How to turn on headphones Xiaomi Buds 3: instructions with photos and problem solving

Why Xiaomi Buds 3 is not included and how to fix it

Xiaomi Buds 3 wireless headphones (TWSL03) are a popular solution for music lovers, but even they sometimes refuse to turn on. The reasons can vary from a dead battery to software failures. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to turn on the headphones, and also tell you what to do if they do not respond to buttons or do not connect to the phone.

It is important to understand that the process of inclusion in the Buds 3 is different from newer models (for example, Buds 4 or Buds 3 Pro). There is no touch control, only physical buttons on the body of each headphone. If you first encounter this model, the instructions below will help to avoid typical errors.

We will also discuss compatibility with different devices (Android, iOS, Windows), talk about hidden features (for example, activation of low latency mode) and give tips for care to make headphones last longer.

๐Ÿ“Š What Xiaomi Buds model do you use?
Buds 3
Buds 3 Pro
Buds 4
Another model.
Planning to buy

Standard way of inclusion: button on the body

The main method of activating Xiaomi Buds 3 is to hold the button on one of the headphones.

  1. Take the headphones out of the case. They should automatically turn on if the charge is high enough (more than 10%), if this does not happen, move on to the next step.
  2. Find the button on the right or left headphone (located on the outside of the case, closer to the top).
  3. Hold the button for 3-5 seconds until you hear a beep (a short double beep) and see a white indicator flashing.

If the headphones are turned on but do not connect to the phone, check:

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Case and headphone charge level (the indicator on the case should be white or green).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Is Bluetooth enabled on your smartphone (go to Settings) โ†’ Connections โ†’ Bluetooth).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Headphones should be in pairing mode (the indicator flashes red and white).

Make sure the case is charged (indicator is on fire)

Get both earphones out of the case.

Hold the button until the beep.

Check that Bluetooth is on on your phone-->

Important: Xiaomi Buds 3 does not support simultaneous connection to two devices. If they were paired with another gadget (for example, a laptop), first disconnect them from it.

What to do if the headphones are not turned on

If Buds 3 doesnโ€™t respond to the button hold, the problem may be:

Symptoms.Possible causeDecision
Headphones do not respond to the button, the indicator does not burnBattery dischargedPut the headphones in the case for 10-15 minutes, then try again.
The indicator flashes red, but there is no connectionFailure of firmware or pairingReset the settings (see section below)
One earpiece is working, the other isn't.Problem with contact in the case or the discharge of one headphoneCheck the cleanliness of the contacts, charge both earphones
The headphones are turned on but immediately switched off.Power saving mode activatedTurn it off in the Mi Home or Xiaomi Earbuds app

If none of these methods worked, try a forced reset:

  1. Put the headphones in the case and close the lid.
  2. Open the lid and hold the button on the case (located on the side) for 10-15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing red and white.
  3. Take out the headphones and try to turn them on again.
What if the reset didn't help?
If the headphones are not turned on after reset, the problem may be a hardware malfunction (for example, damage to the battery or board). In this case: 1. Check the case and headphones for physical damage (dents, corrosion on contacts). 2. Try charging the case with another cable or from another power source (sometimes a problem in the power supply). 3. Contact Xiaomi service center if the warranty is still valid (for Buds 3, the standard period is 12 months).

How to connect Xiaomi Buds 3 to your phone

Once the headphones are successfully turned on, they need to be paired with the device. The process of connecting to Android and iPhone is slightly different.

Connection to Android (MIUI, Samsung, Google Pixel, etc.)

  1. Open the Settings. โ†’ Bluetooth on your phone.
  2. Make sure the headphones are in pairing mode (the indicator flashes red and white).
  3. In the list of available devices, select Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 (as Buds 3 is displayed in the system).
  4. Confirm the pairing (if necessary, enter the code 0000).

Connection to iPhone (iOS)

On the iPhone, the process is similar, but with nuances:

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ Bluetooth.
  2. Remove the headphones from the case and hold the button until the indicator blinks.
  3. In the list of devices, find Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2 and tap it.
  4. Wait for the sign to appear.

Attention! On iOS, some features (like low latency mode for games) may not work. For full management, install the Xiaomi Earbuds app from the App Store.

๐Ÿ’ก

If the headphones are plugged in but the sound is interrupted, try turning off the energy-saving mode on your phone or reconnect them in the Mi Home app (My Devices section).

Xiaomi Buds 3 Hidden Features: How to Activate

Many users don't know that Buds 3 supports additional modes that improve sound or reduce latency.

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Low Delay Mode (for games): press the button on the right earphone three times. The sound will become more monotonous, but the delay will decrease to 80-100 ms.
  • ๐Ÿ”Š Bass Enhancement: in the Mi Home app go to Headphone Settings โ†’ Equalizer and select the Bass Boost preset.
  • ๐Ÿ“ž Call Auto-Apply: Twice press the button on any headphone during an incoming call.
  • ๐Ÿ”‡ Turning off the microphone while talking: Hold the button on the left earphone for 2 seconds.

Also in the Mi Home app you can:

  • Update the firmware headphones (section Update software).
  • Customize touch control (although Buds 3 has physical buttons, some gestures are supported).
  • View usage statistics (work time, charge level).

๐Ÿ’ก

Low latency significantly reduces lag in games, but reduces headphone battery life by 15-20%. Use it only when necessary.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after successfully incorporating with Xiaomi Buds 3, there may be difficulties.

