Apple AirPods have long been the standard for wireless sound, but their compatibility with Android devices — especially Xiaomi phones — is often questionable. Unlike Apple’s ecosystem, where you connect in one click, Xiaomi (whether it’s Redmi Note 12, POCO X5 or Xiaomi’s flagship 14) requires additional settings to work properly. In this article, we’ll discuss not only basic connectivity, but also solving typical problems (no sound, communication breaks, broken gestures), as well as optimizing sound through hidden MIUI settings.
It’s important to understand that AirPods were originally designed for the iPhone, so some features (like automatic switching between devices or spatial sound) won’t work on Xiaomi. However, with the right settings, you’ll get a stable connection, low latency and high-quality sound. We tested the instructions on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS — valid for all Xiaomi models released after 2019.
1. Connection Preparation: What to Check Before Synchronization
Before trying to pair AirPods with Xiaomi, make sure both devices are pairing ready. Skipping these steps often leads to errors like "Device not found" or endless search.
On the AirPods side:
- 🔋 Headphone charge: at least 20% (at low charge, they may not appear in the list of available devices).
- 📦 The cover of the charging case: must be opened - otherwise the headphones will not go into pairing mode.
- 🔄 The button on the back of the case: press and hold it 5-7 seconds until the indicator flashes white (search mode).
On Xiaomi's side:
- 📶 Bluetooth should be enabled (check the Quick Settings Panel or the Settings path). → Connections and sharing → Bluetooth).
- 🔍 Device visibility: activate Visible for all nearby devices (in the same Bluetooth settings).
- 🚫 Disable other wireless devices (columns, watches, second headphones) to avoid conflicts.
A critical mistake many users make is trying to connect when the AirPods are already tied to another device (such as an iPhone or MacBook), in which case they must first “forget” on the old gadget through the Bluetooth settings, otherwise Xiaomi will not see the headphones.
2. Step-by-step instructions: how to connect AirPods to Xiaomi
The pairing process takes no more than a minute if done correctly.
- Open the AirPods case cover and make sure the headphones are inside.The indicator on the case should be green (charging) or orange (low charge).
- Press and hold the button on the back of the case until the indicator flashes white (pair mode). On the AirPods Pro and AirPods 3, instead of a button, there can be a touchpad - hold the touch for 5 seconds.
- On Xiaomi, go to Settings → Connections & Sharing → Bluetooth and tap on Add a new device.
- In the list of available devices, search for AirPods (if you haven't been renamed before) and select them. Confirm pairing if you request them.
- Wait for the message Connected. The sound will now be transmitted to AirPods.
☑️ Checking a successful connection
If the headphones are connected, but the sound is going through the speaker of the phone, check:
- 🔊 In the notification panel, tap on the Bluetooth icon and select AirPods as the output device.
- 🎵 In an app where audio is played (such as YouTube Music or Spotify), open playback settings and select AirPods.
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) When you connect to AirPods, you can lose the sound in the calls. Solution: In Bluetooth settings, tap the icon. ⚙️ Next to AirPods and enable Use for Calls.
3. Solving the Problem: Why AirPods Aren't Connecting to Xiaomi
Even with the right actions, the connection may fail. Consider the typical errors and their solutions:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods are not displayed in the list of devices | Headphones are not in pairing mode or connected to another device | Reset AirPods (press the button on the case 15 seconds before blinking orange), then reconnect. |
| The connection is interrupted after a few seconds. | Conflict with other Bluetooth devices or outdated MIUI firmware | Disable other devices, update MIUI to the latest version |
| The sound is interrupted or delayed. | Uses an outdated Bluetooth codec (SBC instead of AAC) | Enable Allow AAC codec in the developer (see section 5) |
| The microphone doesn't work on calls. | AirPods not selected as a call device | In Bluetooth settings → AirPods → Enable Use for calls |
Critical detail: If your AirPods were previously connected to your iPhone, they can automatically switch back to it, even if you "forgot" them in the iOS settings. To completely break the connection, reset the headphones to factory settings (press the button on the case 15 seconds before blinking orange).
If the problem persists, try:
- 🔄 Reboot Xiaomi and AirPods (Put your headphones in your case, close the lid for 30 seconds).
- 📱 Update the firmware MIUI or HyperOS (path: Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
- 🛠️ Reset your network settings on Xiaomi (Settings) → Connections and sharing → Resetting Wi-Fi, Mobile Network and Bluetooth).
What if the AirPods are connected but the sound is distorted?
4.Sound customization: how to improve quality on Xiaomi
Xiaomi uses basic audio settings for AirPods by default, but they can be optimized.
