Owners of Xiaomi smartphones, including the popular Redmi and Poco series, often wonder about the compatibility of the Apple ecosystem with the Android operating system. Despite the fact that AirPods were created to work in conjunction with the iPhone, their basic functionality is fully available on other platforms. The connection process is simple, but to unlock the full potential of the gadget will require several additional steps.
The main difficulty is the lack of native support for proprietary Apple functions in the standard interface MIUI or HyperOS. Users need to understand that basic sound playback will work immediately, but noise reduction control or battery charging will require the installation of third-party software. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of pairing.
Before you start active, make sure your headphones are charged and in good condition. The smartphone's Bluetooth module must be activated and the operating system version must be up to date to ensure connection stability. This is a critical step that is often ignored when faced with connection problems later on.
Preparation of headphones and smartphone for pairing
The first step is to properly prepare the playback device. Every generation of AirPods headphones (including the Pro and Max models) go into pairing mode in the same way. You need to put both headphones in the charging case and open the lid without removing them from there. There is a round setting button on the back of the case that you need to hold until the indicator flashes white.
On the side of the Xiaomi smartphone, you need to open Bluetooth settings. In the Settings → Bluetooth menu, you should activate the device search slider. Android will start scanning available gadgets within range. Usually the process takes 3 to 10 seconds depending on the loading of the communication channel.
Importantly, if the headphones were previously paired with an iPhone or other device, they may try to automatically connect to it, in which case the older device needs to temporarily turn off Bluetooth or select the Forget Device action in the settings, which ensures that the AirPods will search for your Redmi.
- 🎧 Place the headphones in the case and open the lid without removing them.
- 🔘 Press the button on the back of the case until the white flash of the indicator.
- 📱 On Xiaomi, turn on Bluetooth and start searching for new devices.
- 🔗 Click on the model name in the list of found gadgets to complete pairing.
⚠️ Warning: If the indicator flashes orange, it signals a pairing error or low charge. In this case, set the case to charge for 15 minutes or reset the headphone settings.
Connection process via standard MIUI interface
The standard Bluetooth protocol allows you to play audio without installing additional applications. Once you see the name of your AirPods in the list of available devices on the Xiaomi screen, just tap it. The system will request confirmation of connection, and in a couple of seconds the status will change to "Connected".
This mode has basic functions like music playback, volume and microphone for calls. However, touch controls may not work properly or be limited. For example, double tapping may not switch tracks, but only pause them, since Android does not receive full command data from Apple.
To improve connection stability, you can find additional options in the Bluetooth menu of MIUI settings. Sometimes changing the data codec helps. Go to Settings → Bluetooth → (cog next to the device) → Codec and try switching to SBC or AAC if the sound is interrupted or of low quality.
It's worth considering that automatic earphone extraction (approximation sensor) detection on Android often doesn't work without third-party software. Music won't be paused if you take out one earphone, which is an operating system limitation that can't be circumvented by standard means.
Use of third-party applications for advanced functionality
To unlock the hidden potential of the headset, you need to install a specialized application from the Google Play store, the leader in this niche is the program MaterialPods or Assistant Trigger, these utilities emulate the work of iOS system services, allowing you to display a beautiful window of battery status and customize touch control.
Once you install the app, you'll need to give it a number of permissions, primarily location access (which is required to scan Bluetooth devices in newer versions of Android) and notifications, and without those permissions, the app won't be able to read the charge level of each headphone separately.
In the program settings, you can activate the Pop-up window, which will show a case opening animation similar to that seen by iPhone users, you can also have equalizer settings and button reassignment, you can set up a double touch to call Google Assistant or switch tracks.
Why do applications require access to geolocation?
- 📲 Download MaterialPods or PodBattery from Google Play.
- 🔋 Provide all requested permits, including geolocation.
- ⚙️ Set up the display of the battery widget on the desktop.
- 🎚️ Calibrate the sensitivity of the sensor in the app menu.
Customization of sound and equalizer in the Xiaomi system
The MIUI operating shell and the new HyperOS have powerful built-in audio tools that can compensate for the lack of native AirPods settings. In Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound Effects, a graphical equalizer is available. Here you can choose a Pop, Rock profile or manually adjust the frequencies for better sounding your headphones.
The Mi Sound Enhancer feature is a feature that can improve detail and bass greatly, but on some Redmi models, this feature may conflict with the AAC codec used by AirPods. It is recommended to test the sound with the improver on and off.
For fans of high-quality audio, the absolute volume parameter is important. In the developer menu (which is activated by seven times pressing the MIUI version), you can find the item "Switch off absolute volume." Switching it can solve the problem of quiet sound or sharp volume surges when you connect the headset.
| Setup parameter | Recommended value | Impact on sound |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth Codec | AAC | Balance of quality and compatibility |
| Dolby Atmos | Auto/Dynamic | Expansion of stereobe |
| Mi Sound Enhancer | Off (for starters) | May cause distortions |
| Absolute volume | Included. | Synchronization of phone volume and headphones |
⚠️ Note: Changing the settings in the Developer menu may affect other Bluetooth devices. Write down the initial settings before changing them so you can go back.
Solution: Connection and sound problems
Often, users are faced with a situation where there is a sound, but it is very quiet or intermittent. This can be due to the desynchronization of the volume between the phone and the headphones. The solution lies in rebooting the Bluetooth stack: turn off Bluetooth, restart the smartphone and turn on the module again.
If one earbud doesn't work or plays quieter than the other, there's probably a disruption in the left-right channel inside the AirPods case itself. In this case, you need to do a full reset. Put the headphones in the case, press the button for 15-20 seconds until the indicator flashes yellow and then white, and reconnect them as a new device.
Mik problems are often solved by choosing the source of sound in a particular application, for example, in Telegram or Viber, you can click on the speaker icon during a call and select "Phone" or "Bluetooth headset", sometimes the system defaults on the wrong channel for voice transmission.
☑️ Diagnostics of Sound Problems
In rare cases, interference is caused by interference of Wi-Fi signals, as they operate in a similar frequency range of 2.4 GHz. If you are near a powerful router, try to step back a couple of meters or switch your smartphone to a 5 GHz network to free up the air for Bluetooth.
Energy saving and optimization of work
Android aggressively controls the background, which can cause your headphones to shut down prematurely or music to stop. To avoid this, look for the battery in your settings and find an app you're listening to music through (such as Spotify or Yandex Music). Set energy saving mode to "No Limits."
The same action must be performed for a third-party headphone management application (e.g. MaterialPods).If the system kills this process, the battery widget will stop updating and you will not be able to control the charge of the case. Add the application to the autoboot if such an option is available in your version of MIUI.
💡
For maximum autonomy, turn off Find My inside emulator apps unless you plan to search for headphones through your phone. A constant geolocation survey consumes the battery of the case.
Clean the charging contacts on the headphones themselves and inside the case regularly. Oxidation or dust can cause one of the headphones to not charge to 100%, causing imbalance and rapid discharge of the pair. Use a dry cotton swab for careful cleaning.
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The main secret of stable operation of AirPods on Android is to provide all possible permissions to a third-party application-manager and disable aggressive energy savings for music players.