How to connect AirPods to Xiaomi smartphone: full instructions with solutions to problems

Apple AirPods wireless headphones have long been the standard for listening to music, but many Xiaomi users have difficulty connecting them. Unlike the iPhone, where the connection is almost automatic, on Android smartphones (including Redmi, Poco and Mi), the process requires additional steps. In this article, we will discuss not only the basic instructions, but also hidden settings that will improve sound quality, reduce delays and solve typical problems such as communication breaks or no sound in one earphone.

It’s important to understand that AirPods are optimized for the Apple ecosystem, so some features (like automatic switching between devices or activating Siri) won’t work on Xiaomi. However, with the right settings, you’ll get a stable connection comparable to the original Android headphones. We tested the instructions on Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and Poco F5 – all the steps are relevant for devices on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS.

1.Preparation: What to do before connecting

Before you connect AirPods to Xiaomi, follow a few steps that will save you 80% of the potential problems:

• 🔋 Charging your headphones: Make sure the AirPods have a charge level of at least 20%. When they are low, they can turn off during pairing. Check the indicator on the case: green is full, orange requires recharging.
• 📱 Update of the smartphone software: Go to Settings → The phone. → Update the system and install the latest patches. MIUI 14 and newer fixes Bluetooth bugs 5.2/5.3, critical to the operation of AirPods.
• 🔄 Reset previous connections: If the headphones have already been paired with another device (such as an iPhone), remove them from the list of connected gadgets.
• 🎧 AirPods Verification: AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3 models support Bluetooth LE Audio, but Xiaomi may not recognize them correctly without additional settings (more on this below).

Pay special attention to Xiaomi’s power saving mode. If it’s on, the system can restrict Bluetooth, causing communication disruptions. Turn it off in Settings → Battery and Performance → Energy Saving Mode.

2. Step-by-step instructions: how to connect AirPods to Xiaomi

The pairing process takes no more than 2 minutes, if you follow the algorithm:

1. Open the AirPods case cover and make sure the headphones are inside. On the back of the case, press and hold the pairing button (round button on the back) for 5-7 seconds until the indicator flashes white.
2. On a Xiaomi smartphone, go to Settings → Connections & Sharing → Bluetooth and activate the switch. The name of your AirPods (e.g., “John’s AirPods Pro”) will appear on the list of available devices.
3. Click on the headphone name in the list. If you have a request for code confirmation (usually 0000 or 1234), type it. Some Xiaomi models don't require code.
4. Wait for the message "Connected." Close the case cover and open it again, the headphones must automatically connect to the smartphone.

Critical detail: if AirPods don't appear on the list of devices, try rebooting your smartphone's Bluetooth module. To do this, turn off and turn on Bluetooth again, or restart your phone.

3. Sound adjustment and delay elimination

By default, Xiaomi’s AirPods can play back audio with a latency of up to 200-300ms, which is critical for games or videos.

• 🎵 Bluetooth Codec: Go to Bluetooth Settings → Settings (cog next to AirPods) → Audio codec and select AAC (is optimal for a balance of quality and delay; or SBC (less lag, but worse sound).
• 🔊 Mono/Stereo: In the same settings, make sure that you turn on Stereo. Sometimes the smartphone switches to Mono after the updates.
• 🎮 Game mode: For minimal delays, activate Settings → Special facilities → Improved sound for games (available on the MIUI 15 and newer).

If the sound is interrupted or one earphone is silent, try:

1. Close and reopen the case lid.
2. In Bluetooth settings, press "Forget the device" and repeat pairing.
3. Clear the cache of the “Bluetooth” application in Settings → Applications → Application Management.

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For AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 3, install the AirBattery app from Google Play. It adds a widget that displays the case charge and headphones on the lock screen, like on the iPhone.

4. Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even after a successful connection, Xiaomi users are faced with typical bugs.

⚠️ Warning: If AirPods are connected but sound is only coming through the phone's speaker, check the audio output settings. In some firmware, Xiaomi resets the audio route to the speaker after connecting the headphones. Corrects by restarting playback or selecting AirPods manually in the notification panel.

For AirPods Pro models with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) on Xiaomi, touch control may not work.

• Install MaterialPods (an alternative to AirBattery with ANC support)
• Or use the physical button on the case to switch modes (on AirPods Pro 2).

5. Optimization for Games and Video

Lag is a major problem when using Xiaomi AirPods for games or movies, and here’s how to minimize it:

• 🎮 Game mode: Include it in Settings → Special facilities → Improved sound for gaming, which reduces audio buffering to 80 to 100 milliseconds.
• 📺 Synchronization of video: In players (for example, VLC or MX Player) use manual adjustment of sound delay in playback settings.
• 🔌 Wired connection: For critical cases (eSports games), use a Bluetooth adapter with support for aptX Low Latency, connected to the phone via the phone USB-C.

On Xiaomi with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2/3 processor (like Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K60 Ultra), audio latency via AirPods can be lower thanks to an improved Bluetooth module. On budget models (like Redmi 12), the lags will be more noticeable - consider buying headphones with aptX (like Sony WF-1000XM5).

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For minimal delays, use the SBC codec and disable all background applications that use Bluetooth (fitness trackers, smartwatches, etc.).

6. How to disable automatic connection to other devices

If your AirPods are constantly reconnecting to an iPhone, MacBook or other gadget, it's due to the Automatic Switching feature in the Apple ecosystem.

1. On the iPhone/iPad that the headphones are attached to, go to Settings → Bluetooth, click on the “i” next to the AirPods and select “Plug iPhone: Off”
2. On Xiaomi, activate the “Priority Connection” option in Bluetooth settings (available on MIUI 15).
3. If the problem persists, reset AirPods: press the button on the case for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes orange, then reconnect to Xiaomi.

Note that once reset, AirPods will lose all of their stored devices, including iPhones, and to get them back into the Apple ecosystem, you just have to open the case lid next to the iPhone, and they'll automatically connect.

7. Alternative ways of connecting

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

• 🔄 Through companion app: Install AirBattery or MaterialPods from Google Play. They not only show battery power, but force the headphones to reconnect when they break.
• 🖥️ Through PC: Connect AirPods to a computer with Windows/macOS, Then put them in pairing mode and connect them to Xiaomi. Sometimes that resets the "stuck" settings.
• 📱 Through Safe Mode: Download Xiaomi in Safe Mode (click the power button) → "Reboot in Safe Mode") and try to connect. If the problem disappears, the third-party application (usually Clean Master or battery optimizers) is to blame).

For advanced users: If you have root access, you can manually change the priority of Bluetooth codecs through the Bluetooth Auto Connect app or edit the file. /system/etc/bluetooth/bt_stack.conf. However, this is risky and may result in the module being inoperable.

FAQ: Frequent questions