1. Selection of Bluetooth codec:
- 🎧 Default is used SBC — Universal, but not the highest quality codec.
- 🔊 Turn it on. AAC (Supported by AirPods: activate the developer mode (7 taps on the version) MIUI in the phone settings), then in the developer menu (Settings) → Additionally. → For developers, select Bluetooth Audio Codec → AAC.
Equalizer setting:
- 🎛️ Open the Settings. → Sound and vibration → equalizer.
- 🎵 For AirPods, we recommend Preset Bass (for music) or Voice (for podcasts).
- 🔧 Manually increase the frequencies. 60-250 Hz for bass and 3-6 vocalist.
Optimization for calls:
- 📞 In Bluetooth settings, tap on ⚙️ Next to AirPods and enable Use for calls.
- 🎤 Settings menu → Sound and vibration → Call quality select HD-voice (if available).
💡
If you hear hissing or background noise after connecting AirPods to Xiaomi, try turning off the Absolute Volume option in the developer settings. This will fix the volume incompatibility between Android and AirPods.
The AirPods Pro and AirPods 3 have a transparent mode setting (skipping external sounds), but it only works with iOS. On Xiaomi, the alternative is to enable Ambient Sound Mode in the MIUI settings (if supported by your model).
5.Gestural control and additional functions
On the iPhone, AirPods support a wide range of gestures (pause, track skip, Siri call), but on Xiaomi, some of the features are limited.
| Gesture. | AirPods 1/2 | AirPods 3 / Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Double touch. | Reproduction/pause | Play/pause or next track (configured) |
| Triple touch. | Previous track | Previous track or call voice assistant |
| Sensor retention (Pro) | — | Switching between noise reduction modes (only on iOS) |
| Removing one headphone | Pause (working for Xiaomi) | Pause (working for Xiaomi) |
To customize gestures on Xiaomi:
- Open Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
- Tap it on. ⚙️ near the AirPods.
- Select gesture settings (not available on all Xiaomi models).
- Set up a double/triple touch.
For AirPods Pro and AirPods 3 on Xiaomi, noise reduction control is available through third-party applications such as AirBattery (available on Google Play).
- 🔇 Switching noise reduction/transparency modes.
- 🔋 Display the charge level of the case and headphones.
- 🔍 Find lost AirPods (at last connection location).
💡
On Xiaomi, AirPods gestures are limited, but basic features (pause, track skip) are available. For advanced management, use third-party apps like AirBattery or Assistant Trigger.
6.How to Disable AirPods from Xiaomi and Connect to Another Device
If you need to temporarily disable AirPods from Xiaomi or reconnect them to your iPhone, do the following:
Temporary shutdown (retains phone binding):
- 📱 Open the Quick Settings Panel and tap on the Bluetooth icon.
- 🔗 In the list of devices, find AirPods and tap on the disconnect icon (❌).
- 🔄 To connect again, just open the case cover – the connection will be restored automatically.
Complete removal (breaks the binding):
- Go to Settings → Connections and Sharing → Bluetooth.
- Tap it on. ⚙️ near the AirPods.
- Choose Forget the device or Delete it.
- Confirm the action.
After that, AirPods can be connected to another device in normal mode (click the button on the case to switch to pairing mode).
⚠️ Warning: If you removed AirPods from the list of devices on Xiaomi, but they still automatically connect, reset their settings. To do this, place the headphones in the case, open the lid and hold the button on the back for 15 seconds until the indicator flashes orange. Then they will be ready for a new relationship.
7. Alternative ways to connect: if Bluetooth does not work
In rare cases, Bluetooth on Xiaomi may not work properly (for example, after updating MIUI or mechanically damaging the module).If AirPods stubbornly do not connect, try alternative methods:
1.Using a Bluetooth adapter:
- 🔌 Connect to Xiaomi an external Bluetooth adapter (via the USB-C or OTG).
- 🔄 Transfer AirPods to pairing mode and connect via adapter.
- ⚠️ Disadvantages: Possible delays due to additional coding.
2. Connect via Apple TV or Mac (indirect method):
- 🖥️ Connect AirPods to Apple TV MacBook.
- 📱 On Xiaomi, enable AirPlay Sound Transfer (via apps like AirMusic).
- 🔊 The sound will be broadcast from Xiaomi to Apple TV/Mac, And then on AirPods.
3. Apps for emulation of iOS functions:
- 📲 Install AirBattery or Assistant Trigger from Google Play.
- 🔧 These apps allow you to control noise cancellation, display charge and even emulate some gestures.
These methods should only be used if standard connectivity is not possible, and in most cases, the problem is solved by resetting Bluetooth settings or updating MIUI.