How to connect wireless headphones Apple AirPods to the phone Xiaomi: 3 proven ways

Apple AirPods wireless headphones have become the standard for sound and convenience, but connecting them to Android smartphones — especially Xiaomi devices with the MIUI branded shell — often raises questions. Unlike iPhones, where the connection is automatic, owners of Redmi, POCO or Xiaomi 13/14 have to use alternative methods. In this article, we will discuss all working methods of synchronization, including hidden MIUI settings, solving typical errors and optimizing sound for better playback.

The main problem is that the protocols are different: AirPods are designed to fit Apple’s ecosystem (the W1/H1/H2) chip, while Xiaomi uses standard Bluetooth 5.2/5.3 with its own add-ons, which leads to delays in sound, accidental communication interruptions, or no automatic switching between devices, but with the right settings, you can achieve stable work – and we’ll show you how to do it.

Why AirPods may not connect to Xiaomi: 5 main reasons

Before we get to the instructions, it's important to eliminate common obstacles, and most of the problems are caused by:

• 🔋 Low-charge headphones – if the battery level is below 10%, AirPods will not be able to complete the pairing process.
• 📱 An outdated version MIUI — firmware MIUI 12.5 No protocol support AAC, which causes distortion of sound.
• 🔄 Conflict with other Bluetooth devices – if a speaker or clock is already connected to the phone, the system can block new connections.
• 🛡️ Active Power Saving Mode – Xiaomi’s Ultra Battery Saver feature turns off background processes, including Bluetooth.
• 🔧 Bluetooth cache failures – accumulated data on previous connections prevent new pairing.

If your AirPods have previously been synced with an iPhone or MacBook, you need to reset them to factory settings before connecting to Xiaomi. To do this, press and hold the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes orange (this is a reset signal).

⚠️ Warning: AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3 headphones with a chip H2 You may need additional confirmation via the Apple Music app on Android, without which some features (such as transparent mode) will not be available.

Method 1: Standard Connection via Bluetooth Settings

This is the basic method that works on all Xiaomi models (from the Redmi Note 8 to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra).

1. Open the AirPods case and make sure the headphones are inside.The indicator should flash white (pair mode).
2. On the phone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and activate the slider.
3. In the list of available devices, find AirPods [your name] (if the name doesn't appear, click Update).
4. You can tap the name and confirm the connection. MIUI 14 may have a request for permission to access contacts and microphones, you can agree.

Once successfully connected, the Bluetooth menu will feature an icon of headphones with the current charge level. If the sound is interrupted or interference is heard, check the quality of the codec:

• 🎵 AAC — Best option for AirPods (supported by the MIUI 13).
• 🔊 SBC — universal, but with the worst quality.
• 🚫 aptX LDAC — incompatible with Apple.

Headphones are displayed in the list Bluetooth|Indicator on the case is lit green |Sound is played without delay |The charge level is displayed in the status bar-->

⚠️ Note: Xiaomi with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor (such as Xiaomi 13 Pro) may experience a sound delay of up to 200 ms when watching video. → The phone. → Version. MIUI, tap 7 times).

Method 2: Use the AirBattery application (for advanced features)

The standard Bluetooth connection deprives Xiaomi users of a number of AirPods features: displaying the charge of each headphone separately, gesture control or activating noise reduction mode.

How to set up:

1. Install AirBattery and provide all the permissions you request.
2. Connect AirPods to your phone via Bluetooth (as in Method 1).
3. Run AirBattery – the application will automatically determine the headphone model and display:

AirBattery also allows you to set up automatic switching between devices (for example, from Xiaomi to MacBook), but this will require a premium version of the application (≈300 ₽). The free version limits functionality to low charge notifications and basic usage statistics.

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If after installing AirBattery, the headphones stopped connecting, clear the Bluetooth cache in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Bluetooth (Clear Cache button).

Method 3: Connect via Developer Mode (for advanced users)

If standard methods fail and the sound is interrupted or absent, activating hidden MIUI settings will help.This method is recommended for Xiaomi models on the Snapdragon 888/8 Gen 1/2, where conflicts with Apple codecs often occur.

Instructions:

1. Activate Developer Mode: Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version (Tap 7 times)
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find options: Bluetooth debugging – turn on; Bluetooth codec – select AAC; Bluetooth audio quality – set 48 kHz, 256 kbit / s; Absolute volume – turn off (this will fix the volume problems).

AirPods

On the Xiaomi 12T Pro and POCO F5, the audio delay is reduced from 200 ms to 80-100 ms after these manipulations, making video viewing comfortable. However, on budget models (for example, the Redmi 10A), the difference may not be noticeable due to the hardware limitations of the Helio G25 chip.

Solving common connection errors

Even after successful pairing, Xiaomi users face typical problems, and we will discuss the most common ways to eliminate them:

If AirPods are connected but immediately disconnected, check:

• 🔌 Charging case – if it is discharged below 20%, headphones may lose connection.
• 📲 Background applications – some programs (such as Clean Master) aggressively shut down Bluetooth connections.
• 🔄 Firmware updates - on MIUI 14.0.4+ Fixed bugs from AirPods 3.

AirPods (any model)|Galaxy Buds|Xiaomi Buds|Others TWS|Wired headphones-->

How to improve the sound quality of AirPods on Xiaomi: 4 working methods

Even after a successful connection, the sound of AirPods on Android can be disappointing — basses become weak, high frequencies cut the ear, and voice calls are accompanied by noises — not only hardware limitations, but also MIUI settings.

1. Equalizer adjustment

MIUI has an integrated equalizer, but it's hidden, so you can activate it.

1. Install any player with equalizer support (e.g. Poweramp or Neutron Music Player).
2. In the player settings, select the Bass Boost or Pop preset for balanced sound.
3. Turn off hardware audio acceleration in the player settings (this will reduce delays).

2. Disable the MIUI sound processing

The MIUI shell uses its own audio enhancement algorithms that conflict with the AirPods by default to disable them:

Settings → Sound. → Audio Effects → Turn off all sliders.

3. Use of LDAC (Only for AirPods Max)

AirPods Max supports LDAC codec, but it's disabled by default in MIUI to activate it:

1. In Developer Mode (Settings → Developers) find the Bluetooth Codec.
2. Select LDAC and set a bitrate of 660 kbps (maximum for stable operation).
3. Reconnect the headphones.

Calibration of the microphone for calls

If you are complaining about poor hearing, check the microphone settings:

Settings → Applications → Application Management → Phone → Permissions → Microphone (allow)

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On Xiaomi with MIUI 14 and later, AirPods sound will improve if you enable dual audio (duplication of sound on headphones and speakers) in Bluetooth settings, which reduces the load on the codec and reduces latency.

Compatibility of AirPods with different Xiaomi models: support table

Not all Xiaomi smartphones work equally well with AirPods, and we tested compatibility on popular models:

On budget models (for example, Redmi A2), due to a weak processor Helio G36, you can experience audio passes while using Bluetooth and mobile Internet, in which case switching to Air Mode with only Bluetooth enabled will help.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions