How to change the Bluetooth audio codec to Xiaomi: improve the sound quality in 5 minutes

Have you noticed that the music in wireless headphones sounds worse than through a wire? Or the bass "boom" and high frequencies cut the ear? The reason may lie in the Bluetooth audio codec that your Xiaomi uses by default. The brand's smartphones often choose SBC - a versatile, but far from the highest quality codec. Meanwhile, modern devices support AAC, aptX, LDAC and even LC3, which are capable of transmitting sound with minimal losses.

In this article, we will learn how to manually switch audio codecs to Xiaomi (including Redmi, POCO, and Black Shark models), even if the option is hidden in the settings. You will learn which codecs your device supports, how to activate them without root rights, and why it is sometimes better to leave automatic selection. And also what to do if the desired codec does not appear in the list or the sound begins to “break” after a change.

Spoiler: Some MIUI firmware has a hidden option, but you can unlock it through ADB or engineering menus, and we'll show you both, simple to complex.

Why it’s important to choose the right Bluetooth audio codec

The audio codec is the translator between the digital sound on your smartphone and the analog signal in your headphones.

• 🎵 Sound quality: SBC compresses more than LDAC or HD, what gets lost.
• 🔋 Latency: aptX Low Latency reduces lag to 40ms – critical for gaming and video.
• 📶 Communication stability: some codecs (e.g, AAC) invasive.
• 🎧 Compatibility: Not all headphones support LDAC or aptX Adaptive.

For example, if you listen to music through Sony. WH-1000XM5, piece LDAC It will reach a potential of 990 kbps, while SBC limited to 328 kbit / s. And for gamers headphones Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed better choose aptX LL, synchronize sound with image.

But here's the thing: not all codecs are equally useful. For example, LDAC provides better quality, but consumes 15-20 percent more power and can rip sound in low-signal conditions. And aptX Adaptive automatically adjusts to the conditions, but requires support from headphones.

What Bluetooth audio codecs support your Xiaomi

The list of available codecs depends on the smartphone model, Bluetooth version and MIUI firmware. Here are the typical combinations:

To find out what codecs are available on your device:

1. Put your headphones on Bluetooth.
2. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
3. Press the badge. ⚙️ near the connected device.
4. If there's an Audio codec, you'll see a list. If there's no, read on to unlock it.

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On some MIUI firmware, the codec is only displayed after the first sound playback through the connected device.

Method 1: Change the codec through standard settings (if the option is visible)

If your Xiaomi supports manual codec switching, follow this instruction:

1. Connect your headphones or speaker over Bluetooth.
2. Start playing music (for example, in Spotify or MIUI Music).
3. Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
4. Put the badge on. ⚙️ Next to the name of your audio device.
5. Select Audio Codec (or Sound Quality).
6. In the list of available codecs, select the desired one (recommendations below).

Which codec to choose?

• 🎧 For music: LDAC (maximum quality) or aptX HD (Balance of quality and stability).
• 🎮 For games: aptX Low Latency or aptX Adaptive.
• 📱 For talking: AAC or SBC (less voice artifacts).
• 🔋 To save battery life: SBC or AAC.

The connection's not interrupted?

Does the sound play without jerking?

Do bass and high frequencies sound clear?

Volume level hasn't changed dramatically?-->

If the sound starts to “break” or disappear after changing the codec, go back to SBC/AAC – your headphones or communication conditions may not support the selected codec.

Method 2: Unlock hidden codec menus through ADB (without root)

If there is no audio codec in Bluetooth settings, it can be unlocked using the ADB-This method works for most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-14 and does not require superuser rights.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 📱 Cable USB smartphone-connect.
• 🛠️ Utility. ADB Tools (download from Android site).
• 🔧 Included Debugging by USB smartphone.

Step 1. Enable debugging over USB

1. Open the Settings. → The phone.
2. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate Debugging via USB and confirm the resolution.

Step 2: Connect your smartphone to your PC and execute commands

1. Unpack ADB Tools and open the command prompt in the folder (Shift + right mouse button → Open the PowerShell window here).
2. Enter the command to check the connection: adb devices Wait for the serial number of the device to appear.
3. Unlock hidden Bluetooth settings: adb shell settings put global bluetooth_a2dp_offload_capability 8
4. Reboot your smartphone: adb reboot

After the reboot, the audio codec will appear in the Bluetooth settings. If not, try an alternative command:

adb shell settings put global bluetooth_a2dp_offload_disabled 0

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ADB-teams will temporarily unlock the codec menu, after resetting or updating. MIUI The option may disappear again.

Method 3: Change the codec through the engineering menu (MTK-chip)

On Xiaomi smartphones with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi Note 11, POCO M4 Pro), the codec can be changed through an engineering menu, a method that is riskier than ADB, but does not require a PC.

Instructions:

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Enter the code: ##36446337## (or #4636## → Phone Information → Bluetooth).
3. In the engineering menu, find the Bluetooth or A2DP section.
4. A2DP Codec or Audio Codec – Select the codec from the list.
5. Save the settings and restart the device.

Attention! Some firmware has locked the engineering menu, and if nothing happens after you enter the code, it's not a good method.

What to do if the codec does not appear in the list

You picked LDAC-enabled headphones, but Xiaomi doesn't? Reasons and solutions:

If you’re sure that the headphones support codec (such as Sony’s WH-1000XM4 and LDAC), but it doesn’t show up, try:

1. Update the MIUI firmware to the latest version.
2. Reset Bluetooth settings (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Bluetooth → Storage → Clear Data).
3. Install an alternative player (such as Poweramp or USB Audio Player Pro) that allows you to manually select the codec.

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On some devices, the Xiaomi LC3 codec (for LE Audio) appears only after connecting headphones with Bluetooth 5.2+ support.

How to Check if the Codec Has Changed

Not all changes to the settings apply immediately. Here's how to make sure the codec changes:

• 📱 Through Bluetooth settings: after selecting the codec, open the device information - there should appear an inscription (for example, LDAC 990 kbps).
• 🎧 Through headphones: Some models (such as Sony or Bose) show the current codec in their app.
• 🛠️ Through ADB: The command is: adb shell dumpsys. media.audio_flinger Look for the codecType line in the output.
• 🎵 By ear: Run a track with a wide dynamic range (e.g., "Bohemian Rhapsody" or "Bass I Love You") and compare the sound detailing.

Attention! Some apps (like YouTube or Netflix) use their own codecs to stream and may ignore Bluetooth settings. Use local files or Spotify in Extreme Quality mode to test.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the audio codec to Xiaomi