Xiaomi’s current flagship smartphones often feature advanced wireless audio technologies, such as the LHDC codec. Users who buy new Hi-Res Audio Wireless headphones often experience sound being transmitted as standard SBC or AAC, ignoring hardware capabilities, because by default the system prioritizes connection stability rather than maximum sound detail.
Activating this codec unlocks the potential of your audio system by providing data transfers with high sampling rates and minimal delays. However, the standard Bluetooth settings menu does not always provide direct access to codec switching, requiring the owner of the gadget to dive deeper into system parameters. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to force LHDC on MIUI and HyperOS devices.
It’s worth noting that successful activation depends on a combination of factors: the operating system version, the Bluetooth module model, and, of course, the compatibility of the headphones themselves. If your device is in the mid- or low-end segment, checking support for this standard is the first and must-have step before you start setting up.
Checking the compatibility of equipment and headphones
Before you start to manipulate the developer menu, you need to make sure that your hardware is physically capable of processing the data stream LHDC. The technology was developed by Savitech and is implemented in chipsets Qualcomm and MediaTek starting with certain versions. Xiaomi smartphones running on Snapdragon processors 800-series and later, as well as many models on Dimensity, have built-in support.
The second critical element of the circuit is the headphones themselves, and even if the phone supports the codec, the headset must have the appropriate decoder. LHDC It is found in models of Edifier, Huawei brands (in mode) HWA), OnePlus and Specialized Audiophile Devices. Standard Budget TWS-Headphones rarely have this feature due to licensing fees and chip power requirements.
⚠️ Note: The presence of the logo "Hi-Res Audio Wireless" on the headphone box does not guarantee 100% work with the headphones. LHDC, This certificate also covers other codecs, such as LDAC Check the specification of a particular model on the official website of the manufacturer.
To quickly check the current connectivity, you can use third-party diagnostic tools that display the active codec in real time, which eliminates the need to guess whether the setting works after it is turned on.
- 🎧 Make sure the headphones are fully charged, as LHDC It consumes more energy from the Bluetooth module.
- 📱 Check the model of your smartphone’s processor in the specifications on the manufacturer’s website.
- 🔊 Make sure the headphone firmware is updated to the latest version through the branded app.
- 📶 Keep your phone and headphones no more than 1 meter away while setting up your codec.
Activation through the Developer Menu
The basic method of forced codec selection is hidden in a special Android engineering menu, which is closed by default from the eyes of the average user. To get there, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, open Settings, go to About Phone and find the MIUI Version (or OS Version) bar. You need to quickly click on this line 7-10 times in a row until you notice that you have become a developer.
After successful activation in the main settings menu, usually in the subsection Additional or immediately in the system settings list, a new item For developers will appear. Once you enter it, scroll down to the section related to network connections or Bluetooth. We are interested in the option Bluetooth Audio Codec.
Clicking on this item will show you a list of available codecs. If your phone and connected headphones support LHDC, it will be displayed in the list and will be available to select. If the LHDC item is gray or not listed, it means that the system has not detected a compatible device or the codec driver is missing from the firmware.
☑️ Codec setup LHDC
It's important to understand that the choice of codec in this menu is compulsory. If you choose LHDC, but the headphones do not support it, the sound may simply disappear or the connection will break, in which case the system usually automatically rolls back to the standard SBC, but you better be careful.
Use of Bluetooth Audio Codec application
In some versions of MIUI shells, the standard developer menu may be stripped or not contain a complete list of codecs, in which case the official but hidden system application Bluetooth Audio Codec comes to the rescue.
To run this tool, you'll need an activity shortcut, and you can do this through third-party launchers or custom shortcuts, but Xiaomi often runs a direct search run. Try typing the word "codec" or "audio" into your settings search. If the search does not give results, you can use it ADB-command to start the activity directly.
adb shell am start -n com.android.bluetooth/com.android.bluetooth.a2dp.BluetoothCodecConfigActivityOnce the application is launched, a window will open with detailed settings for the current connection, where you can not only select the LHDC, but also adjust the bitrate, sampling rate and mode of operation (quality or speed), which is especially useful if the connection is unstable: you can reduce the bitrate of the LHDC, preserving the codec, but improving stability.
