Losing your AirPods can be an incredibly frustrating experience, made worse by the prospect of shelling out a significant sum for a replacement. Fortunately, there’s a glimmer of hope you might just be able to locate your misplaced AirPods. Surprisingly, How to Track AirPods on Android; even Android users can join in the quest to find their lost AirPods. The possibility of a more wallet-friendly solution adds a silver lining to an otherwise distressing situation.
What Is the Difference Between Finding AirPods on Android and iOS?
The enhanced features of Apple’s exclusive AirPods are tailored to seamlessly integrate with devices powered by Apple silicon chips. These specialized functions extend compatibility to a range of Apple products, encompassing Apple TVs, Apple Watches, iPhones from the 5s onward, MacBooks from 2015 onward, and iPads from the 3rd generation onward.
Regrettably, when using AirPods with Android devices, the full spectrum of advanced features is not accessible. Notably, features like Apple’s Find My App remain exclusive to the Apple ecosystem.
Nevertheless, there are alternative methods for locating your AirPods using Android devices, and these will be detailed later.
Battery Life: The techniques outlined can only be employed if your AirPods are powered on and still retain some battery life.
Distance: To successfully utilize an Android device for locating your missing AirPods, you must be within a range of 30-75 feet.
Case: Whether your AirPods are outside the case or nestled in an open case matters. Once the case is closed, they automatically power off, rendering the tracking methods ineffective.
How to Find AirPods on Android?
Now that we’ve clarified the prerequisites, let’s delve into some of the most effective methods for locating your misplaced AirPods using an Android device.
Use iCloud account
The most straightforward method to locate misplaced AirPods involves accessing your iCloud account. Apple asserts that as long as your AirPods continue emitting signals to nearby Apple devices, they can still provide the latest data on their approximate location, even when not actively connected.
Step 1: Open the browser on your Android smartphone and navigate to the Find My page on iCloud.
Step 2: Log in to your iCloud account.
Step 3: Locate and tap on your AirPods.
Step 4: Choose “Play Sound” to initiate audio playback on your AirPods.
Use the “Find My Device” Feature
For those utilizing a Google account, the “Find My Device” feature on your Android phone can be harnessed to locate missing AirPods. This versatile function not only helps in locating your phone but also extends its capabilities to other connected devices.
Step 1: Access the “Find My Device” app on your Android phone by logging into your Google account.
Step 2: Select your AirPods from the list of devices presented.
Step 3: If your AirPods are within range, a map displaying their location will be visible. Utilize this map as a navigational aid to pinpoint the whereabouts of your AirPods.
Use Android Bluetooth
Even if your AirPods aren’t linked to an iCloud account, you can still locate them by connecting your Android device to Bluetooth. However, to ensure the effectiveness of this method, a few additional requirements must be met, in addition to those mentioned earlier:
Prior Pairing: The Android device must have been previously paired with the AirPods. (Refer to instructions on how to connect AirPods for more details.)
Single AirPod Loss: This approach is viable only if you’ve misplaced one of your AirPods; it may not be as effective for locating both.
Finding AirPods on Android vs iOS: What’s the Difference?
As Apple’s exclusive earphones, AirPods are designed to unlock their full suite of extra features only when paired with devices equipped with Apple’s proprietary silicon chips. This exclusive compatibility extends to iPhone models from the 5s and later, MacBooks from 2015 onward, iPads from the 3rd generation onward, Apple Watches, and Apple TVs.
Battery Life and Power: These methods for finding your AirPods are applicable only when they are turned on and still possess some battery life.
Proximity: To successfully locate lost AirPods using an Android device, you need to be within a range of 30-75 feet.
Case: Your AirPods must be either outside of the case or situated within an open case, as they automatically power off when the case is closed. Adhering to these conditions ensures the efficacy of the tracking methods.
Can You Use AirPods on Android?
Contrary to popular belief, AirPods are indeed compatible with almost any Android phone or tablet. Despite being designed with Apple products in mind, as long as Bluetooth is enabled, AirPods can connect to a wide range of devices, irrespective of the operating system.
While certain functionalities, such as Siri, customized double tap actions, and single AirPod listening, may not be fully available on Android, the core function of audio playback remains accessible. In essence, you can still use AirPods to listen to audio on your Android device, expanding their versatility beyond the Apple ecosystem.
Use Your Phone as a Radar
If you find yourself with only one AirPod and have a general idea of where you lost the other, you can employ your phone to narrow down the search area further.
Navigate to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth on your phone.
Use the AirPod you still have to put the missing one in Pairing Mode.
Allow your phone to search for nearby Bluetooth devices.
Once your phone connects, you’ll know that you are within approximately 30 feet of the lost AirPod. It’s important to ensure that both AirPods have sufficient battery charge for this method to work. Keep in mind that this approach is not limited to AirPods and can be used for any wireless headphones utilizing Bluetooth. However, if both headphones are missing, you won’t be able to activate pairing mode.
Never Lose Your AirPods Again
Indeed, the convenience of wireless headphones, while undeniable, comes with the challenge of their small size, making them prone to getting misplaced. The methods outlined above offer practical solutions for locating lost AirPods when such situations arise. Having a proactive plan for recovering any mobile device, including wireless headphones, is a wise practice to minimize the stress and inconvenience associated with such occurrences.
Conclusion
Losing your AirPods can indeed be a significant challenge, considering the inherent convenience of these truly wireless earphones. Their relatively higher cost compared to other wireless earbuds adds to the concern when they go missing. It’s only natural to invest extra effort in searching for them.
Fortunately, the methods provided above offer potential solutions for tracking your lost AirPods, even when using an Android device. Implementing these strategies can hopefully ease the stress associated with losing such valuable and convenient accessories.