Why Xiaomi Headphones Don’t Connect to Your Phone over Bluetooth and How to Fix It

Did you take Xiaomi's new wireless headphones out of the box (whether it's Redmi Buds 4 Pro, Mi True Wireless Earphones or another model), turn them on, and the phone stubbornly refuses to see the device? Or did the headphones connect earlier but suddenly stop connecting? This problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi gadgets - and it's solvable. 90% of the time, it's not the malfunctions, but the software failures or the wrong settings.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible reasons Xiaomi’s headphones don’t connect to your Bluetooth phone, from the clichéd battery drain to hidden firmware bugs, and you’ll get step-by-step instructions for each situation, a table of common errors, and answers to common questions. And if the problem turns out to be hardware, you’ll learn how to tell it apart from a software malfunction without going to a service center.

1. Checking the basic connection conditions

Before digging deep into the settings, make sure the minimum connection requirements are met. Often users miss the obvious:

• 🔋 Headphone and case charge: even if the indicator is on, the battery could run low enough to connect.

Important: If you're connecting your headphones for the first time, remove all the old devices from the list of conjugated devices in your phone. Xiaomi sometimes conflicts with saved profiles.

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Find the old headphones (even with a different name) in the list.
3. Put it on the gear. ⚙️ → Delete/Forget the device.

💡

If the headphones flash red, it's a low charge signal, not a pairing mode. Connect them to charge for 5-10 minutes, then try again.

2.Typical Bluetooth errors on Xiaomi smartphones

Xiaomi smartphones (especially MIUI 12-14) are known for Bluetooth bugs.

A critical feature of MIUI is that once you upgrade your Bluetooth module, it can reset to factory settings, which causes you to lose all of your connected devices, and if you've recently upgraded your firmware, you'll have to reconnect your headphones.

Another common problem is the conflict with the Mi Bluetooth app, which is a proprietary utility from Xiaomi that sometimes blocks the connection of third-party headphones.

• 🛑 Disable Auto-Run Application in Settings → Annexes → Autostart control.
• 🗑️ Clear the application data in Settings → Annexes → Mi Bluetooth → Warehouse.
• 🔄 Update the app via Google Play or Mi App Store.

3. Reset Bluetooth settings on your phone

If the headphones are still not connected, the next step is to reset the Bluetooth module, which will remove all the stored devices and return the settings to the factory. MIUI 12–14:

1. Open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
2. Put three points on it. ⋮ top-right.
3. Choose Clear the cache (if any) or Reset the settings.
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

After rebooting, try reconnecting your headphones. If this doesn't work, move on to resetting your network settings (this will also remove stored Wi-Fi and mobile networks):

Settings → About phone → Resetting settings → Resetting network settings

Remove all devices from the list of associated

Write down Wi-Fi passwords (if you reset your network settings)

Close all applications using Bluetooth (fitness trackers, games)

Reboot your phone after resetting-->

Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro), a Bluetooth reset may cause a temporary loss of connection to the Mi Band or other gadgets.

4. Problems with headphone firmware

Xiaomi’s wireless headphones (especially budget models) sometimes suffer from outdated firmware.

• 🔄 Unintentional shutdowns.
• 🎵 Sound distortion (wheezing, stuttering).
• 🔌 Inability to connect to new devices.

Update the firmware through the official application Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear (depending on the model).

1. Install the app from Google Play or the App Store.
2. Connect your headphones to your phone (even if there is no sound).
3. Open the app and find the headphones in the list of devices.
4. If an update is available, a notification will appear – follow the instructions on the screen.

Important: don't interrupt the upgrade process! If the headphones go off during firmware, they can turn into a brick. Keep them near your phone and watch the battery.

5. Conflicts with other devices and applications

Bluetooth on Xiaomi can be blocked by:

• 🎮 Games with gamepads (for example, Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG).
• 🏃 Fitness trackers (Mi Band, Amazfit).
• 🚗 Automotive systems (if the phone is connected to the tape recorder).

To check it out:

1. Turn off all other Bluetooth devices.
2. Close the background applications through Recent → Close everything.
3. Try reconnecting the headphones.

If the problem is gone, one of the apps is to blame.

1. Turn on Bluetooth devices and start applications.
2. Once the connection is broken, you have found the source of the conflict.

💡

On Xiaomi smartphones with a Snapdragon processor (such as Xiaomi 12T), Bluetooth is more stable than on models with MediaTek (Redmi 9, Poco M3).

6. Hardware malfunctions: how to distinguish from software

If none of these things worked, there's probably a problem with the iron.

Note: If the headphones fall into the water or have been hit hard, do not try to disassemble them yourself - this can lead to a short circuit.

To diagnose the Bluetooth module in the phone:

1. Try connecting other headphones or columns.
2. If they don’t work, there’s a problem with the phone (the antenna module may have been damaged).
3. If other devices are connected, your headphones are to blame.

7. Specific problems of Xiaomi models

Different Xiaomi headphones have their own "diseases":

• 🔴 Redmi Buds 3/4 Pro: Often lose connection due to Bluetooth bug 5.3. The solution is to roll back to Bluetooth 5.0 developer-setting.
• 🔵 Mi True Wireless Earphones 2: may not connect to Android 13 phones+ because of the conflict with LE Audio.
• ⚫ Redmi AirDots: Sometimes require double pressing of the cover button to activate pairing mode.

There is a separate bug for the Redmi Buds 4 Pro: if the headphones were connected to the iPhone, they may refuse to work with Xiaomi until completely reset.

1. Hold the button on the case for 10 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red.
2. Connect to charging for 5 minutes.
3. Try the pairing again.

💡

Xiaomi headphones with LDAC support (like Mi True Wireless Earphones 3) may not connect to older Android 9 and lower smartphones. Update the phone's firmware or use the SBC codec.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Xiaomi headphones