[!WARNING]
librepods.org is not an official website of the LibrePods project. It inaccurately claims to be the official website of the project by claiming copyrights and using the LibrePods logo in the footer. And at the same time, they say that the project is not affiliated with the LibrePods project or its developers.
LibrePods allows you to use AirPods features that are exclusive to Apple devices. It implements the proprietary protocol used to exchange data between AirPods and Apple devices, enabling features like changing noise control modes, fast ear detection, accurate battery status, head gestures, conversational awareness, and more on non-Apple platforms.
Feature availability
Feature
Linux
Android
Changing Listening Mode
✅
✅
Ear detection
✅
✅
Battery status
✅
✅
Renaming AirPods Note for AndroidOn Android, you need to re-pair your AirPods after renaming them because Android might not use the latest name.
The following features related to Find My are planned, but require further RE and might need root on Android:
Add your AirPods to the Find My network
Play sound through charging case to find it
Notify when leaving behind
Toggle case charging sounds
Spatial Audio
The app does not currently provide head tracking information to Android for the OS to perform HRTF. This has not been explored completely, and it might need root.
Spatializing stereo sound is beyond this project's scope and will never be available. Many OEMs have an implementation of their own for this.
Heart Rate Monitoring (AirPods Pro 3 and later)
This is being worked upon, check the #reverse-engineering channel on the LibrePods Discord server for more information. If it is ever implemented, it will most likely need root on Android.
High quality two-way audio
On iOS/iPadOS, you can continue using A2DP while AirPods send the audio stream from its microphone over AACP.
Since this needs deeper integration with audio on Android, it will most likely need root.
Turns out, if you change the VendorID in DID Profile to that of Apple, you get access to several special features!
You can do this on Linux by editing the DeviceID in /etc/bluetooth/main.conf. Add this line to the config file DeviceID = bluetooth:004C:0000:0000. For android you can enable the act as Apple device setting in the app's settings (shown only when Xposed is available and LibrePods module is enabled).
Multi-device Connectivity
Upto two devices can be simultaneously connected to AirPods, for audio and control both. Seamless connection switching. The same notification shows up on Apple device when Android takes over the AirPods as if it were an Apple device ("Move to iPhone"). Android also shows a popup when the other device takes over.
Accessibility Settings and Hearing Aid
Accessibility settings like customizing transparency mode (amplification, balance, tone, conversation boost, and ambient noise reduction), and loud sound reduction can be configured.
All hearing aid customizations can be done from Android (linux soon), including setting the audiogram result. The app doesn't provide a way to take a hearing test because it requires much more precision. It is much better to use an already available audiogram result.
Protocol and Reverse Engineering
Please refer to the Wireshark dissector plugin by Nojus (@pabloaul) for more information on the protocols used: pabloaul/apple-wireshark
The dissector had not been used in LibrePods for most of the implementation; I had reverse engineered the protocol myself before this dissector was made. But many (future) features including two-way high quality audio and spatial audio would not have been possible without their RE efforts!
Use of AI
Android app
These parts of the app were completely AI-generated:
Head Gestures - all of it, including logic and the UI
The offset setup with r2+the xposed module (both versions)
Troubleshooter and LogCollector
Rest everything- the background service, the Bluetooth manager classes (AACP and ATT), the entire UI, even the smallest components were written manually.
The aacp.rs and the att.rs files were translated from Kotlin to Rust with AI. Some parts of the media_controller.rs file, mainly the pulse integration, was also AI-generated.
Supporters
A huge thank you to everyone supporting the project!
Of course, everyone who has contributed to the project in any way, including by testing, sharing feedback, or just showing interest!
Alternates for other platforms:
CAPod - A companion app for AirPods on Android. (play store | source code). Use this if you're using Android version 16 QPR3 or below and are not rooted.
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
GNU General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with this program. If not, see https://www.gnu.org/licenses/.
Trademark Notice
The GPL does not grant any rights to use the LibrePods name, logo, or branding. The LibrePods name and logo may not be used for software, websites, domains, products, services, or other projects in a manner that suggests affiliation with, endorsement by, or association with the official LibrePods project without prior permission.
If you see any misuse of the LibrePods name or logo, please report it to [email protected].
The SF Pro font used in the Android app is the property of Apple Inc.. This will be removed in future versions of the app and replaced with an open alternative soon.
AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and the AirPods logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. The LibrePods project is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc. in any way.
librepods (librepods-org/librepods)
Choose a tag and it will appear here. With no tags selected, all catalog projects are shown.
Searching Database…
Choose a tag and it will appear here. With no tags selected, all catalog projects are shown.
LibrePods 是一款应用，可以在 Linux 和 Android 上解锁原本只有苹果设备才能用的 AirPods 功能——降噪模式切换、入耳检测、电量显示、头部手势、对话感知等等。