Connecting Bluetooth headphones to Xiaomi phone: full instruction with expert advice

Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life, allowing you to listen to music, answer calls and watch videos without entangled wires. However, users of Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO often have difficulties when connecting a headset for the first time via Bluetooth. In this article, we will examine not only the standard pairing procedure, but also nuances that the manufacturer rarely mentions in official instructions.

Xiaomi’s smartphones feature modified MIUI firmware that can hide some settings or offer them in non-obvious menu sections. For example, Dual Audio for simultaneous use of two headsets is not available on all models, and the option of Bluetooth Codec (for example, aptX or LDAC) can affect sound quality.

Preparation of headphones and phone before connection

Before you start pairing, make sure both devices are ready to connect. Headphones should be charged (charge indicator usually flashes red at low battery level) and be in search mode. Most models (for example, Xiaomi AirDots, Redmi Buds or Haylou GT1) need to:

• 🔋 Hold the power button for 3-5 seconds until the indicator flashes (usually blue/white).
• 🔄 Remove headphones from the case (for models with autoactivation, like Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro).
• 📱 Check that the Xiaomi phone is Bluetooth enabled (the icon in the notification panel or in Settings) → Connections).

If the headphones have already been connected to another device (for example, a laptop or tablet), they must be reset.

1. Place the headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Hold the button on the case (if any) for 10-15 seconds before reset (the indicator flashes red).
3. For models without a button (such as the Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro), use a touchpad combination – usually a triple tap.

💡

If the headphone indicator doesn’t blink, try connecting them to charge for 10 minutes – sometimes a discharged battery blocks the pairing mode.

Step-by-step: how to connect headphones to Xiaomi

The connection algorithm is the same for most Xiaomi models, but may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI.

1. Open the settings on the phone (the gear icon on the desktop).
2. Go to Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
3. Activate Bluetooth by moving the slider to the right. Wait for the phone to start searching for the devices.
4. In the list of available devices, find the name of your headphones (for example, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 or Redmi Buds 4) and tap it.
5. Confirm the pairing if a request appears (sometimes you need to enter) PIN-code - default 0000 or 1234).

After successful connection next to the headphones will appear the inscription Connected, and in the notification panel – the Bluetooth icon with the indicator of the level of charge of the headset (if the model supports the transfer of this information).

Headphones are displayed in the list of connected devices|Bluetooth icon active in notification panel|The sound is played through the headset (check in the player)|The indicator on the headphones is constantly burning (does not blink)-->

Important: On some Xiaomi models (such as the POCO F3 or Redmi Note 11) the audio wizard can automatically start after connecting the headphones - do not miss this step, as it optimizes the sound to your preferences.

Customize Bluetooth sound and codecs on Xiaomi

The sound quality of wireless headphones depends not only on the headset itself, but also on the Bluetooth codec chosen. By default, Xiaomi uses SBC, a universal, but not the highest quality codec. If your headphones support aptX, AAC or LDAC, you can manually turn them on:

1. Open Settings → Sound → Bluetooth sound quality.
2. Select the connected headset from the list.
3. In the Audio codec section, tap on the available option (for example, aptX HD for high bitrate).

You can also set up in this menu:

• 🎧 Equalizer – choose a preset profile (like Bass or Jazz) or create your own.
• 🔊 Sound amplification is good for weak headphones, but can distort sound.
• 🎤 Noise suppression when calling – improves the legibility of voice in noisy places.

SBC (default) |AAC|aptX/aptX HD|LDAC|I don't know-->

Problem Solving: Headphones are not connected or turned off

If Xiaomi doesn’t see the headphones or the connection is constantly breaking, check out the following points:

⚠️ Attention: On phones with MIUI 14+ This can trigger Bluetooth Charge Saving, which breaks the connection when the battery is low. → Battery. → Performance mode.

• 📱 Reboot your phone – sometimes helps to reset temporary Bluetooth module errors.
• 🔄 Remove the headphones from the list of devices and connect again (in Settings) → Bluetooth tap the gear icon next to the headset and select Forget the device).
• 🛠️ Update the firmware - in older versions MIUI There were Bluetooth bugs. 5.2+ (relevant to Xiaomi 11/12 Redmi Note 10).
• 🔋 Check the headphone battery – with a charge level below 10%, many models automatically turn off.

If the problem persists, try resetting your network settings (does not delete files, but resets all saved connections):

Settings → System and device → Resetting settings → Resetting Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth

Additional Features: Dual Audio and Auto Connection

Xiaomi's MIUI 12.5+ smartphones support the simultaneous connection of two pairs of headphones to the same phone (Dual Audio), which is convenient if you want to share sound with a friend.

1. Connect the first pair of headphones (as described above).
2. Open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
3. Slip the gear icon next to the connected headset.
4. Select Dual Audio and connect the second pair of headphones.

You can also set up in this menu:

• 🔗 Autoconnect – headphones will connect to the phone immediately after extraction from the case.
• 📍 Connection Priority – Choose which device (phone or headphones) will be the main one in a conflict.
• 🎵 Sound effects -- turn on. 3D-audio or spatial audio (available on Xiaomi 13 Ultra and newer).

⚠️ Note: Dual Audio can cause audio delays (up to 0.5 seconds) due to simultaneous data transfer to two devices.

How to Disable or Remove Headphones from Xiaomi Phone

If you need to temporarily disable the headset or completely remove it from your phone’s memory, do the following:

Temporary shutdown:

1. Open the notification bar and tap the Bluetooth icon.
2. In the list of connected devices, click on the headphone name - the connection will break.

Complete removal (forget device):

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Put the gear next to the headphones.
3. Select Forget Device (or Disable if you want to save settings for future connectivity).

Once removed, the headphones will have to be reconnected, like when you first pair, which is useful if the headset is starting to glitch or you want to reset it.

💡

Removing a device from the Bluetooth list does not reset its own settings (for example, the uniformity of the battery charge in the Bluetooth list). TWS-Use the button on the case or headphones to completely reset.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting Bluetooth headphones to Xiaomi