Compatibility of the Apple and Android ecosystems has long ceased to be a myth, and Xiaomi smartphone owners can successfully use premium AirPods headphones. Despite the lack of native support for some features, the basic Bluetooth protocol allows you to quickly establish a connection. You only need a few seconds to activate the pairing mode to enjoy quality sound.
Synchronizing devices across brands requires understanding how Bluetooth works. Unlike iPhones, where the connection is instantaneously made by a W1 or H1 chip, Android smartphones, including MIUI and HyperOS, will require manual activation. This is not difficult, but has its own features, which we will discuss in detail.
It's worth noting that the automatic switching between Apple devices won't work here, but that doesn't stop you from using headphones to listen to music, watch videos and even make calls, and the quality of communication and the stability of the connection depends primarily on the version of Bluetooth on your phone.
Technical features of compatibility
AirPods headphones work on a standard A2DP profile, which guarantees stereo to any device, including Xiaomi.However, Apple proprietary codecs, such as AAC with a special bitrate, can be handled differently. Xiaomi smartphones usually support a wide range of codecs, including aptX and LDAC, but when working with AirPods, the system will switch to a universal SBC or basic AAC.
The lack of an H1 chip in the phone means that the animation menu showing the charge of each earbud and case in a separate window won't appear automatically.You'll have to rely on the standard battery indicator in the notification curtain.However, basic features like noise cancellation (if the model supports) and touch control remain fully operational.
⚠️ Note: When you first connect to Android devices, the headphones may not update their firmware. To update firmware, you still need a short-term connection to your Apple device.
It is important to consider the Bluetooth version. If your Xiaomi is equipped with a module version 5.0 and higher, the audio delay will be minimal. On older models, you may see audio and video desynchronization in some applications. You can check the version in the technical specifications of the smartphone on the official website or in the Settings → About phone application.
📊 What kind of AirPods do you have?
AirPods 1/2
AirPods 3
AirPods Pro 1/2
AirPods Max
Step-by-step instructions for connecting
Before starting the procedure, make sure the headphones are charged. Put them in the case and close the lid. On a Xiaomi smartphone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and activate device search. The screen should be active, as the MIUI system can limit visibility in sleep mode.
Now you need to put the AirPods in pairing mode. Open the case lid without removing the headphones. On the back of the case, find a round setting button. Press and hold it until the status indicator flashes white, which means that the device is detectable.
In the list of available devices on the Xiaomi screen will appear the words "AirPods" or "AirPods Pro." Click on it to pair. The system can request confirmation of the access code - just confirm the action. Once the connection is successful, you will hear a characteristic beep in the headphones.
- 📱 Open Bluetooth settings on your Xiaomi.
- 🎧 Press and hold the button on the case until the white indicator flashes.
- 🔗 Select headphones in the list of found devices.
- ✅ Confirm the request for conjugation if it appears.
If you haven't connected the first time, try forgetting the device in the Bluetooth list and repeating the procedure. Sometimes it helps to reboot the Bluetooth module on the phone. Just turn off and turn the slider on the Quick Settings menu.
Control and gesture settings
The standard Android AirPods management is partially functional. Double touching or compressing the leg (depending on the model) will control playback: pause, start or switch the track. However, changing the purpose of these actions without third-party software on Xiaomi will not work.
AirPods Pro models have a noise reduction switching feature available. Triple pressing or prolonged leg compression (depending on the headphone firmware version) allows you to cycle between Noise Reduction, Transparency and Off modes. This function works at the (hardware) level of the headphones and is independent of the phone OS.
Secrets of Sensory Control
On AirPods. 3-The first generation is controlled by compressing the legs, not touching. Double compression is pause/playback, triple compression is track skipping, long compression is noise switching. 1/2 double-touching on the headphone body."> To make things more subtle, such as changing the action to double-touch, you'll need to install third-party apps from Google Play. Software like MaterialPods or Assistant Trigger emulates some of the features of iOS. They can display battery power in the widget and reassign gestures. Action of AirPods 1/2 AirPods 3 / Pro Function on Xiaomi Single touch/compression No No No No No Double touch/compression Track/Pause Pause/Replay Works by default Triple compression No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No. Track Works by default Long-term press No No Noise Mode Works by default Solving common problems Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the Xiaomi phone sees headphones, but the connection does not occur or immediately breaks off. Most often, the problem is a crowded Bluetooth cache memory or a profile conflict. Try clearing the Bluetooth cache through the Settings menu. → Annexes → Show it all. → Bluetooth → Memory. → Clean. Another common problem is desynchronizing audio in video or games, and it's codecs, and in the phone settings (Developers section), you can try changing the Bluetooth priority codec, but AirPods can ignore those settings and insist on their protocol. In this case, only the use of players with its own delay correction function will help. ⚠️ Attention: If one earphone is not working or is playing quieter than the other, put both in the case, close the lid for 10 seconds, then open and press the reset button for 15 seconds before flashing yellow and then white.Mic problems can also occur when calling. MIUI Sometimes aggressively manages energy saving and can turn off the headset microphone to save charge. Check the permissions for the Phone and Bluetooth app, making sure that access to the microphone is always allowed. As native functionality is limited, enthusiasts have created a number of apps that help unlock the potential of AirPods on Android. It can read the telemetry of headphones and display a beautiful widget with a charge of the left, right earphone and case on the Xiaomi desktop. Another useful app is Assistant Trigger, which allows you to set up the activation of Google Assistant when you touch your headphones, which partially compensates for the absence of Siri, and the app can voice the battery level when you connect, mimicking the behavior of iOS. When installing such programs, be careful about the permissions requested. They need access to Bluetooth and geolocation to work (android system is required for scanning). BLE-Do not provide access to contacts or SMS, If the application is declared as a tool for headphones. 🔋 MaterialPods – the best battery widget. 🎙️ Assistant Trigger – setting up the assistant and autopause. ⚙️ AndroPods — displaying the serial number and firmware version. Questions and answers (FAQ) Will the AirPods Pro work with noise cancellation on Xiaomi? Yes, active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode work fully, because they are controlled by the processor inside the headphones themselves. Mode switching is done through the compression of the headphone leg. Can I update the AirPods firmware via a Xiaomi phone? Unfortunately, no. Update firmware is only possible when you connect to an Apple device (iPhone, iPad or Mac). On Android, the headphones will run on the version of the software that was installed when you last came into contact with Apple's equipment. Why doesn't automatically pause when you remove the headphone? Approachment sensors (autophones) are not used when you access Android devices from the device, or you do not use it when you use it when you use it from the Android device. No, the Xiaomi connection is secure. The headphones will save all settings, device name and anchors. You can freely switch between iPhone and Android, but remember that the fast switching mode between Apple devices will not work. 💡Using AirPods with Xiaomi is a trade-off: you get great sound and noise cancellation, but you lose the automation of the Apple ecosystem that can be partially returned by third-party apps.