How to connect two Xiaomi wireless headphones to the same phone at the same time

Can I connect two Xiaomi headphones to the same phone?

Owners of Xiaomi wireless headphones often face the question: is it possible to use two devices simultaneously to listen to music or watch movies from the same smartphone? The answer is yes, but with reservations. Not all models support this feature out of the box, and for some you will need to use workarounds.

The technology that allows you to stream audio to two devices at once is called Dual Audio or Multipoint. In Xiaomi smartphones (especially on MIUI 12+), this option is present, but does not work with all headphones. For example, Redmi AirDots 3 or Xiaomi Buds 4 support such a connection, but the budget Redmi Buds 3 Lite does not.

In this article, we will discuss official synchronization methods, alternative methods for incompatible models, and common errors and their solutions. If you want to share a sound with a friend or use two headphones for different purposes (for example, one for music, one for notifications), read on.

Dual Audio support in Xiaomi: which models are compatible

Dual Audio is available on Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later, but its work depends on two factors:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Smartphone model: flagships (Xiaomi) 13/14, Redmi K60) Supports the function more stable than budget devices (Redmi Note) 11).
  • ๐ŸŽง Headphone model: only devices with a Qualcomm chip QCC3040 and newer (e.g. Xiaomi Buds) 3T, Redmi AirDots 3 Pro).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.0 is required+ profile-support A2DP.

Below is the compatibility table of popular models:

Model headphonesDual Audio supportRequired version of MIUINotes
Xiaomi Buds 4โœ… Yes.MIUI 13+Stable operation, low delay
Redmi AirDots 3 Proโœ… Yes.MIUI 12.5+May require manual reconnection
Xiaomi Buds 3Tโœ… Yes.MIUI 12+Supports adaptive sound
Redmi Buds 3 LiteโŒ No.โ€”Budget chip does not support multithreading
Xiaomi FlipBuds Proโš ๏ธ Partially.MIUI 14It only works with certain smartphones.

If your model is on the list, go to the next section with the instructions. If not, read about the alternative methods below.

๐Ÿ“Š What Xiaomi headphones are you using?
Xiaomi Buds 4
Redmi AirDots 3/Pro
Xiaomi Buds 3T
Redmi Buds 3 Lite
Another model

Step-by-step: how to turn on Dual Audio on Xiaomi

If your smartphone and headphones support the function, follow the following steps:

  1. Connect the first headphone to the phone in the standard way (via Settings โ†’ Bluetooth).
  2. Activate Dual Audio Mode: Open Settings โ†’ Connections and Sharing โ†’ Dual Audio. Turn on the switch Double Audio Out.
  3. Connect the second headphone: Press the button on the second headphone to put into pairing mode (usually 3-5 seconds). In the list of available Bluetooth devices, select the second headphone.

Set up the sound balance.

  • In the Dual Audio menu, you can adjust the volume for each device separately.

Update the firmware of headphones through the Mi Home| app

Make sure both earphones are charged at least 50 times%|

Disable other Bluetooth devices to avoid conflict|

Reboot your smartphone before setting up-->

If the Dual Audio item is not on the menu, then your smartphone or headphone model does not support the function, in which case, move to the section on alternative methods.

โš ๏ธ Note: Dual Audio may cause increased sound delay (up to the end of the day). 200-300 It is not recommended to use this mode for games or watching videos where synchronization is important.

Alternative methods for incompatible models

If your headphones donโ€™t support Dual Audio, there are a few workarounds:

1.Use of Bluetooth splitter

Devices like the Avantek BTA-200 or the 1Mii B06 Plus allow you to connect two pairs of headphones to a single source.

  • ๐Ÿ”Œ Connect the splitter to the smartphone via Bluetooth.
  • ๐ŸŽง Synchronize both headphones with a splitter.
  • ๐ŸŽต The audio will be broadcast to both devices with minimal latency.

Cons: additional costs (~2000-3000 โ‚ฝ) and the need to carry a cleavage with you.

2.Applications for the division of the audio stream

Some Google Play apps emulate the Dual Audio feature:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ SoundAssistant (requires root on some devices).
  • ๐ŸŽ›๏ธ Bluetooth Dual Audio (not working on all firmware).
  • โš™๏ธ Developer Options: Enable Disable Bluetooth A2DP hardware offload in developer settings (can help with compatibility).
How to enable settings for developers
Open Settings โ†’ About the phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version. After that, the option For developers in the main settings menu will appear.

3.Use of the second smartphone as a repeater

Method for emergency cases:

  1. Connect the first headphone to the main phone.
  2. Connect the second headphone to another smartphone (or tablet).
  3. On the second device, enable Bluetooth Sound Transfer (some firmware has Audio Relay option).
  4. Sync both devices over Wi-Fi Direct or through apps like SoundWire.

Cons: High delay and possible interference.