⚠️ Warning: Changing bitrate settings in the system application may cause audio and video to be desynchronized in some players. If you notice a delay in audio, return settings to automatic mode.
The app also shows the current connection status in real time, allowing you to see if the codec switches when you resume playing music.
Setting up quality and bitrate parameters
The LHDC codec offers several modes of operation that affect the final sound quality and load on the communication channel. In the developer menu or a specialized application, you can find a choice between “Best Effort” modes and fixed bitrate values.
Best Effort allows the system to dynamically change the sound quality depending on the level of interference in the air. If you are in the subway or a place where Wi-Fi networks are clustered, the phone can lower the bitrate to avoid interruptions. To listen to music in a calm environment, it is better to fix maximum values.
The table below compares the main parameters of the LHDC codec to understand the difference in settings:
| Parameter | Meaning | Impact on sound |
|---|---|---|
| Bitreit | 900 kbps | Maximum detail, high traffic consumption |
| Frequency of sampling | 96 kHz/24 bit | Extended dynamic range (Hi-Res) |
| Delay (Latency) | ~30-40 ms. | Critical for playing and watching videos |
| LLAC mode | Low Latency | Reduces latency, can impair music quality |
What is LLAC in the LHDC settings?
For audiophiles, it is recommended to manually set the maximum sampling rate supported by the track. However, it is worth remembering that most streaming services (Spotify, Yandex.Music) do not give a stream higher than the stream. 16 bit/44.1 kHz, so inclusion 24 bit/96 The kHz in the phone settings will be only upscale, not a real quality improvement.
Connection problems and their solution
Even with the right setup, users can experience unstable LHDC performance.The sound can be interrupted, cracked, or completely disappeared within minutes of being turned on, most often due to Bluetooth channel overload or software conflicts in the MIUI shell.
The first step in diagnosing is to reset your Bluetooth settings, remove all the paired devices from the list, reboot your smartphone, and try to reconnect by first turning the codec on the developer menu, sometimes by clearing the cache of the Bluetooth system service through the application management menu.
If the problem persists, check if power saving mode is on.Aggressive battery optimization on Xiaomi can limit the power of the Bluetooth module, which is critical for LHDC's big data stream.Add a music player and Bluetooth system service to power saving mode exceptions.
- 📡 Avoid using it. USB 3.0 external drives near the phone, they create strong interference in the 2.4 GHz range.
- 🔋 Turn off the "Energy Saving" mode while listening to music in high resolution.
- 🔄 Update the firmware of the headphones, as manufacturers often patch Android compatibility bugs.
- 📶 Make sure Wi-Fi is not running at 2.4GHz, switch to 5GHz to reduce interference.
💡
If the sound is only interrupted in certain apps (like YouTube), try turning off hardware acceleration in the app’s settings or using a third-party player that better manages the audio buffer.
Comparison of LHDC with LDAC and aptX
Users often wonder why LHDC is needed when there is a more common Sony LDAC or Qualcomm aptX? LHDC is positioned as a competitor to LDAC, offering similar or even higher bitrates (up to 900 kbit / s versus 990 kbit / s in LDAC).
The main advantage of LHDC over aptX HD is to support higher sampling frequencies out of the box without the need for proprietary extensions. In addition, LHDC often provides lower latency in standard mode, making it more versatile for multimedia.
In the Xiaomi ecosystem, codec choices are often dictated by the chipset. Snapdragon smartphones are often better optimized for aptX, while MediaTek models (especially flagship ones) can show better stability with LHDC.
⚠️ Note: Simultaneous support for multiple high resolution codecs (e.g, LDAC and LHDC) If you change your headphones frequently, leave the codec selection to automatic mode rather than fixing one type rigidly.
💡
LHDC is a great choice for headphone owners with appropriate support, offering a balance between Hi-Res sound quality and connection stability often outperforming standard Android codecs.