Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3 connection: full instruction with photos and tips for setting up

Xiaomi Redmi Buds 3 wireless headphones remain among the most popular budget models even years after release, with stable connections, low audio latency and 20 hours of battery life in a case. But many users face difficulties when connecting for the first time: headphones are not determined by the phone, sound is interrupted or only one speaker works. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to pair (including hidden MIUI functions), tell you how to avoid typical errors, and give tips on how to optimize sound.

It’s important to understand that the Redmi Buds 3 connection process differs from newer models (like the Redmi Buds 4 or Buds 5 Pro) because of a different Bluetooth chip. There’s no support for LE Audio or LC3- codec, but there are unique features like 88ms latency game mode. We tested the instruction on 15 + devices (from the Redmi Note 10 to the iPhone 15) – it works everywhere, but there are nuances for different OSes.

If you've tried to plug in your headphones and you've encountered a problem, skip the basic instructions and go straight to the "Problem Solutions" section, where we've compiled 12 proven ways to fix bugs, from resetting settings to manually selecting a codec.

Technical specifications of Redmi Buds 3: what affects the connection

Before you start pairing, you need to understand the hardware of the headphones, which determines the quality of communication, the codecs supported, and even the maximum volume, and here are the key parameters that directly affect the connection process:

• 🔵 Bluetooth version: 5.2 (backward compatibility with 4.2+, but you need Bluetooth 5.0+ on your phone to work properly).
• 🎵 Supported codecs: AAC (priority for iOS), SBC (basic), aptX Adaptive (only on Android with support).
• 🔋 Autonomy: 5 hours on a single charge (with a case, up to 20 hours). With a case discharge below 15%, the headphones can spontaneously disconnect from Bluetooth.
• 🎮 Game mode: Sound delay is reduced to 88 ms (enabled in settings MIUI or via the Mi Earphones app).

It's especially important to pay attention to codecs. For example, if your iPhone uses SBC instead of AAC, the sound will become flat, without bass. On Android, the situation is better - the system automatically selects the optimal codec, but sometimes manual adjustment is required (we will talk about this in the optimization section).

Another nuance is the pairing protocol. Redmi Buds 3 uses Fast Pair for Android (if enabled in Bluetooth settings), which speeds up the connection. On iOS, this protocol does not work, so the process takes 5-10 seconds longer.

Basic method: connection to Android (MIUI and other firmware)

If you have a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone on MIUI 12+, the process is as simple as possible thanks to built-in optimization for the ecosystem devices.

1. Remove the headphones from the case. They should automatically turn on (white light flashes).
2. On your phone, open Settings → Bluetooth and turn on device search.
3. In the list, find Redmi Buds 3 (may appear as Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic – that’s OK).

On MIUI 14+, a window will automatically open after you connect to it, prompting you to install the Mi Earphones app (optional, but recommended for access to the game mode and equalizer). If the window does not appear, find it in Settings → Connected Devices → Redmi Buds 3 → More.

Headphones appear in the list of connected devices |

Case indicator is burning green (does not blink)|

The sound is played synchronously in both headphones |

In the status bar of the phone appeared the Bluetooth icon-->

Important: If the headphones are plugged in, but there's only one sound, check if the mono mode is activated.

1. Put both earphones in the case.
2. Take out the right (main) and wait 5 seconds.
3. If the sound appears - a problem in the left earphone (reset required).

💡

If the headphones are not detected the first time, try to turn on Search Mode manually: press the button on the case for 5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white.

Connection to iPhone: features and limitations

With iPhone (iOS 14+), Redmi Buds 3 is stable, but there are a few key differences:

• 🍎 No Fast Pair support - the connection takes up to 15 seconds.
• 🔊 The AAC codec is automatically enabled, but sometimes iOS forgets it and switches to SBC (the sound gets worse).
• 🎛 No access to game mode - sound delay remains at 120-150 ms.
• 📱 No battery widget (case and headphone charge levels are not displayed in Bluetooth status).

Instructions for iOS:

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Take the headphones out of the case and wait until they appear in the “Other Devices” list (can take up to 10 seconds).
3. Click on Redmi Buds 3 and confirm the connection.
4. If the sound is interrupted, go to Settings → Bluetooth → i (near the headphones) → Forget this device and repeat pairing.

Gamer’s Tip: To reduce the latency on your iPhone, disable Sound Improvement in Bluetooth settings.This will reduce buffering but slightly degrade the quality of the music.

Connection to PC (Windows 10/11 and macOS)

On Windows and macOS, Redmi Buds 3 connect like regular Bluetooth headphones, but there are nuances with codecs and drivers. On Windows, there is often a problem with one-way sound or no microphone - this is solved by choosing the right Bluetooth profile.

For Windows 10/11:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on your PC (Start → Settings → Devices → Bluetooth).
2. Take the headphones out of the case and wait for the list to appear.
3. Click Connect, then select “Headphone” (not “Dynamics”!).
4. If the microphone is not working, go to Control Panel → Sound → Record, find Redmi Buds 3 and install them with the default device.

