Can I use the Apple AirPods Pro 2 with an Android device?

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The Apple AirPods Pro 2 are by far the best wireless earbuds for iPhone owners, but how well do they work on Android? For those of us rocking Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel smartphones, is there just too much functionality to lose if our earbuds of choice aren't optimized for Android devices? Fortunately, the answer to this question is a resounding no.




We've used the AirPods 2 on numerous Android devices (as well as Windows) and the core functionality works great. However, you'll miss out on some extras that are only available in the Apple ecosystem. Here's a look at what works and what doesn't when you pair the AirPods Pro 2 with your Android phone.

The Apple AirPods Pro 2

Great for Apple and Android

Apple AirPods Pro 2 wireless earbuds

Even though you won't be able to experience all of the AirPods Pro 2's Apple optimizations when paired with Android hardware, these wireless earbuds still sound great when paired with any device.

How to pair an AirPods Pro 2 with an Android device

The one-tap pairing process is immediately eliminated

The Satechi wireless foldable charger charges AirPods.


One immediate advantage you lose when using the AirPods Pro 2 (or other AirPods) with an Android device is the relatively seamless one-tap pairing process you get in the Apple ecosystem. To connect AirPods to your iPhone, simply open the earbuds' case and you'll immediately get a pop-up animation prompting you to pair. A single tap to confirm will pair the headphones with your iPhone and any other iOS device that uses the same Apple ID.

This isn't possible with an Android device, but as mentioned above, you can still pair and use the AirPods Pro 2 with an Android smartphone. Here's how:

  1. Press and hold the small button on the back of the AirPods Pro 2 case and wait for the case's indicator light to flash white. This means that the AirPods Pro 2 have entered pairing mode.
  2. Go in Bluetooth Settings of your Android device.
  3. Find the AirPods listed and tap them to pair.
  4. A pop-up window will then ask you to allow AirPods Pro 2 to access your contacts and call history.
    The permissions pop-up window appears when you pair AirPods Pro 2 with an Android smartphone.
    Ben Sin / XDA

    AirPods Pro 2 settings on an Android smartphone.
    Ben Sin / XDA


Instead of a one-tap process that takes half a second, pairing an AirPods Pro 2 with an Android device becomes a multi-step, 10-second process. The good news is that you only have to do this once. The AirPods Pro 2 will then automatically connect to your Android device as soon as you take them out of the case.

The Airpods Pro 2 on a table

We used the AirPods Pro 2 with the Xiaomi 12S Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Xiaomi 12T Pro. We've also used the AirPods Max with at least a dozen Android devices from brands ranging from Google to Huawei and never had any issues with audio playback or quality.


The basic core functionality of the AirPods Pro 2 works fine on Android devices, including switching from ANC to Transparency mode with a long press on the AirPods stem or adjusting the volume with a swipe. If your Android phone supports it, you can even access Google Assistant using the “Hey, Google” voice command.

What features are lost when you pair an AirPods Pro 2 with an Android device?

An unsurprisingly long list


As mentioned, you'll miss out on seamless one-tap pairing during the first pairing process. This is just a one-time, small effort that shouldn't bother anyone. However, if you don't pair them with an iPhone, you'll lose several other features that might be important to you. These are:

  • Automatic ear detection
  • Spatial audio
  • AirPods control customization
  • Apple Find My Network

Automatic ear detection

Automatic ear detection is a feature that most should be familiar with. The AirPods Pro 2 (and all previous AirPods) use a proximity sensor to detect when the earbuds have been removed from your ear and automatically pause music or videos on an iPhone when you take out your AirPods.


Spatial audio

With spatial audio, AirPods Pro 2 tracks your head movements and adjusts audio playback to simulate the effect of a 360-degree listening experience. For example, if you turn your head to the right, the sound from the left side will be stronger because your left ear is more “exposed” to the music “in front of you.” The AirPods Pro 2 also offer personalized spatial sound, with the iPhone using its TrueDepth camera system to scan your ear canal for a “more personalized sound.”

Spatial audio isn't a must and isn't for everyone, but it can enrich the music experience. While this feature works on some Android devices through the Apple Music app, it doesn't work consistently across all Android phones.


Optimization of AirPods controls

The third feature lost is the ability to customize AirPods controls. If you're paired with an iPhone, you can jump into Settings and change what a long press on the stem does. For example, you can assign the long press of the left mouse button to Siri, while you can hold the long press of the right mouse button to toggle between ANC and Transparency modes.

Find mine

The latter may be important for most people. The AirPods Pro 2 can connect to Apple's Find My network. If you allow this, you can track their location if they are moved. You can even set up notifications to appear on your iPhone when your AirPods Pro 2 are too far from your phone.


While these are the top four features you're missing out on, there are a few more that might bother you. For example, if you use AirPods paired with an iPhone, you can perform an earbud fit test to get the best possible seal. This doesn't work on Android. More importantly, automatic firmware updates on most Android phones don't work via the cloud. You may need to resort to a manual update via a computer instead.

Should you buy an AirPods Pro 2 if you don't own an Apple device at all?

Let's not beat around the bush. The AirPods Pro 2 are fantastic wireless earbuds that sound great with almost any device. Whether you have an iOS-only device or prefer Android over Apple, features like powerful ANC, adaptive transparency and voice control can be accessed and enjoyed with any paired phone, tablet or computer. Of course, if you want to keep all of your core technology in the same ecosystem, there are plenty of other wireless earbuds on the market.


In fact, both Samsung and Google make excellent wireless headphones that compete with the AirPods Pro 2. There are also a number of third-party brands that make some pretty impressive ANC products that can pair with any mobile operating system.

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The Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 are wireless earbuds with Google's own Tensor A1 chip inside. They offer improved noise cancellation, a slightly different design and improved Bluetooth functions.

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Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro

The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are Samsung's premium earbuds that offer excellent noise cancellation, 3D audio support and more. IP57 water resistance makes them great for training, and the transparency mode lets you hear what's going on around you.

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