โš ๏ธ Note: When using third-party audio sharing apps, there may be a disruption in the synchronization of sound between headphones (up to 500 ms), which is critical for video, but not significant for music.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even if it's set up correctly, there can be failures.

1.One of the headphones is not connected

Causes and solutions:

  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Battery discharged: charge both headphones to 100% and restart.
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Bluetooth profile conflict: in Bluetooth settings, click on the icon โš™๏ธ next to the headphone and select Forget the device, then plug it back in.
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Outdated firmware: Update MIUI And the headphones through Mi Home.

2.The sound is interrupted or delayed

What to do:

  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Interference from other devices: Turn off Wi-Fi or move to a place with fewer Bluetooth devices.
  • ๐Ÿ”Š Low quality codec: In Bluetooth settings, select Prioritize audio quality).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Reset Network Settings: Go to Settings โ†’ System system โ†’ Reset โ†’ Resetting network settings.

3.Dual Audio goes missing after update

Decision:

  • โš™๏ธ Resetting Bluetooth cache: Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ Application management โ†’ Three points (โ‹ฎ) โ†’ Show system-based โ†’ Bluetooth โ†’ Warehouse โ†’ Clear the cache
  • ๐Ÿ“ฅ Firmware rollback: if the problem appeared after the update MIUI, Try to revert to the previous version (instructions for the 4PDA).

๐Ÿ’ก

If the sound in the headphones is different in volume, try calibrating them through the engineering menu. To do this, type in the dial ##3644633## and select Headset.

Comparison with competitors: how other brands are doing

Dual Audio technology is not unique to Xiaomi, but letโ€™s look at how itโ€™s implemented by other manufacturers:

BrandName of technologySupported devicesFeatures
SamsungDual AudioGalaxy S8 and newer, Buds+/Buds2Stable work, support for Scalable Codec
AppleAudio SharingiPhone 8 and newer, AirPods 2/3/ProApple Headphones Only, Low Delay
HuaweiDual-Channel AudioMate 40/P50, FreeBuds 4/5Requires branded headphones, limited compatibility
XiaomiDual AudioMIUI 12+, select headphone modelsIt works unstable on budget devices

Xiaomi lags behind Samsung and Apple in the stability of Dual Audio, but offers more flexibility by supporting third-party solutions (forks, applications). If reliability is critical for you, consider Samsung Buds2 headphones or Apple AirPods.

๐Ÿ’ก

Xiaomiโ€™s main advantage is the ability to use Dual Audio with non-flagship smartphones (for example, the Redmi Note 12), while competitors often only have the feature available in top-end models.

Safety and Impact on the Battery

Using two headphones simultaneously increases the load on the Bluetooth module of the smartphone and the batteries of the headphones themselves.

1. Effect on the smartphone battery

According to XDA Developers, activating Dual Audio increases power consumption by 15-20% compared to a single connected device.

  • ๐Ÿ“ถ Double data transfer over Bluetooth.
  • ๐Ÿ”‹ Active work of the processor for synchronization of flows.

Recommend: Use the mode only when necessary and turn it off after use.

2. Effect on the headphone battery

Dual Audio headphones discharge 25-30% faster, for example, Xiaomi Buds 4 normally lasts 8 hours, and with dual connection โ€“ 5-6 hours.

3. Safety risks

When using third-party applications to share audio:

  • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Superuser rights: Some utilities require root, which can compromise system security.
  • ๐Ÿ” Data interception: Unofficial Bluetooth spunters may be vulnerable to attacks (e.g. BlueBorne).

โš ๏ธ Note: If you use Dual Audio to listen to confidential conversations (like in Zoom), make sure both headphones are connected to the same trusted device.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I connect two Xiaomi headphones to the iPhone?
No, the iPhone doesn't support Dual Audio for Xiaomi devices. You can only use the official Audio Sharing feature, but it only works with Apple headphones (AirPods, Beats).
Why is the sound in the headphones not synchronized?
This is a typical problem when using Dual Audio. Causes: Different codec delays (e.g. SBC vs AAC), interference from other Bluetooth devices, mismatched versions of headphone firmware. Solution: try manually setting the same codec in Bluetooth settings (e.g. AAC for both devices).
Can you use Dual Audio for a microphone?
No, the Dual Audio feature in Xiaomi only works for audio output. If you need both headphones to work as microphones (for example, for streaming), you will need specialized hardware (mixer, Bluetooth adapter with HFP support).
How to turn off Dual Audio?
Go to Settings โ†’ Connections and Sharing โ†’ Dual Audio and: Turn off the switch Double audio output. Click Disconnect next to the second earphone. If necessary, perform Forget the device for the second earphone.
Does Dual Audio work with other brands?
Theoretically, yes, but in practice, stability depends on supported Bluetooth profiles: ๐ŸŽง Sony WH-1000XM4 (partly, with delays). ๐ŸŽง JBL Live 660NC (For maximum compatibility, use headphones on a Qualcomm chip (for example, Soundcore by Anker).