While AirPods work best with other Apple products, you can use them with your Android phone too. But you should be aware of the limitations, since doing this loses a lot of the "magic."
Can AirPods Connect to Android?
Yes, you can use AirPods with Android devices. Because they're still Bluetooth earbuds at heart, AirPods work with Android, including Samsung phones. This also means the buds are compatible with any device that supports Bluetooth—including most Windows laptops and some smart TVs.
However, these devices can't utilize all the handy features that AirPods offer when connected to an Apple device.
This is the case for all AirPods models, including AirPods Pro and Max.
How to Connect AirPods to an Android Phone (or Anything Else)
Pairing your AirPods with an Android device is easy. Follow these steps (which may differ slightly depending on your device):
These steps work for all AirPods Pro models, and AirPods 1-3. For the AirPods 4, double-tap the front of the case to enter pairing mode.
For the AirPods Max, take them out of the case and hold the noise control button to pair. The light is on the bottom of the right earcup.
- On your Android phone, open Settings > Connected devices > Pair new device. This will put your phone into Bluetooth pairing mode.
- Place your AirPods or AirPods Pro in their charging case, and keep the case open.
- Hold the small button on the back of the case for a few seconds to put your AirPods in pairing mode.
- Once your AirPods are ready to pair, a white light will start flashing on the inside or front of the case (depending on your model).
- You'll see an entry for AirPods in your phone's Bluetooth pairing menu. Tap it to pair your AirPods to Android.
You may need also to confirm a final prompt, which asks whether you want to sync your contacts.
You can now use your AirPods with your Android phone like you would any other Bluetooth earbuds. If you have trouble, see our guide to fixing Bluetooth problems on Android.
While we focus on Android here, this general process also works to pair AirPods to any other devices that support Bluetooth, such as using Bluetooth in Windows 11.
The Downsides of Using AirPods With Android
While AirPods are compatible with Android, they're unsurprisingly made primarily for Apple devices. Because of this, you lose out on several handy features when using AirPods on non-Apple platforms.
You've already experienced one of the drawbacks: the pairing process. Thanks to a special chip in the case, connecting AirPods with your iPhone or iPad is as simple as opening the case near them and tapping Connect. Plus, once you do this, your AirPods are automatically ready to use with other devices tied to your Apple ID.
Below are some of the other AirPods features that don't work on Android:
- Siri access: As you'd expect, on Android, there's no Siri control for controlling your music or asking questions. There's no native access to Google Assistant or Gemini when using AirPods, either.
- Spatial Audio: AirPods can make it sound like sound is coming from all around you, but this doesn't work on Android.
-
Customizable double-tap functionality: On an iPhone, you can change what tapping or squeezing an AirPod twice does. Shortcuts include skipping songs, summoning Siri, and changing audio modes. This doesn't work on Android, so you're stuck with the default functionality for these inputs.
- If you have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can customize this functionality using one of those devices and then use the custom control with your Android phone. However, there's no solution if you lack Apple devices.
- Ear detection: When used with Apple devices, AirPods detect when you've removed them from your ear and pause your music until you put them back in. This doesn't work on Android.
- Easy battery checking: When connected to Android, you can't easily check AirPods battery life on your phone. Some versions of Android display the battery life of connected Bluetooth devices, but this won't tell you if the two buds are at different levels, or the battery life of the case.
Improve AirPod Compatibility on Android Using Apps
Thankfully, third-party apps add more functionality to the experience, such as letting you check AirPods battery on Android. Some apps for this purpose, like AirBattery, are ugly or haven't seen updates in years. The two best worth trying are MaterialPods and AndroPods.
MaterialPods lets you see the battery level of each AirPod in the app and your notification drawer. A handy confirmation popup displays when your AirPods connect to your phone, which you can customize as you like.
There's also a feature to play loud audio through your AirPods to help locate them, but that's about it—most of the other features are locked behind the pro version. You'll need to pay a few dollars to unlock auto-resuming of music, voice assistant activation, and other advanced functions.
AndroPods is similar, but a bit simpler—you can't customize the notification as much and there's no option to help you find your AirPods. The battery percentage of your case in the notification icon is a nice touch, though.
Upgrading to the pro version gives you access to similar functions as MaterialPods, though note that because of Android limitations, no app like this can summon your voice assistant while content is playing in the background.
While not perfect, these apps make the experience of using AirPods with Android a lot better. If they don't satisfy your needs, check out Assistant Trigger as an alternative.
Download: MaterialPods | AndroPods for Android (Free, premium version available)
There Are Superior AirPods Alternatives for Android
As we've discussed, using AirPods with an iPhone is a slick experience that ties both devices together. When used with Android, however, AirPods are reduced to a pretty standard pair of Bluetooth earbuds.
If you want a pair of quality earbuds to use with your Android device, we'd recommend looking at the best wireless earbuds, which will work better with your phone.
Other wireless earbuds are available at different price points, meaning you can get a throwaway set for much cheaper, or opt for a high-quality pair with better sound. Plus, many of them have Google Assistant or Alexa support, so you don't miss out on having a wireless assistant.
If you're not sure where to start and want the closest AirPods equivalent, consider the Pixel Buds Pro 2 or Galaxy Buds 3 Pro if you have a Pixel or Samsung phone.