Android has always been a favorite of mine. What’s not to appreciate about developer tools, ease of use, and a wide range of hardware compatibility? There’s only one catch: whenever Apple launches a new iPhone feature, Android users are entitled to it as well! Because of my conflicted feelings for Apple and my fear of missing out, I spent a lot of time researching what I could do with my new Apple AirPods as an Android user.
Is it possible to connect Apple AirPods to an Android device?
Any Bluetooth-enabled device, including Android phones, may use Apple AirPods. Some functionality, such as the battery life indicator and Siri access, may be lost, but the majority of the missing features may be worked around. In conclusion, if you’ve been putting off trying out AirPods because you use Android, don’t be.
That’s not all you’ll need to know to determine whether AirPods and Android are a good fit. Before (or after) making the big purchase, you should know how to connect the AirPods to your Android smartphone, how to use the AirPods with your Android device, what apps can replace functionality you may lose, and what functions may or may not be irreparable.
Is it possible to connect AirPods to an Android device?
Apple’s AirPods are Bluetooth-enabled headphones. They’ll operate with any Bluetooth-enabled device, including Smart TVs, PCs, laptops, Chromebooks, and, of course, your Android phone.
Open the AirPods case and push the pairing button to start pairing your AirPods with your Android device.
Go to Settings > Connections/Connected Devices > Bluetooth on your Android phone to enable Bluetooth. The AirPods should display under the ‘Available Devices’ column once you’ve checked that Bluetooth is switched on.
If it doesn’t work, try shutting and reopening the AirPods case, then touching the white button on the back of the case while holding it close to your Android. Click ‘Pair New Device’ under Settings > Connected Devices on your phone.
To connect the AirPods, simply click their name on your phone once they appear as an accessible Bluetooth device. Your phone may prompt you to confirm that you wish to make the new pairing by asking for extra permissions. To connect your AirPods to your Android phone, you don’t need to provide permissions.
Return to the ‘Connected Devices’ page after pairing and select the gear icon next to the AirPods listing. This will show you the connection settings and permissions in detail. These settings and permissions can be changed and adjusted at any time from this screen.
That concludes our discussion. Apple AirPods may now be used with Android exactly like any other Bluetooth-enabled headphones.
Is it Possible to Use AirPods Controls on Android?
The majority of the controls for your AirPods will be the same as they are for your iPhone, but there are a few exceptions. For starters, you won’t be able to adjust the volume with your AirPods. The Android, not the AirPods, must be used to regulate the volume. Aside from that, the controls are the same as they are for the iPhone, depending on the generation of AirPods:
Apple AirPods 3rd generation (AirPods Pro):
- Press the force sensor on the stem of one of the AirPods to halt playback.
- Press the force sensor once again to restart the game.
- To skip forward once, press the force sensor twice.
- To go backward, press the force sensor three times.
- To enable or disable the ambient listening mode on AirPods Pro with noise cancellation, press and hold the stem.
- Apple AirPods 1st and 2nd Generation:
- By touching one of the AirPods, you may control the playback and pause.
What Features Will Not Work Automatically with AirPods on Android?
When pairing Apple AirPods with Android phones, the great majority of functionality will operate just as they should. You’ll only miss a few quality-of-life things once you’ve connected. Fortunately, most of these features have a simple workaround or an app that can solve the problem. You don’t have to lose out on the AirPods experience if you’re an Android user!
On your first connection, you’ll notice the following differences:
- Pairing — You may have observed that the iPhone’s ‘auto-pair’ feature, where you just open the AirPods case and all devices associated with your AppleID connect, does not work. However, as you have previously seen, the solution is simple and easy to implement. You can continue to connect your Android as required, and your AirPods should be recognized by your Android after the initial connection.
- Custom Double-Tap Functionality — This is a great feature to have, but it isn’t essential. Initially, you won’t be able to adjust what happens when you double-tap your Apple AirPods. You can, however, continue to utilize the default configuration without issue. If you have another iPhone, Mac, or iOS device, you may enable the functionality there and then use your AirPods with your Android while preserving the new double-tap configuration. This will not be feasible if you do not possess any Apple devices.
- Ear detection – The ability of the AirPods to identify your ears during playback and pause or restart playing accordingly will be severely missed. There are, however, a few apps that are striving to replace this feature, which is mentioned below.
- Accessibility to Siri — There is no Siri on Android, of course. Instead, Android users have Google Assistant. As a result, there are no features on the AirPods for controlling music or asking Siri questions. However, as you’ll see in the following section, there is an app that you may use instead of Google Assistant.
- Similarly, you won’t be able to ask Siri to check the battery life on your AirPods. There’s also no built-in mechanism to see how much battery life your phone has. However, like with the foregoing, a workaround is available in the form of an app, which is detailed below.
Can you use applications to replace AirPod functionality on Android?
Two major applications have emerged to help Android AirPod users make up for the lack of capabilities.
The first is AirBattery, a free app. By opening the case and browsing the app, you can see the current charge of your AirPods using AirBattery.
You can check the battery level of both the case and each AirPod with this app. It appears when you connect, but you may also examine the information by just opening the app at any time.
The software is free, but there is a $1 premium edition with a few more features such as an auto-updating permanent notice and an experimental ear recognition feature that works with Spotify for now.
Assistant Trigger is the second app. When connecting Apple AirPods to Android phones, this software adds more capabilities. It offers the ability to see the battery level of AirPods when the case is opened, as well as a battery level notice at any time.
Assistant Trigger fixes Siri’s issues by allowing you to activate Google Assistant by squeezing or double-tapping your AirPods (depending on the generation). You can ask Google Assistant to do everything you’d want Siri to do when she’s alerted.
An incoming call announcement lets you know who’s calling, and an in-app notice lets you know when your AirPods are connected.
Finally, like AirBattery, this app has in-ear detection, but unlike AirBattery, the play/pause feature is intended to operate regardless of the playback app being used. Overall, Assistant Trigger for AirPods for Android provides a lot more capabilities than AirBattery, but you should test both applications to determine which one best meets your needs.
Closing Thoughts
It’s comforting to know that as an Android user, you don’t have to lose out on the newest trends and gadgets, even if they’re created by Apple. You can easily pair your Apple AirPods with your Android device, giving you access to some of the most fashionable Bluetooth headphones on the market.
Despite a few drawbacks, such as a lengthy connection procedure and the inability to adjust volume from the AirPods themselves, most missing functionality features when using Android with AirPods can be easily handled by installing an app or utilizing a simple workaround.
Overall, if you adore Apple AirPods but refuse to give up Android, there’s no reason why you can’t have the best of both worlds.
Now that you’ve cleared that obstacle, make sure you get the most out of your AirPods by comprehending their flashing lights, learning about AirPods charging cases, and, most importantly, determining whether or not they’re waterproof.
Simply ask The Gadget Buyer all of your AirPod and Bluetooth headphone and speaker inquiries, and you’ll save time, energy, and stress with all of your gadget purchase queries.
