How to connect AirPods Pro to Xiaomi smartphone: 3 working methods + error solving

You bought the AirPods Pro, but your Xiaomi smartphone refuses to see them? Or the headphones plug in but the sound is interrupted and the microphone is not working? This problem is familiar to many owners of Apple and Xiaomi equipment — despite the universal standard Bluetooth, compatibility between ecosystems often fails. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways of connecting, including hidden MIUI settings, bypassing manufacturer restrictions and solving typical errors.

It's important to understand that AirPods Pro is optimized for Apple devices, so on Android (including Xiaomi), some of the features will not be available. For example, you will not be able to use automatic switching between devices or spatial sound with head tracking. However, the basic features - listening to music, talking on the phone and gesture control - work steadily if you set up the connection correctly.

We tested the instructions on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 models with the latest versions of MIUI 14/15. If you have a different model, don’t worry: the connection algorithm is the same for all smartphones of the brand.

1. Preparing AirPods Pro to connect to Xiaomi

Before you try to sync your headphones to your phone, make sure they're ready to pair. AirPods Pro (all generations) have a feature: they automatically connect to the last Apple device you've ever used, and if you've used them on an iPhone or MacBook before, you've got to forget them in that ecosystem.

Here's what we need to do:

• 🔋 Charge the case to at least 20% – discharged headphones may not appear in the list of available devices.
• 📱 Disconnect from Apple devices: on iPhone go to Settings → Bluetooth, click on AirPods Pro and select Forget This Device".
• 🔄 Reset the headphone settings: press the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes yellow, then white.
• 🔍 Check the firmware version: If you have AirPods Pro 2, upgrade them via iPhone to the latest version (this will improve compatibility with Android).

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If the indicator on the case does not flash white after reset, try holding the button longer (up to 20 seconds) or plug the case into charging for 5 minutes before trying again.

Note that once reset, AirPods Pro will lose all user settings, including the iCloud account binding, and if you plan to return to use with Apple devices, you will have to reconfigure them.

Method 1: Standard Bluetooth connection

This is the simplest method, which works 80 percent of the time, but Xiaomi has a caveat: it can ignore the AirPods Pro if the Bluetooth settings have enabled the Audio Device Only filter.

1. Open Bluetooth settings on your Xiaomi: go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Activate Bluetooth and wait for AirPods Pro to appear on the list (the name may appear as "AirPods Pro [Your name]").
3. Click on the headphones in the list. If you see a window that says, "Allow contact and call history?", select Allow -- that's what you need to make the microphone work properly.
4. Wait 10-15 seconds until the message "Connected" appears. If the headphones don't connect, move on to the next way.

Headphones appear in the list of connected devices |

The sound is played without delay (check on YouTube) |

Microphones are running on calls (call another phone)|

Control gestures (press, hold) are triggered-->

If the AirPods Pro is connected but the sound is interrupted or there is interference, the problem may be in the Bluetooth codec. Xiaomi uses SBC by default, the most versatile, but not the highest quality codec. To improve the sound, go to Bluetooth Settings → Additional → Audio Codec and select AAC (if available).

Method 2: Connect via AirBattery (for advanced features)

A standard Bluetooth connection only gives you access to basic functions. If you want to see the charge level of your case and headphones, control noise cancellation or adjust gestures, you'll need a third-party app. The best option is AirBattery (free on Google Play).

How to set up:

1. Install AirBattery from Google Play.
2. Connect AirPods Pro to your phone via Bluetooth (as in Method 1).
3. Open AirBattery and provide all the permissions you request (notifications, Bluetooth, location).
4. In the main window of the application you will see: 🔋 Charge level of the case and each headphone separately. 🎧 Current noise reduction regime (ANC, Transparency, Off). 👆 Ability to reassign gestures (e.g. double tap to switch tracks).

Important: The AirBattery app is not official and may require access to notifications to display the charge level.If you are concerned about privacy, use it only when necessary and revoke permissions after setting up.

Method 3: Manual addition via "Hidden Developer Settings"

If the AirPods Pro are not displayed in the Bluetooth list or connect with errors, the problem may be the limitations of MIUI. In some firmware, Xiaomi blocks the connection of devices with non-standard Bluetooth profiles (and AirPods use Apple's proprietary protocol), the solution is to turn on the developer mode and manually add headphones.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. Press 7 times on MIUI Version until the notification "You've become a developer" appears.

Return to the main settings and open additionally → For developers.

Find the option to Enable Bluetooth HCI Sniffer and activate it.

Reboot the phone.

Try connecting AirPods Pro again via the standard Bluetooth menu.

If after these manipulations, the headphones still do not connect, try resetting the network settings on the phone:

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Network Reset.
2. Select Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings.
3. After restarting, reconnect.
4. 📱 Use third-party players: Poweramp or Neutron Music Player offer more flexible audio settings than standard apps.

For calls:

• 📞 Turn off voice improvement in phone settings: Settings → Special facilities → Improved voice (if available).
• 🔇 Use one headphone: when talking, remove one AirPod - this will reduce echoes for the interlocutor.

If the light doesn't flash, the case is discharged, plug it into a charger for 10 minutes and reset again.