How to connect AirPods to a Xiaomi laptop: 3 proven ways + mistake-making

Apple AirPods wireless headphones are no longer exclusive to the iPhone and MacBook ecosystem. They can be used successfully with Windows or Linux devices — including Xiaomi laptops. However, many users face difficulties: the headphones are not located, connect like a headphone without a microphone, or the sound is interrupted. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of connecting (including hidden features), explain why errors can occur, and give universal tips for stable operation.

Specifically for Xiaomi laptops (RedmiBook series, Mi Notebook, Xiaomi Book Pro, etc.) there are nuances: some models have non-standard Bluetooth drivers, and in Linux distributions (for example, Xiaomi Mi Laptop Air with a pre-installed system) you may need to manually configure the protocols. We took these features into account and collected instructions for all versions of the OS - from Windows. 10/11 Ubuntu 22.04+.

If you've tried AirPods before and you've encountered an error, skip the basic steps and go straight to Common Problems and Solutions, where we've broken down 10 typical scenarios, including when a laptop doesn't see headphones or only hears sound in one ear.

1.Preparation: What to check before connecting

Before you start pairing, make sure your Xiaomi laptop and AirPods headphones are ready to go, and skipping these steps often leads to errors like “Device not found” or “Disconnected.”

Basic requirements:

• 🔋 Headphone charge: Make sure AirPods are at least 20% charged.At low charge, they may not appear in the list of available devices.
• 📱 Resetting previous connections: If the headphones were previously paired with another device (such as an iPhone), they need to “forget” in the settings of that gadget or reset the AirPods settings manually.
• 🖥️ Updated OS: On Xiaomi laptops under Windows, check that the latest Bluetooth drivers are installed (especially if you have a model with an Intel chip). AX200/AX210).
• 🔄 Detection mode: AirPods must be in pairing mode (on how to activate it - below).

How to reset AirPods (if they have already been paired with another device):

1. Press and hold the button on the back of the case 15 seconds until the indicator starts flashing orange (for AirPods) Pro/3-White (for AirPods) or white (for AirPods) 1/2).

If your Xiaomi laptop is running Linux, check the protocol support. A2DP Sink (responsible for sound transmission). To do this, run the command at the terminal:

pactl list | grep -i a2dp

If there is no line c in the conclusion A2DP Sink, you will need to install pulseaudio-module-bluetooth (instructions in the Linux section).

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If you have AirPods Max, before connecting to a Xiaomi laptop, turn off the Noise Reduction mode via your iPhone or Mac. Otherwise, the microphone may not work.

2. Method 1: Standard Bluetooth connection (Windows) 10/11)

This is the easiest method that works on most Xiaomi laptops with Windows preinstalled, but even here there are nuances – for example, headphones can be defined as a “stereo device” without microphone support.

Step-by-step:

1. Open Windows Settings (Win) + I) and go to the Devices section → Bluetooth and other devices.
2. Activate Bluetooth if it is turned off.
3. Click "Add device» → «Bluetooth».
4. Open the AirPods charge case cover and press the button on the back (hold until the indicator starts flashing white).
5. From the list of available devices, select AirPods [your name] and click Connect.

Checklist for successful connection:

If the sound is only in one headphone after connecting or there is no microphone, follow the following steps:

1. Open the control panel. → Sound.
2. Find AirPods in the list of playback devices, right-click and select “Use by default”.
3. Go to the “Write” tab, find AirPods, and install them with your default device as well.

Important: Some Xiaomi laptops with Bluetooth chips 4.0 (For example, the old RedmiBook models 14) AirPods can only be connected in the “Headphone” mode» (HSP/HFP) supportless A2DP. So the sound is mono and the microphone is low quality, so the solution is to update the driver or use a Bluetooth adapter. 5.0.

Method 2: Connect via “Additional Bluetooth settings” (for Windows)

If the standard method didn’t work, try an alternative method through the classic Bluetooth menu.This is especially true for Xiaomi laptops with custom drivers (such as models with a Realtek chip). RTL8852AE).

Instructions:

1. Open the Control Panel (find through search).
2. Go to the equipment and sound → Devices and printers → Addition of a device.
3. Enable pairing mode on AirPods (as in Method 1).
4. Wait until AirPods appear in the list, select them and click “Next”.
5. If the system requests PIN-code, type 0000 (default for most devices).

What to do if AirPods are connected, but the sound is interrupted:

• 📶 Switch your laptop to Bluetooth 5.0 (if supported). To do this, find your adapter in Device Manager, open the properties and select Low Energy Mode from the “Additional” tab.

If the problem persists, check if AirPods are in conflict with other wireless devices (such as a mouse or keyboard).

4. Method 3: Connect to Linux (Ubuntu, Xiaomi Mi Laptop Air, etc.)

Xiaomi laptops on Linux (such as models with Ubuntu or Deepin preinstalled) require additional actions to correctly work AirPods. A2DP Sink out of the box».

