Owning Apple’s wireless headphones is a premium experience that many users don’t want to lose when switching to Android. However, owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the myth of complete incompatibility of these devices. In fact, Bluetooth protocols are universal, and basic connectivity happens almost the same way as with any other accessories. You can enjoy quality sound, but you lose some of the “magic” of the ecosystem if you don’t apply special settings.
The synchronization process does not require an iPhone or special adapters, just activate the pairing mode correctly. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to make AirPods work with the MIUI or HyperOS shell, which functions will not be available by default, and how to return them using third-party software. The key feature is the need to manually log into the pairing mode through the button on the case, since an automatic pop-up window on Xiaomi will not appear.
Before you start technical manipulation, you need to understand the architecture of wireless sound. Xiaomi smartphones use standard audio profiles, which ensures stable connection. However, for noise reduction (ANC) and transparency management in the Pro and Max models, you need additional training. Let's move from theory to practice and customize your headphones for comfortable use.
Preparation of headphones and smartphone for pairing
The first step is to charge both devices. If the AirPods case is discharged, it will not be able to enter detection mode. Put the headphones in the case, close the lid and plug in charging for 15-20 minutes. Xiaomi smartphone should also have an active Bluetooth module. Make sure that the system does not have flight mode, which blocks all wireless interfaces.
Next, clear the list of old connections if the headphones were previously used with the iPhone. This will eliminate address conflicts. On the iPhone, go to Bluetooth settings, click on the information icon next to the AirPods and select "Forget this device." On an Android smartphone, it is also worth deleting old records if you have already tried to sync before and it failed.
⚠️ Note: If your AirPods were previously tied to someone else's Apple ID and the Locator function is active, they may require the owner to unlock, so make sure the device is not in loss mode, otherwise the connection will not be possible.
An important nuance for Xiaomi users is the Bluetooth version. Modern models support standards 5.0 and higher, which ensures better connection stability. Older versions of the protocol can cause sound delays or periodic communication breaks. Check the specifications of your smartphone in the Settings → About Phone → All settings to make sure that current communication standards are supported.
Step-by-step instruction for connecting via Bluetooth
The connection process on Redmi and POCO devices is identical and is based on the standard device search algorithm. Open the Settings → Bluetooth menu on your smartphone and activate the switch. The phone will start scanning the available devices within range. At this point, it is important to correctly activate the visibility mode on the headphones themselves.
Place both headphones in the case and open the lid without removing them. There's a round setting button on the back of the charger case. Press and hold it for 3-5 seconds. The indicator inside the case (or on the front panel in the new models) will flash white, which means that the AirPods have entered active search mode and are ready to pair.
☑️ Checklist of successful connection
Once the light flashes, look at the screen of Xiaomi smartphone. In the list of "Available devices" should appear the name of your headphones, for example, "AirPods Pro" or just "AirPods." Click on the name to start pairing. The system can request confirmation of action — agree with it.
Once the connection is successful, the indicator on the case will stop flashing and will be on a straight light or go out. In the status bar of the smartphone, the icon of the connected audio device will appear. You can now play any track to check the sound. If there is no sound, check the volume of the media, since it is adjusted separately from the volume of the call.
Setup of functions and sound management
Once you have a basic connection, you will find that the standard Android menu does not display the charge of each headphone separately and does not allow you to switch the noise reduction modes with double pressing. To solve this problem, Xiaomi owners need to install a specialized application. The most popular and functional solution is Material Pods or AndroPods.
These apps read the telemetry of the headphones and output it in a user-friendly interface that mimics Apple's native style, so you can see the percentage of charge on the left and right earphones and the case in the widget on the desktop, and they often provide equalizer tuning and touch reassignment, which is not possible with standard Android tools.
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Use aggregator apps like Material Pods to access hidden AirPods settings, such as auto-pause when removing your headphone and adjust microphone sensitivity.
Use standard gestures to control playback and volume. Usually, double tap plays or pauses a track, and triple taps the next. However, on Android, the Transparency or Noise Reduction function may not switch without third-party software. In some cases, using widgets installed apps to quickly access these features helps.
Sound quality also depends on the codecs your Xiaomi smartphone supports. Apple devices use the AAC codec, which is the standard for Android. Make sure that the developer settings (if you activate them) choose AAC, not SBC, for the best balance of quality and power consumption, which is especially important for listening to high-resolution music.
Solving common problems and errors
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users may face a number of typical problems: It is common for a smartphone to see headphones but not connect, or the connection is constantly broken. In most cases, this is solved by completely restarting the Bluetooth module. Turn on and off the Reim Flight or just restart the Xiaomi smartphone.
Another common problem is to de-synchronize the sound between the left and right earbuds. If you notice one earbud playing quieter or late, put both earbuds in the case, close the lid and wait 10 seconds. Then reset the headphone settings: open the lid, press the button on the back, and hold it for about 15 seconds until the indicator flashes amber and then white.
What to do if the microphone is not working?
Problems can also arise from energy saving. Aggressive MIUI algorithms can kill the Bluetooth background process to save energy. Go to the battery settings, find the Bluetooth process or the headphone control app installed, and set the "No Limits" mode to prevent the sound from suddenly turning off during a conversation.
Below is a table that will help quickly diagnose the problem by symptoms:
| Symptoms. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Headphones not visible in search | The pairing mode is not activated | Press the button on the case until white flashing |
| The sound is interrupted. | Wi-Fi interference or low charge | Distribute the devices, charge the case |
| The microphone is not working. | Lack of access rights | Check the permissions in Android settings |
| No auto-pause. | Lack of sensors in Android | Use the Material Pods application |
Features of work in the Xiaomi ecosystem
Xiaomi smartphones have their own audio processing features that can affect the performance of third-party accessories.Mi Music or Google Music's built-in audio player can process the signal differently. It's recommended that built-in audio "improvers" like the Mi Sound Enhancer be turned off if you notice distortions or metallic sound. The native sound of the AirPods is already balanced by Apple engineers.
Also worth mentioning is the Bluetooth Audio Codec function. In normal settings, this item is hidden. To access the Bluetooth engineering menu, you need to click on the build number 7 times in the About Phone section, activating the developer mode. In the Settings menu → Additional settings → For developers, you can force the codec to choose the best option (usually AAC).
⚠️ Warning: Do not change the settings of codecs in the developer menu if you do not understand what they are responsible for. Forced inclusion of codecs that are not supported by headphones (for example, aptX) HD AirPods will result in no sound.
Users of HyperOS shells and newer versions of MIUI may notice a more stable Bluetooth stack compared to older versions of Android. Updating to the latest available version often solves problems with the compatibility of A2DP and HFP profiles.
You can't activate the voice assistant with a double tap unless you configure it through third-party apps emulating commands. However, calling Google's voice assistant or Xiao AI through prolonged clamping (if you reassign the buttons) is quite possible.
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The stability of the AirPods on Xiaomi depends on the version of Bluetooth drivers in the firmware. MIUI/HyperOS and the correct energy saving settings.