How to Remove Bluetooth Devices on Xiaomi Smartphones: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi and POCO lines) allow you to connect dozens of devices over Bluetooth, from headphones and speakers to fitness bracelets and automotive systems. However, over time, the list of associated gadgets grows, and some of them stop working correctly or disappear altogether from access zone, in which case removing them from the phone’s memory becomes a necessary step to restore stable connection.

In this article, you will find step-by-step instructions for removing Bluetooth devices on different versions of the MIUI shell (12 to 14), as well as solutions to typical problems — for example, when the gadget does not appear in the list or the phone “forgets” the pairing password. We will also reveal the hidden developer settings that will help reset the Bluetooth module cache if standard methods do not work.

We'll focus on security: why not leave devices in your phone's memory that you're no longer connected to, and how to prevent you from automatically pairing with unknown gadgets in public. If you've ever seen Xiaomi unwittingly connect to someone else's speakers or headphones, here's a solution.

Why You Should Remove Old Bluetooth Devices

Many users have not cleaned the list of associated devices for years, considering this an insignificant trifle, but a clogged Bluetooth list can cause serious problems:

• 🔋 Increased battery consumption: The phone is constantly scanning the airwaves for known devices, even if they have not been used in a long time.
• 🎧 Connection conflicts: A smartphone may try to automatically connect to a neighbor’s column instead of your headphones.
• 🔒 Security threats: Some devices (such as smart locks) retain pairing passwords, allowing attackers to connect to them if the phone falls into the wrong hands.
• 🚫 System errors: when the saved device limit is exceeded (usually) 20-30) New gadgets may not be connected.

For example, if you used to connect the Mi Band 4 to a phone and then sold the bracelet, the new owner would theoretically be able to access your data through a stored pairing, and the same goes for car multimedia systems — if you rented out the car, it's best to remove it from the list of devices.

⚠️ Note: Some devices (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Smart Band or Redmi Buds) may require a complete reinstallation of the associated application (Mi Fit, Mi Home) to reconnect after being removed from the Bluetooth list.

Method 1: Standard removal via MIUI settings

This is the simplest method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the MIUI version. The instructions are relevant for models from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra:

1. Open the Settings app (cog icon).
2. Go to Connections and Sharing (or Bluetooth in older versions).
3. Activate the Bluetooth slider if it is turned off.
4. In the list of Associated devices, find the gadget you want to remove and tap on it.
5. Press the Disable button (if the device is connected), then select Forget this device or Delete.
6. Confirm the action in the dialog window.

In some models (for example, POCO F5) Forgetting can be hidden under the sign ⚙️ If the gadget does not appear in the list, try to turn it on and make it visible for search (for example, hold the power button on the Redmi Buds 4 Pro headphones for 5 seconds).

Turn on Bluetooth on your smartphone

Make sure the gadget is in search mode

Close all applications that use Bluetooth (music, navigator)

Check the battery power of the device (some gadgets don’t show up at low charge)

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If the device reappears on the list after deleting the next connection, it means that it is stored in the system cache, in which case you will need to reset your Bluetooth settings (for this in the next section).

Method 2: Reset Bluetooth settings via the developer menu

When standard deletion doesn’t help (e.g., the device keeps automatically connecting), the developer menu comes to the rescue, a method that is also useful if the Bluetooth list is filled with junk devices that have been out of use for a long time but don’t show up in the main settings.

First, you need to activate the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version and tap it 7 times in a row. You will be notified of becoming a developer!
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new Developer section (usually at the bottom of the list).

Now reset your Bluetooth settings:

1. In the developer menu, find Reset Bluetooth settings (or Clear Bluetooth cache in some versions).
2. Confirm the action. The phone will reboot and all the stored devices will be removed.

⚠️ Attention: Resetting Bluetooth will remove all the associated devices, including those you use regularly (earphones, smartwatches, car system.

Method 3: Remove via ADB (for power users)

If none of the previous methods worked, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a low-level system management tool that is suitable for removing “undetectable” devices or cleaning the list on corporate phones with limited settings.

You'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on a smartphone (in the developer menu).

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and open the command prompt (cmd in Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
3. Follow the command to view the list of conjugate devices: adb shell settings get global bluetooth_paired_devices You'll see the list in format ["AA:BB:CC:11:22:33","DD:EE:FF:44:55:66"] — it MAC-device addresses.
4. Remove the unnecessary device from it MAC-address (replace) XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX Adb shell settings put global bluetooth_paired_devices "[]" Note: This command cleans all the interfaced devices. To remove only one, you'll need a more complex script.

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If you are not sure about your skills with ADB, Backup the list of devices with the adb shell settings command get global bluetooth_paired_devices > bluetooth_backup.txt. This will save the current data in the file. bluetooth_backup.txt.

Once you've done the commands, restart your phone, which is guaranteed to remove even devices that don't show up in the standard MIUI, but it takes care that the wrong commands can disrupt the system.

Standard settings MIUI|Developer Menu |ADB-team |Never delete |Another way-->

Problem Solving: The device does not remove or reappears

Sometimes, even after all the manipulations, the device continues to “return” to the list or automatically connect.

1.The device is saved in the Xiaomi account

Some gadgets (such as Mi Band or Mi True Wireless Earphones) are tied to not only your phone, but also your Xiaomi account to completely delete them:

1. Open the Mi Fit or Mi Home app.
2. Go to the device profile and select Delete Device.
3. Confirm the account detachment.

2. automatic connection in the background

Some applications (such as Spotify or Google Maps) can automatically connect to the last Bluetooth device used.

• 📵 Disable the application from Bluetooth access in Settings → Annexes → Permits.
• 🔄 In Bluetooth settings, turn off the Autoconnection option (if any).

3. Firmware problems

Some versions of MIUI (especially beta firmware) have bugs that keep devices from being removed.

• 🔄 Restart your phone to Safe Mode (press the power button) → Restart in Safe Mode and Repeat Deletion.
• 📲 Update your firmware to the latest stable version in Settings → Updating the system.

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If the device continues to appear after deletion, check if it is saved in your Xiaomi cloud account or in the settings of a particular application (e.g. Mi Fit).

How to prevent automatic connection to other devices

Many Xiaomi users have a problem when the phone is connected to speakers in cafes, headphones in the gym or car systems in taxis, because of the fast pairing feature, which is enabled by default.

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Put three points on it (⋮) in the upper right corner and select Bluetooth Settings.
3. Turn off the options: 🔄 Automatic connection 🔍 Finding Nearby Devices (or Visibility for Everyone) 📱 Quick pairing (if any)

It is also recommended that:

• 🔐 Install PIN-code for connecting new devices (in some firmware, this is done through the developer menu).
• 🚫 Turn off Bluetooth when you don’t need it (such as in a subway or shopping mall).
• 🛡️ Use applications like Bluetooth Auto Connect to manage connections.

⚠️ Warning: In public places (airports, train stations) attackers can create false Bluetooth devices with names like "Free Wi-Fi" or "Airport Info" and connect to them can lead to data leakage!

Frequently asked questions