How to connect 2 headphones via Xiaomi Bluetooth: Full Guide

Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones allow users to not only enjoy quality sound alone, but also share audio with friends. The feature of connecting two pairs of wireless headsets simultaneously opens up new possibilities for watching movies, listening to music or playing games. However, many device owners face difficulties when trying to activate this mode, since the standard settings are not always obvious.

This is a function that depends on the Android operating system and the specific model of your gadget. The older versions of the MIUI shells required special applications, while modern smartphones support this feature at the system level. Understanding the technical limitations will help you avoid frustration and properly configure the device.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to connect 2 headphones via Bluetooth Xiaomi, look at the nuances of working with different versions of Android and answer frequently asked questions. You will learn which models support Dual Audio mode by default and what to do if your smartphone belongs to an older generation.

Technical requirements and compatibility of devices

Before you start setting up, make sure your hardware supports multiple audio devices at once. The key is the operating system version. Starting with Android 10, Google has introduced native audio output support for two Bluetooth devices, making life much easier for Xiaomi users.

If your smartphone is running an older version, such as Android 9 or lower, standard system tools will not be able to implement this task, in such cases, owners of Mi and Redmi devices have to resort to third-party solutions or put up with restrictions. It is also important to consider the Bluetooth version of the protocol, which must be at least 4.0 for stable operation, although modern models are equipped with modules 5.0 and above.

⚠️ Note: Even with Android 10 and above, some Xiaomi smartphones may have software restrictions that block simultaneous audio streaming to two receivers.

It's also worth noting the impact of codecs on sound quality: When you connect two headsets, the system can automatically switch to a more compatible but less-quality codec to ensure synchronization, which is normal behavior to ensure connection stability.

Native method for Android 10 and newer

For owners of current Xiaomi models, such as the Xiaomi 13 series, Redmi Note 12 or POCO F5, the connection process is as simple as possible. The system allows you to manage audio devices through a standard settings menu without the need to install additional software.

First, you need to activate the wireless module and pair the first pair of headphones, make sure that the device appears in the list as "Connected" and through it plays sound, only after successfully installing the first connection, you can proceed to search for the second headset.

Then we go to the media output settings, and depending on the version of the HyperOS shell or MIUI, the interface may be slightly different, but the logic remains the same, so you have to find the item that selects the output device and activate the second pair there.

• 🎧 Open the curtain control panel and click on the music control icon.
• 📱 Go to Bluetooth Settings via the main Settings menu → Bluetooth.
• 🔊 Click on the gear next to the name of the first connected device.
• 🔗 Select the option “Connect to another device” or similar.

After doing this, the sound should go to both headsets at the same time. If you use different headphone models, the system can warn you of possible desynchronization, but in most cases Xiaomi successfully copes with mixing streams.

Using Developer Mode for Older Versions

Owners of devices running Android 9 or specific versions of MIUI can try to activate hidden features. The Android Engineering Menu contains options to boost support for multiple connections, but this method does not guarantee 100% success on all models.

To access hidden settings, you need to activate the developer mode, this is done by repeatedly clicking on the build number in the About Phone section. Be careful when changing the settings in this menu, as incorrect settings can lead to instability.--system-work.

Settings → About phone → 7 times press on "Version MIUI"

Once you activate the developer mode, a new section will appear in the settings menu, and you'll need to find the option for audio transmission, usually called "Dual Audio" or "Transmitir audio a dos dispositivos." Activating this slider can unlock the ability to connect the second headset.

It is important to understand that even when the option is included in the developer menu, the physical Bluetooth module of your smartphone may not have enough bandwidth to transmit two high-quality streams, in which case the system can automatically turn off one of the devices or reduce bitrate to a minimum.

Third-party applications to expand functionality

If the built-in tools of the system do not allow you to implement what you want, applications from the Google Play store come to the rescue. There are specialized utilities such as AudioShare or Sound Assistant (from Samsung, but running on many Android) that take over the management of audio streams.

The principle of such programs is to create a virtual audio device or intercept the system sound before sending it to a Bluetooth module, which bypasses the standard limitations of the operating system, but it is worth considering that such applications can consume additional CPU resources.

When using third-party software, be sure to provide the necessary permissions. Without access to the microphone or audio device management, the application will not be able to redirect sound, and it is also recommended to close background applications to avoid conflicts over the resources of the audio core.

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When using sound mixer apps, close out heavy games and navigators, as simultaneous GPS operation and processing of two audio streams can cause interface lags.

Synchronization and delay problems of sound

One of the most common problems with connecting two headphones is desynchronization, and the sound in one device can be a fraction of a second behind the other, which is especially noticeable when watching video, due to the peculiarities of encoding and transmitting data packets over the A2DP protocol.

Different headphone models can have different internal buffering. If you plug in, for example, AirPods and budget TWS from another manufacturer, the difference in signal processing can be significant.

To minimize delays, try turning off additional audio effects in the Mi Sound or Dolby Atmos settings. On-the-fly sound processing takes time, and when you double the load on the processor, delays can increase, and rebooting the Bluetooth module through the on-fly mode also helps.

⚠️ Attention: In dynamic scenes in movies, the delay of sound even 200 milliseconds can be critical. For perfect synchronization, use wired headphones with a splitter or devices of the same model and series.

Xiaomi models with Dual Audio support

Not all of the Chinese giant's smartphones are equally good at multitasking in audio. Flagship lines traditionally receive more advanced Bluetooth modules capable of supporting complex connectivity schemes.

Xiaomi Mi 11, Xiaomi 12 and later, and the POCO F series flagships, are generally free of dual connectivity issues, while older Redmi Note 8 or Redmi 9 models may require diamond dancing or not support the feature at the hardware level.

Below is a table showing the approximate support for the feature depending on the series of devices, but remember that the key factor is still the version of Android installed on the device.

• 🚀 Flagships (Mi 10 and above): Full support with native means.
• ⚡ Mid-segment (Redmi Note 10 and higher): Support depends on version MIUI.
• 🐢 Budget segment (Redmi) 9A, 10A): Third-party software is often required.

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The main criterion for the possibility of connecting two headphones is not so much the phone model as the version of the Android operating system and the power of the installed Bluetooth chip.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)