If you just purchased Apple’s new second-generation AirPods Pro, congratulations. The AirPods Pro 2 are my favorite gadget Apple released in 2022. There are plenty of airpods Pro 2 hacks you want to take advantage of.
Here are the best AirPods Pro 2 hacks to get you started.
Best airpods Pro 2 hacks of 2023
1. How to find your AirPods Pro if you lose them
The AirPods Pro 2 include Find My integration, so if they’re stolen or misplaced, you can track them down with the Find My app. AirPods can take advantage of the Find My network so you can leverage the iPhones, iPads, and Macs of other people to track down a lost set of AirPods wherever they end up, so long as the battery holds out.
You’re also going to want to make sure you enable “Notify When Left Behind” so you can get alerted right away if you’re out and about and forget your AirPods somewhere. To turn it on, open up the Find My app, tap on your AirPods in the list, and toggle on the “Notify When Left Behind” option. These Find My features also work for the AirPods Max.
The 2nd generation AirPods Pro have a built-in speaker that plays a sound so you can locate them when they are lost somewhere nearby. Here’s how to find airpods Pro:
- Open the Find My app.
- Tap the name of your AirPods (mine say Johnson’s AirPods Pro).
- Tap Play sound to help you find them.
- You can also see the location of your AirPods on a map by tapping Find.
2. How to charge your AirPods Pro
The 2nd generation AirPods Pro come with a MagSafe charging case. This means you can simply plop your AirPods down on a MagSafe wireless charging pad and your headphones will start charging. They can also charge on an Apple Watch charger. Simply put your case face up on top of the Apple Watch charger to juice up.
3. How to control the volume directly on your AirPods
Touch control on the AirPods Pro 2 allows you to lower or raise the volume by lightly swiping up or down on the stem of the AirPods.
When your finger is on the stem of the AirPods, you’ll feel an area where the material is no longer slippery but a bit indented. That’s the pad where you’ll swipe up or down to control the volume. This Airpods Pro 2 hack can come in handy when you’re listening to something while exercising, or cleaning and you don’t have easy access to your phone to control the volume.
4. How to switch between noise cancellation mode and transparency mode
This cool Airpods Pro 2 hack lets you switch between noise cancellation mode, which blocks a lot of outside noise, and transparency mode, which amplifies some noises around you. The transparency mode on the 2nd generation AirPods Pro is better than on the previous model. You can hear more of what’s going on around you.
To change your AirPods Pro 2 settings on your iPhone, follow the steps below:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap your AirPods name, which will appear at the top of the menu.
- Swipe between Noise Cancellation Off or Transparency Mode.
5. How to test the fit of your ear hacks
When you unwrap your new AirPods Pro, you’ll notice there are a few different ear hack sizes. To make sure you’re using the right ones, you can conduct a fit test. Follow the steps below:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on Ear hack Fit Test.
- Tap Continue.
- Pop your AirPods Pro in both ears so they’re comfortable. It’s best to do this test in a quiet environment.
- Press the Play button.
- Music will play for a few seconds and then you’ll receive the results which will let you know whether you have a good seal.
6. What are those two silver holes on the side of my new AirPods?
Those two silver holes on the side of your airpods Pro 2 case are another nifty feature that will help you make sure you don’t lose your headsets. You can attach a lanyard to these holes so you can wear your AirPods on your wrist or even your neck. The lanyards aren’t included, so you’ll have to buy them separately.
7. How to connect two AirPods to one iPhone or iPad
This Airpods Pro 2 hack is great for holiday travel. Imagine both your kids want to watch the same movie on the iPhone or iPad, each using their own set of AirPods.
Here’s how to connect two airpods to one Apple device:
- Connect your new AirPods Pro to your iOS device and begin playing the content you’re hoping to share.
- Tap the AirPlay button in Control Center on your iPhone or iPad, on the Lock Screen, or in the app that you’re using to watch content or stream music.
- Tap on Share Audio.
- If you’re sharing with someone who has AirPods or AirPods Pro, have them keep their AirPods inside the case and open the lid while they’re close to your Apple device. If the person you’re sharing with has AirPods Max, these don’t need to be inside the case. If you’re sharing with a Beats user, put those Beats in sharing mode and hold them close to your device.
- You should see your friend or family member’s headphones appear on your screen.
- Tap Share Audio again.
