How to connect AirPods to Xiaomi phone: full instructions with solutions

Apple’s wireless AirPods headphones have long been the standard for listening to music, but many Xiaomi users have difficulty connecting them. Unlike the iPhone, where pairing is almost automatic, Android smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Mi) require manual tuning. In this article, we’ll look at all the ways AirPods connect to Xiaomi, including solutions to typical problems, from lack of sound to permanent connection breaks.

It’s important to understand that AirPods are optimized for the Apple ecosystem, so on Android devices, some features (such as automatic switching between devices or accurate charge indication) may not work properly. However, the basic functionality — listening to music, receiving calls and activating the voice assistant — is available in full. We will also explain how to improve communication quality and extend the time of the headphones when using Xiaomi.

1. Preparation of AirPods for connection

Before pairing, make sure your AirPods are ready to work with Xiaomi. Even if you’ve used them with your iPhone before, Android will require a setting reset.

Step 1: Reset AirPods to factory settings

• 📦 Put the headphones in the charging case and close the lid.
• 🔄 Open the lid and hold the button on the back of the case 15–20 seconds until the indicator starts flashing orange (for AirPods) 1/2 generation or white (for AirPods) Pro/3 generation).
• 🔌 Connect the case to the power source, if the indicator does not burn - discharged headphones will not be able to enter the pairing mode.

Once reset, the AirPods will be ready for a new connection. If the indicator does not flash, check if the button on the case is stuck - this is a common problem for AirPods Pro owners after prolonged use.

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If you have an AirPods Max, the reset is done by holding the Noise Control and Digital Crown buttons simultaneously for 12 seconds.

2. Step-by-step instructions for connecting to Xiaomi

The process of pairing AirPods with Xiaomi is not different from connecting other Bluetooth devices, but there are nuances.

Step 1: Activate Search Mode on AirPods

1. Open the charge case cover (earphones should stay inside).
2. Press and hold the button on the back of the case until the indicator starts flashing white (pairing mode).

Step 2: Set up Bluetooth on Xiaomi

1. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Turn on Bluetooth and wait for the AirPods (or AirPods Pro) device to appear in the list.
3. Click on the headphone name and confirm the pairing.

The charging case is open.|The indicator on the case flashes white|AirPods appear in the Bluetooth list|The sound is played through the headphones.-->

If AirPods don’t appear on the list, try:

• 🔋 Reboot the Xiaomi smartphone.
• 🔄 Repeat resetting of headphones (see section 1).
• 📱 Make sure your phone is Visibility on all devices in Bluetooth settings.

3. Solving Connection Problems

Even after successful pairing, Xiaomi users often face typical problems, and let’s look at the most common ones and how to fix them.

Problem 1: AirPods are connected, but there is no sound

• 🔊 Check if AirPods are selected as the audio output device in Settings → Sound. → Output device.
• 🎧 Make sure the headphones aren’t connected to another device (like a MacBook or iPad).
• 🔄 Reconnect the headphones: forget the device in the Bluetooth settings and pair again.

Problem 2: Permanent connection breaks

• 📶 Turn off Wi-Fi during the test – sometimes interference from the wireless network interferes with Bluetooth.
• 🔋 Check the charge of the headphones: at a level below 10%, the connection can become unstable.
• 📱 Update Xiaomi firmware to the latest version – in older versions MIUI There were bugs with Bluetooth 5.0.

⚠️ Warning: If you hear cracking or noise in your headphones after you connect, turn off the Absolute Volume option in Xiaomi settings (Settings) → Bluetooth → Additionally. → Absolute volume. This feature often conflicts with AirPods.

4. Sound and control optimization

By default, Xiaomi’s AirPods are operating in base mode, but you can improve sound quality and add control features.

Setting up Bluetooth codecs

Xiaomi supports several audio codecs, but not all of them are compatible with AirPods.

• 🎵 AAC — Best choice for AirPods (provides better quality with minimal delays).
• 🔊 SBC — universal, but with the worst sound.
• ❌ aptX LDAC — not supported by AirPods.

To select the codecs:

1. Connect the AirPods to your phone.
2. Go to Settings → Bluetooth.
3. Press the badge. ⚙️ near the AirPods.
4. Select Audio Codecs and install AAC.

Gesture management

On Android, not all AirPods gestures work the same way as on iOS.

To set up gestures on Xiaomi, install the Assistant Trigger app from Google Play.It lets you reassign actions for double/triple touch.

5. Check the compatibility of Xiaomi and AirPods models

Not all Xiaomi smartphones work equally well with AirPods, and the main differences are related to the Bluetooth version and MIUI firmware.

Compatibility table:

On phones with Bluetooth 5.0 and below (such as the Redmi 9A or POCO M3), the AirPods Pro 2 may not work smoothly due to the lack of support for the AAC codec on low bitrate, in which case only replacing the smartphone or using headphones in SBC mode will help.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12.5 And below, there may be problems with automatically reconnecting AirPods after the connection is broken. MIUI 13/14 Or install a patch through Xiaomi Community.

6. Alternative ways of connecting

If standard pairing doesn’t work, try alternative methods.

Method 1: Use of management applications

Applications like AirBattery or AndroPods allow you to:

• 🔋 Display the charge level of the case and headphones.
• 🎧 Customize gestures (double/triple touch).
• 🔊 Turn on/off noise cancellation on AirPods Pro.

Download them from Google Play and give you Bluetooth access.

Method 2: Connect via Apple ID (for iPhone owners)

If you have an iPhone, you can “tie” AirPods to your iCloud account and then connect them to Xiaomi:

1. Connect the AirPods to your iPhone.
2. Enable Sharing in Bluetooth settings on your iPhone.
3. On Xiaomi, perform standard pairing (see Section 2).

This will help to preserve some of the features, such as automatically turning off when extracted from the ear.

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Third-party apps (AirBattery, AndroPods) don’t give 100% of iOS functionality, but they do significantly improve the experience of using AirPods on Android.

7. How to extend the time of work AirPods with Xiaomi

AirPods run out faster when connected to Android than they do when connected to an iPhone, and this is due to the peculiarities of Bluetooth protocols.

Tips for saving charge:

• 🔌 Turn off Bluetooth on Xiaomi when you are not using headphones.
• 🎵 Use Mono Audio (in Bluetooth settings) if stereo is not critical.
• 🔋 Charge the case to 100% before long-term use – partial charge reduces the time of operation.
• 📴 Reduce the distance between your phone and headphones – the weaker the signal, the more energy is spent on maintaining it.

MIUI settings to save energy:

1. Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Mode.
2. Choose Balanced or Energy Saving (but not Performance).
3. Add Bluetooth to the battery optimization exceptions list.

Average time of work of AirPods with Xiaomi:

• AirPods 2/3: 4-5 hours (vs. 5-6 on iPhone)
• AirPods Pro: 4-4.5 hours (vs. 5-5.5 on iPhone)

FAQ: Frequent questions