How to enable aptX on Xiaomi smartphone: the complete guide

Modern users are increasingly looking not only at screen quality or processor performance, but also at the audio capabilities of their device. Xiaomi and Redmi owners often wonder how to unlock the full potential of their wireless headphones, especially if they support high-quality codecs. SBC's standard Bluetooth protocol, used by default, often compresses sound too aggressively, depriving tracks of depth and detail, which is especially noticeable when listening to Lossless formats.

Fortunately, MIUI and the new HyperOS are based on Android, where Google engineers have designed the ability to switch between different coding algorithms. However, unlike Sony smartphones or some Samsung models, Chinese manufacturers often hide these settings deep in the system menu or do not activate them software for certain regions. To enjoy studio sound quality, you will have to activate the necessary functions yourself through a hidden developer menu.

Before you start setting up, you need to make sure that your hardware supports high bitrate data at all. The aptX codec and its advanced version of aptX HD require appropriate hardware support from both the smartphone and the headphones or headset. If at least one of the devices does not know how to work with these standards, forced settings will not work, and the system will automatically return to the basic SBC or AAC profile.

Testing of hardware compatibility and preparation

The first step on the way to high-quality sound is to verify the technical characteristics of your gadget. Most of the modern Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, which are massively installed in Xiaomi smartphones of the mid-range and flagship segment, have built-in support for the library of codecs aptX. However, in budget models based on MediaTek or older Snapdragon chips, support may be absent or limited to the basic version without the HD prefix.

It is also critical to check the specifications of your acoustic system, and the headphones must explicitly support the codec you are planning to activate, which is usually found in the technical documentation, on the box or on the official website of the accessories manufacturer. Often users try to turn on aptX HD on headphones that only support regular aptX, which leads to a lack of desired effect.

💡

Use the Bluetooth Audio Codec Changer app from the Google Play Store to quickly check your smartphone-supported codecs without logging into hidden menus.

For accurate diagnosis, you can use the compatibility list, which will help you navigate the capabilities of your equipment:

If you are convinced that both devices meet the requirements, you can move to the software part. Be sure to fully charge your smartphone before you start manipulating, since working with the system settings and subsequent sound testing can take time.

Activate the developer menu on Xiaomi

Access to Bluetooth codec management is hidden in the Developer section, which is closed by default from the eyes of the average user, to prevent accidental changes in critical system parameters that can affect the stability of the interface or battery consumption. To access these settings, you need to perform a series of sequential actions in the About Phone menu.

Open the standard Settings app and scroll down to the bottom of the list to About Phone. Here you need to find the line MIUI Version (or OS Version in new firmware). The key is to quickly click on this line 7-10 times in a row. After the fifth click, the system may ask you to enter the unlock password if it is installed. Continue clicking until the pop-up notification "You are a developer!" appears.

Once activated successfully, a new Developers item will appear in the main settings menu, in the “Additional” section, and this is where all the tools for fine-tuning animations, debugging over USB and, most importantly for us, Bluetooth audio configuration are concentrated.

⚠️ Warning: Be careful when you are in the developer menu with settings that you don’t know the value of. Changing parameters related to interface scaling or background processes can lead to unstable system operation.

Setting up Bluetooth audio codecs

When you log in to the Developer Menu, scroll down to the Net or Bluetooth section and you are interested in the Bluetooth Audio Codec. You can choose the default or SBC value by default here. Click on this line to see the list of available codecs that your smartphone supports.

If the list includes aptX or aptX HD, The system automatically reconnects the Bluetooth headset, and the sound has to go through the algorithm that you choose. MIUI, You may also need to change the Bluetooth Audio Sample Rate to 48.0 kHz or 96.0 kHz to activate the device. HD-regime.

It should be noted that the presence of the item in the menu does not guarantee its work with specific headphones. If after selecting aptX HD sound disappeared or there was a crack, this means that the connected device does not support this mode, and the smartphone could not automatically agree on the connection settings.

Solving problems with displaying codecs

Often users are faced with a situation where the developer menu simply does not have the necessary options, or they are inactive (painted in gray), this can be caused by regional firmware restrictions. Global versions of MIUI (Global ROM) sometimes lack some codecs compared to the Chinese versions (China ROM) due to licensing restrictions in different countries.

In such cases, enthusiasts may use third-party modules or system files to change, but this requires super-user rights (Root) and carries risks. A safer, but not always effective, method is to clean the Bluetooth cache. To do this, find and activate the option “Disable absolute volume level” in the Developer menu, and then reset the network settings.

Also, the Bluetooth protocol version can be a problem. Make sure your smartphone and headphones have the latest firmware updates installed. Accessories manufacturers often release updates that improve compatibility with different smartphones.

⚠️ Warning: Forced activation of unsupported codecs through modification of system files can lead to cyclical reboot of the Bluetooth module or complete failure of wireless communication.

The effect of codecs on autonomy and delay

The switch to high-quality codecs comes at a cost: transferring more data requires more intensive operation of the radio module, which inevitably affects battery life, the difference can be anywhere from 10% to 20% depending on the use case and signal quality.

Also, different codecs have different latency. This is not critical for listening to music, but in games or watching videos, the desynchronization of sound and picture can become noticeable. aptX Low Latency (if supported) minimizes this effect, while aptX HD and LDAC in high quality mode can give a delay of up to 200-300 ms.

• 🎵 SBC: Minimum power consumption, high compatibility, medium quality.
• 🎧 AAC: Optimal for Apple devices, good compression, low latency.
• 🔊 aptX / aptX HD: Balance of quality and delay, requires Qualcomm chips.
• 🚀 LDAC: Maximum transmission quality, but high battery consumption and sensitivity to interference.

If you notice that the smartphone began to discharge faster after turning on HD-codecs, it makes sense to return to standard settings for long trips when recharging is not available.

💡

Using aptX HD codec increases battery consumption by about 15%, but provides audio transmission with a sampling rate of up to 96 kHz and a depth of 24 bits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)