also a guarantee of comfortable listening to music, podcasts or calls without confusing wires. However, even experienced users sometimes have difficulty with the first connection: the device does not find the headphones, the sound is interrupted or there is no connection at all. In this article, we will analyze the step-by-step algorithm for pairing Xiaomi headphones (including models of Redmi AirDots, Buds, FlipBuds and others) with an Android smartphone, and consider typical errors and ways to fix them.
It’s important to understand that the connection process can vary slightly depending on the Android version (from Android 10 to Android 14) and the headphone model. For example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro supports LE Audio technology, which requires an updated Bluetooth 5.2+ stack, while the budget Redmi AirDots 3 works on older versions as well. We will take these nuances into account to make the instruction suitable for most devices.
If you've tried to plug in your headphones before, but you've had problems, don't rush them to factory settings. 80 percent of the time, the solution is to reset the list of connected devices on your phone or update the headphone firmware, and for those who've just unpacked a new pair, we've created a unique training checklist that saves time and nerves.
1. Preparing Xiaomi headphones for the first connection
Before you start pairing, make sure the headphones are fully charged. Most Xiaomi models (such as Buds 3T Pro or Air 2 SE) have a charge indicator on the case case: green or white means sufficient energy, red or flashing orange means you need to recharge. If the indicator does not burn at all, connect the case to the power source for 10-15 minutes.
Check if the headphones are in pairing mode. For most Xiaomi models, this mode is activated automatically when you first remove them from the case.
- 🔋 For Redmi AirDots (1-3 generations): Place both headphones in the case, then press and hold the button on the case for 10-15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing white and red.
Charge the case and headphones up to 50%+
Remove headphones from the case (for new devices)
Activate the pairing mode (see instructions above)
Make sure the indicator flashes white/blue (search mode)
Disconnect headphones from other devices (if previously connected)-->
If the indicator on the case or headphones does not respond to your actions, this may indicate a battery discharge or software failure. In the first case, recharge the device, in the second - try resetting the headphones to the factory (the instructions will be in one of the following sections).
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Buds 3 Pro) support fast reconnection to the latest device. If the headphones automatically connect to another gadget (tablet, laptop), turn them off manually there via the Bluetooth menu.
2. Step-by-step instruction: how to connect headphones to an Android phone
When the headphones are ready to pair, move on to the smartphone setup. The algorithm is almost the same for all versions of Android, but we will point out the key differences for MIUI (Xiaomi firmware), One UI (Samsung) and pure Android (for example, on Pixel or Nokia).
Open your phone’s settings and go to Connected Devices → Bluetooth (on Xiaomi, the path can look like Settings → Bluetooth). Activate the Bluetooth switch if it’s turned off. The phone will start scanning available devices. Your headphones should appear on the list – their name will contain the model (for example, “Mi True Wireless Earphones 2” or “Redmi Buds 4”).
- 📱 Nana Xiaomi/Redmi s MIUI: After activating Bluetooth, click Add the device → Choose headphones from the list → confirm the conjugation.
- ⚙️ On the Samsung One UI: Additional confirmation may be required to access contacts and call history (unsubscribe if you don’t plan to use headphones for calls).
Once you've successfully connected, check the sound: run any audio file or video. If there's no sound, make sure the headphones are selected as the output device in the notification panel (click on the speaker icon and select the name of your headphones).
Redmi AirDots (1/2/3 generation)
Xiaomi Buds (3/4/Pro)
Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro
Another Xiaomi model
Headphones from another brand-->
| Model headphones | Bluetooth version | Supported codecs | Features of connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi AirDots 3 | 5.0 | AAC, SBC | Requires manual reset on first connection |
| Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro | 5.3 | AAC, SBC, LC3 (LE Audio) | Supports dual connection to 2 devices |
| Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro | 5.2 | AAC, aptX Adaptive | Has a physical reset button on the case |
| Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 | 5.0 | AAC, SBC | Blinks blue when paired successfully |
3. Typical Connection Problems and Solutions
Even if you follow instructions correctly, users often encounter errors, and let's look at the most common scenarios and how to fix them.
3.1 Phone Can't See Xiaomi Headphones
If the headphones don’t appear in the list of available devices, follow the following steps:
- Make sure the headphones are in pairing mode (the indicator flashes white/blue).
- Reboot Bluetooth on your phone: Turn off and turn on the module in the settings.
- Check if the headphones are connected to another device (for example, a laptop or tablet).
- Update your headphone firmware via the Mi Home app or Xiaomi Earbuds (available on Google Play).
The headphones are plugged in, but there's no sound.
The reasons for the lack of sound can be both software and hardware:
- 🔊 Check if the headphones are selected as the output device in the notification panel.
- 📵 Make sure the headphones aren’t connected to another device at the same time (some Xiaomi models support multi-connection).
- 🔄 Reboot both devices: Turn off the headphones (put in the case) and restart the phone.
- 🛠️ Reset the headphone settings (instructions in the next section).
What to do if one earphone is not working?
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi smartphones (e.g. Redmi Note 11 or X-rays) POCO X4 Pro) may trigger the Call Priority feature, which automatically switches the sound to the phone speaker during calls. → Priority of challenges.
4.How to reset Xiaomi headphones to factory settings
If the headphones are unstable (often switched off, out of sync or not connected to the phone), hard reset to factory settings will help, which removes all the stored connections and returns the device to its original state.
- 🔄 Redmi AirDots (all generations): Place both headphones in the case. Open the case cover. Press and hold the button on the case for 15 to 20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white. Close the lid and remove the headphones, they're ready for the new connection.
After reset, Xiaomi headphones will return to the “out of the box” state. You will need to re-pair the phone (see section 2). Note that the reset also removes user settings, such as the equalizer of sound or assigning touch gestures (if supported by the model).
1. Connect the headphones to the phone in pairing mode.
2. Open the application and go to the Firmware Update section.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen (do not turn off the headphones until the process is complete!).-->
5. Sound optimization and additional settings
Once connected successfully, you can improve the sound quality and customize your headphones to your preferences. Most Xiaomi models support:
- 🎛️ Equator: in Bluetooth settings (on MIUI) or through the Xiaomi Earbuds application you can select presets (for example, Bass, Rock, Voice, etc").
- 🔇 Noise suppression (ANC): Available in Buds 3 Pro, FlipBuds Pro and later, activated in the app or double touch sensor.
- 🎵 Low latency (Game Mode): reduces lag when watching videos or games.
- 🔄 Autoconnection: You can turn off if the headphones connect to unwanted devices.
For models that support LE Audio (such as the Buds 4 Pro), it is recommended to upgrade the phone’s firmware to Android 13+ to take advantage of the new LC3 codec, which delivers better sound quality with less power consumption.
If you use headphones for calls, check the microphone settings in the Xiaomi Earbuds app. Some models (like the FlipBuds Pro) allow you to choose the direction of the microphone for better noise suppression.
💡
For stable performance of Xiaomi headphones, turn off the Bluetooth Energy Saving feature in the phone settings (Settings → Battery → Energy Saving). This option can cause communication breakdowns.
6.How to connect Xiaomi headphones to multiple devices
Many Xiaomi models (starting with the Buds 3 Pro and later) support multi-connection, the ability to connect to two devices at the same time (for example, a smartphone and a laptop).