Apple AirPods are no longer exclusive to the iPhone ecosystem, and can be used successfully with Android smartphones, including Xiaomi devices. However, the connection process has nuances that are not always obvious to users. Unlike automatic pairing with iPhones, Android requires manual tuning through the Bluetooth menu, and sometimes additional manipulation with firmware or applications.
In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to connect AirPods to Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi models, POCO and flagship series), consider the features of working with different generations of headphones (from AirPods 1 to AirPods Pro 2), and also give solutions to common problems: communication interruption, lack of sound in one earphone or poor playback quality.
Preparation for connection: what to check before pairing
Before you start connecting, make sure your AirPods and Xiaomi smartphone meet the minimum requirements:
- 📱 Android Version: Not Lower 8.0 (for stable operation with AirPods 2/Pro Android recommended 10+). On older versions, codec problems may occur. AAC.
- 🎧 Headphone charge: at least 20%. If the battery is dead, the headphones may not appear in the list of available devices.
- 🔄 Resetting: If AirPods were previously paired with iPhones, they need to break the pair through iOS settings or manually reset (clip the button on the back of the case for 15 seconds until the orange indicator flashes).
- 📶 Bluetooth module: on the smartphone should be enabled Bluetooth 4.2+ (All modern Xiaomi supports Bluetooth 5.0/5.2).
Particular attention should be paid to the firmware MIUI. In some regional versions (e.g, MIUI Global or MIUI China may have restrictions on connecting devices from other manufacturers.If your Xiaomi smartphone doesn't see AirPods, try upgrading to the latest version or temporarily switching to the newest version. MIUI EU (European firmware).
⚠️ Note: If you use AirPods Max, their connection to Android is possible, but the functionality will be greatly reduced – will not work transparent mode and active noise cancellation (ANC). These features require a proprietary Apple chip W1/H1, which is not supported on Android.
Basic method: Connect via Bluetooth menu
This is a standard method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the model. MIUI 12/13/14:
- Open the case with AirPods and make sure the indicator on the front flashes white (pairing mode). If the indicator is green or orange, press and hold the button on the back of the case until the color changes.
- On a Xiaomi smartphone, go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
- Activate the Bluetooth slider and wait for the AirPods device to appear on the list (may appear as AirPods Pro or AirPods (3rd generation)).
- Tap the headphones and confirm pairing. If you request access to contacts or media, select Allow (this is necessary for the microphone to work properly and auto-connect).
After a successful connection, a tick icon will appear in the Bluetooth menu next to the AirPods name, and a charge indicator will appear in the status bar. To check the current charge of the case and each headphone separately, install the AirBattery application (available on Google Play).
Headphone charge >20% |Discharge of pair (if connected to iPhone) | Case open, indicator flashes white |Bluetooth on Xiaomi is on and visible for all devices-->
Connection problems and their solutions
Even with the correct pairing, Xiaomi users can encounter common mistakes, and consider the most common and ways to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods are not displayed in the list of Bluetooth devices | Headphones are not in pairing mode or conflict with other devices | Reset AirPods (button on case 15 seconds), reboot the smartphone, check the visibility of Bluetooth in Settings → |
| Connection passes, but no sound | Selected the wrong Bluetooth profile (e.g. HFP instead of A2DP) | In Bluetooth settings, tap on the icon ⚙️ Next to AirPods and select Use for Media |
| The sound is interrupted or there is interference. | Poor quality codecs or interference from other devices | Include LDAC or AAC in Settings → Sound → Bluetooth Audio Quality |
| Only one earpiece works. | Failure of synchronization between headphones | Put both headphones in the case, close the lid, wait 30 seconds and reconnect. |
If neither solution worked, try removing the device from the list of conjugated devices and reconnecting again. In rare cases, the problem lies in regional MIUI restrictions — for example, in Chinese firmware, Apple devices can be blocked, in which case changing the firmware to MIUI EU or Global ROM will help.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi smartphones with MediaTek processor (for example, Redmi Note 11 or MediaTek) POCO M4 Pro) may have problems with the codec LDAC. If the sound is distorted by high bitrate, switch to AAC Bluetooth.
