AirPods quietly playing on Xiaomi smartphone: causes and solutions

You bought AirPods and plugged them into a Xiaomi smartphone, but the sound was quieter than the iPhone? This is a common problem that Apple headphone owners face when using them with Android devices, and the reasons can lie in both software limitations and hardware features.

In this article, we’ll look at 7 proven ways to turn up the volume of Xiaomi’s AirPods, from basic audio settings to changing Bluetooth codecs to updating firmware, and why even after all the manipulations, headphones can sound quieter than Apple devices, and what to do about it.

Important: Some methods require developer rights or third-party application installation, and if you're not ready to experiment, start with the simplest solutions in the first section.

1. Check the basic volume settings on Xiaomi

Before digging deeper, make sure the problem isn't with the standard smartphone settings. On Xiaomi, there are a few settings that can artificially limit the volume of AirPods:

• 🔊 Total Media Volume: Press physical volume buttons while playing music and check if the slider is set to a minimum.
• 🎵 Separate Bluetooth Adjustment: Go to Settings → Connections and sharing → Bluetooth, find your AirPods and tap the gear icon next to them. There might be a separate volume slider.
• 🚫 Volume limitation EU: firmware MIUI The restriction is included according to EU standards. → Sound. → Additionally. → Turn off volume limit EU.

If the sound is still quiet after this manipulation, move to the next section. On Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14+ firmware, a bug can work in which the volume is reset after reconnecting the headphones, in which case a smartphone reboot will help.

2.Change the Bluetooth codec for AirPods

AirPods default to a proprietary AAC (Advanced Audio Codec) codec that is optimized for Apple devices. On Android, this codec may not work stable, resulting in lower volume or distortion of sound.

To force the codec to change:

1. Activate Developer Mode on Xiaomi: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Go back to Settings → Additional → For developers and find the Bluetooth Codec item.
3. Choose SBC (most compatible) or aptX (if your AirPods support).
4. Reconnect the headphones.

Note: Generation 1/2 AirPods and AirPods Pro 1 do not support aptX – in this case, leave SBC. For AirPods 3/Pro 2/Max, you can try AAC with Bitwise Audio (LDAC) disabled in the developer settings.

3. Clean your headphones and check for physical damage

Sometimes the cause of quiet sound is trivial - pollution of speakers or mesh AirPods. Dust, earwax or moisture can block the sound channels, causing the volume to drop by 30-50%.

How to clean your headphones:

• 🧼 Use a soft toothbrush (dry!) to clean the speaker grilles.
• 💧 To remove earwax, remove the silicone tips (on AirPods Pro) and rinse them with warm water and soap.
• 🧴 For disinfection, wipe the headphone case with an alcohol napkin (at least 70% alcohol).
• ⚠️ Do not use sharp objects (needles, toothpicks) - this can damage the speaker membrane.

If the sound doesn’t improve after cleaning, check the headphones on another device (such as an iPhone or MacBook) if they sound quiet too, the AirPods hardware is a problem (possibly damaged speaker or battery).

4. Update Xiaomi firmware and reset Bluetooth settings

MIUI firmware can contain bugs that affect Bluetooth 5.0/5.2 — especially on older versions (before MIUI 13).

How to update firmware:

1. Go to Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click Check Updates and install the latest version.
3. After the update, reset Bluetooth settings: Settings → Connections and sharing → Bluetooth → ⋮ (menu) → Reset the settings

If there are no updates, but the problem remains, try manually installing regional firmware (for example, MIUI EU instead of global).

• Download the firmware from the official website miuirom.org.
• Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap the MIUI logo 10 times to activate the hidden update menu.
• Select the downloaded file and wait for the installation.

⚠️ Warning: Installing unofficial firmware can lead to loss of warranty and unstable smartphone performance.

5. Use third-party apps to amplify sound

If the software settings didn’t help, you can resort to third-party utilities that force the volume up or optimize the sound for the AirPods.

For maximum effect in Wavelet, select Apple EarPods or AirPods Pro preset (depending on the model) and activate the AutoEQ option. This will automatically adjust the sound to the characteristics of your headphones.

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If the sound starts to get distorted after installing the booster ("wheezing" at high volume), reduce the gain to 120-130% and turn off the "Bas Boost" option in the application settings.

6. Check the compatibility of the AirPods and Xiaomi model

Not all AirPods models work equally well with Xiaomi.

• 🍎 AirPods 1/2 The most problematic – often lose connection and sound quieter due to an outdated chip W1.
• 🔄 AirPods 3: Supports Bluetooth 5.0, but can “hang” on the Internet MIUI 12 and below.
• 🎧 AirPods Pro 1/2: Better compatibility with the chip H1/H2, But they require manual codec configuration.
• 🎵 AirPods Max: Stable, but due to its large size, audio delays may occur.

If you have a 1/2 generation AirPods, consider upgrading to AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 3 — the difference in volume and stability on Android will be noticeable. Also check if your Xiaomi is not on the Battery Saving mode — it limits the performance of the Bluetooth module.

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The AirPods Pro 2 with the H2 chip shows better compatibility with Xiaomi thanks to Bluetooth LE Audio support (on MIUI 14+).

7. Alternative solutions: from custom firmware to replacement headphones

If none of these methods worked, radical measures remain:

• 🔧 Installing custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) will remove the restrictions MIUI Bluetooth, but will require unlocking the bootloader.
• 🔄 Use of Bluetooth adapter (e.g. Apple Lightning to 3.5mm) + Inconvenient but guaranteed to solve the problem with sound.
• 🛒 Buying alternative headphones with support for aptX Adaptive or LDAC (Like Sony. WF-1000XM5 or Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro).

Before installing custom firmware, check if your Xiaomi model is supported on the XDA Developers forum.

1. Link the Mi Account to the device.
2. Wait 7 days (compulsory requirement of Xiaomi)
3. Use the Mi Unlock Tool.

⚠️ Castom firmware can disrupt the services of Google Pay, Netflix in the HD Other applications that depend on SafetyNet.

FAQ: Frequent questions about the quiet sound of AirPods on Xiaomi