How to connect 2 pairs of wireless headphones to a Xiaomi phone at the same time

Can I connect two wireless headphones to Xiaomi and why it is necessary?

Xiaomi's current MIUI 12+ smartphones support multiple Bluetooth devices at the same time, but headphones are more complicated. Unlike Samsung or Apple, where Dual Audio functions out of the box, owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi have to use workarounds. Why is this in demand?

First, listening to music at the same time or watching a movie with a friend through separate headphones is a convenient option for travel or joint leisure. Second, it is a solution for gamers, where one player hears game sounds and the second one hears voice chat in Discord. Third, some users are combining TWS-headphones (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro) with overhead models for improved sound.

But there are nuances: not all Xiaomi models support this feature at the hardware level, depending on the Bluetooth version (you need 5.0+), the MIUI firmware and even the specific headphone model, and then we will analyze the working methods from standard settings to third-party applications.

Method 1: Built-in Dual Audio (MIUI 12.5 and later)

Starting with MIUI 12.5, Xiaomi has added Dual Audio support for some models, which allows you to stream audio to two Bluetooth devices at once, but it doesn’t work with all headphones and requires pre-tuning.

To activate it:

1. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Connect the first pair of headphones (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 3T).
3. Click on the gear icon next to the connected device.
4. Select Dual Audio Mode (or Media Audio in some firmware).
5. Connect the second pair of headphones through the same Bluetooth section.

If there is no Dual Audio Mode, your Xiaomi model does not support this feature at the software level, in which case one of the alternative methods below will help.

Method 2: Use the SoundAssistant application (for all versions of MIUI)

If the feature is not built in, Samsung’s third-party SoundAssistant app will come to the rescue, and even though it’s designed for Galaxy devices, it also works well on Xiaomi (tested on the Redmi Note 10 Pro, POCO X3 Pro, and Mi 11 Lite).

Instructions for setting:

• 📥 Download SoundAssistant from Google Play.
• 🔧 Launch the application and provide all the permissions requested (access to Bluetooth, notifications, microphone).
• 🎧 Connect the first pair of headphones through standard Bluetooth settings.
• 🔄 In SoundAssistant, go to the Double Audio section and activate the function.
• 🔗 Connect the second pair of headphones – the sound should be automatically duplicated.

Important: In some cases, there may be a delay of up to 0.5 seconds between devices, due to the peculiarities of the Bluetooth codec (for example, SBC vs AAC).

• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones in reverse order.
• 📶 Reduce the distance between the phone and headphones.
• 🔋 Disable Bluetooth Power Saving in Settings.

Install the application from the official store|Grant all permits|Connect the first pair of headphones|Activate Dual Audio Mode in SoundAssistant|Connect the second pair of headphones-->

Method 3: Bluetooth splitter (for older Xiaomi models)

If your smartphone is running MIUI 11 or older (e.g. Redmi Note 8 Pro, Mi 9T) and previous methods have failed, the hardware solution is a Bluetooth splitter. This compact device (e.g. Avantek BTA-200 or 1Mii B06 Plus) connects to the phone via Bluetooth and then relays the signal to two pairs of headphones.

The advantages of this method:

• ✅ It works on all Xiaomi models, including outdated ones.
• ✅ No sound delay (unlike software solutions).
• ✅ Supports headphones of different brands (for example, AirPods) + Sony WH-1000XM4).

Cons:

• ❌ Additional costs (from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles).
• ❌ You need to carry another device with you.
• ❌ Possible interference with a large number of Bluetooth devices nearby.

How to set up the splitter:

1. Connect the splitter to the phone via Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Activate the pair mode on the splitter (Pairing Mode - usually hold the power button for 5 seconds).
3. Connect the first pair of headphones to the splitter.
4. Repeat step 3 for the second pair.

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If the splitter is not detected, try resetting it (usually the Reset button on the case). Also check compatibility with your Bluetooth version - some models only work with Bluetooth 5.0+.

Comparison of Methods: What to Choose for Your Xiaomi Model

To make it easier to choose, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method depending on the phone model and MIUI version:

If your Xiaomi Released is after 2020, try Dual Audio first, which is the easiest solution. For 2018-2019 models (Mi 9, Redmi Note 7), it is better to use SoundAssistant. Owners of outdated devices (Redmi 6, Mi A2) only have a Bluetooth splitter.

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The best latency sound quality is provided by a Bluetooth splitter, but it is the only paid method. Dual Audio (SoundAssistant) solutions can produce lags of up to 0.5 seconds.

Frequent Problems and How to Solve Them

When you connect two pairs of headphones, Xiaomi users encounter common mistakes. Let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

⚠️ Warning: If the second pair of headphones are connected, the sound is lost in both devices, check the priority of Bluetooth codecs. → The phone. → Version. MIUI — tap 7 times) select AAC or SBC ptX.

Problem 1: The phone only sees one pair of headphones.

• 🔹 Reboot the Bluetooth module: turn it off and back on in the notification curtain.
• 🔹 Remove both pairs of headphones from the list of conjugate devices and connect again.
• 🔹 Check if your headphones support multi-point (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 3 Pro supports, Redmi Buds 3 does not).

Problem 2: The sound only goes to the headphones alone, despite the connection of two pairs.

• 🔹 In SoundAssistant, check if Double Audio is activated.
• 🔹 Update the firmware MIUI Up to the latest version (some updates fix Bluetooth bugs).
• 🔹 Try connecting the headphones in a different order (newer model first).

Problem 3: Severe sound delay (more than 1 second)

• 🔹 Turn off power saving for Bluetooth in battery settings.
• 🔹 Switch to codec. SBC (lesser quality but with less lag).
• 🔹 Reduce the distance between your phone and headphones to 1 meter.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi models (e.g, POCO X3 NFC) Dual Audio activates, disables support for the aptX codec, which can worsen the sound quality for headphones that support this standard.

Alternative solutions: When nothing works

If none of the methods described have worked, consider alternatives:

• 🎧 Sound splitting via 3.5mm jack: If your Xiaomi is equipped with an audio jack (like the Redmi Note 10), use a Y splitter to connect two wired headphones.
• 📱 Using a second phone: Connect one pair of headphones to the main Xiaomi and the second to another smartphone. Run synchronized playback via Spotify Connect or YouTube Sync.
• 💻 PC as an intermediary: Connect the phone to the computer USB, and then relay the sound to two pairs of headphones via Windows or macOS (e.g., using Voicemeeter).

For gamers who need to separate the game audio and voice chat, specialized software like Razer Surround or Dolby Access is suitable, which allows you to direct different audio streams to different output devices.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions