Got a tip for us?

GeeksModo Story Archive - October 2026

The volume screen in Control Center showing the volume level for AirPods Pro. Below the volume indicator on the left are the different listening modes—Transparency, Adaptive, and Noise Cancellation. Adaptive Audio is selected.

How to customize Transparency mode for AirPods

You can customize Transparency mode for AirPods Pro, reduce ambient noise, adjust Own Voice Amplification, and use Conversation Boost.
The AirPods icon is selected on the right side of the menu bar on Mac. For AirPods Pro, Adaptive is selected below Listening Mode and Conversation Awareness is Off.

How to adjust listening mode settings on AirPods

You can adjust listening mode settings on AirPods to allow noise cancellation in one ear, use Conversation Awareness, and tune Adaptive Audio.
The volume screen in Control Center showing the volume level for AirPods Pro. Below the volume indicator on the left are the different listening modes—Transparency, Adaptive, and Noise Cancellation. Adaptive Audio is selected.

How to switch between listening modes on AirPods

You can switch between listening modes on AirPods, like Transparency, Adaptive, and Noise Cancellation, from your AirPods or your Apple devices.
AirPods Max 2.

How to change settings for AirPods Max

You can change AirPods Max settings on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, from the Digital Crown and listening mode button to head detection and call controls.
AirPods Pro 3 in their charging case.

How to tell which AirPods you have: every model by year

You can find out which AirPods you have by comparing release years, controls, and charging cases for every AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max model.
A screen from the Find My app on iPhone. The location of AirPods Pro is shown on a map of Cupertino, along with an address listed and the options Play Sound, Directions, and Settings.

How to find your AirPods

You can find your AirPods with Find My, turn on separation alerts, see them on a map, play a sound, and mark them as lost.
The volume screen in Control Center showing the volume level for AirPods Pro. Below the volume indicator, the Spatial Audio options are showing. The options are Off, Fixed, and Head Tracked.

How to control Spatial Audio and head tracking on AirPods

You can control Spatial Audio and head tracking on AirPods with iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV 4K, and set up Personalized Spatial Audio.
AirPods Pro 3 in their charging case.

How to restart, unpair, or reset your AirPods

You can restart, unpair, or reset your AirPods to factory settings if they aren't working right, on any AirPods model.
AirPods Pro 3 in their charging case.

How to pair AirPods with an Apple device

You can pair AirPods with an Apple device, like iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, or Apple Vision Pro, or connect AirPods Max with a cable.
AirPods Pro 2 in their charging case.

How to pair AirPods with a non-Apple device

You can pair AirPods with a non-Apple device, like an Android phone, and use them as a Bluetooth headset to listen and talk.