Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a dilemma: go to the Apple ecosystem for headphones or keep your favorite MIUI. Fortunately, Bluetooth technology is the universal standard for using premium AirPods with Android devices. The pairing process is technically no different from connecting any other headset, but there are important nuances that are worth knowing about.
The HyperOS or MIUI shell interface has its own peripheral features. Standard features like automatic switching between devices or checking the charge in the widget won't work out of the box. But that doesn't mean that the headphones are useless on Android. You still get high-quality sound, active noise cancellation and a comfortable fit.
In this article, we'll go into detail about the algorithm that guarantees a stable connection. We won't use third-party apps in the first stage, because the basic functionality is available immediately. It's important to understand that to fully flash the H1/H2 chip, you'll still need an Apple device, so you better reset your settings in advance. Let's start setting up your audio device.
Preparation of headphones and smartphone for pairing
Before starting the procedure, make sure both devices are ready to go. Charge the AirPods case by at least 50% so that the process does not stop at the most inopportune moment. On a Xiaomi smartphone, check that the Bluetooth module is activated and visible to other devices. This is a basic requirement for any wireless connection.
Open the charger case without removing the headphones themselves. If they are new, the indicator inside the case should flash white to signal pairing mode. If you use them earlier with another phone, you may need to reset. To do this, press the setting button on the back of the case and hold it for about 15 seconds until the indicator flashes with amber and then white light.
On your smartphone screen, go to the settings menu. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the wireless network section. Make sure you're in close proximity to the case, ideally not more than 30 centimeters.
- 🔋 Charge the case and headphones to the required level.
- 📱 Activate Bluetooth in the notification curtain or Xiaomi settings.
- 🔄 Reset AirPods settings with a button on the case if they were in use.
- 👁️ Make sure the indicator inside the case flashes white.
⚠️ Warning: If the indicator flashes orange and does not go into white mode, put the headphones in the case, close the lid and wait 10 seconds, then try again.
Connection stability is directly dependent on the Bluetooth version. Xiaomi smartphones of recent years support standards of 5.0 and higher, which ensures excellent compatibility. Older models of phones will also work, but range and power consumption may vary.
Step-by-step connection instruction via Bluetooth settings
Now, we're going to go into the direct linking process. Open your Xiaomi Settings app. In the list, find Bluetooth and click on it. The system will automatically start scanning available devices in range.
The "Available Devices" list should show the name of your model, such as "AirPods Pro" or simply "AirPods." Click on that name. The smartphone will send a pairing request. A system window may appear on the screen requesting confirmation — agree with it.
After the successful connection, the status will change to "Connected." Sound from media files or games now needs to be broadcast through headphones. If this does not happen, check the audio output settings in the media control panel.
☑️ Connection algorithm
Sometimes the Android system can request permission to access contacts or call logs.You can allow this to see the charge level of each headphone in the call interface, although the detail will be limited compared to iOS.
Customize functions and control sound on MIUI and HyperOS
After a successful connection, many users are disappointed to find that there is no branded settings menu. However, Xiaomi provides its tools for managing audio. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Headphones. Here you can set up the equalizer and visualization.
To control noise cancellation (ANC) on the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, you use physical interaction. Press the touch pad on the headphone leg (or the noise reduction button on the full-size version) to switch between Noise Reduction, Transparency and Off modes.
Unfortunately, standard Android tools can't reassign double or triple tap actions. To expand the functionality, there are third-party applications such as Material Pods or Capod. They allow you to see the exact percentage of charge of the case and each ear separately, and also change the settings of the double tap.
Should I install third-party applications?
- 🎚️ Use Xiaomi’s built-in equalizer to correct sound.
- 🔇 Switch noise reduction modes with a long press on the leg.
- 📲 Install Material Pods for detailed battery monitoring.
- 🗣️ Activate Siri with a double touch (if configured previously).
Compatibility and functional limitations
It’s important to understand the difference between running headphones in Apple’s native ecosystem and running on Android. Below is a table showing which features are available to Xiaomi owners and which are unavailable without an Apple device.
| Function | On iPhone/iPad | On Xiaomi (Android) |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic pairing | Instant (via iCloud) | Through the Bluetooth menu |
| Charge check | In the widget and pop-up window | Only through third-party applications |
| Spatial audio | Full support | Not supported |
| Headphone search | Through the Locator app. | Unavailable |
| Auto-switching | Between Apple devices | It's not working. |
Despite the limitations, the quality of the codecs remains high. Xiaomi often uses SBC and AAC codecs, which are perfectly supported by the H1 and H2 chips inside the headphones.
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The main functionality (music, calls, noise reduction) works fully, only ecosystem chips Apple.
Solution: Connection and sound problems
Sometimes things don't go smoothly. If Xiaomi can't see the headphones or the sound is interrupted, the first thing you do is check if they're connected to another device nearby. AirPods are looking to connect to Apple's latest active device.
Another common problem is to de-synchronize your left and right earphones, so if you only have the same channel, put both earphones in your case, close the lid, and wait 30 seconds. Then open the lid and try to reconnect, and that restarts the chips' internal logic.
If Xiaomi says, "I couldn't connect," try forgetting the device in the Bluetooth list and re-pairing it again, and rebooting the smartphone itself helps, as the Bluetooth cache may have overflowed.
⚠️ Warning: If the problem persists after resetting and reconnecting, check the firmware version of the headphones on your Apple device.Old software can cause conflicts with new versions of Android.
Use of voice assistant and multimedia
On Android, double tap by default can call Google Assistant or the standard Google app if you set it up on the system. However, if the headphones were previously set up to call Siri, they will try to activate it. Since Siri does not have a native Android app, this action will be useless.
To change the purpose of buttons without an iPhone, you can use emulator apps, but the easiest way to get used to controlling through the phone is to adjust the volume either by the physical buttons on the smartphone or by Google voice commands: "OK, Google, volume 100%."
The AirPods microphones work great for calls, and the Conversation Boost also works because it's a hardware feature, and you can double-tapping your calls if you've activated that setting before.
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For quick access to Bluetooth settings, add the “Bluetooth” widget to Xiaomi’s desktop, saving time when switching between devices.