How to use AirPods Pro on Xiaomi: Full Guide

Apple’s premium acoustics are no longer the domain of select geeks, and many owners of flagships Redmi and POCO are wondering how to fully use the AirPods Pro on Xiaomi without losing both sound and functionality. Despite the closedness of the iOS ecosystem, engineers and third-party software developers have found ways to bypass the restrictions, allowing you to enjoy active noise cancellation and transparent mode.

The process of pairing headphones with MIUI or HyperOS is technically not much different from connecting any other Bluetooth headset, but it will take a little more effort to unlock the full potential. You do not need to be an IT expert to set up a stable connection and even manage modes of operation. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances, from basic connection to advanced customization through specialized software.

It’s worth noting that basic functionality like music playback and voice calls works out of the box without any additional manipulation, but to access equalizer settings, check each headphone’s charge individually, and reassign gestures, you’ll need to install additional utilities. Let’s take all the steps of the setup in order to make your experience as comfortable as possible.

Basic pairing of headphones with MIUI

The first step is always the standard Bluetooth connection procedure. Unlike the iPhone, where animations appear automatically when you open the case, on Xiaomi you will need to go to the settings menu manually. Open Settings → Bluetooth and make sure the switch is activated. If you have not previously used these headphones with other devices, they will immediately go into search mode.

To put the AirPods Pro in pairing mode, you need to place both earphones in the charging case and leave the lid open. On the back of the case is a round button that you press and hold for a few seconds. The indicator inside the case will flash white, signaling readiness to connect.

The list of available devices on your Xiaomi smartphone should show the words "AirPods Pro." Click on it to complete the procedure. In some cases, the system may request confirmation of an access code, which is usually standard, but on Android this is rare. Once you successfully connect, you will hear a characteristic beep.

• 🎧 Open the case cover with headphones inside.
• 🔘 Press the setting button on the back before the indicator flashes.
• 📱 Select the device in the Bluetooth list on Xiaomi.
• ✅ Wait for the confirmation of the connection and the sound signal.

⚠️ Note: If the headphones were previously connected to an iPhone or iPad, they may automatically try to connect to them when you open the case. temporarily turn off Bluetooth on Apple devices or select "Forget this device" in their settings before connecting to Xiaomi.

After the first successful pairing, reconnection will occur automatically when the case cover is opened if Bluetooth is on on the phone. Connection latency on Xiaomi is usually minimal, at 1-2 seconds, which is comparable to working in the Apple ecosystem. Connection stability also depends on the version of the Bluetooth module in your smartphone.

Installation and configuration of MaterialPods application

There are no regular Android tools for deep customization of the AirPods Pro, so Xiaomi owners need to turn to third-party solutions. One of the most popular and functional applications is MaterialPods, which is available on the Google Play Store. This application emulates the native setting window, allowing you to see the charge of the case and each headphone separately.

Once you install the app, you will need to give it the necessary permissions, primarily access to location and Bluetooth. Without geolocation permission, the app will not be able to scan available Bluetooth devices due to the security limitations of the Android operating system.

In the application settings, you can activate the automatic opening of the status window when you open the headphone case. To do this, the function must be included in the MaterialPods menu itself, and in the Xiaomi battery settings, you need to prevent the system from "killing" the application process in the background.

In addition to displaying the charge, the app allows you to check the version of the firmware of the headphones. Although it is not possible to update the AirPods firmware directly through an Android smartphone, you will see the current version number.

Noise reduction and transparent control

One of the main features of the Pro is active noise cancellation (ANC). On the iPhone, mode switching is carried out through the control center or prolonged pressing on the headphone leg. On Xiaomi, you can not change the mode by pressing, but there are several workarounds.

The easiest way to do this is to use an AndPods app or analogues that add a widget to your desktop or notification curtain, and you can switch between Noise Cancelation, Transparency and Off modes with one touch, eliminating the need to pull out your phone every time you want to set it up.

There is also a method of reassigning actions through the standard Bluetooth menu, but it works unstable and depends on the version of MIUI. In the Settings → Bluetooth → menu (the gear icon next to the AirPods), sometimes the option “Double touch” or “hold” is available, but the functionality there is often limited only to calling an assistant or managing tracks.

It is important to understand that the quality of noise cancellation on Android remains as high as on iOS, since this process is responsible for the internal H1 or H2 chip inside the headphones themselves.

Problems with microphone and communication quality

Xiaomi users often face a situation where interlocutors complain of a quiet voice or extraneous noise when talking through AirPods Pro. This is due to the peculiarities of codecs and priorities of the Bluetooth protocol in the MIUI shell.

To solve this problem, you have to force the microphone of the headphones in the developer settings. → The phone. → 7 times press on "Version" MIUI». Then in the menu "Advanced settings" will appear the item "For developers».

Inside the developer menu, find the Bluetooth-related section and try to change the codec settings. However, AirPods Pro use Apple proprietary codecs, so choosing an AAC or SBC in the Android settings may not have the desired effect. A more effective method is to reset the network settings or reconnect the headphones after clearing the Bluetooth cache.

• 🗣️ Check which microphone is active during the call.
• ⚙️ Experiment with Bluetooth settings in the developer menu.
• 🔄 Perform a full reset of headphones (hold button 15 seconds).
• 📞 Make sure the call app selects the “Bluetooth” sound source».

⚠️ Warning: Enabling Absolute Volume in the developer settings can cause the phone and headphones to become dissynchronized. If the sound becomes too quiet or too loud without adjustability, turn off this option.

Voice quality also depends on the quality of the Internet connection (when calling through messengers) or cellular network coverage. In areas of uncertain reception, Xiaomi can switch to a low-bitrate SBC codec, which worsens speech intelligibility, in such situations, it is better to use a classic phone call through the operator's network.

Equalizer and sound setting

The MIUI standard equalizer is applicable to all audio devices, but it does not take into account the specific frequency characteristics of the AirPods Pro. To get the perfect sound, it is recommended to use third-party equalizer applications such as Poweramp Equalizer or built-in music players.

Apple’s headphones are medium-to-high-frequency, so you may need to manually adjust for bass fans. Xiaomi’s audio settings (Settings → Sound & Vibration → Sound Effects) can choose Bass or Bright, but they often cause distortions.

💡

Use the "Mi Sound Enhancer" feature with caution. It's designed for headphones with the Xiaomi logo and can make the sound in the AirPods flat or metal. Better use the global equalizer settings.

For audiophiles, a method of tuning through A2DP Sink is available in the engineering menu, but this requires root rights and knowledge of the exact commands of ADB. The average user will only need to set up a sound profile in the player application (for example, Yandex.Music or Spotify), where there are their own equalizer presets.

Keep in mind that Spatial Audio, a dynamic head tracking feature on Android, doesn’t work.You’ll only get a static surround effect if it’s supported by the source app itself (like Netflix or some video players), but turning your head won’t change the sound scene.

Frequent questions and device search

One annoying feature is the inability to find headphones through the Find My feature on Android. Apple has closed this protocol, so tracking the location of lost AirPods is only possible from Apple devices to which they were previously registered.

However, some search features are still available. If the headphones are in Bluetooth visibility, MaterialPods will show the signal strength (RSSI) as you move around, which can approach the place of loss, and also works the function of sound playback if the headphones are connected to the phone at the moment.

If you lose one headphone outside the Bluetooth zone, you should not rely on an Android smartphone. The only chance is to view the history of locations through iCloud.com from any browser, if the headphones managed to connect with the owner's iPhone earlier.

Regular cleaning of speaker and proximity mesh also affects work. On Android, the proximity sensor can work less correctly, without pausing music when removing the earpiece from the ear, which is solved only by calibrating through the original Apple device or putting up with this drawback.

💡

The full-featured AirPods Pro on Xiaomi is 90% possible. You lose automatic switching between devices and accurate search, but you get great sound and noise making.

Table of compatibility of functions

For a more convenient comparison of features, let’s summarize the main features in a summary table, which will help you understand what exactly to expect from the bundle of Xiaomi and AirPods Pro, and which features will remain unavailable without an Apple device.

As you can see from the table, critical audio and noise reduction functions are fully available, and the restrictions are mostly on the service side: renaming, firmware updates, and geolocation, and for most users, these are not blocking.

Additional Operational Advice

To extend the life of the headphone battery on Android, it is recommended to turn off Bluetooth when they are not in use for a long time. Although AirPods Pro can go into sleep mode, the background processes of MIUI can periodically wake up the Bluetooth module for scanning, consuming charge.

It’s also worth mentioning the AAC codec. Xiaomi defaults to this codec for Apple devices, which provides good quality. However, if you notice video delay (lip and sound desynchronization), try the developer’s settings to force the SBC codec. Sound quality will drop, but the latency will decrease.