librepods

LibrePods aims to free AirPods from Apple's ecosystem by implementing the proprietary protocol AirPods use to exchange data with Apple devices. This lets non-Apple platforms access features such as changing listening/noise control modes, fast ear detection, accurate battery status, head gestures, conversational awareness, renaming, automatic connection and various accessibility settings. Platform support is split between Linux and Android, with a feature availability table in the README. Both platforms list working support for changing listening mode, ear detection, battery status, renaming, conversational awareness and automatic connection. Android additionally lists head gestures and a range of accessibility and general configuration options (press speed, press-and-hold duration, single-AirPod noise cancellation, swipe volume control, call controls, personalized volume, microphone side, and more). Several features are marked as not yet implemented or planned, including loud sound reduction, hearing aid, transparency mode customization, head-tracked spatial audio, Find My, heart rate monitoring and high-quality two-way audio. Some entries require VendorID spoofing (setting the Bluetooth DeviceID to an Apple identifier) and are flagged as use-at-your-own-risk; others may require root on Android. The project documents its reverse-engineering work and points to a Wireshark dissector plugin (pabloaul/apple-wireshark) for protocol details. It also discloses where AI was used: parts of the Android app (head gestures, offset setup with the Xposed module, troubleshooter and log collector) and the Rust rewrite files aacp.rs, att.rs and parts of media_controller.rs. Installation instructions are provided separately for Android and Linux. The README notes alternatives for other platforms (CAPod for Android, MagicPods for Steam Deck and Windows) and includes a trademark notice clarifying that the project is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc. The code is licensed under GPL-3.0-or-later, with a separate trademark notice restricting use of the LibrePods name and logo.