Xiaomi’s modern wireless headphones, whether popular Redmi Buds or flagship Mi True Wireless, have become the standard of quality for many users. However, when it comes to transferring music or gameplay from a mobile phone to a desktop or laptop, users often face unexpected difficulties. The standard connection procedure, which takes seconds on a smartphone, on a PC may require manually configuring drivers or activating hidden operating system functions.
The main challenge is the variety of Bluetooth adapters installed in computers and the differences in data protocols between Windows, macOS and Linux. You need to understand that there is no universal plug-in button, and each step requires careful attention. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of pairing, from hardware preparation to fine-tuning the sound quality for professional work.
Before you start software settings, make sure your headphones are fully charged and in good condition. Low battery power can lead to unstable connection or complete failure of the device to go into detection mode. It is also worth checking whether the headphones are currently connected to another gadget, as many Xiaomi models prioritize the last active connection.
Preparation of equipment and compatibility check
The first step on the road to quality sound is to diagnose the hardware of your computer. Not all laptops and desktops have a built-in Bluetooth module, and even if you have one, its version may be outdated. For comfortable use of high-resolution codecs such as AptX or AAC, If your computer was released more than 7 years ago, you will likely need to purchase an external adapter version 4.0 and higher. USB-adapter.
To check the presence and status of a Bluetooth module in a Windows environment, you can use Device Manager. To do this, click the Win + X key combination and select Device Manager in the drop-down menu. In the window that opens, find the Bluetooth category and make sure your adapter is displayed there without the yellow exclamation points signaling driver problems.
⚠️ Note: If your adapter is marked with an error or is not listed in the Device Manager, do not try to connect the headphones. First install the current drivers from the official website of the motherboard manufacturer or laptop.
Special attention should be paid to the models of your headphones, as the algorithm for switching to pairing mode may differ. For example, for Xiaomi Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic, you need to remove both headphones from the case and (hold) the touch areas until the indicators flash white. At the same time, overhead models of the Xiaomi Headphones Comfort series require holding the power button off.
- 🔍 Make sure that Bluetooth on your computer is enabled through the notification panel or system settings.
- 🔋 Charge Xiaomi headphones to at least 30% before the pairing procedure.
- 📱 Turn off Bluetooth on your smartphone so the headphones don’t connect to it automatically.
- 🔄 Restart your computer if you have previously experienced a failure in the operation of wireless modules.
The pairing process in Windows 10 and 11
Windows operating systems provide a flexible toolkit for working with the peripherals, but the settings interface in versions 10 and 11 has visual differences. The algorithm remains similar: go to the parameters menu, activate the search for devices and select your model from the list. The key here is the correct timing – the headphones should be in visibility at the time of scanning.
In Windows 10, open the Start menu and select the gear icon to enter Settings. Go to Devices and make sure the Bluetooth switch is in On. Click on the large button Add Bluetooth or other device, select the first item in the new window, and wait for your headphones to appear, such as the Redmi Buds 3 Pro.
Windows 11 users may notice an updated design of the settings menu" →"Bluetooth and devices. The system will automatically prompt you to add a new device if it is found nearby. Once the device is selected, a request for confirmation of pairing or input may appear in the list. PIN-The code is usually 0000 or 1234, although modern Xiaomi models are automatically paired.
☑️ Checklist of successful connection
Once successfully connected, the system can automatically install the necessary audio control drivers. If this does not happen, and the headphones are displayed as "Connected", but no sound, you will need to manually check the playback settings. Often Windows leaves the monitor speaker output device or the built-in speakers of the laptop as default.
Sound setting and selection of output device
The most common problem after successful pairing is the lack of audio or its poor quality. The operating system may perceive the headphones as a low-bitrate headset (Hands-Free mode) instead of a high-quality stereo device. To fix this, you need to manually switch the mode in the control panel.
