How to Change the Bluetooth Audio Codec on the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T

If you want, you can change the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 5T Bluetooth Audio Code from the default option of SBC to either aptX or the newer aptX HD codec.

There are many audiophiles using smartphones these day who expect superior audio quality from their mobile devices. Similarly to a video codec, a Bluetooth audio codec can let you get a better audio experience from your device. Granted, you have to have a supported Bluetooth headset or speaker system, but enabling the option is all it takes in order to get that improved audio quality. It’s actually very easy to do on the OnePlus 5 too.

Back when the OnePlus 3T was available, it was rumored that the company was working on adding the aptX Bluetooth audio codec to the device.

It was said this support would be added in a future OxygenOS update, but it doesn’t look like that ever came true. You can manually install aptX support on the OnePlus 3/3T if you have TWRP installed, but it looks like the information that was leaked may have gotten it wrong.

Either that, or they had planned to add support and just never did. Either way, it’s very easy to enable on the OnePlus 5 or OnePlus 5T and you just have to follow these steps below.

OnePlus 5 Bluetooth Audio Codec

1. Launch the Settings application
2. Scroll all the way down to the System section
3. Tap on the Advanced option
4. Tap on the Bluetooth Audio Codec option
5. Then choose between SBC, aptX and aptX HD
6. Press the Home button to go back to the Home Screen
7. Test out your new Bluetooth audio codec

Explanation

So instead of having to use TWRP to install aptX support on the OnePlus 5, it’s right there in the OxygenOS settings. It’s still unclear if this feature will get ported back to the OnePlus 3/3T, but I kind of doubt it. Companies have to license this technology from Qualcomm and that means OnePlus would have to invest more money into phones they no longer sell. With the reputation the company has about supporting older devices, I just don’t think this is likely to happen.

Thankfully the developer community is able to step up and provide this level of support though. It really is what makes Android shine and was a major reason why I switched from iOS in its early days. So to begin here, we simply need to launch the Settings application and then scroll all the way down to the bottom. Here, you should see a section labeled System and in there is an option called Advanced that you’ll want to tap.

This will bring you to another menu of options and it’s here that you should see the Bluetooth Audio Codec option. For me, it’s located at the very bottom but this could change in future updates to OxygenOS. So go ahead and tap on the OnePlus 5 or OnePlus 5T Bluetooth Audio Codec option and it will bring up a popup menu. The SBC audio codec is the default option that’s selected, but from here you can also choose between aptX and aptX HD.

So tap on the one you want to use and then tap the Home button to exit this application. You can then connect your Bluetooth device to the OnePlus 5 and it should play audio using your selected Bluetooth audio codec. I will note that your device must be capable of aptX or aptX HD in order for you to reap the benefits. This simply will not work on every single Bluetooth headset and speaker available for purchase. Again, this is technology that the vendor needs to license from Qualcomm in order to use.

If you’re wanting to shop around though, Amazon has a big collection of aptX Bluetooth headsets you can look into.