How to listen to music through headphones on your Xiaomi phone: from connectivity to fine-tuning

Xiaomi smartphones offer flexible options for listening to music through headphones, from classic wired models with a 3.5 mm connector to modern wireless headsets with Bluetooth 5.3 support and aptX or LDAC codecs. However, even experienced users sometimes face problems: headphones are not defined, the sound is interrupted, or the bass sounds too quiet. In this article, we will analyze all the ways to connect, adjust the sound profile and fix typical problems - taking into account the features of the MIUI firmware and hardware limitations of different models of Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi.

It is important to understand that the connection algorithm may differ depending on the version of MIUI (for example, MIUI 14 changed the audio settings menu) and the type of headphones. Wired models usually work out of the box, and wireless models may require manual codec adjustment or firmware updates. We will consider both options, and also give recommendations for choosing optimal parameters for different genres of music, from classics to electronic tracks.

1. Connecting wired headphones to Xiaomi

Most Xiaomi smartphones (except for the flagship models of recent years) retain a 3.5mm jack for wired headphones, a reliable way to listen without delays and synchronization problems, but even here there are nuances.

To connect wired headphones:

• 🔌 Insert the plug into the 3.5mm connector before clicking. Make sure the connector is clean -- dust or oxidation of the contacts can cause noise in the speakers.
• 🎵 The latest music app (e.g. Mi Music or Spotify) will automatically run. If not, open the player manually.
• 🔊 Adjust the volume with buttons on the smartphone body or in the notification panel. MIUI has a separate slider for media sound.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Pro or POCO F5), the 3.5 mm connector is missing. In this case, you will need a USB-C- Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) adapter. Note: cheap adapters without DAC can degrade the sound quality by adding background noise.

💡

If the audio gets distorted after you connect the wired headphones, try turning off the Sound Improvement feature in Sound and Vibration → Sound Quality. It sometimes conflicts with external DACs.

2. Connection of wireless headphones via Bluetooth

Wireless headphones (such as Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro, Redmi AirDots 3 or Sony WH-1000XM5) connect via Bluetooth.The pairing process is standard, but MIUI has hidden settings to optimize the connection.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn the headphones on in pairing mode (usually hold the power button for 3-5 seconds until the indicator starts flashing blue-red).
2. On your smartphone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and activate the search for devices.
3. Select your headphones from the list. PIN-Standard code: 0000 or 1234.
4. Confirm the pairing on both devices.

After connecting, check the codec used:

1. Open Settings → Connected devices → Headphones → More
2. In the Sound Quality section, select the optimal codec: 🎧 SBC is universal but compressed sound. 🎧 AAC is better for Apple Music and podcasts. 🎧 aptX/LDAC is high quality for audiophiles (earphone support required).

Make sure your headphones are over 30% charged | Disable other Bluetooth devices within a 10-meter radius |Reboot your smartphone if the sound is interrupted | Update your headphone firmware through your proprietary app (e.g. Mi Earphones)

-->

On models with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset (such as Xiaomi 14), Bluetooth LE Audio and LC3 codec are supported, which reduces latency to 20 ms – ideal for games and video.

3. Set up a sound profile in MIUI

MIUI offers flexible instruments for fine-tuning the sound, but they're hidden in the back of the menu. Here's how to optimize the sound for your headphones:

Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Sound quality. Here are options:

• 🔊 Equator: Choose a preset profile (Rock, Pop, Jazz) or create yours by adjusting sliders for 60Hz (bass), 230Hz (medium), 1.4kHz (soprano), 8kHz (high).
• 🎛️ Sound enhancement: Includes virtual surround (good for movies, but can distort music).
• 🔇 Volume normalization: aligns the sound level between tracks (relevant for playlists with different mastering).

For headphones with support for ANC (active noise cancellation), a separate noise reduction tab appeared in MIUI 14+, where you can adjust the level of suppressed frequencies (for example, cut off low noise of vehicles).

💡

For audiophiles: Turn off all post-processing audio (Dolby Atmos) and use the 990 kbps LDAC codec.

4. Solving typical sound problems

If the headphones are connected but the sound is missing or distorted, check the following points:

⚠️ Warning: The POCO X5 Pro and Redmi Note 12 with MIUI 14 models have a bug that can cause wireless headphones to shut down when the screen is locked. Solution: Turn off Battery Optimization for Bluetooth application in autostart settings.

Problem 1: The sound is interrupted or “breaks.”

• 📶 Check the distance to the smartphone – the maximum radius of a stable Bluetooth 5.2 connection is ~10 meters without obstacles.
• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones (forget the device in Bluetooth settings and pair again).
• 📱 Update your smartphone firmware and headphones (e.g., for Xiaomi Buds via the Mi Earphones app).

Problem 2: Low volume in wired headphones.

• 🔊 In Settings → Sound and Vibration → Safe Volume Turn off the EU Volume Limit (if available).
• 🎧 Check headphone resistance: Models with an impedance of >50 Ohms can sound quieter on Xiaomi smartphones without an external amplifier.

Problem 3: The delay of sound when watching a video.

• 🎥 In a player (e.g., MX Player), enable the audio synchronization option and manually select the latency (+50–+200 ms).
• 🔄 Switch to aptX Low Latency codec (if supported).

Wireless (3.5 mm)|Wireless (Bluetooth)|USB-C headphones|I don't use headphones.-->

5. Sound optimization for different genres of music

There are no universal equalizer settings – the perfect sound depends on the genre, headphones and even the acoustics of the room.

🎸 Rock/Metal:

• Increase 100-250 Hz by +3 dB for heavy bass guitars.
• Raise 3-5 kHz by +2 dB for clarity of vocals and solo guitars.
• Turn off Sound Improvement - it smooths out drum attacks.

🎹 Classics/Jazz:

• Use the linear equalizer profile (all sliders are 0).
• Activate Dolby Atmos in Music Mode for the orchestra's surround sound.
• For vinyl recordings, turn on Volume Normalization to remove background noise.

🎛️ Electronic music (EDM, Hip-Hop):

• Maximize bass (60-80 Hz +4-+6 dB), but reduce 100-150 Hz to -2 dB to avoid “dirty” sound.
• Raise high frequencies (10-12 kHz) for the "air" in the synthesizers.
• Use the LDAC codec to transfer subbases without distortion.

6. Alternative ways to listen to music

If standard methods don’t work, consider these options:

🔊 USB-C Headphones:

• Connect directly to the USB-C port without an adapter.
• Require USB Audio Class 2.0 support (check the specifications of the smartphone).
• Examples: Xiaomi Type-C Earphones, 1MORE Triple Driver.

📡 FM- transmitter:

• It is suitable for listening to music through a car radio.
• Use applications like the FM Transmitter (requires support for the FM- chip in your smartphone).

🖥️ Listening through an external DAC:

• DAC adapters (such as iFi Audio Hip-Dac) improve sound significantly.
• Connect via USB-C and require the inclusion of USB audio mode in the developer settings.

⚠️ Warning: Xiaomi models with MediaTek Helio (e.g., Redmi 10A) may not support USB Audio Class 2.0. Before buying USB-C headphones or DACs, check compatibility on the manufacturer's website.

7. Headphone comparison for Xiaomi: which one to choose?

The choice of headphones depends on budget and goals. Here is a quick comparison of popular models optimized for Xiaomi:

For most users, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro is the best choice in terms of price / quality, especially if you have a smartphone on Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 (full support for LDAC).

FAQ: Frequent questions about listening to music on Xiaomi