How to add sound in headphones on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones: step-by-step instructions

Did you connect your headphones to the Xiaomi Redmi, but the sound is still going through the speaker of the phone? Or did the headphones decide, but there is no playback?+, Redmi 12 and old (Redmi) 9A, The reasons can be different: from the banal contamination of the connector to a failure in the firmware MIUI.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways to get audio back in headphones, from basic connection checks to hidden developer settings, and why Bluetooth headphones can’t play sound even when paired successfully, and what to do if the phone doesn’t see them.

1. Check the physical connection of headphones

Before digging into the settings, make sure that the problem is not mechanical contact. On Xiaomi Redmi with a 3.5 mm connector (models up to Redmi 10 inclusive), most often the sound is lost due to:

• 🔌 Poor contact in the connector – headphone plug is not fully inserted or oxidized contacts.
• 🧹 Nest contamination – dust, pile, or corrosion interfere with normal connection.
• 🔄 Damaged cable - a worn wire at the base of the plug.

How to check:

1. Carefully remove and re-insert the headphone plug before clicking.
2. Try swaying the plug in the connector – if the sound appears/disappears, the problem is contact.
3. Connect the headphones to another device (laptop, other phone).

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If the 3.5mm connector is contaminated, clean it with a wooden toothpick soaked in alcohol. Do not use metal objects - they can damage the contacts!

On models without a connector (Redmi Note 11 and later) check:

• 🔋 Bluetooth headphones charge – discharged headphones can connect, but do not play sound.
• 🔗 Pairing – In Bluetooth settings, the headphones should appear as “Connected for Media».

2.Configure the output of sound in MIUI

Sometimes Xiaomi Redmi doesn't automatically switch the sound to the headphones, so you have to choose the output device:

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Slip on the item Sound Output Devices (or Media Devices in new versions of MIUI).
3. Choose your headphones from the list. If you don't have them, click Add Device.

For Bluetooth headphones:

• 🎧 Go to Settings. → Bluetooth.
• Click on the icon. ⚙️ headphone-name.
• Activate the Media Audio (or Sound Playback) option.

Some MIUI 13/14 firmware has a bug: the phone forgets the last output device.

⚠️ Warning: If you've connected your headphones to the sound, and it's going through the earphone, reset the sound settings. → Annexes → Application management → Three dots (menu) → Reset application settings → Select "Media" and "Sound».

3. Verification of permissions for applications

If the sound in the headphones works in some applications (for example, YouTube), but does not work in others (Spotify, VK Music), the problem may be in the permissions. MIUI Sometimes blocks the access of applications to audio devices.

How to check:

1. Open Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Select a problem app (such as Spotify).
3. Go to Permits. → Other permits.
4. Make sure it's on: 🔊 Change the system sound settings 🎵 Reproducing sound in the background

If permissions are not on the list, try:

• 🔄 Reinstall the application.
• 📱 Reset the application settings (in the same Application Management menu).

4. Resetting audio and Bluetooth settings

If previous methods didn’t work, try resetting the settings associated with sound and connections, which often resolves the problem after a MIUI update or system failure.

Resetting of sound settings:

1. Go to Settings → System and device → Additional → Resetting.
2. Select Reset audio settings (or Reset media settings).
3. Confirm the action.

Reset Bluetooth settings:

• 🔄 Open the Settings. → Bluetooth.
• Click on the three dots in the upper right corner → Clear the cache.
• Remove all the associated devices and reconnect the headphones.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi Note 10 Pro, Redmi) K50) Resetting Bluetooth settings can cause you to lose your stored devices in your smart home (Mi Home.

Make sure the headphones are charged (for Bluetooth)

Remember passwords from Bluetooth devices (such as smartwatches)

Take a screenshot of the list of associated devices

Close all media players (Spotify, YouTube, etc.)

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5. Checking for hardware malfunctions

If the sound in the headphones doesn't work on any device, the problem could be in the headphones themselves or in the audio chip of the phone.

To diagnose the audio chip:

• 🔊 Connect your headphones to another phone – if they work, the problem is your Xiaomi Redmi.
• 📱 Check the sound through the phone's speaker - if it's not there, the audio chip may be faulty.

The Redmi Note 8 Pro and Redmi K30 Pro have a bug with Qualcomm's WCD9340 audio chip that causes total loss of sound, requiring a replacement chip at the service center.

6.Hidden developer settings for sound

If standard methods didn't work, try activating the developer mode and changing the audio settings, which can help if the problem is software restriction.

How to turn on the developer mode:

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version (you will be notified “You became a developer”).
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.

Now find and change the following parameters:

• 🔇 Turn off absolute volume. → Turn on (solves the problem with unregulated volume in Bluetooth headphones).
• 🎛️ Audio parameters → Choose. SBC (for stable Bluetooth connection).
• 🔄 Bluetooth debugging → Turn on (can help with frequent communication breaks).

⚠️ Warning: Do not change other options in the developer menu unless you are sure of their purpose. Incorrect settings can cause malfunctions in the phone.

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If after turning on the developer mode, the sound in Bluetooth headphones became intermittent, return the audio setting to the Auto value.

7. Update of firmware and core

Sometimes the sound in the headphones disappears after the MIUI update or because of a bug in the current firmware version.

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. If a new version is available, install it.

If there are no updates, but the problem appeared after the last update, you can try:

• 🔄 Reverse to the previous version MIUI (requires unlocking the loader).
• 📦 Install a custom core (e.g., FrancoKernel to improve compatibility with audio devices).

For Redmi models on MediaTek processors (Redmi 9A, Redmi 10A), flashing the audio module through Fastboot sometimes helps. However, it is a risky procedure - it is better to contact the service.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the sound in headphones on Xiaomi Redmi