How to switch the Bluetooth codec to Xiaomi: all ways and settings

Have you ever noticed that the sound in your wireless headphones or Bluetooth speaker on your Xiaomi doesn't sound as clear as you'd like? Or maybe the bass is missing and the voice in podcasts sounds like a barrel? The reason often lies in the Bluetooth codec, the algorithm that is responsible for compressing and transmitting audio data. By default, Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO) use the standard SBC, but most devices have more advanced options hidden: AAC, aptX, LDAC or even LC3 (for new models).

In this article, we’ll learn how to manually switch the Bluetooth codec on any Xiaomi smartphone, from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. You’ll learn what codecs your device supports, how to enable hidden developer settings for Bluetooth, and why sometimes even the most advanced codec can sound worse than the basic one. And we’ll also tell you how to get around the limitations of MIUI and get your smartphone to use aptX Adaptive or LDAC even if they don’t appear on the menu.

Before you start, check: your wireless headphones or speakers must support the same codec as your smartphone. For example, if you choose aptX HD and the headphones only support SBC, the sound will either be interrupted or automatically switched to a compatible option.

What is a Bluetooth codec and why is it important for sound?

The Bluetooth codec is an audio compression algorithm that determines how sound is transmitted from a smartphone to a wireless device.

• 🎵 Sound quality – bitrate, sampling frequency, support for Hi-Res Audio.
• 🔋 Latency – critical for games and video (e.g., aptX Low Latency reduces latency to 40 ms).
• 📶 Connection stability – some codecs are sensitive to interference.
• 🔄 Compatibility – not all headphones support advanced codecs.

Basic codec SBC (Subband Coding is found in every Bluetooth device, but it compresses sound strongly, especially at high frequencies. AAC (Advanced Audio Coding is better at transmitting medium and high frequencies, but can lose in bass. LDAC They are considered "audiophilic" - they support bitrate to 990 quiz 96 keto/24 But they have disadvantages:

⚠️ Attention: Codecs LDAC And aptX Adaptive consumes more power, which can reduce headphone life by 15-20%. AAC or SBC.

Xiaomi

MIUI 12

aptX Adaptive

AAC

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What Bluetooth codecs support Xiaomi smartphones

The list of supported codecs depends on the smartphone model and the version of MIUI. Flagship devices (such as Xiaomi 13T Pro or POCO F5 Pro) usually support all modern codecs, including LDAC and aptX Adaptive. Budget models (such as Redmi 12C) can be limited to SBC and AAC.

Here is the compatibility table for popular devices:

To find out which codecs your smartphone supports, use the Bluetooth Codec Info app (available on Google Play), which shows all available codecs and current ones in use, and can be found in the hidden developer settings (we will discuss them later).

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If your smartphone does not support you LDAC or aptX, but they are critical to you, consider buying an external Bluetooth transmitter (e.g. Fiio) BTR5 or iBasso DC05). These devices are connected to USB-C Supports all modern codecs.

How to enable hidden Bluetooth settings in MIUI

By default, MIUI doesn't have direct access to the choice of Bluetooth codec, so to unlock it, you need to activate the developer mode and find hidden settings. Here's a step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and click on it 7 times in a row until the notification “You became a developer!” appears.
3. Return to the main Settings menu and open a new Developer section (usually at the bottom of the list).
4. Scroll down and find the Network → Bluetooth settings block.
5. Slip on the Bluetooth Codec and select the desired option from the list.

Activate the Developer Mode|Connect headphones via Bluetooth|Check the current codec in Bluetooth Codec Info"|Select a compatible codec in the settings|Reset your headphones after the change-->

If there is no Bluetooth codec in the developer menu, your smartphone model does not support manual switching, and then you can try alternative methods, which we will discuss in the next section.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (especially global versions) MIUI for Europe), the codec selection point may not be available even with support LDAC Or aptX. That's the manufacturer's restriction, and you can only get around it through ADB-clout.

How to forcefully change your Bluetooth codec through ADB

If you can’t select a codec in your developer settings, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on most Xiaomi devices but requires a connection to a computer.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with enabled debugging USB (developer-setting).
• 🔌 Cable USB-C (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your computer and allow debugging over USB.
2. Open the command prompt (or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
3. Enter the command to view the current codec: adb shell settings get global bluetooth_a2dp_codec_priority
4. To install a new codec, use one of the commands: adb shell settings put global. bluetooth_a2dp_codec_priority "aptX" adb shell settings put global bluetooth_a2dp_codec_priority "LDAC" adb shell settings put global bluetooth_a2dp_codec_priority "AAC" Complete list of supported values: SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX-HD, LDAC.
5. Reboot your smartphone and headphones.

On smartphones with MIUI 14+, the command for the LC3 may not work due to manufacturer limitations, in which case the only solution is to install custom firmware (for example, Pixel Experience or LineageOS), where LC3 support is implemented at the kernel level.

Why Bluetooth codec is reset after rebooting

Many Xiaomi users face a problem: After a smartphone reboot, the Bluetooth codec is reset to SBC or AAC, despite manual settings.

• 🔄 Energy conservation policies MIUI — system can forcefully reduce bitrate to save charge.
• 📱 Firmware restrictions on some global versions MIUI Codec resets due to regional settings.
• 🎧 Headphone incompatibility – if the device does not support the selected codec, the system automatically selects a backup.

Decisions:

1. Turn off battery optimization for the Bluetooth app in the battery settings.
2. Use Tasker or MacroDroid for automatic application ADB-team after reboot.
3. Install the Magisk Bluetooth Audio Codec Patch (root rights required).

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If the codec is only reset when connected to specific headphones, the problem is probably with them, not with your smartphone.

Which Bluetooth codec is best to choose from different scenarios

There is no universal “best” codec – the choice depends on your tasks:

For sound testing, we recommend using high dynamic range tracks (e.g. Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" or Bass I Love You" by Bassnectar).

• 🔊 High frequency clarity (symbals, voice).
• 🎛️ The depth of the bass (should not be "drummed").
• 🎚️ Balance between instruments.

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To hear the difference between codecs, use headphones that support Hi-Res Audio (such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Sennheiser Momentum 4). On budget models (such as the Redmi Buds 4), the difference between the SBC and AAC will be minimal.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing the Bluetooth codec to Xiaomi, the following problems may occur:

⚠️ Note: If after changing the codec, the sound starts to interrupt or there is interference, this may mean that the selected codec is unstable with your headphones. LDAC Set 660 kbit/s instead of 990 kbit/s or go back to the AAC.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📲 Updates MIUI — Additional codecs may appear in new firmware versions.
• 🔄 Resetting Bluetooth settings – sometimes helps to get back up.
• 🛠️ Hardware problems – if the sound is distorted on all codecs, the Bluetooth module may be faulty.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions