AirPods are one of the most comfortable earbuds on the market and most people assume they’re only compatible with Apple devices. Since AirPods use Bluetooth, you can pair them with any Bluetooth-capable device. AirPods can be used on Android, although the functionality will be limited to core features.
One problem that many people are struggling with is how to check AirPods battery on Android. There’s nothing more frustrating than having your AirPods battery die on you when you’re in the middle of a run. With Apple devices, you can always see the battery level of your AirPods. It will appear in your toolbar next to connected devices. It shows the battery level of the earbuds as well as the charging case. Unfortunately, the feature to check AirPods battery is not built into the Android operating system, but there is one way to check the battery level on Android. It’s pretty easy too.
How to Check AirPods Battery on Android
Follow these steps to check your AirPods battery on an Android device.
Step 1: Pair AirPods to Android
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If you haven’t already, pair your AirPods to your Android phone. To pair AirPods to Android, enable Bluetooth on your phone. Swipe down on your screen to open the quick access settings and tap on Bluetooth.
Next, open your AirPods case and press the white button on the case until the light starts to flash. You should see the AirPods appear on the list of available Bluetooth devices on your Android. Select them from the list and wait for a confirmed connection message. They should connect instantly. Make sure there’s a message under Paired Devices that says “Connected for calls and audio”.
Step 2: Download an App to Check AirPods Battery Level
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Since the Android operating system can’t read the AirPods battery level, you will need to use an app. There are many apps that offer the feature to check the battery level of connected devices. We recommend MaterialPods but any other app should perform just as well. Download MaterialPods from the Google Play store.
Open the app and allow all the permissions. You will need to allow overlay permissions. Next, select your AirPods model from the list. It will automatically detect the battery level.
MaterialPods creates an overlay in the quick toolbar on Android. Swipe down from the top of your phone to open view your AirPods battery level. The app should show the battery level of both AirPods as well as the charging case.
If you can’t see a number next to the battery level, the app may not be compatible with your generation of AirPods. In that case, you will need to download and try a different app from the list. We also tested AirBattery and can confirm it works.
One pointer to keep in mind is these apps are from third-party developers so they might not have all the features you need. It’s also common for apps to stop detecting your AirPods and may not be 100% accurate. Also, these apps run in the background and can drain your battery. Either way, they offer a rough solution to get an idea of how much battery your AirPods have on Android.
To see these steps in action check out the video below which will also walk you through the process.
How to Extend the Battery Life of AirPods
If you have noticed the battery on your AirPods is draining faster than usual, these simple tips will help extend the battery life.
1 – Disable Smart Features
AirPods include a wide range of smart features that can drain the battery levels. To disable these features, you will need to pair them to an Apple device. Most of these features run in the background and don’t provide much value to Android users.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to disable these features on Android. If you can borrow a friend’s iPhone, we recommend pairing your AirPods to their iPhone and disabling Automatic Ear Detection, Active Noise Cancellation, Siri, Transparency Mode, and Spatial Audio.
Once those features are disabled, you can pair the AirPods to Android, and the battery level shouldn’t drain nearly as fast as before.
2 – Keep Your AirPods Case Charged
If you use your AirPods in the office, a practical tip is to have your AirPods case plugged into a charger at all times. It’s perfectly safe to have your AirPods case charging all the time. Just make sure to keep the case out of direct sunlight.
It’s also a good idea to have easy access chargers in key locations. AirPods don’t require much power to charge so you don’t need to worry.
3 – Place AirPods Back in Case When Not in Use
The AirPods case will charge each earbud and it can charge each earbud three to four times. This will keep the earbuds charged when not in use.
4 – Update AirPods Firmware
AirPods firmware updates add optimizations and improvements. You can’t update AirPods firmware on Android but you can on Mac or a friend’s iPhone. If your AirPods haven’t been connected to another Apple device in a long time, it may have missed some core firmware updates.
AirPods firmware updates are installed automatically. To check for AirPods updates, pair your AirPods to either a Mac or IOS device and leave them in the AirPods case.
If an update is available, it will start the download and installation process in the background. The process is faster by directly connecting your AirPods case to a Mac via the lightning cable. To check if your AirPods are using the latest firmware, consult Apple’s Latest Firmware chart.
5 – Reset Your AirPods
Resetting your AirPods usually fixes software issues that could be draining their battery. Thankfully it’s relatively easy to reset AirPods. To reset AirPods, place them back in their case and close the lid. Next, open Bluetooth devices on your phone and forget your paired AirPods. You can find this option by tapping on the “I” next to your paired AirPods.
Now hold the setup button on the AirPods case for around 15 seconds. It should flash amber and then back to white. Now open Bluetooth settings on your phone and search for the AirPods, it should appear on the list of available devices under their default name.
To reset AirPods without a phone, simply place them back in the case and hold down the setup button for 15 seconds. Be aware that the latest generation of AirPods are linked to Apple IDs and can be tracked. If you want to give someone your AirPods, make sure to unlink your Apple ID or they might not be able to use them.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Masarik/Shutterstock.com.
