# GreenPods: reconstructing AirPods control on Android

> GreenPods is an Android app that reads AirPods BLE advertisements and offers Apple Accessory Protocol controls over L2CAP where available. Its protocol research records packet structures, transport requirements and captured device behavior for battery status, noise control, gestures and head tracking. The app exposes features according to the available Android Bluetooth path.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Protocol
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-06
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-08
- Original resource: <https://github.com/andrewkomkov/GreenPods>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/andrewkomkov/GreenPods/blob/cd171e59bdb36020578f364c6ae3445a24b63dab/docs/protocol-research.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/greenpods-airpods-protocol-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/greenpods-airpods-protocol-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/greenpods-airpods-protocol-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** Android 8.0 or later and Bluetooth LE are required; building needs JDK 21 and the Android SDK.
- **Prerequisites:** AAP controls depend on a recent Android system that permits the required authenticated L2CAP channel.
- **Limits:** AirPods Pro 3 heart-rate decoding is documented but not yet shipped as an app feature.
- **License:** MIT license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/andrewkomkov/GreenPods/blob/cd171e59bdb36020578f364c6ae3445a24b63dab/docs/protocol-research.md>
2. <https://github.com/andrewkomkov/GreenPods/blob/cd171e59bdb36020578f364c6ae3445a24b63dab/README.md>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.