Modern Xiaomi smartphones support several Bluetooth profiles, each optimized for specific tasks: listening to music (A2DP), phone calls (HFP) or playback control (AVRCP). However, not everyone knows that these profiles can be switched manually — or even understand why sometimes the sound in headphones suddenly becomes monophonic and the microphone refuses to work, this problem is especially relevant when connecting to car radios, wireless speakers or headsets with support for multiple modes.
In this article, we’ll look at how to force a change in your Bluetooth profile on Xiaomi phones (including Redmi, POCO and flagship series) if the automatic switching is not working properly. You will learn which profiles exist, how to identify them in the settings, and what to do if the desired mode simply “does not catch.” Particular attention will be paid to the hidden engineering menu MIUI, which allows you to reset the Bluetooth cache and force the device to reconnect with the desired parameters.
What are Bluetooth profiles and why change them?
The Bluetooth profile is a set of rules that define how two devices will interact with each other.
- 🎧 A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) - for high-quality stereo sound (music, podcasts) Supports codeki SBC, AAC, aptX.
- 📞 HFP (Hands-Free Profile) - for phone calls, provides monophonic sound and access to the microphone.
- 🎛️ AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile) - for control of playback (pause, rewind, volume).
- 🚗 (Phone Book Access Profile) - to synchronize contacts with the car system.
The problems start when Xiaomi automatically selects the wrong profile, like you plug in AirDots wireless headphones to listen to music, but instead of A2DP, HFP is activated, and the sound becomes quiet and monophonic, or vice versa: when you call in the car, the radio recorder does not switch to HFP, and the interlocutor does not hear you, in such cases, you need to manually switch the profile.
It’s also worth considering that some devices (especially budget headphones or older car systems) may not support all profiles, in which case a forced change of mode will not help – you will need to update the firmware or replace the accessory.
How to check your current Bluetooth profile on Xiaomi
Before you change your profile, you need to know which one is active at the moment, and unfortunately, MIUI doesn't display this information in the standard interface, but there are a few ways to get it:
- Through Developer Settings: Open Settings → About Phone and tap 7 times on MIUI Version to activate Developer Mode. Go back to the main settings menu and select Additional Settings → Developer Settings. Find the Bluetooth section and turn on the Show Bluetooth Profiles option (if any).
- Using the engineering menu (for advanced users): ##4636## From the menu that opens, select Phone Information → Bluetooth.
- Through third-party apps: Utilities like Bluetooth Auto Connect or Bluetooth Repair can show current profiles in real time.
If none of the methods worked, pay attention to the behavior of the device:
- 🔊 Sound monophonic and quiet? Most likely active HFP.
- 🎵 Stereo sound, but no playback control? Only active A2DP.
- 📱 Do you have music control buttons on the screen? Does AVRCP work.
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If you connect your headphones to Xiaomi and hear only one ear, try turning them off, re-pairing them, and waiting 10 seconds before reconnecting, often helping to reset an incorrect profile.
How to change your Bluetooth profile to Xiaomi
Depending on the smartphone model and the MIUI version, there are different methods of forced profile switching available, and let's look at them from the simplest to the most complex.
Method 1: Reconnecting the device
The most common method that works on all versions of MIUI:
- Open Settings → Bluetooth.
- Find the problem device in the list and tap the gear next to its name.
- Select Disable, then Forget this device.
- Turn on the pairing mode on the accessory (for example, press the power button on the headphones).
- Reconnect the device. This time, Xiaomi has to choose the right profile.
Method 2: Reset Bluetooth settings
If reconnecting doesn’t work, try resetting all Bluetooth settings:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Slip on the three points in the upper right corner and select Show System Processes.
- Find Bluetooth in the list, open it and select Warehouse → Clear cache.
- Return to Bluetooth settings and restart your phone.
Once you reboot, reconnect your device, a method that often helps if your profiles are flooded because of a Bluetooth module failure.
Method 3: Engineering menu (for power users)
On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10 Pro or Xiaomi 12T), you can manually prioritize profiles through the engineering menu:
- Enter the code ##2846579##
- Select ProjectMenu → Background Setting → BT Setting.
