How to connect wireless headphones to the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus: instruction 2026

Why Redmi 5 Plus may not see headphones

Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life, but their connection to Xiaomi smartphones sometimes raises questions - especially among owners of models from 2017-2018 like the Redmi 5 Plus. This model, despite its age, is still actively used, but its version of Bluetooth 4.2 and outdated MIUI firmware can create nuances when pairing with modern gadgets.

The main problems that users face: a smartphone does not find headphones in the list of available devices, the connection is constantly broken, or the sound is transmitted with a delay, most often due to protocol incompatibility (for example, headphones support Bluetooth 5.0+, and the phone only 4.2), outdated drivers or conflict with other connected devices. In this article, we will discuss all the ways of connecting, from basic pairing to solving complex errors.

Before you start, make sure your headphones are charged (the indicator should flash or burn blue/white), and the phone is turned on Bluetooth and turned off Charge Saving mode - it can block a stable connection.

Preparation: Checking compatibility and charging devices

Before connecting, it’s important to make sure your headphones and Redmi 5 Plus are compatible.Most current models (e.g. Xiaomi AirDots, Sony WH-1000XM4 or JBL Free X) support backward compatibility with Bluetooth 4.2, but some features may be limited:

• 🔋 Headphone charge level: If the indicator flashes red, charge the device to at least 30.
• 📱 Version. MIUI: Redmi 5 Plus should be installed firmware at least below MIUI 10. Check in Settings. → The phone.
• 🔄 Headphone pairing mode: Most models have an on/patch button (hold it for 3-5 seconds until the indicator flashes blue-red).
• 🚫 Conflicting devices: Disconnect other Bluetooth gadgets (fitness bracelets, speakers, keyboards) from your phone).

If your headphones support AAC or SBC codecs, they will work with Redmi 5 Plus without problems, but aptX or LDAC may not be supported, in which case the sound will be transmitted in a basic quality.

⚠️ Warning: If your headphones have previously been connected to another device (such as a laptop or tablet), reset their settings. This usually requires holding the power button for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and blue at the same time.

Basic method: Connect via Bluetooth menu

The simplest method is standard pairing through the phone's settings. Follow the step-by-step instructions:

1. Open Settings on Redmi 5 Plus (the gear icon on the home screen).
2. Go to the Connected Devices section → Bluetooth.
3. Activate the Bluetooth slider (should turn blue).
4. Click Device Search (or Add a new device).
5. Hold the pairing button on your headphones until they appear in the list (usually the model name is displayed with the LE mark for Low Energy).
6. Slip the headphones on the list, confirm pairing on both devices if necessary.

Once you've successfully connected the headphones, it will say "Connected." Now you can play music or answer calls through it. If the sound is coming through the phone's speaker, check the audio output settings (for more on this in the next section).

⚠️ Note: On some Redmi 5 Plus firmware, after connecting the headphones, the default sound can go through the speaker. To fix this, while playing music, pull down the notification bar and tap the Out icon by selecting your headphones.

Problem Solving: What to do if the headphones are not connected

If the Redmi 5 Plus doesn’t see the headphones or the connection is constantly breaking, try the following methods:

If the problem persists, try resetting the network settings on your phone:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Resetting.
2. Select Reset Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth settings.
3. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

Redmi 5 Plus with older firmware MIUI 9 may not support the protocol AVRCP 1.6, which causes the control buttons on the headphones to fail (pause, next track). MIUI through settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

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If the headphones are plugged in but the sound is distorted, try turning off Absolute Volume in the developer settings. Go to Settings → About Phone, tap 7 times on MIUI Version, then turn off Absolute Volume Bluetooth in the Developer Settings.

Customizing the sound: how to make louder and eliminate echoes

Once you have your headphones connected, you may encounter two common problems: a quiet sound or an echo/noise during calls. Here's how to fix them:

Volume up.

On Redmi 5 Plus, the volume limit for Bluetooth devices can be limited by default.

1. Install the Volume Booster app from Google Play.
2. Open it and move the Bluetooth Gain slider 10-15 dB.
3. Restart the music playback.

Eliminating echoes during calls

Echoes usually arise from a conflict between the microphones of the headphones and the phone.

• 🎤 Turn off the microphone on the headphones (if possible in their settings).
• 📞 Use headphones only for listening, and switch to the phone speaker for conversations.
• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones in audio only (if this mode is supported).

If the echo problem persists, check if the phone is running Voice Improvement in Call Settings (Settings → Calls → Voice Improvement). Turn it off.

Connection through manufacturer applications

Some brands (e.g. Xiaomi, Sony or JBL) are launching branded headphone management apps that may offer additional features such as an equalizer, firmware update, or touch gesture customization.

For Xiaomi AirDots headphones:

1. Download the Mi Earphones app from Google Play.
2. Connect the headphones to the phone in the standard way (via Bluetooth).
3. Open the app and follow the instructions on the pairing screen.
4. In the app menu you can configure: 🎛️ Equalizer (bass, high frequency). 🔋 Displaying the charge of each headphone. 🔄 Update of firmware (if available).

For Sony headphones (e.g. WH-1000XM4):

• 📱 Install the Sony app | Headphones Connect.
• 🎧 Connect your headphones via Bluetooth and open the app.
• 🔊 Set up noise reduction, transparent mode and button customization.

Branded apps also help diagnose problems, for example, if the headphones don't connect, the app may show an error like Incompatible Bluetooth or Low Signal.

Alternative methods: Connecting via ADB or third-party utilities

If the standard methods don’t work, you can try manual connectivity via ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or specialized utilities, which is suitable for power users.

Method 1: Resetting the Bluetooth stack via ADB

Sometimes the Bluetooth stack on Redmi 5 Plus will freeze and need to restart:

adb shell su


setprop service.bluetooth.sim_access 1




stop bluetoothd




start bluetoothd

After completing these commands, restart your phone and try to connect again.

Method 2: Bluetooth Auto Connect Application

This utility automatically restores the connection to the headphones when they are turned on:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Add your headphones to your trusted device list.
3. Activate the Auto Connect option.

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB It requires root rights or unlocked bootloader rights, wrong commands can cause the system to crash. If you're not sure what you're doing, you better contact the service center.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

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If your Redmi 5 Plus doesn’t see the headphones, 90% of the time the problem is solved by resetting Bluetooth settings or updating MIUI. Only 10% of cases are due to hardware malfunctions (for example, a damaged Bluetooth module).