Why Bluetooth codec affects the sound quality of Xiaomi headphones
If you notice that your Xiaomi AirDots, Buds 4 Pro or FlipBuds Pro sound worse than expected, the problem may lie in the wrong Bluetooth codec. Codecs (such as SBC, AAC, aptX or LDAC) are responsible for compressing and transmitting audio over a wireless connection. Suboptimal selection leads to quality losses, audio delays or even playback interruptions.
The manufacturer defaults to a universal SBC codec that works on all devices but does not provide the highest quality. For example, for listening to music in high resolution (FLAC or Hi-Res Audio), LDAC (up to 990 kbit / s) is better suited, and for games – aptX Low Latency (up to 40 ms latency).
Important: not all Xiaomi models support advanced codecs. For example, the budget Redmi Buds 3 Lite work only with SBC, while the flagship Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro are compatible with LC3, AAC and LDAC. Before setting up, check the specifications of your model on the official website.
What Bluetooth codecs support Xiaomi headphones
The list of available codecs depends on the headphone model and firmware version. Below is the compatibility table for popular Xiaomi devices (current for 2026):
| Model headphones | Supported codecs | Max. bitrate. | Support for Hi-Res Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro | SBC, AAC, LC3, LDAC | 990 kbit/s (LDAC) | Yes. |
| Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | 420 kbit/s (aptX) | No. |
| Redmi Buds 5 | SBC, AAC | 328 kbit/s (AAC) | No. |
| Xiaomi Air 2 SE | SBC, AAC | 256 kbit/s (AAC) | No. |
To check your current codec on Android, go to Settings → Connected Devices → Headphones → Additional → Sound Quality. On the iPhone, this information is hidden – Apple automatically selects AAC for all devices except aptX compatible (a rarity in the Xiaomi ecosystem).
Tip: If your headphones support LDAC but it doesn't show up in the settings, update your firmware through the Mi Home or Xiaomi Wear app. In some cases, you'll need to reset your headphones to factory settings (press the button on the body for 10 seconds before the red light flashes).
How to change the Bluetooth codec on Android-smartphone
On most Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphones (with MIUI shell), the process of changing the codec looks like this:
- Connect the headphones to the phone via Bluetooth.
- Open Settings → Bluetooth.
- Press the gear icon (⚙️) near the name of your headphones.
- Select Sound Quality or Audio Codec (the name may vary depending on the version of MIUI).
- In the list of available codecs, tap on the desired one (for example, LDAC for high bitrate or aptX for games).
If there is no audio quality, then your smartphone does not support manual codec change, in which case the Developer Options app will help:
Enable Developer Mode (7 times click on MIUI Version in Settings → About Phone)
Go to Settings → Additional → For Developers
Find the Bluetooth Codec and select the desired option
Reboot Bluetooth (turn off/on)
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Important: on some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra) the option to change the codec appears only after connecting headphones with support for LDAC or aptX. If even after this item is not, update the firmware of the phone to the latest version.
⚠️ Attention: Forced codec installation LDAC On devices without hardware support, it can lead to a crack in the speakers or a complete lack of sound.
Features of changing the codec on iPhone and other devices
On the iPhone and iPad, Apple tightly controls the audio stream, so:
- 📱 AAC It is installed automatically for all headphones, except for those compatible with aptX (for example, Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro with firmware 2026).
- ⚙️ Manual codec change is impossible without jailbreak.
- 🔊 You can turn on the sound to improve it. EQ In Settings → Music. → Choose Prestos and Late Night or Acoustic.
On a Mac, the situation is similar: the system chooses the AAC or SBC. To check the current codec, open Activity Monitor → Network → Bluetooth and look at the Audio Codec string.
For Windows 10/11 devices:
- Open the settings → Devices → Headphones → Properties.
- Go to the Service tab and find Bluetooth Audio.
- In the drop-down list, select the desired codec (if available).
⚠️ Note: On PCs with Bluetooth adapters version below 5.0 codecs LDAC and aptX may not work consistently. To check the version of the adapter, type in the command line: msinfo32 And find the Bluetooth Radio line.
Which codec to choose for different use cases
The choice of codec depends on your tasks:
- 🎵 Music (Hi-Res Audio): LDAC (max. 990 kbit/s or aptX HD (576 kbps. Suitable for FLAC, WAV and ALAC.
- 🎮 Games: aptX Low Latency (40ms latency) or LC3 (new-model).
- 📞 Calls: SBC or AAC — They are optimized for voice and consume less energy.
- 🎬 Video: aptX Adaptive (automatically adjusts to bitrate) or AAC.
To test the difference between codecs, use high dynamic range tracks (e.g. Lindemann's "Bubbles" or 2L's "Audiophile Test"), enable Bitrate Viewer mode in the Poweramp app or USB Audio Player PRO to see real-time bitrate.
What to do if the sound is interrupted when using LDAC?
Common Problems and Their Solutions
When changing the codec, users often face the following errors:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Codec doesn't change. | Outdated firmware of the phone or headphones | Update the software through Settings → System Update and Mi Home |
| Crackling in the speakers | Incompatibility of the codec with the Bluetooth adapter | Go back to the SBC or AAC |
| The sound is gone. | Too high bitrate for the current connection | Reduce the LDAC bitrate to 441 kbps |
| Sound delay | AAC or SBC is used for video | Switch to aptX Low Latency |
If after changing the codec, the headphones stopped connecting:
- Remove them from the list of associated devices.
- Reset the headphones (press the button for 15 seconds before double blinking).
- Connect again and select the codec.
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To keep LDAC running smoothly, keep your phone and headphones no more than 1 meter apart, and walls and metal objects degrade the signal.
Additional settings to improve sound
In addition to changing the codec, you can optimize the sound through:
- 🎛️ Equalizer: MIUI Go to Settings. → Sound. → Equalizer and select Bass Boost or Classical preset. Use Wavelet app for fine-tuning.
- 🔊 Bass Enhancement: Enable Mi Sound Enhancer in the headphone settings (available for Buds) 4/5 Pro).
- 📶 Bluetooth Priority: In Developer Mode, activate Absolute Volume Bluetooth to synchronize volume levels.
- 🔋 Battery savings: Codecs LC3 and SBC They consume less energy than LDAC.
To check the real bitrate, install the Bluetooth Audio Codec Info (Android) or Bluetooth Explorer (Windows) app, which will show the current codec, bitrate and connection stability.
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Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro headphones with LC3 codec provide 30% more battery life compared to LDAC at the same volume level.