LibrePods App Adds AirPods Features to Android on Play Store

Android users can now access a wider range of Apple AirPods features through the LibrePods app, newly available on the Google Play Store without requiring device rooting.

The open-source LibrePods application, developed by Kavish Devar, enables functionalities previously limited to Apple's ecosystem, such as precise battery level reporting, automatic ear detection, noise control modes including Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency and Adaptive options, conversational awareness that reduces volume during speech, head gestures for calls, and customizable press-and-hold actions on the earbuds. Basic audio playback and touch controls have long worked via standard Bluetooth pairing, but advanced features were inaccessible on non-Apple devices.

This expanded compatibility stems from recent Android updates addressing Bluetooth stack limitations. Google included the fix in Android 16 QPR3, released to Pixel phones in March, with OnePlus, Oppo and Realme incorporating it into their Android 16 builds based on ColorOS or OxygenOS. The change will extend to Android 17 for broader device support, including Samsung Galaxy models. As a result, LibrePods no longer needs root access or the...