How to connect AirPods to Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: instructions with photos and tips

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro and Apple AirPods are devices from different ecosystems, but that doesn’t stop them from working together perfectly. Many users have difficulty connecting for the first time: the headphones are not in place, the sound is interrupted or refuse to automatically reconnect. In this article, we will discuss all ways of pairing, including hidden settings. MIUI, This will help you avoid typical mistakes.

It's important to understand that even though AirPods are optimized for the iPhone, they support Bluetooth 5.0, which is also the Redmi Note 9 Pro, which means that there should be no compatibility issues -- if you know the right algorithm. MIUI 12.5, 13 and 14, so it is relevant for most users.

In this article, you'll find not only basic instructions, but also solutions to common problems: why one earphone doesn't work, how to reset AirPods without an iPhone, and why sound can be late when watching a video — FAQ frequent-question.

1. Preparation of devices before connection

Before pairing, make sure both devices are ready to connect, and skipping this step often causes failures.

The Redmi Note 9 Pro requires:

• 📱 Update MIUI Up to the latest version (check in Settings) → The phone. → Update system: Older versions may not support AirPods profiles.
• 🔋 Charge your phone to at least 30% – with low charge, Bluetooth can work unstable.
• 🔄 Turn off the energy saving mode in Settings → Battery as it restricts background Bluetooth operation.

For AirPods (any model: 1/2/3 Generations, Pro or Max):

• 🔋 Charge the case to at least 20% – discharged headphones will not be detected.
• 🧲 Remove the headphones from the case and hold the button on the back for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes orange (this is a reset settings).
• 📱 If your headphones were previously connected to your iPhone, forget them in your Bluetooth settings on your iPhone to avoid conflicts.

💡

If your AirPods were previously used with Android but are not now connected, try resetting your Bluetooth settings on your smartphone: go to Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Resetting network settings.

Step-by-step: how to connect AirPods to Redmi Note 9 Pro

Follow this algorithm so that the pairing goes without errors:

1. Open the AirPods case and leave the headphones inside. The front display should flash white (pair mode). If it's green, press and hold the button on the back of the case until white flashes.
2. On Redmi Note 9 Pro, go to Settings → Connections and sharing → Bluetooth.
3. Activate Bluetooth (the slider at the top) and wait for the AirPods device to appear in the list (may appear as AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, depending on the model).
4. Click on the headphone name in the list. In 5-10 seconds, the notification "Connected to media audio" will appear.
5. Close the case and open it again – the headphones should automatically connect to the phone.

Headphones flash white|Bluetooth on your phone is on|AirPods are displayed in the list of devices|No active connections to other gadgets|The sound is tested in both headphones-->

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

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth on your phone (turn off/on).
• 📱 Remove all previously saved Apple devices in Bluetooth settings.
• 🔋 Putting your phone on charge – sometimes it helps stabilize the connection.

AirPods 1/2 generation|AirPods 3|AirPods Pro|AirPods Max|Another model-->

3. Sound tuning and gesture control

Once you connect AirPods to the Redmi Note 9 Pro, you can customize them to your needs.

🎧 Sound tuning

• 🔊 Equator: Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Equalizer and select preset (e.g. Bass or Rock").
• 🎵 Sound Effects: In the same menu, activate "Bass Amplification" or "Virtualization" 3D-"Sound" (not working on all AirPods models).
• 🔇 Monosound: If one earphone is not working, turn on Settings → Special facilities → monosound.

✋ Gesture control (only for AirPods Pro and 3rd generation)

On Android, AirPods gestures work limitedly, but basic features are available:

To unlock all gestures, install the AirBattery app (available on Google Play), which also shows the headphone charge in the status bar and allows you to customize touches.

4. Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even after a successful connection, users of the Redmi Note 9 Pro may face typical problems.

🔌 Problem: AirPods are connected, but sound goes through the phone's speaker

Decision:

1. Open the notification bar and make sure AirPods are selected as the output device.
2. Go to Settings. → Sound and vibration → Playback devices and manually select headphones.
3. If it doesn’t work, restart your phone.

🎧 Problem: Only one headphone works

Decision:

• 🔄 Place both headphones in the case, close the lid, then open and pull them out.
• 🧲 Reset AirPods settings (hold the button on the case for 15 seconds).
• 📱 In Bluetooth settings on your phone, forget the device and connect again.

🔊 Problem: The sound is interrupted or delayed

It's related to Bluetooth codecs. MIUI use SBC, which is not optimized for AirPods:

1. Install Developer Options (if not already enabled): Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI — press 7 times).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers → Bluetooth settings.
3. Select a Bluetooth Codec → AAC (airpods-optimistic).
4. Reconnect the headphones.

💡

If the sound continues to lag when watching the video, enable in the application (for example, YouTube) the compensation for the delay of sound in the playback settings.

🔋 Problem: AirPods are quickly discharged

On Android, headphones can run out faster because of:

• 📶 Continuous search for iCloud devices (disabled through applications like AirBattery).
• 🔊 Use of the codec SBC instead AAC (see the instruction above).
• 📱 Background processes on the phone (check Settings) → Battery → Charge use).

💡

To extend the life of the AirPods battery, turn off Bluetooth on your phone when you are not using headphones, and avoid storing headphones in a case with zero charge - this reduces battery life.

5. How to automatically connect AirPods when opening the case

On iPhones, the headphones are automatically connected, but on Android, you have to manually configure this feature. Here are two ways:

🤖 Method 1: Through the AirBattery application

1. Download AirBattery from Google Play.
2. Open the application and provide all the permissions requested.
3. Enable the "Auto Connection" option in the settings.
4. Now, when you open the case, AirPods will connect to the phone automatically.

⚙️ Method 2: Through settings MIUI (no-apps)

This method is less reliable, but it works on some firmware:

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Find AirPods in the list and click on ⚙️ near-name.
3. Activate the "Automatic Connection" option.
4. Turn on "Priority for Media Audio."

Note: on some versions MIUI These options may not be available, so use the first method.

6. How to disable AirPods from Redmi Note 9 Pro

If you need to temporarily or permanently turn off your headphones, do the following:

🔄 Temporary shutdown

• Close the case - the headphones will turn off automatically.
• Or turn off Bluetooth on your phone.

❌ Complete removal (forgetting the device)

1. Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
2. Find AirPods in the list and click on ⚙️.
3. Select "Forget the device" (or "Delete").

💡

If you plan to connect AirPods to another device, be sure to forget them on the Redmi Note 9 Pro, otherwise there may be conflicts when pairing.

7. Alternative ways of connecting (if nothing works)

If the standard method doesn’t work, try these options:

🔧 Method 1: Developer mode

Sometimes it helps to reset Bluetooth settings through the developer menu:

1. Activate the Developer Mode (see above).
2. Go to Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Find “Bluetooth Reset” and confirm the action.
4. Restart your phone and try to connect again.

📱 Method 2: Applications for managing AirPods

If the headphones are connected but are not working smoothly, install one of these apps:

• 🎧 AirBattery – shows charge, controls gestures, includes ANC.
• 🔊 AndroPods – an alternative with advanced sound settings.
• 🔋 Podroid – a minimalist application for monitoring the battery.

🔄 Method 3: Network reset

Extreme measure if nothing helps:

1. Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
2. Select Network Settings Reset (this will remove all stored Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices).
3. After rebooting, try connecting again.

8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)