The exclusivity of Apple's products has always created a painful transition experience when switching between ecosystems. However, AirPods are one device that's immune to this exclusivity, thanks to Bluetooth being a universal connection standard for audio devices. This means that although you won't be able to use all AirPods features, you can still connect them to an Android device. Here's how to connect AirPods to Android.
Connect AirPods to an Android phone
Connecting AirPods to an Android phone is an easy affair, regardless of your phone's Android version. It is just as easy as connecting any Bluetooth-enabled device to your phone. While you can press and hold the setup button on AirPods 1 through AirPods 3 and Pro to enter pairing mode, on the AirPods 4, you will need to double-tap on the case to enter pairing mode.
- Long-press the setup button at the back or double-tap on the case while the AirPods are inside the case and wait for the light to start flashing.
- On your Android phone, launch Settings and go to Connected devices > Pair new device.
- The AirPods should now show up inside Available devices. Tap on them to initiate the connection.
Once connected, you can use the AirPods as an audio device, just as you would on an iPhone. If you're having issues connecting your AirPods to an Android phone, head over to Bluetooth settings and forget your AirPods. You can then reinitiate pairing and the AirPods should connect instantly.
AirPods on Android: What works and what doesn't?
While you may think most features may not work, and you'd be wrong. A lot of the essential features like Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, Noise Control modes and force sensor gestures still work fine when you connect AirPods to an Android phone.
However, some features may not work as intended. Here's a list of all the features that don't work on AirPods connected to Android:
- Customisable controls
- In-ear detection
- Battery life indicators
- Automatic pairing
- Apple Find My
- Automatic switching
- Conversation boost
- Ear tip fit test
Most of these features are nearly impossible to get on AirPods on Android. But there's a third-party app called AndroPods you can download from the Play Store, that lets you see the battery levels of the earbuds and case.
The app not only shows you the battery overlay in the notifications, but its premium version unlocks tap gestures to launch the voice assistant and enable in-ear detection.
And that's how you can connect AirPods to an Android phone. While the experience of using AirPods on Android won't be as seamless or customisable as on iPhones, you can still use them to listen to music, which is great. However, even inexpensive audio devices do a great job at integrating deeply with Android, thanks to Google's Fast Pair and dedicated apps from manufacturers. Therefore, it might be worth getting a good pair for a seamless experience.
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