How to connect wireless headphones to the phone Xiaomi Basic 2: instructions with photos and tips

Introduction: Why can’t you connect the headphones?

Wireless headphones have become an integral part of everyday life, but connecting to budget smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi Basic 2 (or Xiaomi Basic 2, as it is often called on sale) sometimes causes difficulties. The main problems arise from an outdated version of Bluetooth, limited MIUI features or trivial incompatibility of protocols. For example, if your headphones support only Bluetooth 5.2 and your smartphone is equipped with a Bluetooth 4.2 module, communication may be interrupted or not installed at all.

In this article, we will discuss not only the standard way of connecting, but also alternative methods for cases where the headphones are “not seen” by the phone. We will focus on setting up codecs (for example, SBC, AAC or aptX), which directly affect sound quality, and you will learn how to reset Bluetooth settings on Xiaomi Basic 2 without losing data and what to do if the headphones are connected, but the sound goes to only one channel.

Before you start, make sure your headphones are charged (the indicator should flash or burn green), and your phone is Bluetooth enabled and Power Saving mode is turned off - it often blocks new device searches. If you use Xiaomi headphones (such as Redmi Buds 3 Lite or Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic), the connection process may be different - read about this in a separate section.

Step 1: Check the compatibility of headphones and Xiaomi Basic 2

Before connecting, it’s important to make sure your headphones are compatible with your phone. Xiaomi Basic 2 (model number M2012K11AC or M2012K11AG) is equipped with a Bluetooth 5.0 module, but with limited codec support.

• 🔹 Supported protocols: SBC, AAC (basic support, aptX only on some firmware.
• 🔹 Incompatible devices: headphones with Bluetooth 5.2+ (Like Sony. WH-1000XM5) They may work unstablely.
• 🔹 Limitations MIUI: Dual Audio is disabled in budget models (simultaneous connection of two devices).
• 🔹 Problems with codecs: aptX and LDAC Requires manual adjustment to the Developer → Bluetooth settings.

To check the Bluetooth version on your phone, go to Settings → About Phone → Full Specification → Bluetooth Version. If it says 4.2, it means that your phone is a modification for some regions (for example, Xiaomi Basic 2 Global), and some of the features can be stripped down.

Step 2: Standard Bluetooth Connection

If the headphones are compatible, follow the basic instructions:

1. Turn the headphones on pairing mode. Usually, you need to hold the power button for 3-5 seconds until the indicator flashes red-blue (for Xiaomi) or white (for other brands).
2. Activate Bluetooth on your phone. Swipe down the screen to open the Quick Settings Panel, and tap the Bluetooth icon (or go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth).
3. Start looking for devices. Click Add Device or Search. Headphones should appear on the list of available devices.
4. Confirm the pairing. Click on the headphone name in the list. PIN-For example, try 0000 or 1234 for most models).

If the headphones are not displayed, try the following steps:

Make sure the headphones are charged (the indicator flashes)

Turn off and turn on Bluetooth again on your phone

Reboot the phone

Remove headphones from the list of associated devices (if you have previously connected)

Try connecting the headphones to another device (to check their performance)-->

Important: Xiaomi Basic 2 sometimes gets a bug when Bluetooth freezes after the first connection, in which case resetting the network settings will help: go to Settings → System → Reset → Network settings Reset and confirm the action.

Step 3: Manually customize codecs for better sound

By default, Xiaomi Basic 2 uses SBC (low quality) or AAC (medium) codecs. If your headphones support aptX or LDAC, they can be manually enabled via the developer mode:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI Version. a notification will appear "You became a developer".
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the Bluetooth Settings section and select:

Reconnect the headphones.

Note that if the codec changes, you start to interrupt the sound, return the settings to SBC, which is the most stable, although not the best quality option, and check if the headphones are not on Game Mode (it reduces latency, but worsens the sound).

Step 4: What to do if the headphones are connected, but there is no sound

A common problem is that the headphones are paired, but the sound is coming through the speaker of the phone.

If the sound is missing, try:

1. Turn off the headphones in Bluetooth settings and connect again.
2. Reboot the phone.
3. Reset network settings: Settings → System → Reset → Network settings reset.
4. Update the firmware: Settings → About the phone → System update.

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If after connecting the headphones, the sound in the apps (such as YouTube or Spotify) continues to go through the speaker, close the app completely (swipe up in the multitasking menu) and run again.

Step 5: Connect Xiaomi headphones (Redmi Buds, Mi True Wireless)

Xiaomi’s brand headphones (e.g., Redmi Buds 3 Lite, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic) have a simplified connection procedure thanks to the proprietary Mi Bluetooth Fast Connect protocol.

1. Open the case cover with headphones (they will automatically turn on).
2. On the phone will appear a pop-up window with a suggestion to connect - click Connect.
3. If the window does not appear, manually activate the device search in Settings → Bluetooth.
4. For dual-connected models (such as Redmi Buds 4 Pro), confirm pairing on both devices.

If Xiaomi headphones don’t connect, try resetting them to factory settings:

1. Put the headphones in the case.
2. Press and hold the button on the case for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red.
3. Reconnect via Bluetooth.

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For Xiaomi headphones, always use the official Mi Earphones app – it allows you to update the headphone firmware and adjust the equalizer, which is impossible through standard Bluetooth settings.

Step 6: Alternative ways to connect

If Bluetooth refuses to work, try alternative methods:

1. Connect via Bluetooth adapter (for headphones without built-in module)

If your headphones require Bluetooth 5.1+, but the phone only supports 5.0, you can use an external adapter (such as the Xiaomi Bluetooth Audio Receiver). connect it to the headphones via 3.5 mm or USB-C, and then pair it with the phone like a regular Bluetooth device.

2.Use of Bluetooth management applications

Apps like Bluetooth Auto Connect or Bass Booster help stabilize the connection and improve sound. Install them from Google Play and follow the instructions:

• 📱 Open the app and give you access to Bluetooth.
• 🔍 Select your headphones in the list of devices.
• ⚙️ Set connection and codec priority.

3. USB-C connection (for headphones with USB Audio support)

Some models (e.g. Sony WH-1000XM4) support USB-C cable connection → 3.5 mm.

1. Connect the headphones to the phone through the adapter.
2. In sound settings (Settings) → Select the sound USB-audio.

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If you use active noise cancellation (ANC) headphones, turn off this feature when connecting to the Xiaomi Basic 2 – it requires a lot of power and can cause sound delays.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even after a successful connection, users face typical problems, and here are the most common:

⚠️ Note: If the headphones were previously connected to another device (like a laptop), they can automatically connect to it when you turn it on. To avoid this, delete them from the memory of that device or turn off Bluetooth on it.

• 🔌 Headphones discharge quickly: turn off the function Always enabled Bluetooth in the settings (Settings) → Connections → Bluetooth → Additionally).
• 🎵 The sound is distorted at high volume: reduce the volume on the phone and increase it on headphones (if there is a separate regulator).
• 🔄 Headphones are constantly turned off: check if the connection is blocked by the application to save battery (for example, Security or Battery Saver.

Another common mistake is to try to plug in your headphones when your phone is in airplane mode (even if Bluetooth is activated), in which case the connection will be unstable, disable the aircraft mode or manually allow Bluetooth in its settings.

⚠️ Warning: If you've been updating your phone's firmware and your headphones have stopped working, try rolling back the update or resetting your network settings. MIUI Xiaomi Basic 2 has a bug with Bluetooth drivers.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions