The integration of accessories from different manufacturers into a single Android ecosystem often raises questions among users, especially when it comes to specific features and connection stability. The combination of a Samsung Galaxy smartphone and Xiaomi wireless headphones (or a sub-brand of Redmi) is a popular bundle that allows you to get quality sound at a reasonable cost of gadgets. Although both systems work on Android, the process of initial pairing and fine-tuning can be different from connecting devices of the same brand.
In this article, we will take a look at all the steps of connecting, from activating pairing mode to deep tuning of audio codecs through an engineering menu. You will learn how to achieve minimal audio delay in games and how to fix common problems with interruption of communication.
The main data protocol used in this case is Bluetooth, which provides wireless communication at a distance of up to 10 meters without obstacles. However, Samsung’s standard Android settings on the One UI shell do not always automatically select the optimal codec for Xiaomi headphones, which can limit the sound quality. Understanding the technical nuances will allow you to squeeze the most out of your devices.
Preparation of Xiaomi headphones for pairing
The first and most critical step is to put the headset into detection mode. Many users make the mistake of simply turning on the device, whereas a special mode is required for the first connection to a new phone. Depending on the Xiaomi Mi True Wireless or Redmi Buds model, the algorithm of actions may vary slightly, but the general principle remains the same.
If you're using fully wireless headphones in a case, make sure they're charged. Remove both headphones from the charging case. In most modern Xiaomi models, pairing mode is activated automatically when you first remove from the case if the device hasn't been connected to anything before. Headphone indicators should start flashing quickly in white, signaling readiness to search.
⚠️ Note: If the headphones were previously paired with another phone, they may try to connect to it automatically, ignoring your Samsung.In this case, you need to manually turn off Bluetooth on the old device or perform a headphone reset to factory settings by clamping the touchpads on the old device. 10-15 seconds.
For cervical-rim models like the Xiaomi Bluetooth Neckband, the procedure is even easier: you need to press the central control button (or on button) and hold it for about 5-7 seconds until the LED light alternately flashes red and blue (or white), at which point the device becomes visible to external scanners.
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Keep your headphones no more than 1 meter away from your smartphone during the first pairing to ensure a stable signal and fast transfer of encryption keys.
Connection process through Samsung settings
After preparing the headset, we move on to smartphone settings. Samsung's One UI interface has its own menu logic, which may differ from stock Android. Open the Quick Settings Panel with a swipe top-down and make sure the Bluetooth icon is active. For a deeper setup, go to the main menu and select Settings.
In the settings menu, find the Connection option and click on it. This shows all available wireless interfaces. Make sure the Bluetooth switch is in the On position. The smartphone will immediately start scanning the surrounding space for available devices. If the list is not updated for a long time, click on three dots in the corner of the screen and select "Update".
☑️ Checking before connection
The Available Devices list should show your model name, such as the Redmi Buds 3 Pro or Mi True Wireless EBs Basic. Click on the name. The phone screen may show a request to confirm pairing with the code or just a notification about the access request. Click Connect. After successful synchronization, the status will be marked "Connected" with the battery icons for the left and right headphones.
Customization of sound and codecs in Developer Options
Standard audio settings on Samsung often limit bitrate to save power, which prevents you from unlocking the potential of high-quality codecs supported by Xiaomi headphones. To access hidden settings, you need to activate the developer menu. Go to Settings → Phone Information → Software Information.
Find the line "Build Number" and quickly click on it 7 times in a row, the system will notify you that you have become a developer. Go back to the main settings menu, at the very bottom there will be a new item "Developer Settings" and log in and scroll down to the "Bluetooth Network" section, which contains key settings to improve the sound quality.
Find the Bluetooth Codec option. It can be SBC or AAC by default. If your Xiaomi headphones support more advanced codecs like aptX, aptX HD or LDAC, they will appear in this list after you connect. Choose the highest quality codec. It is also recommended to change the setting of “Bluetooth audio bit” to 24 bits and “Sampling frequency” to 96 kHz for maximum resolution.
| Codec | Bitrate (example) | Sound quality | Delay (Latency) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBC | 328 kbps | Basic | Tall. |
| AAC | 256 kbps | Good (iOS standard) | Medium |
| aptX | 352 kbps | High (CD-quality) | Low. |
| LDAC | 990 kbps | Hi-Res Audio | Depends on the regime. |
What is LDAC and should it be included?
Use of the Xiaomi Earbuds app
To fully manage Xiaomi headphone features on third-party devices, including Samsung, it is recommended to install the official Xiaomi Earbuds app. It is available in the Google Play Store. Without this app, many unique features such as noise reduction (ANC), transparency mode and touch control settings may not be available.
Once installed, launch the app and provide the necessary permissions to access Bluetooth and geolocation. The app will automatically detect the connected headphones. In the interface, you can see the exact charge level of each earphone and case, which is sometimes incorrectly displayed in the standard Samsung widget.
⚠️ Warning: The app may request permission to operate in the background.Be sure to allow this, otherwise the Samsung system may "kill" the application process to save energy, and you will lose the ability to quickly switch noise reduction modes.
In the settings section of the app, you can update the firmware of the headphones, which is important because manufacturers often release updates that improve the stability of the connection with different smartphones. If you have problems with sound, check for updates first.
Solution: Headphones are not connected or the sound is interrupted
Even with the right setup, there can be technical failures. One of the common problems is desynchronizing the left and right earphones or constantly interrupting the sound. Often this is not due to a breakdown, but to overflowing pairing memory or radio interference. First, try Forget the device in the Bluetooth settings on Samsung and do the pairing again.
If the sound is interrupted by jerks, check the list of applications that are working. Heavy games or navigators can overload the communication channel. It is also worth turning off the option "Absolute Volume Level" in the Bluetooth settings. To do this, find the corresponding switch in the developer menu and change its state. This often solves the problem of quiet or unstable sound.
Another reason could be the Bluetooth version. Make sure your Samsung supports the current standards (Bluetooth 5.0 and above). Older phone models may not be able to cope with the flow of data from modern Xiaomi headphones, especially when using the LDAC codec. In this case, you must force the switch to the aptX or AAC codec in the developer menu.
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Resetting network settings on a smartphone often solves problems that cannot be fixed by a normal Bluetooth reboot.
Optimization of the game and low latency
For gamers, minimal latency is critical. Xiaomi headphones often have a special “Game mode” that reduces latency to 60-80 ms. You can activate it with a triple tap on the headphone touchpad (the setup is performed in the Xiaomi Earbuds app). On the Samsung side, you should also turn on optimization for games.
In the Samsung developer menu, look for the item "Enable the A2DP hardware coding profile" (if available for your model) and make sure you select a low latency codec, such as aptX Low Latency or aptX Adaptive. Standard SBC gives a latency of about 200 ms, which can be palpable in shooters.
Also, you should turn off background downloads and cloud services sync while playing to free up your Bluetooth channel. Remember that distance to your phone also affects latency: keep your smartphone in your pocket in front or on a table next to you, but don’t hide it behind your back or in another room.