Step 1: Install the necessary packages

Open the terminal (Ctrl) + Alt + T) and execute the commands:

sudo apt update


sudo apt install pulseaudio pulseaudio-module-bluetooth pavucontrol

Step 2: Restart Bluetooth Service

sudo systemctl restart bluetooth

Step 3: Connecting AirPods

1. Open Bluetooth Settings (or use the blueman utility).

Table: Teams for diagnosing problems on Linux

⚠️ Note: Some distributions (such as Manjaro or Fedora) may need to disable the btusb module and download it with the option. enable_autosuspend=n. Create a file for this. /etc/modprobe.d/btusb.conf with the line options btusb enable_autosuspend=n and restart the system.

5. Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even after a successful connection, Xiaomi laptop users often encounter errors. We have compiled 10 typical scenarios and ways to fix them.

Problem 1: Laptop can't see AirPods

• 🔄 Reboot Bluetooth: Turn off and turn on the adapter again in Device Manager.
• 📱 Check Compatibility: Make sure your laptop supports Bluetooth 4.0+ (for AirPods 1/2) Bluetooth 5.0 (for AirPods Pro/3).
• 🔌 Use it. USB-Adapter: If the built-in module is outdated, connect an external Bluetooth 5.0 (e.g. TP-Link) UB500).

Problem 2: The sound is only in one headphone

• 🎧 Check the sound balance: Open the Control Panel in Windows → Sound. → AirPods Properties → Balance and make sure that the sliders on both channels are in the center.
• 🔄 Reset AirPods settings (as described at the beginning of the article).
• 📡 Update the driver: Download the latest version from Intel’s website (for chips) AX200/AX210) or Realtek.

Problem 3: The microphone is not working

• 🎤 Select the correct recording device: In Windows, open Settings → System system → Sound and in the "Input" section, select AirPods.
• 🔧 Set up a Bluetooth profile: In the Control Panel → Sound switch profile with HSP/HFP on A2DP (if available).
• 📱 Turn off noise cancellation: On AirPods Pro/Max This can block the microphone when connected to the Windows/Linux.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi RedmiBook Pro 15 2022 laptops with MediaTek chip MT7921 You may need to roll back the Bluetooth driver to version 1.3.0.145 – newer versions have bugs with AirPods.

Problem 4: Persistent cliffs of sound

• 📶 Change Wi-Fi frequency: If your laptop is connected to a 5GHz network, switch to 2.4GHz – this will reduce interference.
• 🔋 Charge AirPods: At low charge (<15%) may cause interruptions.
• 🖥️ Turn off power saving for Bluetooth: powercfg /requestsoverride DRIVER "BTHUSB" SYSTEM

6. Additional settings to improve sound

Once connected successfully, you can optimize the sound quality and eliminate delays, especially when watching videos or games.

How to reduce latency (latency):

• 🎵 Enable low delay mode (LLAC): In Windows 11, open the settings. → System system → Sound. → All audio devices, select AirPods and activate the Low Latency option».
• 🔊 Turn off sound processing: In the Control Panel → Sound. → AirPods Properties → Improvements, uncheck all the boxes.
• 📀 Use the aptX codec (if supported): This requires AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Max. + laptop with a Qualcomm chip (rarely found in Xiaomi).

How to configure AirPods equalizer on Windows:

1. Install the Equalizer program APO (website).
2. Download the configuration for AirPods (e.g. AirPods Pro EQ.config) and place it in a folder. C:\Program Files\EqualizerAPO\config.
3. Re-launch Equalizer APO and select a profile in the system tray.

Table: Recommended equalizer settings for different genres of music

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For Xiaomi laptops with processors AMD Ryzen (e.g. RedmiBook 16 Pro) is recommended to disable the Bluetooth Collaborative Transmission technology in the BIOS — It can cause interference when working with AirPods.

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

If wireless connectivity is not possible (e.g., a broken Bluetooth module in a laptop), a wired adapter or transmitter can be used.

Method 1: Bluetooth 5.0 adapter USB

• 🔌 Connect the adapter (for example, TP-Link) UB500 Asus USB-BT500) laptop-to-laptop.
• 🖥️ Install drivers (usually installed automatically).
• 🔄 Repeat the pairing process as described in Method 1.

Method 2: Bluetooth transmitter → 3.5mm jack

If your Xiaomi laptop has a 3.5mm audio jack, you can use a transmitter (for example, a radio transmitter, 1Mii B06 Pro):

1. Connect the transmitter to the laptop audio output.
2. Activate the pairing mode on the transmitter.
3. Connect the AirPods to the transmitter as a normal Bluetooth device.

Method 3: Connect via iPhone (if any)

If you have an iPhone, you can use it as a bridge.

1. Connect the AirPods to your iPhone.
2. On iPhone, activate the “Shared Audio Access” mode (Control Center) → AirPlay → Public access).
3. Connect your laptop to your iPhone via Bluetooth and select AirPods as the output device.

⚠️ Note: When using a Bluetooth transmitter → 3.5 mm can cause a delay of up to 100-200 ms. This is critical for games, but not noticeable when listening to music.

FAQ: Frequent questions about connecting AirPods to Xiaomi