Xiaomi phone does not see wireless headphones: what to do and how to fix

Why Xiaomi doesn’t see wireless headphones: the main reasons

You took out your favorite Xiaomi AirDots or Redmi Buds, turned on Bluetooth on your smartphone, but the devices stubbornly do not want to connect? The problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO phones. 80% of the time, the malfunction is not in hardware failure, but in software failures or incorrect settings. Let's figure out why this happens and how to get back to work.

The most common reasons why Xiaomi phone doesn’t see wireless headphones:

• 🔄 Bluetooth module failure (more often after update) MIUI or reset)
• 📱 Outdated firmware or version conflict (earphones require Android 10)+, And on Android 9)
• 🔋 Discharged headphones or a faulty case (especially relevant for TWS-model)
• 📵 Conflict with other connected devices (e.g., smartwatches or speakers)
• 🔒 Limitations on energy conservation (MIUI aggressively disables background processes)

Before you take your phone to the service center, try the solutions from this article. We have collected 7 proven methods that work on all Xiaomi models, from the budget Redmi Note 10 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. Let’s start with the simplest and gradually move on to more complex ways.

1.Reboot headphones and phone: base reset

Now, this is a very commonplace approach, but 30 percent of the time, because both the headphones and the Xiaomi smartphone cache the connection data, and if you're out of sync, a simple reboot will reset the temporary files.

How to restart your headphones:

• 🎧 Place both headphones in the case and close the lid.
• 🔄 Wait. 10 Take them out and hold the on button (usually). 5-7 seconds) until the indicator flashes red/white.
• 📱 On your phone, turn off and turn on Bluetooth again in the notification panel.

For models Xiaomi AirDots Pro 2 and newer reset is performed differently:

1.Push and hold both touchpads on the headphones for 10 seconds


2. The indicators flash purple - this is a reset signal




3. Reconnect via Bluetooth menu

Reboot your phone: press the power button, select "Reboot." Once turned on, try reconnecting.

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If the Redmi Buds 3 Pro headphones are newer or newer, try resetting through the Mi Earphones app (available on Google Play).

2. Verification of compatibility and Bluetooth version

Not all headphones support the latest Bluetooth versions.For example, the old Xiaomi AirDots Basic only works with Bluetooth 4.2, and the new Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro requires Bluetooth 5.2+.If the version on the phone is lower, there may be connection or sound issues.

How to check the Bluetooth version on Xiaomi:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → All the characteristics
2. Find the line "Bluetooth version"
3. Compare with the requirements of your headphones (specified in the instructions or on the manufacturer’s website)

If the Bluetooth version on your phone is lower than the one you need, upgrade your firmware (as discussed in the next section) and if you can’t upgrade, you’ll have to accept limited functionality or buy headphones that support the older version of the protocol.

3. MIUI Update and Headphone Firmware

More than 40% of headphone connection problems with Xiaomi are solved by software updates.The manufacturer regularly releases patches to fix Bluetooth bugs, especially after major Android updates (for example, when switching from MIUI 13 to MIUI 14).

How to update the firmware of the phone:

• 📱 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system
• 🔍 Click "Check Updates"
• 📥 If a new version is available, download and install (preferably via Wi-Fi)

How to update the firmware headphones:

1. Put your headphones on the phone.
2. Install the official app: For Xiaomi/Airdots: Mi Earphones For Redmi Buds: Redmi Earphones For POCO Buds: POCO Earphones

Open the application and go to the "Firmware Update" section

If the update doesn’t work, try to roll back to the previous version of MIUI (instructions in section 6).

Make sure your headphones are over 50% charged |

Connect your phone to stable Wi-Fi|

Close all background applications |

Do not interrupt the update process |-->

4.Reset Bluetooth settings and clear cache

If the headphones were previously connected but the phone can’t see them now, the problem may be a damaged Bluetooth cache or conflicting settings. MIUI has a hidden feature for a full module reset that often helps.

Resetting instructions:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth
2. Slip on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Bluetooth Settings.
3. Click “Reset Bluetooth settings” (some versions of MIUI call this item “Clear Cache”)
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone

5. Setup the developer mode for a stable connection

MIUI optimizes Bluetooth by default to save charge, sometimes leading to connection breaks or connection problems, and you can manually adjust settings through the developer menu to keep things running smoothly.

How to turn on the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the line "Version" MIUI" (A notice will appear, You have become a developer!")
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section for developers

What parameters to change:

When you change the settings, restart your phone. If the headphones are still not connected, try turning off adaptive brightness and power saving mode, which sometimes interfere with the stable operation of Bluetooth.

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Setting up an SBC codec instead of an AAC or LHDC often solves the problem of intermittent sound, especially on Xiaomi’s budget models (Redmi 9, Poco M3, etc.).

6. Firmware rollback or reset to factory settings

If the problem occurred after the MIUI update, it may be the fault of the bug in the new firmware version, in which case a rollback to the previous stable build or a complete reset of the settings will help.

How to roll back firmware:

• 📥 Download the correct version MIUI From the official website of Xiaomi Firmware
• 📁 Put the file in the folder. downloaded_rom root-catalog
• 🔧 Go to Settings. → The phone. → Updating the system
• 🔄 Put three points on it. →"Select a firmware file" and specify the downloaded file

How to make a reset to factory settings:

1. Create a backup of data (photos, contacts, messages)
2. Go to Settings → Additional → Recovery and Reset
3. Select "Reset" → "Erase all data"
4. After restarting, set your phone as new and try connecting your headphones.

⚠️ Note: Firmware rollback may result in bootloader locking on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or POCO F4). Before the procedure, check if the bootloader is unlocked (fastboot oem device-info in the system). ADB).

If you're not sure what you're doing, you should go to a service center, and if you roll back your firmware incorrectly, it can turn your phone into a brick.

7. Checking hardware faults

If none of the software methods worked, the problem could be a physical malfunction of the headphones or Bluetooth module of the phone.

Signs of hardware problem:

• 🔌 Headphones do not charge in the case (the indicator does not burn)
• 🎧 One of the headphones does not make a sound or is constantly switched off.
• 📱 The phone doesn’t see any wireless headphones (try connecting others)
• 🔊 In the speaker of the phone can be heard interference when turned on Bluetooth

How to check the headphones:

1. Try connecting them to another phone/laptop
2. Check the contacts in the case for oxidation or contamination (wipe with alcohol)
3. Look, there's no extraneous noise when you play it.

How to check your phone:

• Connect other Bluetooth devices (column, clock, keyboard)
• Check Bluetooth in Safe Mode (press the Power button → Safe Mode)
• Check out the Bluetooth antenna connector (on some models it is located under the back cover)

If a hardware malfunction is detected:

• 🔧 For headphones: contact Xiaomi Service Center (usually 12 months warranty)
• 📱 For the phone: check by number IMEI (*#06#) status of warranty on Mi Verify

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If the phone falls or gets wet, there's a 90 percent chance that the hardware is the problem, and then the software won't help, it needs repair.

Frequently asked questions