The integration of the smart home ecosystem often leads to the purchase of accessories from different manufacturers, and the bundle of Xiaomi headphones with a Samsung phone is one of the most popular. TWS-models from the Chinese brand, using them in tandem with the flagship or mid-budget devices of the Korean company. The setup process is usually easy, as both devices run on the Android operating system, which ensures high compatibility of data transfer protocols.
However, despite the standardization of Bluetooth technology, there are sometimes nuances with displaying battery power or touch control, in this article we will examine in detail the algorithm of actions for successful pairing, look at the features of the Xiaomi Earbuds application on third-party devices, and offer solutions for typical connection errors, you will learn how to activate pairing mode and provide a stable connection for listening to music or conversations.
Before you get into technical manipulation, make sure your devices are ready to go. Charge your headphones and make sure your Samsung Galaxy smartphone has a wireless module on it. These are basic requirements that you can ignore, and you can't see each other on the list of available devices.
Preparation of devices for primary pairing
The first step should always be to check the status of the battery. If the Redmi Buds or Mi True Wireless headphones have been in stock for a long time, their battery could run out of power. Place them in a case and plug the charger in for 15-20 minutes, even if the indicators don't light up right away. Lithium polymer batteries sometimes require a "push" to activate the charge controller.
In parallel, you need to prepare your Samsung smartphone. Open the notification curtain and make sure that the Bluetooth icon is active. For a deeper diagnosis, go to the system settings. The path usually looks like: Settings → Connections → Bluetooth. Here it is worth checking whether the visibility option is enabled for other devices, although when you actively search the phone itself becomes visible.
⚠️ Note: If your Samsung phone has previously had more than 10 Bluetooth devices connected, the system may start to work unstable when searching for new gadgets.
It is also important to check the operating system version. Although Bluetooth Low Energy backward compatible technology (backward compatible), older versions of Android may not properly display battery levels in proprietary headphones. Updating the phone's software to the latest available version often resolves hidden driver conflicts.
☑️ Connection readiness
Algorithm activation of the pairing mode on headphones
The most critical point in the whole process is to properly put the headphones into detection mode. Many users make the mistake of just opening the case lid, but for the first connection this is often not enough. The mechanics of action depends on the specific model, whether it is Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 or the newer Redmi Buds 3 Pro.
For most models without a physical button on the case (such as the Basic or Air series), you need to remove both headphones from the case at the same time. The cases should light up the indicators. If they flash white, the device is ready to search. If the indication is missing or burns red, put the headphones back in the case, close the lid and repeat the extraction procedure in 5-10 seconds.
Models with a button on the case (for example, Redmi Buds 3 Pro or Mi True Wireless Earphones 2) require a different approach: you need to place the headphones inside the case, leave the lid open and press the function button on the case. Hold it for 2-3 seconds until the indicator flashes quickly white. This is a signal that the pairing process is started.
What to do if the indicator does not flash?
It's important to understand the difference between standby and pairing. In normal state, headphones can just look for the latest device, and in pairing mode, they become visible to all the surrounding smartphones, and it's the quick flashing of the indicator that you need to achieve before you pick up the phone.
Connection process through Samsung settings
After successfully activating accessory search mode, go to the phone. Open Settings menu → Connections → Bluetooth. Make sure the switch at the top of the screen is active. Samsung's One UI system will automatically start scanning the surrounding space.
Your headset should appear on the "Available Devices" list, which may look like "Redmi Buds 3," "Mi True Wireless EB Basic," or just the model code. Click on the name. You may see a request on the screen to confirm that you have paired with or without the code, click "Plug" or "OK."
- 📱 Wait for the “Connected” status to appear next to the device name in the list.
- 🔊 Check Output: Run any track to make sure the sound is going into the headphones, not through the phone speaker.
- 🔋 Note the battery widget: on some Samsung models, the charge level may not immediately appear.
In some cases, Android can request permission to access contacts and call logs, so you can see the name of the caller and use the headset microphone for conversations, without this permission, the headphones will only work as an external speaker system.
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If the sound appears but only one headphone is running (mono mode), try in the Bluetooth settings to press the gear next to the device and disable the "Use for calls" option, then turn it back on. This will restart the HSP/HFP profile.
Using the Xiaomi Earbuds app for advanced customization
Although the basic connection works immediately, for full use of all functions. TWS-Xiaomi’s headset is recommended to install a special app, the official app called Xiaomi Earbuds (formerly known as Mi True Wireless), which allows you to update the firmware, adjust the equalizer and change the purpose of the touch zones.
You can download the app from the Google Play Store. Once installed, launch it and provide all the permissions you request, including geolocation (you need a Bluetooth scanner on Android). The app will automatically find the connected headphones. If that doesn't happen, click the add button manually.
The following important functions are available within the application:
- 🎛️ Equalizer: Selection (preset) of sound profiles or manual frequency setting.
- 👆 Gesture control: adjusting the response to double, triple touch or prolonged retention.
- 🔄 Firmware Update: A Critical Item to Fix Connection Bugs.
It’s worth noting that Samsung phones may display less charge-level widgets in the app than Xiaomi smartphones because of differences in battery data protocols. However, audio management and update functionality works consistently on any version of Android above 6.0.
| Function | No app. | With the Xiaomi Earbuds app |
|---|---|---|
| Listening to music | Available. | Available. |
| Firmware update | Unavailable | Available. |
| Equalizer setting | Standard systems | Extended (in annex) |
| Headphone search | Unavailable | Available (audible signal) |
Solution: Headphones are not connected or no sound
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users sometimes encounter problems. One of the most common is that the phone sees the device, but the connection does not occur or immediately breaks. This is often associated with the Bluetooth module cache. To fix this, go to Settings → Applications, find the list "Bluetooth" (may need to show system processes) and select "Clear cache" and "Clear data".
Another common problem is channel desynchronization, which can only come from the left or only from the right earphone, and in this case, a full reset helps, usually by putting the headphones in the case and holding the button (or touching the sensors) for 10-15 seconds before changing the color of the indicator to red or orange, after reset, you need to remove the device from the Bluetooth list on the phone ("Forget the device") and reconnect.
⚠️ Note: When you reset your headphones to factory settings, all your stored pairing profiles will be deleted. You will have to reconnect them to all previously used devices.
If there's a sound that's very quiet or intermittent, check the absolute volume settings. On Samsung, it's a hidden option on the developer menu, but often a simple volume adjustment helps: turn the volume down on the phone to zero, then turn off Bluetooth, turn on the headphones again, and then add volume. This synchronizes the signal amplification levels.
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In 90% of cases, connection problems are solved by completely cleaning the list of paired devices on the phone and re-pairing from scratch.
Features of codecs and sound quality
The quality of the audio transmitted depends not only on the headphone speakers, but also on the Bluetooth codec used. Samsung phones usually support SBC, AAC and proprietary SSC (Samsung Scalable Codec). Xiaomi headphones most often work with SBC and AAC, and top-end models can support aptX or LHDC.
When you connect the devices, you automatically agree on the best quality common codec. If you notice a delay in audio when watching video (audio and video), this may be due to the use of a high-resolution codec with a high bitrate. In the developer settings on Android, you can force the codec to choose, but for the average user it is better to leave the "Automatic" mode.
The Hands-Free Profile (HFP) protocol is used to make calls, which provides low-quality monosound, which is the norm for all Bluetooth headsets. If a person complains about a quiet voice during a conversation, check if the microphone is closed with a finger or clothes, since the location of the microphones on different Xiaomi models is different.