Pairing headphones with a Xiaomi phone seems like a simple task — until you encounter errors like “device not found” or interrupting sound. Even experienced users sometimes get lost when Bluetooth headphones refuse to connect to Redmi smartphones, POCO or flagships of the Mi series. The reasons can lie in the settings of the phone, and in the features of the headphones themselves — from outdated firmware to conflict codecs.
In this article, we will discuss all the ways of connecting – from the classic wired 3.5 mm to the modern TWS- headsets with support for LC3 and AAC. Particular attention will be paid to the hidden settings of MIUI, which affect the stability of the connection and sound quality, but about which few people know. If your headphones were already paired with another device, and now your phone does not see them – here you will find a solution.
1. Preparing Xiaomi phone for pairing
Before you plug in your headphones, make sure your Xiaomi is ready for it. Many problems arise from outdated software or conflicting settings.
The first thing you need to do is update MIUI to the latest version.
- Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
- Click on “Check Updates” and install the available packages.
- After the update, restart the device.
Also check if Bluetooth is enabled and blocked by the power saving mode:
- 🔄 Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
- 🔋 Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Power Saving Mode and turn off Bluetooth restrictions.
- 📱 Make sure in Settings → Applications → Application Management → System applications Bluetooth has no restrictions on working in the background.
⚠️ Warning: Xiaomi phones with MIUI 14+ have a hidden Smart Connection feature that can automatically turn off Bluetooth headphones when the battery is low. To turn it off, go to Settings → Special Features → Smart Connection and deactivate the option.
Bluetooth enabled | Updated MIUI | Power saving mode disabled for Bluetooth | Reset previous pairings (if necessary) | Codec compatibility checked-->
2. Bluetooth headphones (TWS and conventional)
The process of connecting Bluetooth headphones to Xiaomi depends on their type. Consider two scenarios: first connection and re-pairing after reset.
For the new headphones:
- Turn the headphones in pairing mode (usually hold the power button for 5-10 seconds until the indicator blinks).
- On your phone, open Settings → Bluetooth and click “Search for Devices”.
- Select your headphones from the list and confirm the connection.
For previously connected headphones:
- 🔗 If the headphones have already been paired, they should automatically connect when Bluetooth is turned on.
- 🔄 If the connection is not established, remove the device from the list and pair again.
- 🔋 Some Xiaomi models (like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+) have a bug that only connects the headphones after the phone is rebooted.
If the headphones are not determined, try:
- 📱 Reboot the phone and headphones.
- 🔌 Connect the headphones to another device (like a laptop), and then try pairing with Xiaomi again.
- 🔧 Reset network settings on your phone: Settings → System and device → Reset settings → Network settings reset.
What if the headphones are connected but there is no sound?
Connecting wired headphones (3.5 mm and Type-C)
While many modern Xiaomis have lost their 3.5mm jack, wired headphones are still relevant.
For phones with 3.5 mm:
- 🎧 Just plug your headphones into the jack. The phone must automatically switch the sound.
- 🔊 If no sound, check: Clean connector (dust or oxidation may interfere with contact). Settings to Settings → Sound and vibration.
For Type-C phones (without 3.5mm):
- 🔌 Use an adapter (e.g., original from Xiaomi or certified USB-C to 3.5mm).
- 📱 Some adapters require OTG enabled in settings: Settings → Connections and Sharing → OTG.
- ⚡ If the sound is interrupted, try turning off battery optimization for the Music or Sound app.
⚠️ Warning: The phones POCO F5 and Xiaomi 13T may have background noise when using the Type-C adapter, due to the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) features in the adapter, so the solution is to use headphones with USB-C or wireless.
| Xiaomi model | Presence of 3.5 mm | Type-C audio support | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12 | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Yes. | It is better to use wired headphones directly. |
| Xiaomi 13 Pro | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. | An adapter with an external DAC is recommended (e.g. Xiaomi USB-C to 3.5mm Pro). |
| POCO X5 Pro | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes (with noise) | For high-quality sound, it is better to use Bluetooth 5.3. |
| Redmi A2 | ✅ Yes. | ❌ No. | Only classic 3.5mm headphones are supported. |
4.Tune the sound for maximum quality
Once the headphones are connected, the sound may not be perfect: quiet, distorted, or incomplete frequency range. MIUI has hidden settings that will help improve quality.
Optimization of Bluetooth codecs:
- 🎵 Open Settings → Bluetooth, click on the gear icon next to the connected headphones.
- 🔧 Select the codec: AAC is the best balance of quality and stability (recommended for Apple AirPods). aptX or LDAC is for high resolution (requires headphone support). SBC is versatile but with poorer quality.
Equalizer setting:
- 🎛️ Go to Settings. → Sound and vibration → equalizer.
