How to remove headphones from the Bluetooth list on your Xiaomi phone: all ways

Are you trying to connect new wireless headphones, but the old AirDots or Redmi Buds are still hanging on your Xiaomi's Bluetooth list? Or is the phone stubbornly clinging to already unnecessary headsets, interfering with connectivity? The problem is familiar to many owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi smartphones - MIUI sometimes "forgets" to remove devices correctly, leaving them in memory as ghostly connections.

In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to remove headphones from the Bluetooth list on Xiaomi, from the standard method through settings to hidden features for stubborn devices. You’ll learn why the headset can not be removed, how to reset the Bluetooth cache without losing other connections, and what to do if the headphones are constantly connected themselves after removal, and also the compatibility table with different versions of MIUI and a unique life hack for devices with damaged Bluetooth module firmware.

Why headphones are not removed from Bluetooth on Xiaomi

Before we get to the instructions, it's important to understand the root of the problem, because 80 percent of the time, not being able to remove the device is not because of a phone breakdown, but because of the MIUI and Bluetooth protocol.

• 🔄 Bluetooth cache: The system stores data about connected devices in temporary files. If the cache is corrupted, deletion through the interface does not work.
• 📱 Mistake. MIUI: Firmware versions 12.5-14 have a bug where devices remain on the list even after clicking “Forget».
• 🎧 Standby Headphones: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro) automatically reconnect if not physically disabled.
• 🔧 Damaged profile. A2DP: If there were failures during the connection, the system can “hang” on the old connection.

Interesting fact: on devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon (for example, POCO F4 or Redmi Note 12 Pro+), the problem is less common than on smartphones with MediaTek chips (Redmi 10 series), this is due to differences in the implementation of Bluetooth stack manufacturers.

Method 1: Standard removal via Bluetooth settings

Let’s start with the most obvious method, which works 60-70% of the time, and the instructions are relevant for all Xiaomi smartphones on MIUI 11-14:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Find the headphones you want to remove in the list, and tap the gear. ⚙️ near-name.
3. In the menu that opens, select Disable (if the device is connected), then Forget this device.
4. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

If the headphones reappear after you reboot your phone or turn on Bluetooth, then go to the next method, and check if Autoconnect is activated in the headphone settings themselves (if they support an accompanying app, such as Mi Earphones).

Method 2: Reset Bluetooth settings (without losing other devices)

If standard deletion doesn’t work, the next step is to reset the cache and data of the Bluetooth module, which does not affect other stored devices (columns, smartwatches), but requires re-pairing all headsets after the procedure.

Instructions:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Put three points on it. ⋮ in the upper right corner and select Show System Processes.
3. Find Bluetooth (or Bluetooth Share on some firmware) in the list.
4. Open the application page and select Storage → Clear cache and Clear data.
5. Reboot the phone.

Once you reboot, all previously connected headphones will disappear from the list. Now you can only reconnect the devices you are actually using. Note that some models (such as the Xiaomi 12T) may require Bluetooth to be activated again in the settings after this procedure.

Method 3: Removal through Developer Mode (for stubborn devices)

If the headphones are constantly returning to the list even after a cache reset, it will help to turn on the developer mode and manually clean the list of associated devices. This method works on all Xiaomi smartphones, but you need to be careful - do not change the other settings in this menu!

Step-by-step:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version and tap it 7 times until you become a developer!
2. Return to the main Settings menu and open a new Developer section (usually at the bottom of the list).
3. Scroll down and find the list of Bluetooth devices (in English firmware – Bluetooth paired devices list).
4. Slip on it and manually remove unnecessary headphones by holding your finger on them and choosing Remove.

⚠️ Note: In Developer Mode, do not disable Bluetooth Audio Codec or Bluetooth Audio. LDAC — This can cause problems with sound in other devices.

This method is particularly effective for devices with MediaTek Helio (e.g. Redmi 9A or POCO M3), where standard deletion often fails due to the features of the chipset.

Method 4: Use ADB-Teams (for experienced users)

If all previous methods have failed, the last and most radical way is to remove the device via the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting the phone to a computer, but is guaranteed to clear even the most “ghost” connections.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and Platform Tools (download from Google website).
• 📱 Developer Mode Included and Debugging by USB phone-on.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command line in the folder with the platform-tools.
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
3. Get a list of all Bluetooth devices: adb shell settings get global bluetooth_paired_devices
4. Copy. MAC-Headphone address that needs to be removed (for example, AA:BB:CC:11:22:33).
5. Delete the device by command: adb shell settings put global bluetooth_paired_devices "["MAC_other devices” (replace) MAC_other devices to the addresses of the devices you want to leave, separated by commas).

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If you're not sure what you're doing, skip this and go to the service center.

Once you've done the commands, reboot your phone. All the remote devices will be gone forever, and this is the only solution for cases where the headphones are automatically connected even after the factory reset.

💡

If you often connect/disable different headsets, create a shortcut on your desktop with the command adb shell am start. -a android.bluetooth.adapter.action.REQUEST_DISCOVERABLE — This will quickly turn on detection mode without unnecessary taps in the settings.

Method 5: Reset your phone to factory settings (extreme case)

If none of the methods worked, and the headphones interfere with work (for example, constantly interrupting the sound or blocking the connection of new devices), then a complete reset of the phone remains. This is a radical solution, but it is guaranteed to remove all stored Bluetooth devices.

How to do the reset correctly:

1. Back up important data (photos, contacts, messages) through Settings → Google → Backup.
2. Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
3. Select to erase all data (reset to factory).
4. Confirm the action and wait for the reboot (it will take 5-10 minutes).

After resetting, the phone will become “clean” and you will only be able to connect the headphones you are actually using.Remember: Factory reset is the last resort if other methods have not worked.

💡

Before reset, check if the headphone problems are themselves related. For example, Xiaomi Buds 4 has an auto-connection bug that is solved by updating the headset firmware through the Mi Earphones app.

What to do if the headphones still connect after removal

The situation when the headset is voluntarily connected even after removal from the list, occurs in 10-15% of users.

• 🔋 Headphones in the case do not turn off: Some models (such as the Redmi Buds 3 Lite) remain in standby mode if the case is not tightly closed. Try to remove the headphones and manually turn them off (hold the power button 5-10 seconds).
• 📲 The “Quick Connection” function in MIUI: Open the Settings. → Connections → Quickly connect devices and disable the option for headphones.
• 🔄 Reset headphone settings: For most Xiaomi models, the reset is done as follows: put the headphones in the case, then hold the button on the case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes red.

If the problem persists, check if your headset conflicts with other Bluetooth devices. For example, POCO Buds X can conflict with the Mi Band if both devices are trying to connect at the same time, in which case prioritizing connections in Bluetooth settings will help.

FAQ: Frequent questions about removing Bluetooth devices on Xiaomi