You listen to music or talk on the phone through Bluetooth headphones, and suddenly the sound disappears — for a few seconds, then forever. The problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi smartphones, and it occurs on both budget Redmi and flagships Mi 13 or POCO F5. 80% of the time it is not the fault, but software failures or incorrect settings — and today we will analyze all possible causes, from banal to rare, and also give checklists to fix them.
The peculiarity of the problem is that it can manifest itself in different ways: the sound is interrupted during playback, completely disappears after connecting, or the headphones are connected without sound (the microphone works, and the speakers do not). In this article, we structured solutions by complexity, from rebooting your phone to flashing your Bluetooth module, and you'll find a table of headphone compatibility with Xiaomi models and answers to frequent questions in the Internet. FAQ-block.
1. Software failures: why sound disappears for no apparent reason
The most common reason is the conflict between the phone’s firmware and Bluetooth protocol. Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones (especially versions 12-14) are known for bugs with wireless headphones. For example, after upgrading to MIUI 14.0.5, many Redmi Note 11 users complained of a cliff every 10-15 seconds, due to power optimization, which aggressively shuts down the Bluetooth connection in the background.
How to check that the problem is in the firmware:
- 📱 Update. MIUI to the latest version: go to Settings → The phone. → Update system. Even if there are no updates, try installing them manually through Settings → Additionally. → Manual update.
- 🔄 Reset Bluetooth Settings: Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → ⚙️ (gear) → Reset settings. This will remove all paired devices, but often solves the problem.
- 🛠️ Clear the cache of Bluetooth services: for this, go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points (⋮) → Show system-based → Bluetooth, then press Storage. → Clear the cache.
If the sound is only lost in specific apps (like YouTube or Spotify), the problem may be their settings.
- 🎵 In the application settings, disable the option "Automatic shutdown of sound during pause".
- 🔊 Enable monopoly playback (if there is such an option).
- 📲 Reinstall the application.
2. Codec conflict: why headphones plug in but no sound
Bluetooth headphones use audio codecs to transmit sound: SBC, AAC, aptX, LDAC. Xiaomi smartphones by default choose SBC - the most versatile, but not always stable codec. If the headphones support aptX or AAC, and the phone persistently uses SBC, there may be omissions or its complete disappearance.
How to change the codec on Xiaomi:
- Put the headphones on the phone.
- Open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth.
- Click on your headphones → Sound settings (or Additional).
- Select the AAC or aptX codec manually (if supported).
How do you know which codecs your headphones support?
Important: on some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 9A), the codec selection option is hidden, so you need to activate the developer mode and enable debugging over USB to unlock it.
| Xiaomi model | Supported codecs | Recommended codec |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 10/11/12 | SBC, AAC, aptX | AAC (Best Balance of Quality and Stability) |
| POCO F3/F4 | SBC, AAC, aptX HD, LDAC | aptX (minimum delays) |
| Mi 11/12/13 | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive, LDAC | aptX Adaptive (Automatic bitrate setting) |
| Redmi 9/9A/9C | SBC, AAC | AAC (less prone to cliffs) |
3. Energy saving: why the phone turns off Bluetooth in the background
MIUI aggressively optimizes power consumption, and sometimes it causes the Bluetooth connection to break or the sound to go missing, especially when:
- 🔋 Low battery charge (less than 15%).
- 📵 Activation of the "Saving charge" or "Ultra-mode" mode".
- 🔄 Switching between Wi-Fi and Mobile Data.
How to turn off optimization for Bluetooth:
- Go to Settings → Battery and Performance → Battery Optimization.
- Find Bluetooth (or Bluetooth Settings) in the list and select Unlimited.
- For headphones: in the same menu, find their name and also turn off optimization.
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If the problem only occurs when the battery is low, try calibrating the battery: completely discharge the phone, then charge to 100% without interruption.
Also check the energy saving settings in Settings → Battery → Modes. If Ultra Mode is turned on, turn it off – it forcibly turns off background processes, including Bluetooth stream.
4. Hardware problems: when the headphones or phone are to blame
If the software methods did not help, the problem may be a physical malfunction:
- 🎧 Headphones: cable damaged (for wired models with Bluetooth adapter), battery discharged, charging or speaker connector contaminated.
- 📱 Phone: Bluetooth module malfunctioned, antenna contacts oxidized, motherboard damaged.
How to diagnose a hardware breakdown:
- Check the headphones on another device, and if the sound goes away, the problem is the headphones.
- Connect other Bluetooth devices (column, smartwatch) to your phone. If the sound works, the headphones are to blame.
- Look at the Bluetooth indicator in the status bar, and if it flashes or disappears, the phone module is defective.
Check the headphones on another device |
Connect other Bluetooth devices to your phone |
Check the headphone charging jack for pollution |
Try resetting your headphones to factory settings (see instructions below)-->
If Xiaomi headphones (like Redmi Buds 3/4 or Mi True Wireless Earphones) try resetting them:
- Put the headphones in the case.
- Press and hold the button on the case for 10-15 seconds until the indicator flashes red and white.
- Remove the headphones from the list of paired devices on the phone and connect again.
⚠️ Warning: If the headphones don't connect at all after reset, check if moisture has hit the case.For Xiaomi with support IPX4 (For example, Redmi Buds 4 Pro is not critical, but for budget models can lead to corrosion of contacts.
5 Interferences and conflicts with other devices
Bluetooth operates at 2.4 GHz, the same frequency as Wi-Fi, microwaves, wireless mice, and if there are many devices around that range, there may be interference that interrupts or disappears the sound.
How to reduce the impact of interference:
- 📶 Switch Wi-Fi to 5 GHz, and that'll reduce the load by 2.4 GHz. You can do that in Settings. → Wi-Fi → ⚙️ (gear) → Range.
- 🔌 Turn off unnecessary Bluetooth devices. If you have a smartwatch, a fitness bracelet and a speaker on your phone, turn off the extra ones.
- 🏠 Make sure there's no microwave or wireless charging around. They're causing a lot of interference.
The problem may also be in conflict with other protocols, such as if you're using a Xiaomi Smart Home, some sensors may interfere with Bluetooth. Try to temporarily turn them off.
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If the sound only disappears in a specific location (such as work or home), the problem is almost certainly the interference, not the phone or headphones.
6. Resetting and flashing: extreme measures
If nothing has worked, radical methods remain:
1. Resetting the phone to factory settings.This will delete all data, but often solves deep software failures.
Settings → About Phone → Backup and Reset → Resetting settings2. flashing the Bluetooth module. This is true if the problem occurred after the MIUI update.
- Download the firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website ("Fastboot" section).
- Use the Mi Flash Tool to flash it (the instructions are available on the 4PDA or XDA-Developers forums).
⚠️ Warning: Flashing over the phone may result in a loss of warranty or a build-up of the phone, only if you are confident in your actions or under the guidance of a specialist.
If the sound is lost due to a faulty Bluetooth module, it can be replaced.
- Redmi Note 10/11: ~1 500–2 500 ₽.
- POCO F3/F4: ~2 000–3 000 ₽.
- Mi 11/12: ~3 000–4 500 ₽.