- 🎶 Select a preset (Bas, Rock, Jazz) or create your profile.
- 🔊 Turn on Mi Sound Enhancer for spatial sound enhancement (available on Xiaomi flagships 13/14).
Additional improvements:
- 🔇 Enable Dolby Atmos (if supported): Settings → Sound and vibration → Dolby Atmos.
- 🎧 For TWS- headphones, activate low latency (if any) mode for games and videos.
💡
If the headphones are quieter than the speaker, check the volume limit in Settings → Sound and Vibration → Safe Volume. Turn off the volume limit option for headphones.
5. Solving common problems
Even after successful pairing, problems can arise, and here are the most common ways to solve them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The headphones are connected, but the sound goes through the speaker. | Incorrect Bluetooth profile (HFP instead of A2DP) | Reconnect the headphones or manually select a profile in Bluetooth settings. |
| The sound is interrupted or stuttered | Wi-Fi conflict or weak Bluetooth signal | Turn off Wi-Fi or go closer to your phone. Try changing the codec to SBC. |
| Headphones are discharged quickly | Low latency mode is active or Dolby Atmos is enabled | Turn off unnecessary effects in the sound settings. |
| Phone can't find headphones | Headphones are not in pairing mode or conflict with other devices | Reset the network settings on your phone and reset the headphones. |
If the headphones are connected, but the sound is distorted:
- 🔊 Check to see if the talk mode is on (sometimes activated accidentally via a button on the headphones).
- 📱 Update the headphone firmware (if there is such software).
- 🔧 Try another codec in Bluetooth settings.
⚠️ Warning: Xiaomi phones with MIUI 13 and older have a bug that can cause TWS- headphones (e.g., Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro) to lose sync with each other, so the solution is to reset the headphones to factory settings (usually hold both touch panels for 15 seconds) and re-coil.
3.5 mm wired|Bluetooth (ordinary)|TWS (For example, AirPods, Xiaomi Buds)|USB-C|Others-->
6.Pairing Xiaomi headphones with branded chips
Headphones from Xiaomi (for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, Redmi Buds 5) have additional features when connecting to phones of the same brand.
Activation of extended functions:
- 🎧 Install the Mi Earphones app (available from Google Play or App Gallery).
- 🔗 Connect your headphones and open the setup app: Adaptive ANC (active noise cancellation); Gesture adjustment (double touch, hold); Check the charge level of each earpiece.
Use of dual connection (Multipoint):
- 📱 Headphones Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro and later support connection to two devices at the same time.
- 🔄 To activate: Connect the headphones to the first device. Enable the headphone pairing mode (hold the 3-second button). Connect to the second device.
Quick connection via NFC:
- 📲 Some models (e.g., Xiaomi 13 Ultra) support pairing via NFC.
- 🔗 Just put your headphones on the back of the phone and a connection notification will appear.
💡
For Xiaomi headphones, always install branded software (Mi Earphones or AiPin) without it, many features (such as ANC firmware) will not be available.
7. Connecting headphones to Xiaomi through third-party apps
If standard MIUI settings don't allow you to achieve a stable connection, you can use third-party utilities.
- 🔧 Forced to select a codec.
- 📶 Improve connection stability.
- 🎛️ Set up bitrate and buffer.
Recommended annexes:
- 🔹 Developer Options: Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → Version MIUI (click 7 times). Go to Settings → Additional → Developer. Find Bluetooth Codec, Bluetooth Bitrate and Bluetooth Bandwidth options.
Bluetooth Auto Connect
SoundAssistant
⚠️ Warning: Changing the Bluetooth codec settings in developer mode can cause connection loss or audio distortion. If you're not sure about the settings, leave the default values.
Example of settings through Developer Options:
1. Activate the developer mode (see above).
2.In Settings → For developers find:
Bluetooth Audio Codec → select aptX HD (if supported).
Bluetooth Audio Sample Rate → set to 48,000 Hz.
Bluetooth Audio Bits Per Sample → set to 16 bits.
3. Reconnect the headphones.8. headphones pair with Xiaomi on older versions of MIUI
If you have a phone with a MIUI 12 or older (like the Redmi Note 9 or Xiaomi Mi 10T), the connection process may be different.
- 🔄 No support for modern codecs (LC3, aptX Adaptive).
- 📱 Bugs with automatic connection of TWS- headphones.
- 🔊 There is no equalizer in standard settings.
Solutions for older versions:
- 🔧 Update MIUI to the latest available version (even if it's not MIUI14, bug fixes often come out in patches).
- 🎛️ Install a third-party equalizer (e.g., Poweramp Equalizer).
- 🔗 For TWS- headphones, use the Mi Earphones app (even if it doesn't officially support your model).