Advanced settings: how to improve sound quality and battery
By default, AirPods on Android work in basic mode, but with the help of additional settings you can significantly improve the sound quality and battery life:
- 🎵 Selecting a codec: Go to Settings → Connections → Bluetooth → ⚙️ (near the AirPods) → Audio quality. Select music. AAC (Balance of quality and stability, for conversations — SBC.
- 🔋 Battery Optimization: Turn off Device Search in Bluetooth Settings and add AirPods to the Battery Optimization Exclusions list (Settings) → Battery → Optimizing the battery).
- 🔊 Microphone setup: In the same Bluetooth settings, enable Use for calls if you want to use AirPods for voice calls.
- 🔄 Autoconnect: To make headphones connect automatically when you open your case, install the AirBattery or AndroPods app.
Xiaomi smartphones with a Snapdragon processor (such as Xiaomi 13 or POCO F5) support the aptX Adaptive codec, but AirPods do not use it - they work only with AAC and SBC. This is a hardware limitation, and it is impossible to get around it.
For advanced users, there is a way to manually change the priority of codecs through an engineering menu.
- Enter the code ##2846579# (ProjectMenu) in the phone application.
- Go to Audio → Bluetooth Audio.
- In the Codec Priority section, move the AAC to the first position.
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If you hear a hissing background after connecting AirPods to Xiaomi, try turning off the Absolute Volume function in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap → Developer Settings → Disable Absolute Volume Bluetooth).
Applications for advanced management of AirPods on Android
The standard MIUI settings do not allow you to fully use the capabilities of AirPods – for example, display the charge level of each earphone or adjust gestures.
| Annex | Functions | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| AirBattery | Shows the charge of the case and headphones, notifications about the connection, support for widgets | Google Play |
| AndroPods | Customization of gestures, checking the firmware of headphones, microphone test | Google Play |
| MaterialPods | Minimalist interface, support for dark theme, display of headphone model | Google Play |
AndroPods is especially useful for AirPods Pro owners, which allows them to test noise reduction modes (although full control of ANC on Android is impossible) and check the quality of the microphone in real time. It also has a built-in equalizer that compensates for the lack of sound when using the SBC codec.
⚠️ Note: Some applications (e.g. AirBattery) require permission to access notifications to display charge levels.Do not grant this permission if you have other battery monitoring apps installed – this may cause conflicts.
How to reset AirPods to factory settings?
AirPods vs Xiaomi Alternatives: Should You Buy?
Despite the popularity of AirPods, there are more optimized alternatives with better integration for Xiaomi smartphones.
- 🔗 Compatibility: Headphones Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro or Redmi Buds 5 support LDHC (Xiaomi codec with bitrates up to 960 kbit / s, while AirPods are limited AAC (256 kbps).
- 🎧 On Android, AirPods does not work automatic switching between devices, spatial sound and settings ANC.
- 💰 Price: AirPods Pro 2 are worth it ~25 000 ₽, Xiaomi Buds 4 Pro is around 10,000 ₽ with comparable sound quality.
- ⚡ Battery: AirPods last longer (up to 6 hours vs 5 for Xiaomi Buds), but Xiaomi case supports fast charging (10 minutes) = 3 hours of playback).
If you already own AirPods and want to use them with Xiaomi, it’s entirely possible, but don’t expect the same level of integration as on the iPhone.For new buyers, it’s smarter to consider headphones from Xiaomi, Sony (WF-1000XM5) or Samsung (Galaxy Buds series), which are better adapted for Android.
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AirPods on Android is a compromise: you get high-quality sound and a user-friendly design, but lose some of the features (ANC, spatial sound) and face the limitations of codecs.