Connecting a wireless headset to a smartphone often seems like a trivial task, but in the Xiaomi ecosystem, this process has its own nuances that can put an inexperienced user in the dark.
Modern. TWS-Headphones (True Wireless Stereo) from the Chinese giant, whether it is the line of Redmi Buds, Mi True Wireless or flagship Xiaomi Buds, use advanced data transfer protocols that require the right sequence of actions to activate the pairing mode.
Ignoring certain steps, such as forcing you to enter search mode or clearing a list of previous devices, often leads to the fact that the gadget is simply not visible in the Bluetooth menu of the smartphone, creating the illusion of a malfunction.
In this article, we will analyze not only the standard connection algorithm, but also delve into the technical details of the Bluetooth 5.0 and 5.2 modules used in current models.
You will learn why it is important to consider the version of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system, as well as what hidden features are opened when using the proprietary Xiaomi Earbuds application.
The instruction is universal and covers both wired solutions with a Type-C or 3.5 mm connector, and fully wireless cases with touch control.
Preparation of the device and the charging case for the first launch
Before you try to connect the devices, you need to make sure that they have enough energy to conduct an energy-intensive procedure for establishing communication.
New TWS-Headphones often come with partially discharged batteries or protective films on the contacts, which can block the operation of state indicators.
Remove the headset from the package and carefully examine the inside of the charging case: metal pins should not have oxides or factory insulation.
Place the headphones in your case and connect it to the power source via a USB-C or Micro-USB cable, depending on your device’s model.
Wait until the indicator on the housing lights up with even light or starts to pulsate, indicating a critical mass of energy to start.
It is recommended to charge the device for at least 30 minutes before first use to avoid a sudden shutdown during the A2DP profile setup process.
⚠️ Note: If the case indicator doesn’t light up after 15 minutes of charging, try replacing the cable or power supply – some cheap cables only transmit current but don’t provide the necessary current strength to activate the controller.
☑️ Checking the device's readiness
It is important to understand that lithium polymer batteries used in compact acoustics are extremely sensitive to deep discharge.
If the gadget has been lying in stock for a long time, it may need a “rock-up” – several cycles of full charge and discharge to reach the nominal capacity.
Only after successful charging can you move on to software manipulation and signal search.
Activation of the coupling mode on different models
The process of transferring headphones to the visibility mode (Pairing Mode) varies significantly depending on the generation of the device and the presence of a physical button on the case.
For most modern models, such as the Redmi Buds 3 Pro or Xiaomi Buds 3T, it is easy to remove both headphones from the case with the lid open.
At this point, the LED light on the front of the case should start flashing white quickly, which means activation of the detection mode.
If the automatic start-up has not occurred, it is necessary to resort to forced activation.
Find the function button on the back or bottom of the charging case and press it, holding for 2-3 seconds.
In some older models, such as the Mi True Wireless Earphones Basic, the button may be missing, and then you need to touch the touch areas on the headphones themselves at the same time.
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To switch to pairing mode, hold the button on the case until the indicator starts flashing with double the frequency - this is a signal of readiness for connection.
There is also a method of resetting Bluetooth settings that simultaneously puts the device into search mode.
Place the headphones in the case, close the cover, and then press and hold the control button for 10-15 seconds before changing the color of the indication.
After that, open the lid – the device should be ready to connect to the new gadget.
Connection via Bluetooth in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have an optimized Bluetooth stack that provides an instant pop-up with animation when opening a case next to the phone.
This feature works on the basis of the Fast Pair protocol and requires that the smartphone was turned on Bluetooth and the screen is unlocked.
When you bring an open case to the phone, a card will appear on the display with the image of your model and the charge level of each headphone separately.
For manual connection, go to Settings → Bluetooth menu and make sure the slider is activated.
Click on the search button for new devices or update the list if the desired gadget does not appear in the “My devices” section.