For macOS (Ventura and newer):

• Open System settings → Bluetooth.
• Headphones should appear in the list automatically. If not, click Update.
• After connecting, check the sound settings in System Settings → Sound → Exit.

Critical problem on Windows: If the sound is only in one headphone, the system has identified them as Hands-Free Profile (HFP) instead of A2DP.

1. Open Device Manager (Win + X → Device Manager).
2. Find Redmi Buds 3 in the Sound, Video and Gaming Devices section.
3. Right-click → Properties → Driver → Update the driver.
4. Select Search for drivers on this computer → Select from the list and install the “Stereo Headset”.

💡

On Windows, always install headphones as a stereo headset, not a headphone, which will solve 90% of the sound problems.

Problem Solving: Headphones don’t connect or don’t work properly

If Redmi Buds 3 is not detected by the phone, is constantly switched off or makes strange sounds, the reasons can vary from software failures to physical damage. We have collected 12 proven ways to fix typical errors.

1. Headphones not visible on Bluetooth list

• 🔋 Case charge below 20% - plug the case into charging for 10 minutes and try again.
• 🔄 Headphone reset: Put both headphones in the case, press the button on the case for 10 seconds until the indicator flashes red.
• 📱 Reset Bluetooth settings on your phone: Settings → System → Reset → Network settings reset (on Android).

2.The sound is interrupted or delayed

• 🎵 Change the codec: on Android go to Settings → Connected Devices → Redmi Buds 3 → Audio codec and select AAC or aptX.
• 📶 Turn off Wi-Fi: Sometimes interference from the router at 2.4 GHz interferes with Bluetooth.
• 🎮 Enable Game Mode (only on MIUI or via Mi Earphones).

3.Only one earphone works

• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones: Remove them from the Bluetooth list and reconnect them.
• 🧲 Check the magnets in the case: If the left earphone is not fixed by the magnet, the contacts may have oxidized (wipe with alcohol).
• 🔧 Update the case firmware (instructions in the next section).

Important: If after all the manipulations, the sound never appeared in one of the headphones, the problem may be the cliff wire inside the earphone, in which case only repair or replacement will help.

💡

To check if the headphone or phone is to blame, try connecting Redmi Buds 3 to another device, and if the problem recurs, it's the headphones.

Firmware Update: How to Improve Communication Stability

Xiaomi periodically releases firmware updates for Redmi Buds 3 that fix plug-in bugs, add new codecs or improve autonomy. The latest firmware version at 2026 is 1.7.0.3 (released in March 2023).

Instructions for updating:

1. Install the Mi Earphones (Android) or Mi Earphones (iOS) app.
2. Put the headphones on the phone.
3. Open the app – it will automatically check the firmware version.
4. If an update is available, click Update and wait until it is completed (don’t turn off Bluetooth!).

What the update does:

• 🔗 Correction of bugs with spontaneous shutdown.
• 🎵 Adding support for aptX Adaptive (if the phone chip supports).
• 🔋 Optimization of energy consumption (by 10-15Percentage of battery life.

Optimization of sound: settings of equalizer and codecs

Even after a successful connection, the sound in Redmi Buds 3 may feel “empty” or too quiet, due to the wrong codec, equalizer settings, or OS limitations.

1. Selection of a codec (Android)

On Android with MIUI 12+ or Android 10+, you can manually change the codec:

1. Go to Settings → Connected Devices → Redmi Buds 3 → Audio Codec.
2. Choose: aptX Adaptive is the best quality (if supported by a phone); AAC is the balanced option for music; SBC is the minimum latency (suitable for gaming).

2. Equalizer adjustment

The Mi Earphones app has 3 pre-installed profiles and manual configuration:

• 🎶 Bass+: amplifies low frequencies (suitable for hip-hop, electronics).
• 🎤 Voice: Highlights the average frequencies (for podcasts, audiobooks).
• 🎻 Jazz: High frequency emphasis (for classical, acoustics).

For manual adjustment:

1. Open Mi Earphones → Equalizer.
2. Move the sliders for frequencies of 60 Hz (bass), 250 Hz (lower middle), 1 kHz (medium), 4 kHz (upper middle), 16 kHz (high).
3. Keep the preset under your name.

3. Increase volume (if the sound is quiet)

On some phones (especially Samsung or Realme), the sound in Redmi Buds 3 can be quieter than in other headphones. This is due to the restrictions of the EU Volume Limit (European Volume Standard).

• 📱 On Xiaomi/Redmi: Enable Safe Sound in Settings → Sound and turn off the restriction.
• 🍎 On iPhone: Go to Settings → Music → Volume Limit and turn it off.
• 🖥 On Android (root): change the value of audio_safe_volume_enabled to 0 via Build.prop Editor.

💡

On iPhone, the sound will always be quieter than on Android, due to Apple's hardware limitations. To compensate for this, use a +3 dB equalizer for 100-500 Hz frequencies.

Frequent Questions About Redmi Buds 3