How to change the Bluetooth audio codec on Xiaomi: a detailed guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where wireless sound quality is not up to expectations, especially when using quality headphones. The standard SBC transmission protocol, which is installed by default, compresses the audio stream quite aggressively, leading to loss of parts and the appearance of artifacts. However, modern devices based on MIUI and HyperOS hide powerful tools for fine-tuning, allowing you to unlock the potential of the headset.

Changing the codec is not just a technical whim, it's a way to make music much better. Audio codec is responsible for compressing and decompressing the audio signal when it's broadcast over a radio channel. By switching to a more advanced format, you can get a sound close to Hi-Res, but it requires you to do a few specific actions in a hidden engineering menu.

In this guide, we’ll look at how to access the developer menu, what codecs your smartphone supports, and how to avoid common bugs. HD-So the choice of format depends on the pair of devices, and it's important to understand that interfering with system settings requires care, but the result is worth it for audiophiles.

Why Change the Standard SBC Codec to Xiaomi

By default, Android, including the MIUI shell, chooses the most compatible but least-quality SBC codec.This ensures that music plays in any, even the cheapest headphones, but quality suffers. More advanced formats such as aptX, LDAC or AAC use more efficient compression algorithms, while maintaining a wide dynamic range.

When switching over HD-In the formats, the user notices improved detailing of high frequencies and cleaner basses, but it is worth considering that the use of high-bitrate codecs increases the load on the battery of the smartphone and headphones. Also, the volume of transmitted data increases, which in conditions of noisy ether can lead to short-term breaks in the connection.

The main reason for the change of settings lies in the desire to bypass system limitations. Sometimes the smartphone "does not see" support for a quality codec headphones and forced to put SBC. Forced change in the developer menu allows you to make devices work at the limit of their technical capabilities.

Preparation of the smartphone: the inclusion of the developer menu

Before you start manipulating the sound, you need to activate the hidden settings section. Without this step, access to the selection of the codec will be closed. The procedure is standard for all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models, but the location of the items may vary slightly in different versions of the firmware.

You'll need to go to the basic system settings and find the "About Phone" item. MIUI" or "OS version." You need to click on this item quickly. 7-10 Once in a row, until you receive a notification that you have become a developer.

Once you activate the additional settings successfully, a new section will appear in the menu, and that's where the tools we need are hidden, and be careful, changing the other settings in this menu can lead to unstable system operation.

⚠️ Warning: Don't change the settings you're not sure about. You can reset the developer menu via the Reset button at the bottom of the screen, but it's better not to risk the stability of the Bluetooth stack.

To access the desired functions, follow the following steps:

• 📱 Open Settings and go to About Phone section.
• 🔨 Find the line Version MIUI and quickly press it 7 times.
• 🔙 Go back to the additional settings and find for developers.

Search and activate the required audio codec

Inside the developer menu, we're interested in the Bluetooth section, and the list of options can be huge, so you'd better search by settings or scroll down to the Network or Bluetooth block.

Find the Bluetooth Audio Codec. When you click on it, you'll see a list of available formats. If your smartphone and connected headphones support a specific codec, it'll be active to select from. If the device doesn't support the format, it may not be available or be marked in gray.

It's worth noting the difference between formats. AAC often works better on Apple devices, but it also works well on Android. aptX HD and LDAC require a more stable signal. SBC's choice leaves the system on autopilot.

If the codec is not listed, it means that the smartphone does not have hardware support, or the headphones do not transmit information about their capabilities, in the latter case, you can try third-party applications, but this requires root rights.

Comparison of characteristics of popular codecs

To make an informed choice, you need to understand the technical differences in the formats, each with its own advantages and disadvantages depending on the use case. Below is a table comparing the main parameters.

As you can see from the table, LDAC offers the highest data quality, but requires excellent signal reception conditions. aptX HD is the middle ground for owners of Qualcomm processors. Conventional SBC remains the most stable, but the least quality option.

Solving Connection and Sound Quality Issues

Once you change the codec, you may encounter artifacts, cracks, or no sound at all, which is a normal system reaction to incompatibility, and first check if your headset supports the format you want.

A common problem is desynchronizing audio and video. High bitrate increases latency. This can be critical for watching videos. In such cases, it makes sense to go back to aptX or AAC, which provides a better balance between quality and latency.

⚠️ Warning: If the sound is gone after changing the settings, do "Forget the device" in the Bluetooth settings and reconnect the headphones.

Also worth paying attention to is the Bluetooth version.The old standards (4.0 and below) may not pull the new codecs.Make sure the drivers are updated, although on Xiaomi smartphones this happens along with the system update.

• 🎧 Make sure the headphones are charged – with a low charge, some models turn off HD-regimes.
• 📡 Remove the smartphone from sources of interference (Wi-Fi routers, microwaves).
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone after changing the codec to apply system changes.

The Impact of Android and MIUI Version on Available Features

The availability of codecs depends on the version of the operating system. Android 8.0 Oreo was the first version with native support for LDAC. If you have an older version, this format will not appear in the list, even if the hardware of the smartphone is powerful.

Shell MIUI In some regions or firmware versions (e.g. China) ROM vs Global) the list of available codecs may differ. Xiaomi engineers may software restrict support for specific formats for specific models.

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If you upgrade to HyperOS, check the sound settings again. The new shell often resets the developer's preferences to factory values.

Users of custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience) often get a more complete list of codecs, because they are deprived of the limitations of the vendor.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The best codec is one that works consistently with your particular pair of devices. Don't chase the maximum numbers if it causes communication breaks.