How to switch the sound to headphones on the Xiaomi Redmi phone: all ways

Xiaomi Redmi smartphone users often face the need to quickly switch the sound from speakers to headphones — whether it is wired 3.5 mm or wireless Bluetooth headsets. It would seem that it could be easier? But in practice, even this simple operation sometimes causes difficulties: the phone does not recognize the connected headphones, the sound continues to go through the speakers, or the settings simply do not have the right item. Especially relevant problem for owners of models without a 3.5 mm connector (for example, Redmi Note 11 or Redmi 10C), where you have to rely only on Bluetooth or adapters.

In this article, we'll look at all the different ways you can switch audio, from standard methods to hidden MIUI features that not everyone knows. And also, we'll look at why a phone can ignore headphones and how to fix it without resetting. If you've tried to plug a headset in, but the sound is still going through the speakers, don't rush your phone into service. 90% of the time, the problem is solved in 2-3 minutes.

1. Automatic sound switching when connecting wired headphones

On most Xiaomi Redmi models (except for the flagships without a 3.5mm jack), the sound is automatically redirected to the headphones as soon as they are connected.

• 🔌 Connection density: often the contact is broken due to dust or mechanical wear. Try to move the plug slightly in the socket - if the sound appears and disappears, the problem is the connector.
• 🎧 Cable integrity: broken wires at the base of the plug are a common cause of lack of sound.
• 🔊 Headphone volume: sometimes there's a sound, but it's muffled to zero. Press volume buttons after you're connected, and you're supposed to have a bar with the headphone icon on the screen.

If the headphones are working, but the sound still goes through the speakers, try forcibly switch the sound source:

1. Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration.
2. Find Output Devices (or Media Devices in newer versions of MIUI)
3. In the list, select connected headphones (they should show as wired headphones or model name).

💡

If the headphones don't appear in the list of output devices, try restarting the phone. Sometimes the audio driver is reset after you restart.

2. Switching sound to Bluetooth headphones

With wireless headsets, the algorithm is a little more complicated, as it requires pre-pairing. Here is a step-by-step guide for Xiaomi Redmi:

1. Turn on the search mode on the headphones (usually hold the power button for 3-5 seconds until the indicator blinks).
2. On the phone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and activate the switch.
3. In the list of available devices, find your headphones (such as Xiaomi AirDots or Redmi Buds) and tap on them to pair.
4. Once connected, the sound should switch automatically. If that doesn't happen, go back to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Output devices and select the headphones manually.

Some models (such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+) have a bug: after the first Bluetooth headphone connection, the sound continues to go through the speakers.

Turn off and turn on Bluetooth on your phone again

Remove the headphones from the list of associated devices and connect again

Check if Media Audio mode is activated in Bluetooth settings (should be enabled)

Reboot the phone.-->

Important: on MIUI 14 and later in the Bluetooth settings, a separate audio switch via Bluetooth appeared - it must be activated for the headset to work correctly.

3. Forced sound switching through the notification panel

The fastest way to change the sound source is to use the notification bar, swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open it, and do the following:

1. Find the Sound icon and hold it for 1-2 seconds. The Output Devices menu will open.
2. In the list, select the device you want: Phone speaker, wired headphones, or the name of your Bluetooth headphones.
3. If the headphones don't show up, tap on three dots in the top right corner and select Show all devices.

On some firmware (e.g. MIUI Global), this may not work due to manufacturer limitations, in which case use alternative methods in the following sections.

4 Problem Solving: Sound goes through speakers despite connected headphones

If the phone stubbornly ignores headphones, the reasons can be both software and hardware.

Particular attention should be paid to the Redmi models with USB-C-connector (e.g. Redmi) K50 The Redmi Note 11 Pro is a problem with adapters. USB-C → 3.5mm: Phone recognizes headphones as external DAC, But the sound is delayed or distorted:

⚠️ Note: If you are using a non-original adapter, turn off in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times) option Turn off audio via USB. This can restore sound, but increases the load on the processor.

5. Hidden sound settings in MIUI: how to turn on the mode for headphones

MIUI hides some audio settings that can help with sound problems, so it can activate them:

1. Open the phone app and dial the combination: ##3644633###
2. The Engineering Mode menu will open. Go to Hardware Testing → Audio.
3. In the test list, select Headset Mode and activate it, which will force the phone to work with headphones.

For models on MIUI 13/14 there is an alternative way:

1. Go to Settings → Special features → Sound settings.
2. Activate the Mono audio option (this can help if the sound is only in one earphone).
3. Turn on the sound amplification in the headphones – this increases the volume, but can add noise.

6.Use of third-party applications for sound management

If standard methods don’t work, you can use third-party utilities, for example, the SoundAssistant app (from Samsung, but it works on Xiaomi) allows you to manually select a sound output device, even if the system settings do not allow this.

How to set up:

1. Install SoundAssistant from Google Play.
2. Open the application and provide all the permissions requested.
3. In the section Output devices, select your headphones.
4. Activate Forced Use so that the sound always goes through the headphones, even if they are not recognized by the system.

Other useful applications:

• 🎛️ Volume Booster – Increases volume in headphones (caution: can damage speakers!).
• 🔊 SoundAbout – allows you to manually redirect sound between devices.
• 🛠️ AudioFix – fixes the failure of audio drivers (requires root).

⚠️ Note: Applications for forced sound switching may conflict with MIUI. If after using them the sound is completely gone, reset the sound settings in Settings. → System system → Resetting settings.

7. Hardware problems: when to carry the phone to the service

If none of these methods worked, the problem may be the hardware, and here are some signs that you need to repair it:

• 🔧 3.5 mm connector or USB-C shattered, inside you can see the bent contacts.
• 🔊 The sound disappears even when you connect knowingly good headphones.
• 📱 The phone does not recognize any Bluetooth device (not just headphones).
• 💥 After falling or getting moisture, the sound in the headphones began to distort.

The cost of repairing the 3.5 mm connector in the Xiaomi service center is about 1,500-2,500 rubles (depending on the model), replacing the Bluetooth module will cost more - from 3,000 rubles.

1. Check the headphones on another device.
2. Reset your phone settings (not data!) through Settings → System → Reset settings.
3. Update your firmware to the latest version (Settings → About Phone → System Update).

💡

If the phone is warranty, don’t try to repair the connector yourself – this will void the warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)