Connecting AirPods to Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Using Apple’s wireless headset in conjunction with Xiaomi’s smartphone has become a common practice for many users. Despite belonging to different ecosystems, Bluetooth allows you to easily connect these devices. You do not need to be an iPhone owner to enjoy the quality sound of the AirPods on your Mi or Redmi.

The pairing process is technically simple, but there are nuances to be aware of in advance. Headphone functionality may be slightly limited compared to iOS, but the basic features work consistently. In this article, we will discuss all the stages of setting, from turning on detection mode to solving typical problems.

The main advantage of this tandem is the versatility of the Bluetooth 5.0 protocol, which ensures the compatibility of most modern gadgets. You do not need third-party applications for simple listening to music or conversations.

Preparation of equipment for the first interface

Before starting the procedure, make sure both devices are ready to go. Charge the AirPods case and make sure the Xiaomi smartphone has a sufficient battery level.This will eliminate sudden shutdown during setup.

Open the charger case, but don't take the headphones out. There's a setup button on the back of the case, which is key to going into pairing mode. If the indicator inside the case is green, it's ready to go, but not yet searchable.

On a Xiaomi smartphone, you need to activate the wireless module. To do this, lower the notification curtain and press the Bluetooth icon or go to the settings menu. Make sure the slider is activated and the device is visible to other gadgets.

Step-by-step instructions for connecting AirPods

The action algorithm for Xiaomi with a MIUI or HyperOS shell is almost identical to the connection of any other headset. Press and hold the round button on the back of the AirPods case until the indicator flashes white, which means that the headphones have gone into detection mode.

Pick up your smartphone and go to Settings → Bluetooth. Click Device Search or just wait for the system to automatically update the list of available gadgets. The Available Devices list should show the name of your model, such as AirPods Pro or AirPods Max.

Tap the headset name on your smartphone screen. The system can request a pairing confirmation — press OK or Connect. Once you successfully set up the link, the indicator on the case will stop flashing, and the headphone battery icon will appear in the status bar of the phone.

⚠️ Note: If the indicator flashes orange after pressing the button on the case, this means a pairing error.

Sound tuning and control in MIUI

After a successful connection, you should pay attention to additional audio settings. Xiaomi smartphones have a Dolby Atmos feature that can be activated for a more surround sound. Go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Effects and select the appropriate profile.

Playback control (pause, track switching) works on standard gestures embedded in AirPods. However, calling Siri voice assistant through double-touch will not work, since this feature is tied to the Apple ecosystem. Instead, you can configure the launch of Google Assistant or Mi AI.

For a deeper setup, including viewing the exact charge level of each earbud and case, it is recommended to install a third-party app. Apple's official software for Android does not exist, but Google Play has many analogues, such as MaterialPods or AndroPods.

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Install the MaterialPods app from Play Market to see the case opening animation and the exact percentage of charge in the widget, like on the iPhone.

Functional Limitations on Android

Despite the successful connection, the user will face a number of software limitations, primarily the lack of automatic switching between Apple ID devices. If you listen to music on a MacBook, the headphones will not switch to Xiaomi when you pick up the phone.

Spatial audio is also not available with dynamic head tracking if you use standard Android players. Some third-party players can emulate this effect, but native support from the Android system for proprietary codecs Apple does not.

Below is a table showing the differences in functionality:

Solution: if the headphones are not connected

Sometimes the pairing process can go awry. If Xiaomi can't see the headphones or refuses to connect, try rebooting the Bluetooth module. Turn it off in the notification curtain, wait 5 seconds and turn it on again.

A common problem is having old device records in your phone's memory. Go to the list of paired devices, find your AirPods, and click "Forget device" or the gear icon, then select "Disable." Then repeat the pairing procedure again.

If nothing works, do a full reset of your headphones. Put them in your case, press the button on the back, and hold for about 15-20 seconds until the light flashes amber and then white, which will bring the headset back to factory settings.

⚠️ Note: When resetting headphones through a long pressing button, they will disconnect from all previously known devices, including iPhone and iPad, if they were paired previously.

Optimizing Bluetooth for stable sound

To ensure the best sound quality and minimize delays in games, it is recommended to disable options in the developer settings that may conflict with AirPods codecs. While Xiaomi usually manages the AAC codec, which is the main one for these headphones, unnecessary settings can cause interference.

It's also worth checking if power saving mode is on for Bluetooth. In the MIUI shell, aggressive battery optimization can kill background processes that are responsible for connection stability. Add the music player and Bluetooth services used to the battery exceptions.

Connection stability also depends on the Android version and the drivers of a particular Xiaomi model. Make sure your system is updated to the latest available version via Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.

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Using an AAC codec is the best choice for Android AirPods, providing a balance between sound quality and power consumption.