How to listen to music on Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite: all the ways from files to streaming

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is a popular smartphone with pure Android One, which is still actively used due to its reliability and good optimization. However, many owners are faced with questions about how to listen to music on this device. Unlike flagship models, the Mi A2 Lite has its own nuances, from limited memory to the peculiarities of working with streaming services.

In this article, we will look at all the possible ways to listen to music, from using an embedded player to connecting external devices, learn how to adjust the sound for better quality, which applications are better to choose, and how to solve typical problems (for example, why music is interrupted when you lock the screen or how to listen offline without the Internet), and we will also give recommendations for optimizing battery consumption during long-term listening.

Whether you prefer local files or streaming platforms, you’ll find a solution for your needs, and if your Mi A2 Lite is not your first year of use, we’ll show you how to get around the limitations of the older version of Android.

1. Google Play Music: Opportunities and Limitations

The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is equipped by default with the Google Play Music app (on newer Android versions it may be called YouTube Music), which supports the main formats (.mp3,.aac,.flac,.wav) and is integrated with Google cloud storage, which allows you to synchronize tracks between devices.

However, it has a number of limitations:

• 🔊 There is no built-in equalizer (you have to use third-party applications).
• 📁 Inconvenient sorting of files by folder (all tracks are displayed in one list).
• 🔋 High battery consumption in background playback.

To open the player, go to Apps → Google Play Music. If the app is not available, you can download it from Google Play Market.

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and copy the music to your Music or Download folder.
2. Open the player and click the Library → Songs – files should be displayed automatically.
3. To update the library, use the option to Update in the menu.

⚠️ Note: If music is not displayed, check if files are hidden in the file manager settings. Also make sure formats are supported, such as,.m4a It may not be played without additional codecs.

2. Alternative players: Poweramp, VLC, Musicolet

If the standard player doesn’t like it, consider alternatives. Here are the TOP-3 apps for the Mi A2 Lite, optimized for weak hardware and older versions of Android:

For installation:

1. Download the selected player from Google Play Market.
2. When you first start, give access to the files (Permissions → Storage).
3. In the player settings, enable the Scan option SD-card if the music is stored on an external drive.

Enable equalizer | Activate "Hi-Res audio" | Turn off volume normalization |Configure buffering for smooth playback-->

⚠️ Attention: On Mi A2 Lite with Android 9 and below some players (for example, JetAudio) can slow down due to the lack of optimization for older versions of the OS.

3. Streaming services: Spotify, YouTube Music, Yandex Music

If you prefer streaming, all the popular platforms are available on the Mi A2 Lite, but due to the limited resources of the device (2/3 GB of RAM), lags can occur.

• 🎵 In Spotify, turn off Automatic Quality and set Normal (96 kbps) in the settings.
• 📱 In YouTube Music, turn off background video playback to reduce processor load.
• 🔄 In Yandex Music, use Traffic Saving mode to reduce buffering.

For offline listening:

1. In Spotify: Add tracks to the playlist → click Download (available only in the premium version).
2. In YouTube Music: Open the track → Click Download (also requires a subscription).
3. In Yandex Music: free users can download up to 100 tracks.

⚠️ Attention: On Mi A2 Lite with Android 9 with prolonged use of streaming services can overheat the processor. AIDA64 and take breaks.

4. Listening to music via Bluetooth: headphones, speakers, car

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite supports Bluetooth 4.2, which allows you to connect wireless devices, but due to the outdated version of the protocol, there may be problems:

• 🎧 Latency (Song Delay) when watching a video.
• 🔊 Interrupting reproduction at weak signal.
• 🔋 Fast discharge of the headphone battery.

Instructions for connection:

1. Turn on Bluetooth in the notification curtain or through Settings → Connected devices.
2. Activate the pairing mode on the headphones / column (usually holding the power button for 3-5 seconds).
3. In the list of available devices, select yours and confirm the connection.

To improve sound quality:

• 🔧 In Bluetooth settings (Settings) → System system → Developer) turn on Bluetooth Codecs AAC (if supported by the device).
• 📶 Reduce the distance between your smartphone and headphones to 1 meter.
• 🔋 Disable other Bluetooth devices (fitness bracelets, smart watches) to reduce the load.

💡

If music is interrupted when screen locks, turn off battery optimization for player in Settings → Applications → Special Access → Battery Optimization

5. AUX and USB OTG Connection: How to Listen through Wired Headphones or a Speaker

If Bluetooth is not suitable, use a wired connection. A2 Lite has a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, but for external speakers or USB-headphones will be needed OTG-adapter.

Connection methods:

• 🎧 In 3.5 mm, connect the headphones to the jack on the top of the smartphone. Adjust the volume with the buttons on the body.
• 🔊 Through USB OTG: Buy an adapter. USB-C → USB-A (if the column is standard USB-Connect the speaker to the adapter, then to the smartphone. In the sound settings (Settings). → Select the sound USB-source.

Typical problems and solutions:

⚠️ Note: When connecting through OTG Your smartphone can run out faster because the adapter consumes additional energy.

6. Sound optimization: equalizer, Dolby Atmos settings

By default, the Mi A2 Lite has standard audio settings without advanced features, but you can improve the quality by:

• 🎛️ Built-in equalizer (available in some firmware via Settings) → Sound. → equalizer).
• 🔊 Dolby Atmos (installed separately from Google Play).
• 📱 Third-party applications (e.g. Equalizer) FX or Wavelet).

For fine tuning through Equalizer FX:

Install the app → Open → Select Preset “Rock” or “Jazz” →


Set up the sliders manually (recommended values for bass: +4 dB, for high: +2 dB) →




Save the profile.

💡

Using an equalizer can increase the load on the processor. On the Mi A2 Lite, this results in an accelerated battery discharge of 10-15%.

7 Problem Solving: Music is not played, interrupted, no sound

If you are experiencing problems, check the following points:

If the problem persists, try:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 📲 Clear the player cache (Settings) → Annexes → [Player] → Memory. → Clear the cache).
• 🔧 Reset the sound settings to standard (Settings) → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting the sound settings).