โš ๏ธ Attention! If the headphones are plugged in, but the sound is distorted or intermittent, the problem may be the Bluetooth codec. โ†’ System system โ†’ Developer โ†’ Bluetooth codecs and select SBC (stablest).

Problem 1: Headphones are connected, but there is no sound

Possible causes:

  • Another sound source is selected on the phone (for example, a speaker or a speaker).
  • In the headphones activated mode "Only microphone" (occurs when a failure).
  • The sound is turned off on the device itself (check the volume slider).

Solution: Reconnect the headphones or reset their settings (see section above).

Problem 2: One earphone is quieter than the other

This may be related to:

  • Clogging the speaker grille (clean with a soft brush).
  • Different levels of headphone charge (charge both to 100%).
  • Failure of sound balance in the phone settings (on Android: Settings โ†’ Special. features โ†’ Sound balance).

Problem 3: Headphones are quickly discharged

The life of the Buds 3 from one charge is up to 5 hours (with a case - up to 20 hours).

  • Turn off low latency when it is not needed.
  • Reduce the volume (at maximum headphones discharge 1.5-2 times faster).
  • Update the firmware through the Mi Home app.
How to check the actual level of charge?
In the Mi Home app, the charge level is displayed with an error of ยฑ10%. To find out the exact data: 1. Connect your headphones to your phone. 2. Install the AccuBattery (Android) or Battery Life (iOS). 3. In the Bluetooth section, see detailed statistics on Buds 3 (including the number of charging cycles).

How to Care for Xiaomi Buds 3 to Make It Last Longer

The life of the Buds 3 depends not only on the build quality, but also on proper maintenance.

  • ๐Ÿงผ Clean: wipe your headphones and case once a week with an alcohol napkin (do not use water!). Use a cotton toothpick to remove earwax from the bars.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Charging: Don't leave your headphones on charge for more than 24 hours - this shortens battery life.Use only the original cable USB-C (Keep your headphones in a 40-60% case if you don't use them for longer than a week.
  • ๐ŸŒก๏ธ Temperature: Do not leave your headphones in direct sunlight or in the cold (optimal temperature is 10-35).ยฐC).
  • ๐ŸŽง Storage: Always put your headphones in your case when not in use, and this protects them from dust and mechanical damage.

If your headphones are in the rain or you accidentally drop them in the water,

  1. Turn them off immediately (hold the 10 seconds button).
  2. Dry in an upright position (do not put on a battery or hair dryer!).
  3. Do not turn on at least 24 hours.
  4. If the headphones don't work after drying, don't try to charge them! This can lead to short circuits.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can you use Xiaomi Buds 3 with a laptop or PC?
Yes, but with nuances: On Windows 10/11, connect your headphones through Settings โ†’ Devices โ†’ Bluetooth. On MacOS, go to System Settings โ†’ Bluetooth. For games, itโ€™s better to use wired headphones โ€“ Buds 3 has a 150-200 ms latency (even in low latency). If the sound is interrupted, turn off other Bluetooth devices or use a 5.0 Bluetooth adapter (built-in modules on older PCs often work unstable).
How to update the firmware on Xiaomi Buds 3?
The update is only available through the official Mi Home app: Connect your headphones to your phone. Open Mi Home, go to Profile โ†’ My Devices โ†’ Xiaomi Buds 3. If an update is available, a notification will appear. Press Update and wait until completion (don't turn off your headphones!). Important: during the upgrade, do not remove your headphones from the case and do not close the cover. The process takes 3-5 minutes.
Why Xiaomi Buds 3 doesnโ€™t connect to your phone after a reset?
After resetting, the headphones forget all the associated devices. To reconnect them: Remove Buds 3 from the list of Bluetooth devices on your phone. Turn on the headphones (hold the button until the red and white indicator flashes). Start searching for new devices and select Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2. If you don't connect, try: Reboot your phone. Reconnect your headphones to another device (like a tablet), and then back to your phone. Update the case firmware (if available in Mi Home).
How to check the originality of Xiaomi Buds 3?
Buds fakes 3 often sell at a price in 2โ€“3 Here's how to tell the difference between real headphones: ๐Ÿ“ฆ Packaging: The original has a holographic sticker with a serial number that can be checked on Xiaomi's website. ๐Ÿ” The original case has the inscription Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic. 2 (It's not just Xiaomi Buds. The button on the case is on the side, not the front. ๐ŸŽต Sound: The original supports codec AAC, Fakes often only work with SBC (worse). ๐Ÿ“ฑ Appendix: Original headphones are defined in Mi Home as TWSL03. You can also check the serial number on the site. mi.com/global/verify (Enter the number from the box or from the Mi Home app).
How much will the new Xiaomi Buds 3 cost in 2026?
Xiaomi Buds 3 Prices vary by region and seller: ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡บ Russia: 2,500โ€“3,500 โ‚ฝ (In official Xiaomi stores or with partners). ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Ukraine: 1,800โ€“2,500 โ‚ด (course-wise). ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ Europe: 30-50 โ‚ฌ (on Amazon or AliExpress). ๐ŸŒ Asia: 15-25 $ (The cost of used models is 30-50% lower. When buying, check the battery status (the Mi Home app should display the charge level of both headphones).