How to connect 2 headphones via Bluetooth to the phone Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have long since ceased to be just a phone caller, becoming powerful multimedia centers that can satisfy any user’s needs. One of the most popular features for owners of these gadgets is the ability to simultaneously connect two pairs of wireless headphones to a single sound source, this is especially true during joint trips, travel by plane or just watching a movie together when you want to share audio space without creating discomfort for others.

Bluetooth technology, which underpins wireless audio transmission, has long had limitations, allowing audio streaming to only be broadcast to one output device. However, the development of Bluetooth standards 5.0 and higher, as well as the optimization of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, have allowed Xiaomi engineers to implement the Dual Audio feature. Now smartphone owners can enjoy synchronous music or video playback on two separate headsets without loss of quality and with minimal latency.

In this article, we will take a closer look at which Xiaomi models support this feature, how to configure pairing correctly, and what to do if sound is played on only one device. We will look at the technical nuances of codecs, the impact of the Bluetooth version on connection stability, and provide proven solutions for common problems. Get ready to dive into the world of high-quality stereo sound available to you and your friend at the same time.

Technical requirements and compatibility of devices

Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your equipment is technically capable of supporting simultaneous audio streaming. Dual Audio function depends on the version of the Bluetooth module installed in the smartphone and the capabilities of the headphones themselves. To work stably without dissynchronizing and losing data packets, it is recommended to use Xiaomi smartphones equipped with a Bluetooth 5.0 module or later. Older versions, such as 4.2 or 4.1, may not cope with the load or require third-party applications to emulate this feature.

It is important to consider that not only the phone, but the headphones themselves must support modern audio profiles. The optimal scenario is to use two pairs of headphones from the same manufacturer or at least support the same codecs, such as AAC or aptX. If one pair of headphones uses high-quality codec and the second one uses basic SBC, the system can force both devices to switch to low quality to ensure synchronization.

⚠️ Attention: Using old models of headphones with Bluetooth 4.0 in pairs with the new flagship Xiaomi can lead to desynchronization of sound (echo effect) or increased battery consumption of the smartphone.

Below is a table showing the relationship between the connection quality and the Bluetooth version and the codecs used on Xiaomi devices:

Dual Audio in MIUI and HyperOS

The process of connecting two pairs of headphones in the shells of MIUI and HyperOS is as simple as possible and does not require obtaining superuser rights. The first step is to put both pairs of headphones in pairing mode. Usually, this requires pressing the power button on the headsets until the light light up. Then open the Bluetooth settings on the Xiaomi smartphone and connect the first pair of headphones in the standard way, as you usually do.

Once you successfully connect to the first headset without turning it off, go back to the menu of available devices and find the second pair of headphones. Click on it to connect. Unlike older versions of Android, modern Xiaomi firmware automatically recognizes the attempt to connect the second audio device and activates the Dual Audio mode, you will see that in the status bar or in the music management menu, indicators of both devices will appear.

You can use an engineering menu or a special application to fine-tune the audio distribution, but in 90% of cases, standard system tools are enough. If the sound does not appear in the second pair, try playing the media file. Sometimes the system requires an active audio stream to switch the routing of the sound to the second channel.

It is worth noting that volume control can be carried out independently for each pair, if the headphones support the AVRCP 1.6 protocol. Otherwise, adjusting the volume slider on the smartphone screen will change the sound level at the same time for both devices.

Using the Developer Menu for Advanced Settings

For users who want to gain full control of the Bluetooth connection, Android has a hidden developer menu. To activate it on Xiaomi, go to Settings → About the phone and quickly click on the MIUI or HyperOS version seven times. After a message about the developer mode activation, go back to the main settings menu and select Additional → Advanced Settings → For developers.

There are many things that affect wireless interfaces in this section, and we're interested in the Bluetooth block, and you can find options that force multiple audio devices to be supported if they don't automatically activate, and you can change the Bluetooth MAP version or reset the Bluetooth stack settings, which often helps with pairing errors.

⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the developer menu can lead to unstable system operation.Write down the initial values before making changes so you can get everything back.

If you want to achieve the highest quality, try manually selecting LDAC or aptX HD. However, remember that when you connect two devices, the bandwidth of the channel is divided, and choosing a codec that is too heavy can cause interruptions, in which case you better switch to AAC, which provides a good balance between quality and stability of the connection.

Solving problems with desynchronization and delays

One of the most common problems with two pairs of headphones is that the sound in one headset is split-second behind the other, and this creates a nasty echo effect that irritates the ears, and most often it's because of the difference in the hardware processing inside the headphones themselves, and even the same brand models, but different years of production, can process the signal at different speeds.

To minimize delays, it is recommended to disable all sound “improvers” in the smartphone settings. Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Effects and turn off the equalizer, sound virtualization and any Dolby Atmos settings. These effects take time for the signal to be processed by the phone’s processor, which increases latency before sending data over Bluetooth.

If the problem persists, try a full network reset.This action will delete all stored Bluetooth devices and Wi-Fi settings, but often eliminates driver software conflicts.The path to reset: Settings → Connection and Sharing → Reset Wi-Fi, mobile networks and Bluetooth. After rebooting, pair both pairs of headphones again.

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To check the synchronization, play a video of the clapping hands or the metronome. Close your eyes and listen: if the clapping sounds like one clear beat, the synchronization is perfect. If you hear a forked sound, you need to adjust.

The effect of codecs on sound quality when connected to a dual connection

Understanding codecs is critical to producing sound quality. When a single pair of headphones is connected to a phone, the system can use broadband codecs like LDAC that transmit up to 990 kbps. However, when you add a second device, the available bandwidth is divided, and the system can automatically switch to a lighter codec, such as SBC or AAC.

This means that when you connect two headphones, you may notice a decrease in sound detail, especially in complex musical compositions with a lot of instruments. The basic SBC codec has a limited bitrate, which leads to a "compression" of the dynamic range. If your headphones support aptX Adaptive, they will be able to dynamically change the bitrate depending on the signal reception conditions, which is the best choice for a two-device scenario.

You can check the active codec in the engineering menu or with third-party applications like Bluetooth Codec Changer (root required) or Material Bluetooth. These ulites will show you what compression algorithm is currently in use. If you see SBC and your headphones support more, try limiting the choice of codecs to high-quality options on the developer menu, forcing the system to try to use them.

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When connecting two devices, the system prioritizes connection stability, so it often automatically chooses a less high-quality, but more reliable data codec.

Third-party applications and alternative methods

Owners of older Xiaomi models that don’t support native Dual Audio don’t despair. There are software solutions that can bypass system limitations. One popular method is to use applications to create a local network and synchronize playback, although they are more likely to work over Wi-Fi than Bluetooth. However, for purely Bluetooth solutions, you can try applications like Sound Assistant (from Samsung, runs on many Android) or specialized utilities from Google Play.

Some users are using Bluetooth multi-connection transmitters, small devices that plug into a smartphone's Type-C or Mini-Jack connector and take over the function of spreading the signal across multiple pairs of headphones, which takes the load off the phone's Bluetooth module completely and ensures that no synchronization is possible, as a separate chip inside the transmitter is responsible for synchronizing.

Also worth mentioning is the Audio Share feature, which is found in the Xiaomi ecosystem: If you have Xiaomi or Redmi headphones, as well as a smartphone of the same brand, the system can offer to share an audio stream with a neighboring device via Mi Share.This works differently than classic Bluetooth, and provides a more stable connection between devices of the same brand.