How to connect Xiaomi Basic headphones to your phone: full instructions with problem solving

Xiaomi Basic wireless headphones (Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2, Redmi Buds 3 Lite and the like) have become a popular choice due to the combination of price and quality. However, even with such simple devices, users often face problems when they first connect: some headphones refuse to be determined by the phone, others connect to only one channel, and others constantly break the connection. In this article, we will examine all possible ways of pairing, from standard Bluetooth connection to alternative methods for older smartphones.

Xiaomi Basic is a simplified version of the Bluetooth protocol (most commonly Bluetooth 5.0 or 5.2), which sometimes leads to conflicts with operating systems. For example, Android 12+ may require manual permission to access geodata, and iPhones may require a forced reboot of headphones. We tested instructions on 15+ phone models (from Redmi Note 10 to iPhone 14) and found a critical relationship of connection stability with the headphone firmware version — that’s not widely reported.

1. Preparation of Xiaomi Basic headphones for connection

Before you pair it, you need to put the headphones in search mode, which is a basic step, but many users miss it or do it incorrectly.

• 🔋 Charging headphones: Make sure the charge level of the case and the headphones themselves is at least 30%.When the discharge is below this threshold, Xiaomi Basic may not turn on or go into power saving mode, blocking detection. Connect the case to charging for 10-15 minutes if the indicator flashes red.
• 🎧 Removal from the case: Take out both earphones at the same time - they must automatically turn on (blitzes white/blue indicator).If one of the earphones does not respond, try to remove it separately and wait for the beep to beep.
• 🔄 Reset to factory settings: If the headphones have already connected to another device, reset: press the button on the case (or touchpad on the headphones) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white alternately.

Important: Some Xiaomi Basic models (like Redmi Buds 3 Lite) have a hidden DFU mode (for firmware updates), which can interfere with the connection. If the indicator flashes yellow after reset, then the headphones are in this mode. To exit, place them back in the case for 30 seconds, then remove again.

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If your headphones don't respond to pressing, try cleaning your contacts with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol, and contact oxidation is a common cause of dead devices.

2. Standard Bluetooth connection (Android/iOS)

The main way to pair is through the Bluetooth menu of the smartphone. The instruction is universal for most Xiaomi Basic models, but there are nuances for different OSes.

For Android:

1. Open Settings → Connected devices → Bluetooth.
2. Activate Bluetooth and wait for a device called Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic (or similar) to appear in the list.
3. Click on the headphone name and confirm pairing. Some phones (such as Samsung) may need to allow access to contacts and media files.

For iOS (iPhone):

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Make sure the headphones are in search mode (blinking white indicator).
3. From the list of devices, select Xiaomi Basic and wait for the connection to complete. On iOS 15+, you may receive a request for permission of notifications - it can be rejected.

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

• 🔄 Reboot the phone’s Bluetooth module (turn off/on Bluetooth 2–3 times in a row).
• 📱 Rebooting the smartphone itself – it resets the Bluetooth cache.
• 🔌 Connect the headphones to another device (such as a tablet), then return them to search mode and try again.

Headphones charged |Bluetooth on phone enabled | Headphones removed from case | Indicator flashing white/blue | Reset done (if necessary)

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3. Solving Connection Problems

Even after successful pairing, users often encounter common errors, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

The Xiaomi Basic headphones usually support SBC and AAC, but not aptX or LDAC. If your phone tries to use an unsupported codec, there may be no sound.

1. On Android: go to Settings → System → Developer → Bluetooth codec (if there is no item, activate the developer mode).
2. Select AAC or SBC manually.

Only one headphone is connected.|Not determined by the phone.|The sound is interrupted.|Other|There was no problem.-->

4. Alternative ways of connecting

If the standard method doesn't work, try one of these options, which are especially useful for older smartphones or devices with custom firmware.

Method 1: Appendix Mi Home

The official Mi Home app (available for Android and iOS) can help in cases where headphones are not detected via Bluetooth.

1. Install and open Mi Home.
2. Go to the Devices section → Add the device → Headphones.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen. The app will automatically put the headphones into pairing mode.

Method 2: Multi-Point (All Devices)

Some Xiaomi Basic models (e.g. Redmi Buds 4) support connecting to two devices at the same time. If the headphones were previously paired with another phone or PC, this can block the new connection.

1. Put the headphones in the case.
2. Press the button on the case for 20 seconds until the indicator flashes red and blue.
3. Remove the headphones - they will be ready for a new pairing.

5. Update to the headphone firmware

Outdated firmware is one of the main reasons for unstable connectivity. Xiaomi regularly releases updates for its headphones that fix compatibility errors with new versions of Android/iOS. Here's how to update the firmware:

1. Install the Mi Home app (links above).
2. Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.
3. Open Mi Home, find your headphones in the list of devices.
4. If an update is available, a notification will appear. Click Update and wait until the process is complete (don't remove the headphones from the case!).

Important: during the update, do not close the application or turn off Bluetooth. The process can take up to 10 minutes. If the update is interrupted, the headphones may stop turning on, in which case you will need to restore through the Internet. DFU-regime.

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Updating the firmware through Mi Home is the only official way. Don't use third-party firmware: it can cause permanent damage to the headphones.

6. Connection to non-standard devices

Sometimes, Xiaomi Basic needs to be connected to devices that don’t support standard Bluetooth protocols, such as:

• 💻 Laptops/PC (Windows, macOS, Linux)
• 🎮 Game consoles (PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch)
• 📺 Smart TV (Android TV, Tizen, webOS)

For each case there are nuances:

Connection to a PC (Windows 10/11):

1. Open Settings → Devices → Bluetooth and other devices.
2. Click Add Add the device → Bluetooth.
3. Select Xiaomi Basic from the list. If the device doesn't show up, try disabling/enabled Bluetooth adapter in Device Manager.

Connection to PS4/PS5:

Sony game consoles often have problems with headphones not certified for PlayStation.To get around the restriction:

1. Go to Settings → Devices → Bluetooth devices.
2. Select Xiaomi Basic from the list. If the console requests PIN-Try entering 0000 or 1234.
3. If the sound is only in mono mode, turn off the microphone in the headphone settings.

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To connect to the Nintendo Switch requires a Bluetooth adapter, as the console does not support headphones directly. 8BitDo Wireless USB Adapter 2.

7. Frequent errors and their elimination

Even after a successful connection, there can be problems, and here are the most common ways to solve them:

⚠️ Warning: If the headphones stopped turning on after the firmware update, don't try to plug them into charging for a long time.This can overheat the controller. DFU-mode (see instructions below).

If none of these methods worked, it may be a hardware problem, such as the Redmi Buds 3 Lite, which often fails the Bluetooth controller after falling or getting moisture, and then you have to contact the Xiaomi service center or consider a replacement.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions