Do AirPods work with Android Phones? The short answer is, yes! What about the long answer? The long answer here will explain how to connect AirPods to Android phones.
Looks like you are excited! Good, let’s get started then.
Check AirPods and Android Phones Compatibility
The first thing that you need to take care of is compatibility. In other words, you need to find out whether your Android smartphone is compatible with AirPods or not.
Good thing is that AirPods are compatible with almost every Android Smartphone. Usually, even if you have an older model of Android-powered smartphones, you should not be worried. AirPods should work just fine.
Turn on Pairing Mode for AirPods
To make your AirPods work with your Android phone, you need to first turn on the pairing mode of the AirPods. To do this, you need to flip open the case that holds the AirPods.
Once you do that, locate the white button that is located on the rear side of the case. Press and hold the button for 3 seconds.
This move will put your AirPods into pairing mode indicated by the flashing white LED light.
Turn on Bluetooth on Your Android Phone
Now that you have put your AirPods into pairing mode, you need to turn on the Bluetooth of your Android phone.
There are two methods you can use for this.
First Method:
- Step 1: Pull down the settings drawer by swiping down from the top. You can see the Bluetooth icon there.
- Step 2: Tap on it to turn on the Bluetooth. This will only turn on the Bluetooth but will not show the list of available devices.
- Step 3: Tap on the small arrow icon you see by the side of the word ‘Bluetooth.’ This will pull up a list of available devices with two buttons reading ‘More Settings,’ and ‘Done.’
- Step 4: If you don’t see AirPods listed, tap on ‘More Settings’ to pull out the Bluetooth settings page.
- Step 5: Auto-refresh should happen on its own, but it doesn’t happen, tap on the refresh button at the bottom of the screen to refresh the list of available devices for a potential Bluetooth connection.
Second Method:
- Step 1: Find the settings app of your Android phone and tap on it.
- Step 2: Tap on the Bluetooth option on the Settings page.
- Step 3: Once the Bluetooth settings window opens, toggle the Bluetooth on-off switch to turn on the Bluetooth.
- Step 4: Once you turn it on, all the available devices for a potential Bluetooth connection will show up.
- Step 5: If AirPods don’t show up, do a quick refresh by tapping on the refresh button at the screen.
Complete Pairing Android Phone and Bluetooth
Once you see AirPods listed as available devices, tap on it to complete the connection between your Android smartphone and your AirPods. That’s all! Now play any music on your phone and enjoy your AirPods.
Things You Miss Out
Though AirPods work with Android phones, they were never designed for Android devices in the first place. So, when you use AirPods with Android Phones, there will be some features that you cannot use. They are:
- Customizable Double Tap: Users of iOS devices can customize what double-tap gestures can do when AirPods are paired with their devices. You cannot do that.
- Battery Life: iOS users can ask Siri about the battery status of AirPods or they can simply check it from Today Center on their iPhone or by visiting the Control Center on Apple Watch. When you use Android, you cannot check the battery life of AirPods.
- Automatic Ear Detection: When you use the iPhone, AirPods can detect your ears automatically. The moment you remove the AirPods from your ear, whatever you were listening to will pause. The moment you put the AirPods back into your ears, the music, or whatever you were listening to will start playing automatically. Guess what? This feature will not be available when you use AirPods with Android.
- Single AirPod: Only with iOS, you can use a single AirPod to listen to music. In the case of Android, you have to use the pair together!
Conclusion
AirPods were meant for iOS devices. Though AirPods work Android Phones, the only way to unlock the true potential of AirPods is to use them with iOS devices.