How to connect AirPods to Xiaomi smartphone: a complete guide to solving problems

Apple AirPods wireless headphones are no longer exclusive to the iPhone ecosystem, they can be used successfully with Android devices, including Xiaomi smartphones. However, the process of connecting and setting up here has its nuances, from the lack of automatic pairing to limited gesture functionality. In this article, we will discuss all the ways to connect AirPods to Xiaomi (including Redmi models, POCO and flagship series), and also explain how to solve typical problems, from the lack of sound to fast discharge of headphones.

It’s important to understand that AirPods are optimized to work with iOS, so on Android, some features (such as automatic switching between devices or accurate charge indication) will not be available. However, the basic functionality — listening to music, receiving calls and playing control — works steadily. We tested compatibility on Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and POCO F5 with the latest versions of MIUI, so the instructions are relevant for most modern devices of the brand.

If you just purchased AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 3 and want to use them with Xiaomi, or have problems connecting older models (AirPods 1/2), this article will help you get to the bottom of everything.

1. basic connection of AirPods to Xiaomi via Bluetooth

The most obvious way is to connect the headphones through the standard Bluetooth menu, which works for all generations of AirPods (including AirPods Max) and does not require additional applications.

1. Open the cover of the AirPods case and make sure the headphones are inside.A white light bulb should light up on the back of the case (if not, press and hold the button on the back until you blink).
2. On a Xiaomi smartphone, go to Settings → Bluetooth and activate the function.
3. In the list of available devices, search for AirPods (the name will appear as "AirPods [your name]" or simply "AirPods").
4. Confirm pairing if a request appears. MIUI sometimes requires you to enter PIN- code — the default is 0000.

Once successfully connected, the Bluetooth menu will feature an icon of headphones with the current charge level (though it doesn’t always show up correctly).If the sound doesn’t appear automatically, open the notification bar and select AirPods as the output device.

Make sure the AirPods are charged (the indicator on the case should be green or orange)|Disconnect the headphones from other devices (iPhone, MacBook, etc.)|Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (old firmware may have bugs with Bluetooth 5.0)|Check that Xiaomi has enabled the “Visible for all devices” mode in Bluetooth settings-->

An important nuance: if you have previously used AirPods with an iPhone, you need to first “forget” them in the iOS settings, otherwise they can automatically connect to an Apple device, ignoring Xiaomi. To do this, on your iPhone go to Settings → Bluetooth, click on the “i” icon next to the AirPods and select “Forget this device”.

2. Connection problems and their solutions

Even with the right pairing, Xiaomi users often face typical problems: headphones are not defined, the sound is interrupted or one of the AirPods does not work.

2.1 Xiaomi does not see AirPods in the list of devices

If the headphones don’t appear in the Bluetooth menu, try the following steps:

• 🔋 Reset the case: Put the AirPods in the case, close the cover, wait 30 seconds, then open and hold the button on the back for 15 seconds (until the indicator starts flashing orange).
• 📱 Reset your network settings to Xiaomi: go to Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset your Wi-Fi, mobile network and Bluetooth settings.
• 🔄 Update the firmware: On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi 9A), older versions of MIUI do not support Bluetooth 5.0 correctly.
• 🛠️ Check compatibility: AirPods 3 and Pro 2 require Bluetooth 5.0, and older smartphones (like Redmi 5) may not support them.

2.2 The sound is interrupted or lagged

Sound delays (lags) or connection breaks are usually associated with Bluetooth codecs. Xiaomi uses AAC or SBC by default, but for AirPods it is better to force AAC on:

1. Install Developer Options (if not already enabled: go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times).
2. In Settings → More → Developer Settings, find Bluetooth Audio Codec and select AAC.
3. Reconnect the AirPods.

If the problem persists, try turning off Absolute Volume in the same developer settings, which sometimes conflicts with the volume control on AirPods.

AirPods 1 or 2|AirPods 3|AirPods Pro 1|AirPods Pro 2|AirPods Max-->

2.3 One earphone is not working

If the sound is only in one AirPod, do the following:

1. Place both headphones in the case and close the lid for 30 seconds.
2. Take them out and check if the indicator is on each one (if not, a charge problem).
3. On Xiaomi, “forget” the device in Bluetooth settings and connect again.
4. If it doesn’t help, reset the AirPods settings: hold the button on the case for 15 seconds until you blink orange, then repeat the pairing.

⚠️ Warning: If one of the AirPods runs much faster than the other, it may indicate battery wear. Apple service centers offer replacement headphones under warranty (if the deadline is not expired) or for a fee.

3.Gestural management setup on AirPods for Xiaomi

On the iPhone, AirPods gestures are configured in the Bluetooth menu, but on Android, this option is not available.

