How to connect Xiaomi Buds 3 to the phone: step-by-step instructions with photos and tips

Introduction: Why you need the right setup Xiaomi Buds 3

Xiaomi Buds 3 wireless headphones are among the most popular in the brand’s lineup due to the balance of price, sound quality and battery life. However, even experienced users sometimes have difficulties with the first connection: headphones are not determined by the phone, the sound is interrupted or only one speaker is working. This article will help avoid typical errors and adjust pairing the first time, regardless of the smartphone model.

We're going to take a look at not only the standard Bluetooth connection process, but also hidden features that the manufacturer doesn't always advertise, like how to activate low latency for games, or why Buds 3 can automatically shut down when you talk, and how to reset your headphones to factory settings if they've forgotten all previously paired devices.

Preparation for connection: what to check before pairing

Before you start setting up, make sure your Xiaomi Buds 3 is ready to go, and problems often arise from trivial things that users don’t pay attention to.

• 🔋 Charging headphones and case: minimum charge level is 30%. If the indicator on the case is not burning, connect it to charging for 10-15 minutes.
• 📱 Bluetooth version on smartphone: Buds 3 supports Bluetooth 5.2. Older phones (until 2018 release) may have problems with communication stability.
• 🔄 Resetting previous connections: If the headphones were already paired with another device, they need to “forget” in the Bluetooth settings of that gadget.
• 🛠️ Firmware Update: Check the relevance of the software through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app (more on this in the section below).

Pay special attention to the indicators of the condition on the case and headphones:

• 🟢 Green flashing - ready to pair.
• 🔴 Red: Low charge (less than 10%).
• 🟡 Yellow, charging's coming.
• 🔵 Blue – already connected to the device.

⚠️ Warning: If the indicator on the case does not respond to the press of a button, try to clear the contacts of the headphones and the case with a dry cotton swab. Dust or oxidation can block charging and pairing.

Standard Android Connection: Step-by-step instructions

The process of pairing with Android phones (including Xiaomi, Samsung, Realme and others) takes no more than 2 minutes.

1. Open the cover of the Xiaomi Buds 3 case and hold the button on the back for 3-5 seconds until the indicator flashes white and red (pairing mode).
2. On your smartphone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and turn on the module. In the list of available devices, the Mi True Wireless Earphones Basic 2 (or Xiaomi Buds 3 in new versions of the software) will appear.
3. Click on the headphone name and confirm the connection. In 5-10 seconds, the notification "Device connected" will appear.
4. Take the headphones out of the case, they'll automatically activate and connect to the phone, and the indicator on the case will turn blue.

If the headphones don’t appear in the list of devices, try:

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on module).
• 📱 Remove the Settings app cache (in Settings) → Annexes → All applications).
• 🔋 Remove the headphones from the case, wait 10 seconds and return back, then repeat pairing.

💡

If your Android 12+ phone and headphones are late, turn on the “FastStream” option in your Bluetooth settings, which will reduce the lags when watching videos.

Connection to iPhone (iOS): features and nuances

While the Xiaomi Buds 3 is optimized for Android, it works well with the iPhone (iOS 12 and later), but there are a few key differences:

1. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones (button on the case before flashing white / red).
2. On iPhone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and wait for Mi True Wireless Earphones to appear in the list of “Other devices”.
3. Click on the name and confirm the connection. Unlike Android, there will be no notification of successful pairing here - just check that the status "Connected" appears on the list of devices.

Restrictions on use with iOS:

⚠️ Note: On iPhones, headphones may occasionally turn off while on the phone, due to Bluetooth protocol conflict, solution: turn off the headphones before a call or use the phone speaker.

Setup via Mi Home app: Hidden features

The official Mi Home app (or Xiaomi Wear for new models) reveals the full potential of Buds 3.

• 🎵 Set up an equalizer (preset profiles: Bass, Clear Sound, Voice").
• 👆 Change the control gestures (double touch, hold).
• 🔄 Update the firmware (critical for communication stability).
• 🔋 View the charge level of each headphone and case.

How to connect headphones to the application:

1. Install Mi Home from Google Play or App Store.
2. Sign up or sign in to your Xiaomi account.
3. Click Add Device (+) → Select Headphones category → Xiaomi Buds 3.
4. Follow the instructions on the screen (you will need to confirm the connection via Bluetooth).

After connecting to Mi Home, we recommend:

• 🔄 Update the firmware (if a new version is available).
• 🎧 Enable "Game Mode" (reduces sound latency to 88 ms).
• 🔕 Activate Transparent Mode for conversations in noisy places.

Problem Solving: Headphones are not connected or are malfunctioning

If Xiaomi Buds 3 is not defined by the phone or connects with errors, try the following steps:

If nothing helps, perform a full reset (the instructions in the spoiler above) and reconnect.

⚠️ Note: Headphones Xiaomi Buds 3 do not support simultaneous connection to two devices (for example, phone and laptop.

Additional tips: how to improve sound and autonomy

To maximize the potential of Buds 3, use these tips:

• 🎵 Equalizer setting: In Mi Home, select Bass for music or Voice for podcasts. Use third-party apps like Wavelet for custom settings.
• 🔋 Saving charge: Turn off the headphones when not in use (they automatically turn off after 5 minutes without connecting). Full case charge cycle - 1.5 hours.
• 🎮 Low Delay Mode: Activated in Mi Home → Headphone settings → Game mode, good for you. PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty.
• 🌧️ Moisture Protection: Headphones have a certificate IP54, But don't use them in the rain or in the shower.

To extend the battery life:

• 🔌 Avoid full discharge (charge at 20-30%).
• 🌡️ Do not leave your headphones in the sun or in a hot place (optimum storage temperature: 10-35).°C).
• 🔄 Once a month, perform a full discharge/charging cycle to calibrate the battery.

💡

The low-latency mode (Game Mode) reduces the latency to 88 ms, but increases battery consumption by 10-15%. Use it only when necessary.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions