How to Make Two Xiaomi Headphones Work at Once: The Complete Guide

Users often have to split the audio stream into two independent devices to watch a movie or listen to music with a friend without using external speakers. The Xiaomi and Redmi ecosystem has several software and hardware methods to achieve this, but they depend heavily on the version of the MIUI or HyperOS operating system, as well as the type of headphones used. The standard Bluetooth protocol is not initially sharpened to transmit audio to two different receivers simultaneously without the use of special profiles or third-party software.

There is a fundamental difference between connecting two Bluetooth headsets to a single smartphone and using Dual Audio or TWS Tandem Mode. In the first case, the phone must support multi-point connection at the driver level, in the second – the headphones themselves must be able to synchronize with each other after connecting to the source. Incorrect settings can lead to dissynchronization of sound or complete absence of audio on one of the channels.

In this guide, we will look at all the ways to implement the task, from built-in Android functions to specific settings for wired accessories. You will learn how to activate hidden features of the system and which Xiaomi models are guaranteed to support the work of two pairs of headphones simultaneously without loss of sound quality.

Bluetooth technical limitations and support for Dual Audio

Before setting up, you need to understand the physical limitations of the wireless interface. The classic Bluetooth protocol version 4.0 and below technically did not allow you to transfer high-quality stereo sound (A2DP profile) to two devices at the same time. This changed with the introduction of Bluetooth 5.0, which laid the foundation for Dual Audio technology. However, the presence of “iron” support for the chipset does not guarantee the functionality at the software level.

Xiaomi is implementing multiple connectivity support in its MIUI shells selectively, and is most often available in Xiaomi’s flagship 13, 14 and Mi Mix lineups, as well as some Redmi Note models of recent years. If your smartphone doesn’t display the option of connecting a second device in the Bluetooth menu, it doesn’t mean that the feature is not available forever – sometimes you need a firmware update or activation through the engineering menu.

It is important to distinguish between Multi-point and Dual Audio. Multi-point mode allows headphones to connect to two sources (like a phone and a laptop), but the sound comes from only one. The Dual Audio mode we need allows a single source (smartphone) to broadcast sound to two receivers. On Xiaomi devices, implementation often depends on the Bluetooth codec used: SBC and AAC are supported more widely than aptX or LDAC when working with two devices.

⚠️ Attention: With the simultaneous connection of two Bluetooth devices, the energy consumption of the smartphone battery can grow by a factor of two. 15-20%. There may also be a slight increase in latency, which is critical when watching videos or games.

To check your device’s support for multiple audio technology, you can use specialized applications from Google Play that analyze the system’s Bluetooth stack, but the most reliable way is to try to pair through the standard settings menu, since software emulators do not always correctly read hidden MIUI firmware flags.

Customize Dual Audio on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones

If your smartphone is running the current version of Android (10 and above) and the MIUI 12/13/14 shell, the algorithm for connecting the second device is simple enough, but requires a sequence of actions. First, you need to connect the first pair of headphones in the standard way through the Bluetooth menu. Make sure the sound is played correctly, and only then move to pairing the second pair.

Unlike the standard procedure, when the phone automatically switches the audio to a new device, Dual Audio requires manual transmission activation. Once the second headset is connected, lower the notification curtain and find the media content control panel. In some versions of MIUI, there appears a button "Audio output" or an icon with the image of two speakers, allowing you to select both devices simultaneously.

If the standard interface doesn’t offer a choice, try the following method, which works on many Xiaomi models:

• 🎧 Turn on the first pair of headphones and pair through Settings → Bluetooth.
• 🎧 Include the second pair and also perform pairing without disabling the first pair.
• 🎧 Go to Settings. → Connections and sharing → Bluetooth.
• 🎧 Click on the gear next to the name of one of the devices and check for a Double Audio switch or similar.

If there are no obvious switches, the system can automatically recognize the second device as a media output. Try running a music track, then in the notification curtain click on the name of the current output device. If both connected gadgets appear in the list with the option of selecting "All devices" or manual multimedia switching - you are lucky, the function is active.

Using TWS Tandem Mode for Xiaomi Headphones

Owners of the original TWS-Xiaomi headphones such as Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2, AirDots or Redmi Buds are often confused with connecting two phones to one headphone with connecting two headphones to the same phone. TWS (For example, two Mi AirDots are designed to work with the same smartphone, but this is not normally possible. The standard Tandem Mode (or Mono Mode) mode is designed to separate the left and right channel between two different boxes, but usually for one user.

However, some Xiaomi models support the Audio Share feature, which allows you to stream audio from the main device (earphones connected to the phone) to secondary headphones. This works on the principle of relay. To activate this scheme, both devices must be of the same line or support the Fast Pair protocol from Google. In the Bluetooth menu, with the main headphones connected, a button can appear “Share audio” or “Connect a second device”.

The setup process often requires resetting the headphones before attempting to create a one-to-one pair.

1. Place both headphones (from different cases) in the charging compartments.
2. Press the touch areas or physical buttons on the case for 15-20 seconds before the flashing of the indicators.
3. Remove the headphones and pair as new devices.

If automatic unification does not occur, you can use the Mi Buds or Xiaomi Earbuds app (for global versions), sometimes hiding advanced settings inside the application to control the behavior of the headset in multiple connection mode. Please note that when using two independent TWS-Headset with a single phone sound delay can be noticeable due to double signal encoding.

Connect two pairs of wired headphones via USB-C and 3.5 mm

With wired headphones, the situation is easier from a technical point of view, but more difficult from a physical point of view, since modern Xiaomi smartphones lack a standard 3.5 mm connector. To implement the scheme "two users - one phone" you will need a special USB splitter (splitter). The usual adapter "USB-C 3.5 mm" is not suitable here, you need an active hub with support for audio downmix.

The principle is that an external DAC (digital-to-analog converter) inside a splitter takes a digital signal from a USB-C port and converts it to an analog for two outputs. It's important to choose splitters that explicitly support audio transmission, not just data or charging. Cheap power splitters often don't have an internal chip to process the audio stream.

The connection algorithm is as follows:

• 🔌 Buy it. USB-C hub with at least two ports of 3.5 mm or one 3.5 mm and one USB-audio.
• 🔌 Connect the hub to the Xiaomi smartphone.
• 🔌 Insert both pairs of wired headphones into the corresponding sockets.
• 🔌 In sound settings (Settings) → Sound and vibrations) make sure that the output of the sound switches to "USB-audio".

The sound quality of this circuit will depend on the quality of the DAC in the splitter. The digital-to-analogue path built into the phone is not used in this case, which may even be a plus for older models with noisy output. However, it is worth remembering that using an active hub also consumes the battery of the smartphone, albeit in smaller volumes than Bluetooth.

Third-party applications and solution workarounds

If MIUI failed to run two Bluetooth devices at the same time, Google Play apps that use Android system APIs come to the rescue. One of the most popular solutions is the Sound Assistant app (from Samsung, it runs many Androids) or specialized utilities like Audio Share, which create a virtual audio device that redirects the flow to several physical connections.

Another method is to use the Google Home feature. If you have a smart speaker or a Chromecast that supports audio, you can create a group of devices in the Google Home app and stream the sound there, and then, using a Bluetooth transmitter connected to the speaker, transmit the sound to a second pair of headphones, which is a complex but working party crutch.

Advanced users with Root rights can access Bluetooth configuration system files by changing the file. audio_policy_configuration.xml, Multiple device support can be forced to activate, but this requires deep knowledge and can lead to system instability or loss of warranty.

⚠️ Warning: Install applications from unknown sources or modify system files (Root) may disrupt the work DRM-protection (Widevine) L1), Streaming services (Netflix, Kinopoisk) will stop showing videos in the future. HD-quality.

Resolving problems with desynchronization and sound quality

A common problem with two pairs of headphones is to desynchronize when the sound in one device lags behind the other. This is especially noticeable when watching videos. To minimize this effect, MIUI has a hidden developer menu. To get there, you need to click 7 times on the build number in the About Phone section, then in the Developer menu, find the item "Bluetooth Audio Codec" and select the SBC or AAC codec, disabling more advanced but less stable in multi-mode codecs.

It is also recommended to disable the Absolute Volume feature in the same developer menu, allowing volume control on each device independently, which often helps to level the balance if one pair of headphones plays quieter than the other due to different speaker characteristics.

If the sound is interrupted or cracked:

• 📶 Make sure your smartphone is not in your pocket with other sources of interference.
• 📶 Remove old pairing profiles for these headphones and create a pair again.
• 📶 Check if background processes loading the processor (navigation, heavy games) are running).

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To watch movies, use video players with audio delay (such as VLC or MX Player), you can artificially add audio delay on one of the devices to sync it with the lagging channel.

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The most stable way to get two sounds is to use wired USB-Dual Audio is a Bluetooth version that can be desynchronized.

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