In the list of available networks, find your model name, such as Redmi Buds 3 Lite, and click on it to initiate a connection.
| Model headphones | Bluetooth version | Support codec | Features of conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro | 5.2 | LHDC 4.0, AAC, SBC | Auto-match, noise cancellation |
| Redmi Buds 4 Pro | 5.3 | LHDC 4.0, AAC | Low latency, game mode |
| Mi True Wireless 2 | 5.0 | AAC, SBC | Basic connection, sensor |
| Redmi Buds 3 Lite | 5.0 | AAC, SBC | Simplified menu, IPX4 |
After a successful connection, the system can offer to update the firmware of the headphones through the system menu.
Don’t ignore this suggestion, as newer versions of firmware often include connection stability fixes and microphone improvements.
The update process can take several minutes, during which it is not recommended to open the case or move away from the smartphone.
Using the Xiaomi Earbuds app for advanced settings
To unlock the full potential of your headphones, installing a dedicated Xiaomi Earbuds app from the Google Play store is highly recommended.
This software allows not only to track the charge, but also to adjust the equalizer, reassign touch commands and select noise reduction modes.
When the app is first launched, it will request permission to use geolocation and Bluetooth, which are necessary rights to scan the surrounding devices.
Inside the application you will find detailed information about the firmware version of each headphone and charging case.
Here you can find headphones, which causes the headset to emit a loud beep if you lost one of them in the room.
Also through Xiaomi Earbuds you can turn on the game mode, which reduces latency to a minimum, which is critical for shooters and rhythm games.
Why do I need to update my firmware through the app?
Some users face a situation where the app does not see headphones, although they are connected in Bluetooth.
In this case, try to remove the device from the list of conjugated in the phone settings, reset the headphones to factory settings and connect them again through the program interface.
This ensures that all service profiles are installed correctly and in the correct sequence.
Connect to devices on iOS and other Android brands
Owners of iPhones or other brands (Samsung, Huawei) can also use Xiaomi headphones, but the functionality will be limited by the basic features.
The pairing process on iOS is standard: open Bluetooth settings, find the device in the “Other Devices” list, and click to connect.
It is worth considering that the pop-up with animation and the exact percentage of charge of each headphone on the iPhone will not be displayed.
To get advanced settings on Android smartphones of other brands, you need to manually install the Xiaomi Earbuds application.
In some cases, the Android system can aggressively close out background processes, so add the app to battery exclusions.
This will allow you to save the settings of the equalizer and modes of operation even after restarting the smartphone or turning off the headphones.
⚠️ Attention: On iOS devices codec LHDC The system may not be supported and the sound will be transmitted in a format. AAC, which is the standard for Apple, but may differ in quality from the original intended sound.
When switching between devices (e.g. from phone to tablet), there is often a need for manual reconnection.
Xiaomi headphones usually remember the last active device, but don’t always automatically switch to it when turned on.
You will need to open the Bluetooth list on the new device and click on the headset name to initiate the connection.
Solution: Headphones do not mate or only one is visible
One of the most common problems is when the phone sees only one headphone or they do not connect to each other (sync stereo is lost).
This often happens if one of the headphones is completely discharged while lying in the case, or if they have been paired with another phone before.
To solve the problem, you need to perform a complete reset (Hard Reset) of the headset to the factory settings.
Place both headphones in the charging case and make sure they are charging (indicators are on).
Press and hold the function button on the case for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red or changes the blinking pattern.
After that, remove the old pairing in your phone’s Bluetooth settings (the “Forget Device” or “Cancel pairing” option).
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Completely resetting headphone settings and removing the profile from the phone’s memory is a solution to 90% of connection and channel desynchronization problems.
After reset, repeat the initial pairing procedure as if you just bought the device.
If the problem persists, check the contacts in the case - it is possible that one of the headphones simply does not charge due to contamination.
Wipe the contacts with a dry soft cloth and try again charging and resetting.