The combination of the Apple ecosystem and Android smartphones has long ceased to be exotic. Many users prefer the flagship camera and performance of Xiaomi, but are not ready to give up the quality of sound and convenience of AirPods. Despite the fact that Apple headphones are sharpened for iOS, the basic Bluetooth protocol allows you to successfully use them with any other devices, including the shell MIUI.
The connection process does not require complex manipulation or installation of hidden system utilities. You will only need standard Android operating system functionality, which is in every smartphone. However, to get advanced functionality, such as displaying battery power, additional actions may be required. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of integrating Apple gadgets into the Android ecosystem.
The main advantage of this tandem is that it's versatile, and you can listen to music, watch videos, and even make calls without losing sound quality, and you just need to prioritize audio and understand what features you can't have without an iPhone. Let's go through the connection process in detail.
Preparation of headphones and smartphone for pairing
Before starting the procedure, make sure both devices are ready to go. The Bluetooth module on the smartphone should be active and the headphones charged. If you are using a new model, such as the AirPods Pro or AirPods 3, make sure that they are not currently connected to another Apple device in range to avoid automatic interception of the connection.
On a Xiaomi smartphone, wireless interface management is in the top notification curtain or in the settings menu. Go to Settings → Bluetooth and turn on the activation slider. The system will automatically search for available devices within a few meters radius. At this time, it is important to keep the case with headphones open and close to the phone.
⚠️ Note: If the headphones were previously paired with an iPhone, they may try to connect to it automatically.For a successful connection to Xiaomi, temporarily turn off Bluetooth on your Apple phone or select Forget the Device in iOS settings.
The key is to put the headphones in visibility mode, which requires you to press the function button on the back of the charging case, the indicator inside or outside the case (depending on the model) will start flashing white, signaling readiness to pair, only after that the Xiaomi smartphone will be able to detect the device in the list of available.
Step-by-step instructions for connecting via Bluetooth
The synchronization process itself takes only a few seconds and requires no special knowledge. Once you have switched the headphones to search mode, the name of your headset should appear on the Xiaomi smartphone screen in the Available Devices list. This usually looks like AirPods or AirPods Pro. Click on the device name to initiate the connection.
Android will request confirmation to create a pair. Some versions of MIUI may require you to enter a confirmation code, although in 99% of cases the connection is automatically without digits. Once successfully paired, you will hear a characteristic beep in the headphones, and the icon of the connected audio device will appear in the status bar of the phone.
☑️ Connection check
If you don't get the connection the first time, try rebooting the Bluetooth module on your phone. Sometimes it helps to remove the old device profile from the list of previously connected gadgets. To do this, click on the gear next to the headphone name in the Bluetooth list and select Disable or Delete, then repeat the procedure again.
- 🎧 Open the case cover with headphones inside.
- 📱 Unlock the screen of the Xiaomi smartphone.
- ⚙️ Press the setting button on the back wall of the case before the indicator flashes.
- 🔗 Click on the device name in the Bluetooth list on your phone.
Sound setting and headset management
Once successfully connected, basic controls work normally, so you can adjust the volume with buttons on the smartphone body, pause music with a double-touch earphone and take calls. However, standard Android tools do not allow you to flexibly adjust the equalizer for this particular headset or change the actions to touch without third-party software.
To fine-tune your audio profile, you can use the built-in MIUI equalizer. Go to Settings → Sound and Vibration → Sound Effects. Here you can choose one of them (Pop, Rock, Jazz) or create your profile by amplifying bass or high frequencies. This is especially true, since Android audio codecs can process a signal differently than iOS.
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Use third-party equalizer apps from Google Play if you don’t have the standard Xiaomi settings, which allow you to create separate profiles for different types of headphones.
It's worth noting that the noise reduction (ANC) function and transparency mode on AirPods Pro models only switch through prolonged headphone leg clamping, which is not possible to change or assign other commands through Xiaomi's settings. It's a protocol limitation, not a device defect.
| Action. | On iPhone (iOS) | On Xiaomi (Android) |
|---|---|---|
| Pairing. | Automatic (H1 chip) | Through the Bluetooth menu |
| Case charge | Widget on screen | An annex is required |
| Noise suppression | Through the Control Point | Clutching the headphone leg |
| Siri / Google | Siri ("Hello, Siri") | Google Assistant (by button) |
How to check the battery level of AirPods
One of the main problems when using AirPods with Android is the lack of a native charge widget. Unlike the iPhone, where the charge level of the case and each headphone is displayed immediately when the lid is opened, Xiaomi shows only the total percentage of charge of the Bluetooth device, and then not always correctly.
To solve this problem, you need to install a specialized application from the Google Play store. The most popular and stable are Material Pods, Capod or AirBattery. These utilities read telemetry data transmitted by the headphones and display it in an understandable way on the lock screen or in the notification curtain.
⚠️ Warning: Charge tracking applications require access to geolocation and background work, which can slightly increase smartphone battery consumption.
Once you install an app, like Material Pods, you open it and press the scan button, and it will find your headphones and show you the exact percentage of charge on your left, right earphone and case, and some of them even allow you to update your headphone firmware, which is impossible to do with standard Android tools.
Why update the firmware on Android?
Solving Connection and Sound Problems
Despite the simplicity of the technology, users can face a number of challenges: It often happens that music plays, but the sound comes from only one earpiece, or the microphone is jammed, and in most cases this is solved by resetting the headphones to the factory.
To do the reset, place both earbuds in the case, close the lid and wait 30 seconds. Then open the lid without removing the headphones, and press the setting button on the back. Hold it until the indicator flashes in amber and then white. After that, the pairing procedure with Xiaomi will need to be done again, as with a new device.
- 🔊 Sound quiet: Check the "Absolute Volume" settings in the developer menu.
- 📉 Unstable connection: Make sure there are no powerful sources of interference (Wi-Fi routers, microwaves).
- 🎤 Microphone not working: Check permissions for the app through which the recording or call is being made.
Another common problem is desynchronizing audio in video, which is codec-related, and in the Bluetooth settings on Xiaomi (in the developer menu), you can try changing the codec from SBC to AAC or aptX if the headphones and phone support these standards, which often improves the audio quality.
Use of advanced functions through third-party software
Owning an Android smartphone gives you access to customization that is not available in iOS. With the help of intermediary applications, you can not only see the charge, but also adjust the control. For example, the Assistant Trigger app allows you to reassign actions when tapping on headphones.
You can set up a double tap so that it doesn't include Google Assistant, but the latest track in Spotify or Yandex.Music, and you can also have automatic application launches when you take your headphones out of your case, which turns your regular wireless headphones into a smart gadget with advanced functionality.
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Third-party Android apps can give AirPods functionality that isn’t even available on iPhones, such as detailed usage statistics or custom control gestures.
It is important to keep security in mind: download apps only from the official Google Play store, checking reviews and downloads. Do not give programs access to contacts or SMS unless their functionality requires it directly.