How to connect headphones to Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro: all ways + error solving

Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro is a popular smartphone with a hybrid audio jack, which often raises questions from users. Many people face difficulties when connecting the headphones for the first time: the sound is lost, the device is not recognized, Bluetooth refuses to work. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways of connecting, from classic wired headphones to modern TWS- headsets, and also solve typical problems.

The thing about the model is that it has a Type-C connector without the traditional 3.5mm jack, which means wired headphones will require an adapter or headphones with USB-C. Wireless headphones connect via Bluetooth, but there are nuances here, like aptX or AAC codecs, that affect sound quality, and we'll go through each method in detail so you can choose the best option for your tasks.

1. Connect wired headphones via Type-C

The most reliable way is to use headphones with a USB-C connector or standard 3.5 mm headphones with an adapter. Redmi 8 Pro supports digital audio via Type-C, which provides a cleaner signal than an analog 3.5 mm jack.

• 🔌 Headphones with USB-C: Connect directly without adapters. Examples: Xiaomi Hybrid Dual Driver, Sony MDR-EX450C.
• 🔄 3.5mm → Type-C: It's for regular headphones. It's important to use a quality adapter with DAC support.
• ⚡ Charging and sound at the same time: You can't use Type-C to listen to music and charge your phone at the same time. You need a splitter (OTG- hub).

If the sound does not appear after the connection:

1. Check if the connector is tightly inserted (sometimes a small force is required).
2. Make sure the adapter is not damaged – try another one.
3. Restart your phone: Sometimes the system doesn’t recognize a new device the first time.

Check the integrity of the cable and connectors |

Use the original Xiaomi adapter (if you need 3.5mm) |

Update your phone to the latest version |

Try another audio player (like Poweramp)-->

⚠️ Warning: Cheap adapters without DAC can produce weak or distorted sound. For audiophiles, we recommend adapters based on ES9038Q2M or CS43131.

2. Wireless Bluetooth connection

Redmi 8 Pro supports Bluetooth 5.0, which allows you to connect any wireless headphones - from budget Xiaomi AirDots to premium Sony WH-1000XM4. The pairing process is standard, but there are several subtleties:

• 🎧 TWS- Headphones: Most models automatically go into pairing mode when first turned on.
• 🔊 Headphones with microphone: Check that the HFP profile (Hands-Free Profile) is supported - otherwise the microphone will not work.
• 🔄 Multipoint: The Redmi 8 Pro can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time (e.g., headphones and a fitness bracelet).

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on the headphones and put them in pairing mode (usually hold the power button for 3-5 seconds).
2. On your phone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and activate the search.
3. Select your headphones from the list and confirm the connection.
4. If you need a PIN- code, try the standard options: 0000 or 1234.

If the headphones are connected, but the sound is interrupted:

• Make sure the distance to the phone is less than 10 meters (walls and interference shorten this radius).
• Disable other Bluetooth devices that may cause interference.
• In Bluetooth settings, select High Sound Quality (if available).

Wires with Type-C| adapter

Wireless TWS (AirDots, Galaxy Buds, etc.)|

Headphones with USB-C|

Headphones with 3.5 mm (via OTG-Hab) |

Others-->

3 Using the OTG-Hab for 3.5-mm headphones

If you have a favorite headphone with a 3.5-mm connector, but you don't want to use an adapter, you can buy a OTG-Hab with audio output. This device connects to Type-C and provides:

• 🔌 3.5mm audio jack for headphones.
• ⚡ Port USB-A for charging or connecting a flash drive.
• 📱 Support OTG (you can listen to music and charge your phone at the same time)

An example of such hubs is Baseus 3-in-1 or UGREEN CM138. It is important to choose a hub with built-in DAC, otherwise the sound quality will be worse than with a direct connection.

⚠️ Warning: Some hubs may conflict with the firmware MIUI. If the sound gets distorted, try turning off Absolute Volume in Settings → Additional → For developers.

4. Connection via LDAC and aptX (for audiophiles)

Redmi 8 Pro supports advanced audio codecs that improve Bluetooth audio quality:

• 🎵 LDAC (up to 990 kbps) is the best choice for high-quality music.
• 🔊 aptX HD (up to 576 kbps) is a good balance between quality and stability.
• 📱 AAC (up to 256 kbps) is the standard for Apple devices, but it works on Android as well.

To enable these codecs:

1. Put your headphones on Bluetooth.
2. Go to Settings → Bluetooth → Sound settings (or Additional → Bluetooth Codecs).
3. Select a priority codec (e.g. LDAC).
4. Reboot your headphones and phone.

Important: LDAC and aptX HD codecs only work with headphones that support them (for example, Sony WH-1000XM4 or Sennheiser Momentum 3). If your headphones do not support them, these options will be inactive in the settings.

💡

If the LDAC sound starts to break after you turn on, try lowering the bitrate to 660 kbps in the codec settings, which will reduce the load on the Bluetooth module.

5. Solving sound problems

If the headphones are connected but there is no sound or it is distorted, check the following:

• 🔇 Phone Disabled: Check volume slider and Do Not Disturb mode.
• 🔌 Connector problems: Clean the Type-C port of dust (use a wooden toothpick).
• 🔄 Application Conflict: Close all programs that use the microphone (e.g., voice recording).
• 📱 Firmware failure: Update MIUI to the latest version or reset network settings (Settings → System → Network Reset).

If the problem persists, try:

1. Connect the headphones to another device (health check).
2. Use another audio player (such as VLC or Poweramp).
3. Turn off all sound effects in Settings → Sound → Sound effects.

6. Alternative ways of connecting

If standard methods do not work, non-obvious solutions can be used:

• 📡 Bluetooth transmitter: Connects to the 3.5mm output of an external device (e.g., a laptop) and broadcasts sound to the phone.
• 🔊 FM- Transmitter: Transmits sound over radio frequency (quality is worse, but works without Bluetooth).
• 🌐 Wi-Fi streaming: Apps like SoundWire allow you to stream audio from PC to phone over a local network.

These methods are relevant if:

• You want to listen to music from your computer through headphones connected to your phone.
• The Bluetooth on the phone is broken, but there is access to Wi-Fi.
• You need to connect your headphones to your phone and other device at the same time.

💡

FM- transmitters and Bluetooth adapters are a temporary solution, and for permanent use, it is better to fix a Bluetooth module or use wired headphones with Type-C.

7. Frequent mistakes and how to avoid them

Many users make the same mistakes when connecting headphones to the Redmi 8 Pro. Here are the most common:

Another common problem is that you automatically switch the sound to the speaker, and this happens if you:

• The headphones are poorly inserted into the connector (for wired).
• In-car or "Sound Amplifier" mode is enabled.
• Activated Monozvouk mode in settings of special features.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions