Smartphone owners of the Chinese brand often wonder how to connect AirPods to Xiaomi to enjoy high-quality sound without unnecessary wires. Despite the fact that the Apple and Android ecosystems work on different software platforms, Bluetooth technology makes it easy to combine devices from different manufacturers.
The main difficulty is that some of the AirPods’ proprietary features, such as automatic switching between devices or accurate display of charge in the system widget, are sharpened for iOS. However, the basic functionality of music playback, conversations and noise reduction (in Pro/Max models) works flawlessly. You do not need to be an expert in technology to set up the headset, just follow a proven algorithm of actions.
In this article, we will not only discuss the standard connection procedure, but also consider ways to eliminate common pairing errors. You will learn how to improve the sound quality through the MIUI engineering menu and which applications will help unlock the full potential of headphones on Android.
Preparation of headphones and smartphone for pairing
Before starting the procedure, make sure that both devices are ready to establish a connection. Charge the AirPods case by at least 20-30%, as a discharged battery can lead to interruption or unstable operation of the Bluetooth module. Also check that your Xiaomi smartphone is enabled wireless module.
Open the charger case cover, but don't take the headphones out. There's a round pairing button on the back of the case. If the indicator inside the case doesn't light up, maybe the battery is completely dead and you'll need to connect to the charger. Make sure there's no other active Bluetooth devices nearby that can intercept the signal.
⚠️ Note: If your AirPods have previously been connected to an iPhone or iPad, they may automatically try to connect to them when the lid is opened.In this case, temporarily turn off Bluetooth on Apple devices or move away from them.
On a Xiaomi smartphone, go to the settings and make sure the operating system version is up to date. Older versions of the MIUI shell or HyperOS can have a Bluetooth stack. Cleaning up the list of previously paired devices will also help avoid address conflicts when looking for a new headset.
Step-by-step connection instruction via Bluetooth settings
The process of connecting Apple headphones with Xiaomi phone is standardized and does not require the installation of additional software at the initial stage. The main thing is to follow the sequence of actions so that the phone correctly recognizes the device.
To do this, leaving the case lid open, press and hold the button on the back for 3-5 seconds. Status indicator should start flashing white, which signals the transition to pairing mode. Now pick up your smartphone.
☑️ Connection algorithm
On your phone screen, open the Settings → Bluetooth menu. The name of your model should appear on the list of available devices, such as AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Click on it to start the procedure.
Once the connection is successful, the status will change to Connected, and the status bar will show a battery icon. If the request does not appear immediately, try closing and reopening the Bluetooth menu or restarting the smartphone. Sometimes the system takes time to update the list of available gadgets.
Customization of sound and codecs in the engineering menu
Once you have connected AirPods to Xiaomi, you should pay attention to the quality of audio transmission. By default, the system can use standard codecs that do not reveal the potential of the headset. For advanced users, you can log into the engineering menu, where you can force you to choose a higher quality codec.
To get into the developer menu, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the MIUI version seven times. After you notice that you have become a developer, go back to the main settings menu and find the Additional → For Developers section.
| Codec | Sound quality | Stability | Delay. |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBC | Basic | Tall. | Medium |
| AAC | Good. | Tall. | Low. |
| aptX | High. | Medium | Low. |
| LDAC | Maximum. | Low. | Minimum |
In the developer section, look for the Bluetooth Audio Codec. AirPods work best with AAC, which provides a balance between quality and power consumption. Choosing an unsupported codec can lead to no sound or severe wheezing.
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If after changing the codec, the sound is gone, just restart Bluetooth or the smartphone itself - the settings will be applied correctly.
Also on this menu you can find the option "Absolute Volume Level." If you notice that the volume of the phone and headphones is adjustable independently or too quietly, try changing the state of this switch, which will help synchronize the signal levels.
Use of third-party applications for advanced functionality
While basic connectivity works right away, it will require third-party software to fully utilize all the features, such as viewing each headphone’s exact charge, setting up an equalizer, or controlling noise cancellation. Apple’s official Android app doesn’t exist, but the community has created great analogues.
One of the most popular solutions is the MaterialPods app or AssistantTrigger, which lets you display a battery pop-up when you open a case, similar to what happens on an iPhone. It takes a couple of minutes to install through Google Play Market.
- 🎧 MaterialPods: minimalist design, desktop widgets, support for all AirPods models.
- 🔋 Battery Widget: Displays a percentage charge right on the lock screen.
- ⚙️ AndroPods: allows you to configure double-touch and other control gestures.
Installing these applications requires permission to access Bluetooth and location, which is necessary to properly track the status of the connection. Without root rights, functionality may be limited, but for most tasks, superuser rights are not required.
Security of Third Party Applications
Solution: Headphones don't connect or lose touch
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where Xiaomi smartphone does not see AirPods or the connection is constantly broken.This can be caused by a software glitch, accumulated Bluetooth cache or a conflict of profiles. The first step should always be to reboot both devices.
If a simple reboot didn't help, try resetting the headset settings. Put the headphones in the case, press the button on the back and hold for about 15 seconds until the indicator flashes yellow and then white. After that, remove the device from the list of forgotten on the phone and repeat the pairing procedure.
⚠️ Note: When you reset the headphones through the button on the case, they will disconnect from all previously paired devices, including iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Another cause of problems may be outdated smartphone software. Check for system updates in Settings → About Phone. Also worth clearing the Bluetooth cache: go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Show System Processes → Bluetooth → Memory → Clean.
Comparison of AirPods on iOS and Android (Xiaomi)
It's important to understand that when you connect to Xiaomi, you lose some of Apple's ecosystem benefits. That doesn't make it impossible to use, but it changes the user experience. Some of the features are hardware-based on Apple's H1/W1 chip and the company's servers.
For example, Find My won’t work fully if the headphones are lost out of range, and there’s no automatic pause when removing the headphone (for AirPods Pro) without third-party apps, as proximity sensors transmit data in a specific way.
- ✅ Works on Xiaomi: music playback, calls, noise cancellation (button), basic control.
- ❌ Does not work natively: automatic switching between Apple devices, Siri, precise geolocation, setting through the iOS menu.
However, for listening to music and podcasts, the difference is almost imperceptible: Sound quality remains high, and battery life depends solely on battery capacity, not the type of smartphone.
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Xiaomi’s AirPods are a full-fledged wireless headset with great sound, but without the magic of the Apple ecosystem.