- Find the BT Profile Priority option and set the profile to the top spot (e.g. A2DP for music).
- Save the settings and restart the phone.
⚠️ Warning: Incorrect changes to the engineering menu can lead to Bluetooth instability or even total loss of connectivity. If you're not sure what you're doing, skip this method.
☑️ Preparation for changing Bluetooth profile
Solving problems with specific profiles
Let’s analyze typical scenarios when you need a change of profile, and how to solve them.
Problem 1: Headphones are connected, but the sound is monophonic (A2DP → HFP)
This is one of the most common problems, especially with cheap TWS- headphones, because the smartphone mistakenly activates the HFP instead of the A2DP.
Decision:
- 🔄 Turn off the headphones and turn them back on to pairing mode.
- 📱 On a Xiaomi smartphone, go to Bluetooth settings, find the headphones and select Forget the device.
- 🔊 Before reconnecting, turn on music playback (for example, open YouTube Music or Spotify). This will cause the system to activate A2DP.
Problem 2: The microphone is not working (HFP is not available)
If the interlocutor does not hear you when connecting to a car radio, then the HFP profile is not activated.
Decision:
- 🚗 Remove the phone from the list of conjugated devices in the tape recorder.
- 📞 On a Xiaomi smartphone, turn on Only Calls in Bluetooth settings (if you have such an option).
- 🔄 Reconnect the phone, wait for the request to access the contacts and microphone — confirm.
Problem 3: No playback controls (no AVRCP)
If the headphones or column do not work pause and rewind buttons, then AVRCP is not activated.
Decision:
- 🎛️ Check if your device supports AVRCP 1.6 (as specified in the specifications).
- 🔄 Reconnect the accessory as described in Method 1.
- 📱 Update the firmware MIUI — newer versions have improved AVRCP support.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| monophonic | A2DP is not activated, HFP is working. | Reconnect the device with the music on |
| The microphone is not working in the car. | No HFP profile available | Remove the pair and reconnect with confirmation of access to the microphone |
| The buttons on the headphones don't work. | Absent AVRCP | Update MIUI or reset Bluetooth settings |
| Permanent communication breakdowns | Profile conflict | In the engineering menu, set the priority of A2DP |
Additional settings to improve Bluetooth
If the profile change has not solved the problem, check these parameters:
- 🔋 Battery Saving Mode: Turn it off in Battery and Performance settings - it may limit Bluetooth performance.
- 📶 Bluetooth Codecs: In the developer settings (Developer Options → Bluetooth Audio Codec), select AAC or aptX instead of SBC for better sound.
- 🔄 Auto Connection: In Bluetooth settings, turn off the Auto Connection option if the device connects to the wrong profile.
It’s also worth updating MIUI to the latest version – new updates often fix Bluetooth bugs. If the problem persists, try rolling back the Bluetooth module update via Settings → Applications → Bluetooth → Three-points → Remove the updates.
What do you do if nothing helps?
Bluetooth profiles on different Xiaomi models
Profile support may vary depending on the smartphone model and MIUI version.
- 📱 Budget models (Redmi 9A, POCO M3): Often support only A2DP and HFP, without aptX or LDAC.
- 📱 Mid-segment (Redmi Note 11, Xiaomi 11 Lite): Full support A2DP, HFP, AVRCP, codec AAC.
- 📱 Flagships (Xiaomi 13, Xiaomi 14): Additional support for aptX Adaptive, LDAC, LC3 (for LE Audio).
Newer models with MIUI 14+ have dual Bluetooth connectivity (to connect to two devices simultaneously), but it can conflict with profiles. If the sound is lost when this feature is activated, turn it off in the settings.
It is also worth considering that on smartphones with Qualcomm Snapdragon (for example, POCO F4) Bluetooth works more stable than on models with MediaTek (for example, Redmi 10C), where there may be problems with switching profiles.
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Xiaomi smartphones with MediaTek chipsets (Helio G-series) are more likely to have Bluetooth bugs. If you encounter persistent cliffs or incorrect profiles, try rolling back the MIUI version or using third-party Bluetooth management apps.