3.1. Use of standard gestures

By default, AirPods support basic gestures even on Xiaomi:

• 🎧 Double-touch (on AirPods 1/2): play/pause or move to the next track (configured on iOS only, on Android fixed).
• 🔊 Sensor compression (on AirPods Pro): Switching noise reduction modes (if the headphones were previously configured on the iPhone).
• 📞 Removal of one headphone: Automatic pause (not working on all Xiaomi models)

Applications for extended management

To customize gestures to your needs, install one of the specialized applications:

Important: Apps like AirBattery require Bluetooth access notifications enabled, otherwise they won’t be able to display charge levels. To allow access, go to Settings → Apps → Permissions → Special Access → Access to Notifications and activate the option for the selected application.

4. Sound optimization: equal to the iPhone

The sound of AirPods on Android may differ from the iPhone due to different codecs and audio processing. To improve the quality, follow the following settings:

4.1 Incorporation of LDAC (for supported models)

If your Xiaomi supports LDAC codec (e.g. Xiaomi 12 Pro, 13 Ultra), it can be enabled for better sound:

1. Activate Developer Options (as described above).
2. In the Bluetooth Audio Codec menu, select LDAC.
3. In Bluetooth Audio Sample Rate, set 96000Hz (if available).
4. In Bluetooth Audio Bits Per Sample, select 24 bits.

Then reconnect the AirPods, and the sound will be larger, but the latency may increase slightly.

Set up the equalizer

MIUI has a built-in equalizer that will help adjust the sound to your preferences:

1. Open Settings → Sound and vibration → Equator.
2. Select a preset (such as Bass or Rock) or adjust the sliders manually.
3. Activate the option Adaptive sound to automatically adjust to the environment.

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If the sound is quiet after connecting the AirPods, check the volume limit in the Bluetooth settings: go to Settings → Bluetooth, click on the gear icon next to the AirPods and turn off the "Absolute Volume Limit" option.

5. How to check the charge of AirPods on Xiaomi

On iPhone, the AirPods charge level is automatically displayed, but on Android, you need to use third-party apps or widgets to do this.

5.1. Through notifications (without annexes)

Some Xiaomi models (starting with MIUI 12) show the AirPods charge in the notification panel:

1. Connect the headphones via Bluetooth.
2. Open the notification bar (swipe down from the top edge of the screen).
3. Find a notification called AirPods – it will indicate the percentage of charge of the case and each headphone.

If the notification does not appear, this method is not supported by your model.

Charge monitoring applications

For accurate tracking, install one of these applications:

• 📊 AirBattery: Shows real-time charge, supports widgets on the home screen.
• 🔋 Battery Monitor for Bluetooth: Displays discharge graphs and battery life.
• 🛠️ MaterialPods: A minimalist interface with a charge indication in the status bar.

6.How to reset AirPods to reconnect to Xiaomi

If AirPods were previously paired with another device and refuse to connect to Xiaomi, they should be reset before the factory settings.

1. Put both headphones in the case and close the lid.
2. Wait 30 seconds, then open the lid.
3. On the back of the case, find the setting button (located under the cover) and hold it for 15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing orange (it will be white at first).
4. Release the button – the indicator should flash white, which means reset.
5. You can now connect AirPods to Xiaomi again, as described in the first section.

⚠️ Warning: Reset removes all headphone settings, including Apple ID binding (if any).The AirPods will then be as new and can be reconnected to an iPhone or Mac without restrictions.

7. Alternative ways to connect (if Bluetooth does not work)

In rare cases, Bluetooth on Xiaomi may not work as smoothly (for example, due to hardware problems or custom firmware).

7.1 Connection via Bluetooth adapter

If the built-in Bluetooth module of the smartphone is damaged, use an external adapter:

• 🔌 Buy a Bluetooth transmitter with a USB-C connector (e.g., 1Mii B06 Plus).
• Connect it to Xiaomi via the OTG- cable.
• Activate the adapter and connect the AirPods to it as a normal Bluetooth device.

The downside of this method is that the adapter will take up the USB-C port, and you won’t be able to charge the phone at the same time.

Use of headphones in "Wired" mode

For AirPods Max or AirPods Pro (with support for Lightning connector), you can use a wired connection:

1. Buy a Lightning → USB-C cable (or Lightning → 3.5mm if Xiaomi has an audio jack).
2. Connect the headphones to your smartphone.
3. In the audio settings, select AirPods as the output device.

In this case, there will be no audio delay, but you will lose the benefits of wireless connection.

8. Frequent Questions and Answers (FAQ)

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AirPods are fully compatible with Xiaomi at the basic functionality level (sound, calls, control), but advanced features (gestures, charge, spatial sound) will require third-party applications or workarounds.