Why you need the right setup of Earbuds Basic 2
Xiaomi Earbuds Basic 2 is a budget wireless headphone with decent sound and a convenient design, but their first connection is often questionable. Even for experienced users, it can be difficult: the headphones are not determined by the phone, connect only one by one or permanently turn off. The reason usually lies in the wrong sequence of actions or missed nuances – for example, forgot to activate the pairing mode or did not update the firmware of the headphones.
In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for Android and iOS, ways to solve typical problems (from no sound to resetting settings), as well as hidden chips that the manufacturer does not specify in the official documentation, such as how to make headphones automatically connect to the latest device or why they can “forget” pairing after the battery is discharged.
If you’ve just unpacked the Earbuds Basic 2 or encountered a connection error, read on. We’ll break down even the non-obvious, like compatibility with laptops or the Mi Band smartwatch.
Preparing headphones for the first connection
Before pairing with a phone, you need to initialize the headphones correctly, and many people miss this step, which later causes problems finding the device in the Bluetooth list.
Here's what you have to do:
- 🔋 Charge the case, connect it to the power source (5V/1A) on 30–60 Even if the light is on, the low charge of the case can interrupt the pairing process.
- 🎧 Take the headphones out of the case. They should automatically turn on (white light flashes). If this does not happen, press and hold the touchpad on both earphones for 5 seconds.
- 🔄 Reset the settings (if the headphones have already been used). To do this, put them in the case, then press and hold the button on the case for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
Note that if the indicator on the case flashes red, it means the battery is below 10%, in which case the headphones may not enter pairing mode, plug the case into charging and try again in 10 minutes.
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If the headphones do not respond to touch, wipe the touch panels with a dry wipe – fat or moisture can block the operation.
Step-by-step: connecting to an Android smartphone
On devices running Android 8.0 and higher (including MIUI, Realme UI, ColorOS), the pairing process is the same.
Follow the algorithm:
- Open Settings → Connected Devices → Bluetooth (or Settings → Bluetooth on pure Android).
- Activate Bluetooth if it is turned off.
- Take the headphones out of the case and wait until a white indicator flashes on them (conjugation mode).
- In the list of available devices, find Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 (or Redmi Earbuds 2 in some regions) and tap it.
- Confirm the pairing on the phone (if you receive a request).
After successful connection, the indicators on the headphones will go out, and in the status bar of Android will appear an icon of the headphones. To check the performance, run any audio file or video.
Headphones are displayed in the list of connected devices | Headphone indicators are turned off | The sound is played synchronously in both headphones | The microphone is working (check through voice recording)
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Important: Some firmware (e.g. MIUI 12-14) may require permission to access contacts and microphone to properly operate the headphones. If the sound is interrupted or the microphone is not working, check these settings in the Applications → Rights → Bluetooth section.
Interface with iPhone (iOS) and features of the work
While the Xiaomi Earbuds Basic 2 is optimized for Android, it is fully compatible with the iPhone 6s and later (iOS 12+).
- 📱 No support. AAC-The iPhone will use headphones. SBC, This slightly worsens the sound quality (especially at high frequencies).
- 🔊 There is no charge indicator in the status bar (unlike AirPods). To check the battery level, use applications like Battery. HD+.
- 🎵 Sound delay when watching video can reach 200-300 ms. Solution is solved by enabling the "Game Sound" mode in Bluetooth settings (if available).
Instructions for iOS:
- Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
- Take the headphones out of the case and wait for the white indicator to blink.
- In the list of "Other devices" select Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2.
- Confirm the connection (no password required).
If the headphones don’t appear on the list, try:
- 🔄 Turn off/enable Bluetooth on iPhone.
- 📱 Reboot the phone.
- 🔋 Put the headphones in the case for 10 seconds, then pull again.
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Problem Solving: Headphones don’t connect or work unstable
If Earbuds Basic 2 refuses to mate or is permanently disabled, the reasons may be both software and hardware.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Headphones are not defined by the phone | The pairing mode is not activated | Put the headphones in the case, then take out and hold the touch panels for 5 seconds. |
| Only one headphone is connected. | Failure of synchronization between headphones | Reset the settings (button on the case 15 seconds.), then connect again. |
| The sound is interrupted or distorted | Interference from other Bluetooth devices | Turn off unnecessary Bluetooth devices or move to another location. |
| Headphones are discharged quickly | Outdated firmware or background processes | Update the firmware via Mi Home (if available) or reset the settings. |
Critical feature: if the headphones stopped connecting after updating the phone’s firmware (especially on Xiaomi with MIUI 14+), try rolling back the Bluetooth stack version through the developer mode (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version → 7 taps).
⚠️ Warning: If the headphones don't work after reset, check the physical condition of the contacts in the case. Oxidation or contamination can block charging and pairing. Clean the contacts with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
Additional features and hidden capabilities
The manufacturer doesn't advertise all the Earbuds Basic 2 features, but they do. Here's what these headphones do besides basic sound playback:
- 🎮 Low latency mode: activated by double tapping the left earphone (not all firmware) and useful for gaming and video.
- 🔊 If one earpiece is dead, the other one will keep working.
- 📞 Voice assistant. Triple tap of right earbud calls Google Assistant/Siri (Configure in the Mi Home app).
- 🔋 Fast charging. 10 minutes in a case gives up to 1.5 hours of playback.
To customize gestures or update your firmware, use the official Mi Home app (available for Android and iOS).
- Check the charge level of the case and headphones.
- Set up an equalizer (3 preset profiles).
- Enable low charge notifications.
How to Enable Developer Mode for Fine Customization
If you’re using Earbuds Basic 2 with a laptop or PC, note: Windows 10/11 may require you to disable Hands-Free Profile (HFP) support in Bluetooth device settings to avoid echoing in the microphone.
Resetting settings to factory and flashing
If all the connection attempts fail, the last chance is a complete reset, which will remove all the associated devices and return the headphones to their original settings.
How to Reset Earbuds Basic 2:
- Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
- Open the lid and press the button on the case 4 times in a row (with an interval of ~1 sec.).
- The indicator on the case flashes red and white - this is a signal of a successful reset.
- Close the lid, wait 10 seconds, then reconnect again.
Reflashing will require:
- Install the latest version of Mi Home.
- Put the headphones on the phone.
- Go to the device profile in the application and check for updates.
⚠️ Warning: Don't interrupt the firmware update process! If the headphone indicator flashes blue, it means data transfer - a power outage or Bluetooth at this point can lead to the headphones "bricking" (they will stop turning on).
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Resetting is a universal solution for 90% of connectivity problems, but after that, the headphones will have to be paired again with all devices.