Right-click on the speaker icon in the tray (near the clock) and select "Sound" or "Sound Settings." In the window that opens, look for the "Sound Control Panel" or "Additional Sound Settings." In the playback list, you can see two versions of your headphones (for music) and Headset (for calls).
| Parameter | Stereo Mode (Music) | Hands-Free mode (Calls) |
|---|---|---|
| Sound quality | High (AAC, SBC, AptX) | Low (Mono, narrow range) |
| Microphone | Not available (usually) | Active. |
| Movies, music, games | Skype, Zoom, Discord | |
| Delay. | Minimum | Tall. |
For advanced users who want to make the most of their Xiaomi FlipBuds Pro or analogues, equalizer and spatial sound settings are available. In the properties of the playback device, in the Improvements tab, you can activate virtual surround sound, but this can increase the load on the processor and cause additional delay in games.
How to improve the quality of the microphone in the call mode?
Solving problems with drivers and services
If the computer can't see the headphones or the connection is constantly broken, the reason is often software. Bluetooth support in Windows can be stopped or not work properly. Service status check is the first step of deep diagnostics, which allows you to exclude software failures of the operating system.
To check, press Win + R, enter services.msc and press Enter. In the list, find the service "Bluetooth Support Service". Make sure the launch type is set to "Automatically" and the service itself is running. If it is stopped, click "Start".
⚠️ Warning: Changing the type of service to Automatic requires administrator rights. If the system requests confirmation, be sure to agree, otherwise the changes will not take effect.
Another cause of instability can be driver conflicts, especially if other manufacturers have used adapters before. In Device Manager, try to remove your Bluetooth device, and then select "Update Hardware Configuration" from the action menu, which will cause Windows to rediscover the adapter and install the standard driver, which often solves the problem.
- 🛠 Use automatic driver updates through Windows Update.
- 💾 Download drivers only from official sites of chipset manufacturers (Intel, Realtek, Qualcomm).
- 🚫 Remove old versions of the software before installing new driver versions.
- 🔌 Try to connect. USB-port-adapter USB 2.0 if there is interference in port 3.0.
Connection to macOS and Linux systems
Apple Mac owners face their own peripheral connectivity features: macOS makes pairing as simple as possible and integrated into the system layer; however, sometimes it is necessary to reset the Bluetooth module if the system has forgotten the device or cannot complete it (pairing).
On Mac, go to System Settings" →"Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is on. Put Xiaomi headphones in pairing mode and press "Plug" next to the device name that appears. If you have problems, press the Shift keys simultaneously. + Option and click on the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar, then select Reset Bluetooth module".
Users of Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint) can use a bluetoothctl graphical interface or a terminal, and the process in the terminal is as follows: turn on the agent, make the device visible, and scan.
bluetoothctl
agent on
default-agent
scan on
pair [MAC-address
connect [MAC-address
trust [MAC- addressThis method is especially effective when the graphics shells cannot properly handle handshake-protocol headphones.
💡
For Linux users: If the sound is interrupted, try changing the Bluetooth module setting in the configuration file by adding the FastConnectable=true string to improve connection stability.
Optimizing for gaming and reducing delay
When using wireless headphones for gaming, latency is a critical parameter. Standard SBC codecs can produce latency of up to 200-300 ms, making shooting shooters or rhythm games almost impossible. To minimize this effect, use low-latency codecs such as AptX Low Latency or AptX Adaptive.
Check the specifications of your adapter and headphones. If both devices support AptX LL, Windows will switch to this mode automatically whenever possible. However, it often requires third-party software, such as Bluetooth Tweaker, to force codec selection. In games, it is also recommended to disable any surround sound effects, as they introduce additional signal processing.
If latency remains high, the only reliable solution is to use a wired connection via an AUX (3.5 mm) cable, if the Xiaomi headphone model supports this capability. Many models, such as the Xiaomi Mi Headphones Comfort 2, have a corresponding connector that allows you to transmit analog signals without delay.
💡
For Bluetooth games, AptX Low Latency codecs are critical; without them, audio delays can reach 200 ms, which is unacceptable for competitive games.