How to disable SBC Bluetooth on Xiaomi devices: the complete guide

If you use Xiaomi Bluetooth devices (headphones, speakers or smartphones) and notice that the sound quality is poor, the problem may lie in the SBC codec. This basic audio codec, although supported by all devices, is often inferior in quality to more modern alternatives like AAC, aptX or LDAC. In some cases, forced disabling SBC allows you to improve sound, reduce delays or solve connection problems.

But it’s not that simple: disabling SBC can cause Bluetooth audio to fail if your device doesn’t support other codecs. In this article, we’ll look at when to turn off SBC, how to do it on different Xiaomi models (including smartphones, Redmi AirDots, Mi True Wireless and Mi Portable Speaker speakers), and the risks to consider. If you’re not sure about your actions, check your devices’ compatibility first!

What is SBC and why should it be turned off?

The SBC (Subband Coding) codec is the standard Bluetooth audio compression protocol required for all A2DP-enabled devices. It guarantees compatibility, but not quality: SBC uses low bitrate (up to 328 kbps) and simplified compression, resulting in:

• 🔊 Loss of sound detail – especially noticeable at high and low frequencies.
• ⏱️ Latency (latency) – critical for games and videos.
• 🎧 Artifacts with loud music - "wheezing" or "gurgling".

SBC disabling is relevant if:

• 📱 Your Xiaomi smartphone supports your AAC, aptX LDAC (Check the specifications of the model).
• 🎧 Your headphones/columns are compatible with the same codecs (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro support) AAC and LC3).
• 🔧 You are prepared for possible connection issues if devices cannot “negotiate” another codec.

Important: If your devices only support SBC (e.g. Redmi AirDots 2 budget models), disabling it will make audio transmission impossible.

How to check which codec is currently in use

Before you turn off SBC, make sure your devices are actually using it.

1. Connect your headphones or column to your Xiaomi smartphone.
2. Open Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap 5 times on the kernel line to activate the developer mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Find the Bluetooth Audio Codec section, where the current codec (e.g., SBC or AAC) will be listed.

Some MIUI firmware (especially global ones) may not have this item, and an alternative way to check is to use the Bluetooth Codec Info app from Google Play.

Ways to disable SBC on Xiaomi smartphones

There are several methods of disabling SBC, varying in complexity and device requirements, and choose the right one depending on your model and willingness to experiment.

Method 1: Developer menu (without root)

The safest way, but it doesn't work on all devices, is suitable for smartphones with MIUI 12-14 based on Android 10+:

1. Activate the Developer Mode (as described above).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find the Bluetooth Audio Codec option and select an alternative codec (AAC, aptX, or LDAC).
4. Reconnect the headphones - the codec must change.

If the sound disappears or distortions appear after the change, return the settings to the SBC and check the compatibility of the devices.

Method 2: Engineering menu (for experienced users)

This method requires care, as incorrect actions can disrupt Bluetooth.

1. Open the phone app and enter the code: ##4636##
2. In the menu that opens, select Phone Information.
3. Scroll down to the Bluetooth section and find Audio Codec.
4. Try to manually change the codec. If the option is inactive, your device does not support this feature.

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If the engineering menu doesn’t open, try using the MTK Engineering Mode app (for MediaTek-based devices) or Qualcomm Service Menu (for Snapdragon).

Method 3: By means of ADB-teams (advanced)

This method will require a computer and installed ADB-Instructions:

1. Connect your smartphone to your PC and activate debugging over USB in the developer settings.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (macOS/Linux) Enter: adb shell settings put global bluetooth_a2dp_offload_codec_priority aac,aptx,aptx_hd,This command prioritizes codecs, excluding SBC.
3. Reboot your smartphone and check for changes.

To put SBC first, use the command:

adb shell settings put global bluetooth_a2dp_offload_codec_priority ""

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Changes through ADB If the sound is lost after the command, reset the Bluetooth settings or follow the command adb shell settings delete global settings. bluetooth_a2dp_offload_codec_priority

Disabling SBC on Xiaomi headphones and speakers

Unlike smartphones, most Xiaomi Bluetooth headphones and speakers don’t allow you to manually select codecs.

For headphones. Xiaomi/Mi/Redmi (AirDots, Buds, FlipBuds)

Budget models (like the Redmi AirDots 2 or Mi Basic 2) only support SBC and have no alternatives.More advanced devices (like the Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro or FlipBuds Pro) automatically switch to AAC or LC3 if the smartphone supports them.

To force the SBC to disable:

• 📱 Update your headphone firmware through the official Mi Home or Xiaomi Earbuds app – sometimes newer versions add support for additional codecs.
• 🔄 Reset your headphones to factory settings (usually by pressing a button for 10-15 seconds) and plug them back in.
• 🛠️ Use third-party firmware (for example, AirDots Pro 2 has modified firmware with support). AAC, But it's risky!).

Xiaomi (Mi Portable Speaker, Mi Smart Speaker)

Xiaomi speakers usually only support SBC, but some models (such as the Mi Smart Speaker Pro) can work with AAC.

1. Connect the column to a smartphone with a forced codec (for example, select AAC via Developer Options).
2. Play audio – if there is sound, the column supports an alternative codec.
3. If there is no sound, return the settings to SBC.

For speakers with Xiaomi Home (smart home) sometimes helps reconnect through the Mi Home app with pre-reset settings.

Codec compatibility table for Xiaomi devices

Below is a table with codec support for popular Xiaomi devices, and the data is relevant for the latest firmware (2023-2026):

Note that support for aptX and LDAC depends on the hardware platform. For example, smartphones on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (like the Xiaomi 13 Ultra) support all codecs, and budget models on MediaTek Helio only support SBC and AAC.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Disabling SBC can lead to unexpected problems, and here are the most common mistakes and ways to solve them:

• 🔇 Sound disappears after changing the codec. Reason: Headphones or speakers don't support the codec you've chosen. SBC Check the compatibility of the devices.
• 🔄 Permanent connection breaks Cause: weak Bluetooth signal or codec conflict Solution: Reduce device spacing or reset Bluetooth settings.
• 🎵 Distortion of sound at high volume Reason: selected codec (for example, LDAC) It requires a high bitrate, which doesn't provide a connection. AAC or.

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If after the changes, the headphones stopped connecting, remove them from the list of associated devices (Settings → Bluetooth), restart the smartphone and connect again.

Another common problem is automatically returning to SBC after the MIUI update. To avoid this, disable automatic firmware updates or use Magisk modules to fix the codec (requires root).

Alternative solutions for improving sound

If disabling SBC has not helped or is not possible, consider other ways to improve Bluetooth audio quality:

• 🎛️ Set up the equalizer Use the built-in equalizer in MIUI (Settings → Sound. → Equalizer) or third-party applications like Wavelet.
• 📶 Improve Bluetooth Signal Avoid interference from other devices (Wi-Fi routers, microwaves) and keep the sound source closer to the headphones.
• 🔧 For some models (for example, AirDots Pro 2) there are custom firmware with support AAC.
• 🎧 If quality is critical (for example, for recording podcasts), use USB-C-adapter.

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Before you run your headphones, be sure to check reviews about a particular version – unstable firmware can bring the device down!

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

If your question is not covered in the FAQ, specify the device model and the MIUI version – this will help you find the exact solution.