How to completely remove a Bluetooth device on a Xiaomi smartphone: from headphones to smart watches

Why Xiaomi Smartphones Don’t Forget Bluetooth Devices and How to Fix It

Have you ever encountered a situation where the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 stubbornly clings to old Bluetooth headphones, even though you sold them long ago? or the Mi Band 8 smartwatch automatically connects to your wife's phone, not yours? The problem is that MIUI (Xiaomi firmware) keeps information about the mated gadgets even after they're turned off - and it's not always convenient.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven ways to remove a Bluetooth device from Xiaomi forever, from the standard settings menu to hidden engineering features, and why some gadgets (like AirDots or SoundPEATS) can appear on the list of conjugate devices even after a reset, and how to prevent it.

Before you get to the instructions, check one thing: whether the device is actually disabled, not just in standby mode. For example, Xiaomi Buds 4 can remain in the memory of the phone even if you turn them off - they just go to sleep. To make sure that the problem is in the settings of Xiaomi, and not in the gadget itself, try to connect it to another smartphone. If it shows up as new, then your Xiaomi really "forgot" to remove it.

Method 1: Standard removal via Bluetooth menu

The most obvious method is to use the built-in MIUI settings. It works on all models, from the Redmi 9A to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, but there are nuances. For example, on some firmware, the "Forget device" item may be hidden behind an additional menu.

Here's the step-by-step instruction:

1. Open the settings (cog icon on the desktop).
2. Go to Connections and Sharing (on older versions of MIUI, it’s just Bluetooth).
3. Activate Bluetooth if it is turned off.
4. Find the device you want to remove in the list and tap it.
5. Click Disable (if the gadget is connected), then select Forget the device or Delete (depending on the firmware version).
6. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

⚠️ Note: On certain devices (e.g, POCO F5) You click on the name of the gadget and you open a menu with the Settings button, except that you can see the "Forget the device" option!

Check if the firmware is updated to the latest version of MIUI

Reboot your smartphone and try again.

Try disabling Bluetooth, then turning on and removing the device again.

Use an alternative method (see Method 2)

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If the gadget reappears on the list after removal, it stores the pairing data in its memory, which is typical for the Mi Band, Amazfit and some JBL models. In this case, you will have to reset the settings of the gadget itself (usually this is done with a long press on the power button).

Method 2: Remove from Developer Settings (for stubborn devices)

Sometimes the standard method doesn’t work, especially if you’re talking about smartwatches or fitness bracelets that are integrated into the Xiaomi ecosystem (such as the Mi Band 7 or Xiaomi Watch S3), and in such cases, the hidden “Developer Settings” menu will help.

How to get there:

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Find the MIUI version line and tap it 7 times in a row (you should be notified “You became a developer”).
3. Return to the main settings menu and open a new section Additional → Developer Settings.
4. Scroll down to the Network block and select Reset Bluetooth settings.
5. Confirm the action.

⚠️ Note: This method removes all stored Bluetooth devices from the phone's memory. If you have multiple devices connected (earphones, speakers, watches), you will have to reconnect them after reset, but it is guaranteed to clean even those devices that are not deleted through the standard menu.

Wireless headphones (AirDots, SoundPEATS, etc.)

Smart watches or fitness bracelet (Mi Band, Amazfit)

Portable column (JBL, Xiaomi)

Game Controller (DualSense, Xbox)

Car tape recorder

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If this method didn’t work, which is unlikely, the problem may be in the cache of the Bluetooth module, which can also be cleaned through the “Developer Settings”:

1. In the same menu, find Background Process Limitation and set the value No Limits.
2. Then go back and select Clear Bluetooth cache (if there is one).
3. Reboot the phone.

Method 3: Reset network settings (nuclear version)

When nothing works, the last chance is a complete reset, and this method removes not only Bluetooth devices, but also:

• 📶 Saved Wi-Fi networks and their passwords
• 📱 Mobile network settings (APN, preference SIM-map)
• 🔗 VPN-configuration

Use it only if other methods have failed.

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Resetting.
2. Select Network Settings Reset (on some models – Wi-Fi, mobile network, and Bluetooth Reset).
3. Enter the screen unlock password (if required).
4. Confirm the reset.

Once you reboot, it'll be like new connectivity.

• 🔑 Enter passwords from Wi-Fi
• 🎧 Interconnect Bluetooth devices
• 📱 Set up mobile Internet (if you use non-standard) APN)

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Before resetting your network settings, take screenshots of important settings (such as APN settings for mobile internet) or write down Wi-Fi passwords.

Method 4: Remove via MIUI Optimization (for advanced users)

If you use Xiaomi with global or Chinese firmware, there may be a hidden MIUI Optimization module in the system that manages the interface devices at a deeper level, and you can access it through the engineering menu.

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect actions in the engineering menu can cause malfunctions in the phone!

How to remove the device through MIUI Optimization:

1. Open the Phone app and enter the code: ##4636##.
2. In the menu that appears, select Phone Information (or Phone Information in English firmware).
3. Scroll down to the MIUI Optimization block and tap it.
4. Find the Bluetooth Device List (List of Bluetooth Devices).
5. Select the gadget you want to remove and press Remove or Delete.
6. Reboot the phone.

This method is particularly useful if:

• 🔄 The device appears in the list after standard removal
• 🔧 You suspect there are "broken" pairing records left in the system
• 🛠️ Remove a device that is physically inaccessible (for example, lost headphones)

Method 5: Manual deletion through the file system (for power users)

If you're willing to take risks for the sake of cleanliness, you can manually delete files that are responsible for stored Bluetooth devices.

• 📱 Root rights (or temporary root via Magisk)
• 🛠️ File Manager with access to system folders (e.g., Root Explorer or Root Explorer) FX File Explorer)

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect editing of system files may result in data loss or Bluetooth module inoperability!

Instructions:

1. Open the file manager and go to /data/misc/bluedroid/.
2. Find files with the.conf or.dat extension (for example, bt_config.conf).
3. Delete or rename these files (e.g. add at the end of.bak).
4. Reboot the phone.

After the reboot, the system will create new configuration files and the old devices will disappear from the list. If Bluetooth stops working, return the deleted files back or reset the settings (Method 3).

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Manually deleting system files is a last resort, only use it if other methods have not worked, and you understand the risks.

Table: Comparison of methods of removing Bluetooth devices on Xiaomi

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after removing the device from the phone, it can continue to automatically connect, and here are the most common reasons and ways to fix them:

• 🔋 The device stores pairing data. Many gadgets (especially the Mi Band and Amazfit) remember the last phone connected. To fix this, reset the device itself (usually by long pressing a button or in a companion app, such as Zepp or Mi Fitness).
• 🔄 Auto-connection in Bluetooth settings. In some firmware MIUI There's an option called "Automatic Connection to Audio Devices." Turn it off in Settings. → Connections → Bluetooth → Additionally.
• 📱 Cache the Bluetooth app. If the device still appears after you delete it, clear the cache of the Bluetooth system application in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Systemic → Bluetooth.
• 🔗 The profile of the device is stored in another app, for example, if you've connected your headphones through Spotify or YouTube Music, these apps can store information about the gadget.

If none of these methods worked, maybe the problem is that the Bluetooth module is a hardware failure, which is rare, but can happen after a phone falls or moisture gets in, and then only a service center will help.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions