Owners of Xiaomi Redmi smartphones often face the desire to use premium AirPods Pro headphones, but the lack of native support for full functionality in the Android operating system creates certain difficulties. Standard connection via the Bluetooth menu allows only to play sound, leaving noise reduction and transparency modes unavailable for switching. This limitation is due to the closed Apple ecosystem, which is sharpened to work in tandem with iPhone and iPad.
However, there are proven ways to circumvent these limitations and activate active noise cancellation (ANC) without the need to buy Apple devices.To implement this plan, you will need to install third-party software or use specific settings of the MIUI system. It is important to understand that the quality of the algorithms depends not only on the headphones themselves, but also on the correct configuration of third-party software.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the available methods, from installing specialized applications to fine-tuning Bluetooth settings, and learn how to access the full functionality of the headset and manage listening modes directly from your Redmi screen. Follow the instructions carefully to avoid pairing errors.
Preparation of headphones and smartphone for pairing
Before you start manipulating the software, you need to make sure your AirPods Pro is in good condition and ready to connect.The first step is to completely reset the headset settings, avoiding conflicts with previous devices they may have been connected to. Put the headphones in the charging case and leave the lid open.
Press and hold the setting button on the back of the case until the indicator flashes in amber and then white.This action will put the device in pairing mode. At the same time, on your Xiaomi smartphone, you should clear the list of saved devices if the AirPods were previously present.
Open Bluetooth settings in Settings → Connections & Sharing → Bluetooth. Find your headphones on the list of available devices and click on them to connect. Once you connect successfully, Android will connect, but will not offer any additional audio settings.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure your headphones have the latest firmware installed, and you can only update them by connecting them to your Apple device, as Android can’t update Apple’s firmware headsets.
☑️ Preparation for setup
Use of third-party applications for management
Since MIUI does not have built-in drivers to manage AirPods Pro, the only way to access mode switching is through third-party applications, and the most popular and functional solution is MaterialPods or AndroPods, which emulate the management interface.
Once you install your chosen app from Google Play, you need to give it all the permissions you want, including location and notifications. Without those permissions, it won't be able to read headphone status and send commands to switch noise reduction modes. The program interface will allow you to see the charge of each headphone and case separately.
Inside the app, find the section that manages audio profiles, and there's a button that can switch between Noise Cancel, Transparency and Turn Off modes, and clicking on the appropriate icon sends a special signal to the headphones, changing their performance in real time.
- 🎧 MaterialPods – provides a widget to the desktop and fast switching modes through a pop-up window.
- 📱 AndroPods – offers deep equalizer tuning and headphone authentication.
- 🔋 Capod – a lightweight application that displays the exact percentage of battery charge of the case and headphones.
Configuring MIUI Permits and Energy Saving
The MIUI operating shell on Xiaomi smartphones is known for its aggressive energy saving policy, which can prevent the correct operation of background applications. To ensure that the headphone management application is stable and not closed by the system, you need to make changes to the battery settings.
Go to Settings → Applications → All applications and find the installed manager for AirPods. Select Activity Control and set No Limits. This is a critical step, because otherwise the system will “kill” the control process, and you will have to switch noise cancellation again after each screen unlock.
It is also recommended to enable auto-run for this application.Look for the Desktop Security app, go to Permissions → Auto-Start and activate the slider opposite your headphone manager. This ensures that mode control is available immediately after the phone is turned on.
⚠️ Warning: Granting full rights to third-party apps may slightly increase battery consumption, but this is necessary for constant monitoring of headphones.
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For maximum stability, secure the control application in memory by swiping down on open applications and pressing the lock.
Table of comparison of regime management methods
There are several approaches to managing the functionality of the headset on Android, and each of them has its own characteristics. Below is a comparison table that will help you choose the best use case of AirPods Pro with your Redmi.
| Management method | Access to the ANC | Charge mapping | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Bluetooth | No (double tap only) | Basic | Tall. |
| MaterialPods application | Complete (via interface) | Detailed (to the ears) | Medium |
| AndroPods app | Full (widget) | Details + interest | Tall. |
| Third-party launchers | Limited. | Depends on the plugin. | Low. |
As you can see from the table, using specialized software gives you the most complete control over the device. Standard Android tools allow only basic playback, and switching modes is possible only by physically pressing the headphone leg, which is not always convenient.
Alternative methods and hidden functions
Some users prefer not to install additional apps for fear of data privacy, in which case you can use the built-in dual-press function on the headphone leg. By default, AirPods Pro is configured to switch between noise cancellation and transparency with double tap.
However, to set up this action, the initial setup still requires an Apple device. If you have access to a friend's iPad or iPhone, plug your headphones into them, go to Bluetooth settings, select AirPods Pro, and set "Switch Noise Reduction" under "Push."
After this setup, the headphones will remember the command. When connected to Xiaomi, double-pressing will mechanically switch modes without the phone, which is the most reliable, if less informative, way to control.
The secret to calibrating sound
Solution and optimization of sound
There may be situations when noise cancellation is not working properly or the sound is interrupted. Often the problem lies in Bluetooth codecs. Android by default can use the SBC codec, which is inferior in quality to the AAC used in the Apple ecosystem.
To improve the sound quality, you can try activating the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times fast). Then, in the Advanced Settings menu → For developers, find the Bluetooth Codec section and try to force the AAC selection.
It's also worth checking the density of the fittings. Active noise reduction requires perfect tightness to work effectively, and if the size of the liner is wrong, the system will miss out on external noises, and the algorithms will not be able to compensate for them.
- 🔊 Check if Monoaudio is included in Android special features.
- 🧹 Regularly clean the mesh speakers of earwax, as pollution affects the work of microphones ANC.
- 📶 Avoid use in areas with powerful Wi-Fi radiation (2.4 GHz), which can interfere with the Bluetooth signal.
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The quality of noise reduction is 80% dependent on the correct fit of the earphone in the ear, and only 20% on the software settings of the phone.