Why the Bluetooth menu disappoints
Many speakers solve Android playback with Bluetooth pairing. HomePod does not. Bluetooth is involved in setup and nearby-device behavior, but it is not exposed as the simple Android audio output most users expect.
That is why searching for the HomePod in Android Bluetooth settings usually leads nowhere useful for music playback.
The better route: Wi-Fi audio
HomePod was made for network audio. When Android users want to play to it, the missing piece is not pairing, it is sending audio over the local network.
Bridge Audio provides that sender behavior for Android. It discovers compatible targets on Wi-Fi and streams allowed phone audio to the speaker you select.
When Bluetooth still matters
Bluetooth can still appear around HomePod setup, handoff and Apple ecosystem features. That does not mean Android can use the HomePod as a normal Bluetooth output.
For daily listening from Android, treat HomePod as a Wi-Fi speaker and test the local streaming path instead.
What to do if you bought HomePod for Android
Keep the HomePod on the same Wi-Fi as your phone, install Bridge Audio, and run a free test stream. If your receiver, network and Android capture path work, you can unlock unlimited playback.
If your network blocks discovery or your main content app blocks capture, Bluetooth will not fix that. The limitation is in the playback route, not the speaker name.