LibrePods: "Full" AirPods Support for Android Requires Root
The LibrePods project can now be found on GitHub. Its creator promises exact support for Apple's AirPods features – with a catch.
LibrePods on an Android device: Currently full support for AirPods Pro 2 and 3.
(Image: LibrePods-Projekt)
Young developer Kavish Devar has created an (almost) complete Android adaptation for Apple's AirPods. The project, named LibrePods, can be found on GitHub and is also available for Linux. Currently, LibrePods is intended for the AirPods Pro generations 2 and 3; other AirPods models reportedly only offer “basic features” such as battery status and ear detection. A fundamental problem with the tool: it requires root privileges. The reason, according to Devar, is a bug in the Android Bluetooth stack that prevents the connection. Furthermore, the hearing aid mode and transparency mode settings utilize functions that necessitate more extensive system modifications. Thus, Android must identify itself to the AirPods as an Apple device via the Service Discovery Protocol.
Almost all features—with risk
Those who accept the rooting risk can, according to the developer, utilize various features that are currently unavailable for AirPods Pro 2 and 3 on Android devices. This includes automatic ear detection, conversation detection (music volume is automatically reduced), the aforementioned transparency mode adjustability, and the hearing aid function. According to Devar, the latter has no geo-restriction with LibrePod.
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Additionally, the accuracy of the battery level is said to be higher (instead of via BLE); head gestures work on Android, as does the useful multi-device connection, allowing quick switching between devices. Finally, the gestures—i.e., what happens on a long press of the AirPods stems—are configurable, as are features related to accessibility.
Apple likely won't deliver
Apple has so far made no move to adequately support AirPods on Android. This is likely to remain the case: the earbuds are among the devices regulated by the EU Commission. This is different for the iPhone: here, Apple must generally make any new function that only works with other Apple devices available to other hardware manufacturers.
This leads, among other things, to Apple stopping the automatic Wi-Fi access transfer to the Apple Watch within the EU in the future in order not to have to forward this information to other third-party devices. For products from Apple's subsidiary Beats, device support on Android is better. These are always configurable via their app. So Apple could, if it wanted to.
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