How to connect and configure EarPods on Xiaomi smartphone: the full guide

Can you use EarPods with Xiaomi and why?

Apple’s wired EarPods have long been a universal accessory — they connect not only to iPhones, but also to Android devices, including Xiaomi smartphones. Despite the fact that these headphones were developed for the Apple ecosystem, they work perfectly with Redmi, POCO and Mi flagships — you just need to configure them correctly.

The main reasons why users choose EarPods for Xiaomi:

• 🎧 Audio quality – despite the low price, EarPods provide balanced sound with good detailing of the medium frequencies.
• 🎤 Microphone – built-in microphone is often better than Xiaomi’s regular headsets, especially in noisy conditions.
• 🔌 Universality – suitable for any device with a 3.5 mm connector or USB-C (adapter).
• 💰 Price/quality – original EarPods cheaper than many branded analogues for Android.

However, there are nuances: without additional settings on Xiaomi, the control buttons may not work (play/pause, Volume, and sometimes the sound is played too quietly or with a delay, in this article we will discuss how to avoid these problems and configure EarPods for your smartphone.

Connecting EarPods to Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

The connection process depends on the type of connector of your smartphone and the version of EarPods. Let's consider all the options:

1. EarPods with 3.5mm connector (Lightning not needed)

If your Xiaomi is equipped with a standard audio jack (for example, Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3 Pro), simply insert the plug into the socket.

Important: on some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 11T) No connector, you will need an adapter. USB-C → 3.5mm Apple’s original adapter won’t work (needs chip) DAC We recommend adapters from Android. UGREEN or Baseus.

2. EarPods with Lightning connector

To connect EarPods Lightning to Xiaomi, you need a dual adapter:

1. Lightning adapter → 3.5 mm (original from Apple).
2. USB-C adapter → 3.5 mm (if the smartphone does not have an audio connector).

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Attention: This connection can cause problems with the microphone, which is often not recognized by the system. Solution: use an external microphone or adjust the Audio Effects manually (more on this below).

Headphone plug clean (no oxidation)

Adapter (if required) original or certified

In the smartphone enabled mode "Hearstop" in the sound settings

Updated Xiaomi software (relevant to MIUI 13+)

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Configure the control buttons on EarPods

By default, the buttons on the EarPods wire (play/pause, volume) may not work on Xiaomi, which is because Apple uses a custom control protocol that Android doesn't automatically recognize.

Method 1: Headset Droid (for MIUI)

Headset Droid (available on Google Play) allows you to reassign the headset buttons:

1. Install the application and provide access to Special Features.
2. Select the headphone model: Apple EarPods (3 buttons).
3. Set up the action: 🎵 Single press → Play/Pause 🔊 Double-push → Next track 🔇 Triple press. → Previous track

Starting when connecting the headset

Method 2: Manual reassignment to MIUI

On smartphones with MIUI 12+, you can configure buttons without third-party applications:

1. Go to Settings → Connected devices → Headphones.
2. Select the setting of the headset buttons.
3. Assign actions for single, double and long pressing.

Critical nuance: on Xiaomi with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1+ processor (for example, Xiaomi 12 Pro) there may be a delay in sound when using the USB-C adapter.

Solving common problems

Even after setting up, there may be problems. Let's take a look at the most common ones:

1.The microphone doesn't work in calls

If the interviewer does not hear you:

1. Check that the headset is selected as the sound source in the call settings.
2. Turn off Noise Suppression in the microphone settings (sometimes it blocks the signal).
3. If you use an adapter, try connecting the headphones directly (without an adapter) - the problem may be in it.

2.The sound is interrupted or distorted

Causes and solutions:

• 🔌 Bad contact, move the plug in the connector. If the sound is lost, clear the connector.
• 📱 CPU overload – Close background applications (especially games).
• 🔊 Incompatible DAC — If you use an adapter, try another one (with support). 32-bit/384kHz).

How to improve the quality of the EarPods microphone on Xiaomi

Xiaomi's EarPods microphone often sounds worse than the iPhone because of different noise reduction algorithms.

Set-up in the "Dictorphone" appendix

Open the standard Dictaphone app on Xiaomi and:

1. Go to Settings. → Recording quality.
2. Select High (WAV) instead of Standard (MP3).
3. Activate Voice Improvement (if available).

2. Use of third-party applications

For calls and streams, we recommend:

• 🎤 Voice Recorder – allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the microphone.
• 📞 Google Phone – better voice processing than the standard Xiaomi app.
• 🎙️ Wo Mic – for streamers (allows you to use EarPods as an external microphone for PC).

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Note: When using EarPods with a USB-C adapter → 3.5 mm microphone can only work in mono mode. stereo recording requires an adapter with support for CTIA-standard (for example, UGREEN CM198).

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For maximum microphone quality, turn off all sound processing effects in Xiaomi’s settings – they often spoil the voice instead of improving.

Alternatives: When EarPods Are Not Suitable

If you are experiencing intractable problems (such as persistent sound delays or a broken microphone), consider alternatives:

1. Xiaomi's wireless headphones

Supported models LC3-codecs (e.g. Xiaomi Buds 4 or Redmi Buds 5) offer lower latency and better integration with the codec. MIUI. Their pluses:

• 🎧 Automatic switching between devices.
• 🔋 Longer working hours (up to 30 hours).
• 🎵 Support AAC and aptX Adaptive.

2.Wired headphones with USB-C

If your Xiaomi is missing a 3.5mm connector, pay attention to:

• 🎧 Xiaomi Hybrid Pro HD — Hybrid speakers and active noise cancellation.
• 🎤 1MORE Piston Fit – with improved microphone for calls.

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Note: When buying wired headphones for Xiaomi without an audio jack, check compatibility with USB-C Audio Class 1.0. Some models (such as the Sony MDR-EX15AP) require an adapter even for USB-C.

FAQ: Frequent questions about EarPods on Xiaomi