- That’s it! To stop sharing content, simply tap the check mark next to the headphones you want to disconnect.
8. Activate or Deactivate Automatic Device Switching
The AirPods Pro have a feature that allows them to automatically connect to whatever device is in active use, so if you swap from your iPhone to your Mac, the AirPods connection is meant to transition from one device to another as you do.
Automatic Switching can be useful, but there are instances where you might not want it turned on if it’s switching between devices inappropriately. You can manage it by following the steps below.
- Connect your AirPods to your iPhone.
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on your AirPods in the section located below the Apple ID.
- Tap on Connect to This iPhone.
- Choose ”When Last Connected to This iPhone” to turn automatic switching off, and choose ”Automatically” to turn it on.
With “Automatically” turned on, your AirPods Pro will connect to your iPhone when it’s in active use and your AirPods are in your ears. With “When Last Connected to This iPhone” selected, AirPods will only connect to the last connected device rather than the device in active use.
Please Note: you will need to disable Automatic Switching for each device connected to your iCloud account if you’re not a fan of the feature and want it off entirely. There’s no master toggle, with Apple handling it on a per-device basis.
9. How to turn on Announce Notifications on airpods
This Airpods Pro 2 hack lets the headsets announce all of your incoming notifications, including Messages thanks to Siri integration.
Here’s how to turn it on:
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Go into ”Notifications.”
- Tap on ”Announce Notifications.”
- Toggle on ”Announce Notifications.”
- Toggle on ”Headphones.”
With both Announce Notifications and Headphones toggled on, Siri will read out notifications from apps of your choice when you have the AirPods in, and will give you an opportunity to respond. So if you have an incoming text message, Siri will read it out and give you a chance to send out a reply, all hands-free.
You can select the apps that you want to use Announce Notifications with so you can get important readouts without having a deluge of notifications read to you by Siri.
10. How to Check Your AirPods Pro Battery Life
If you want to keep tabs on your AirPods battery life, there are mulhackle hacks to do so. Your AirPods Pro will show you battery level when you connect them to a device, or you can use the “Battery” widget on an iPhone or an iPad.
Siri can also tell you the level of your AirPods battery life, and if your AirPods are connected to your Apple Watch, the control center offers battery life information.
11. How To Use the Force Sensor to Control Playback on airpods Pro
If you’ve upgraded to the AirPods Pro 2 from the original AirPods, the AirPods 2, or if you’re new to AirPods entirely, you might not be familiar with the physical controls.
The AirPods Pro 2 features a built-in force sensor in the stem. The force sensor can be used for controlling media playback with different presses.
- Single press – Play/Pause audio
- Double press – Skip forward
- Triple press – Skip backward
- Press when there’s a call – Answer incoming call
- Double press on a call – Hang up
- Press and hold – Activate Siri or Swap Between ANC/Transparency
On AirPods Pro 2, Apple offers you the ability to customize what the long press force sensor gesture does because it can be set to Noise Control or Siri. The AirPods 3 do not have Active Noise Cancellation and are limited to Siri for the press-and-hold gesture.
12. How to Activate Spatial Audio on airpods Pro 2
This Airpods Pro 2 hack offers immersive three-dimensional sound, and it is able to follow the movement of the iPhone with supported audio and video. Spatial audio can be toggled on or off using the Control Center.
- With your AirPods Pro connected to your iPhone or iPad, open up the Control Center.
- On the volume slider, you should see a little icon that looks like the AirPods. If you don’t see it, reconnect your AirPods.
- Long press on the volume slider.
- Tap on the ”Spatial Audio” option.
- Choose between Off, Fixed, or Head Tracked (on supported devices).
Off will turn spatial audio off entirely, while Fixed will allow spatial audio to be used, but without head-tracking functionality. Head Tracked enables the full spatial audio feature with head tracking included.
You can also preview what spatial audio sounds like by connecting your AirPods to your phone, selecting them in the Bluetooth section of the Settings app, and choosing the ”Spatial Audio” option.
For an even more personalized experience, tap on Personalized Spatial Audio in the AirPods section of the Settings app with your AirPods connected. Your phone will use the TrueDepth camera to scan both of your ears for spatial audio that is customized to you.
Spatial audio works with the Apple TV app and Apple Music, but many third party apps also support it like Netflix, Disney , HBO Max, YouTube, and more.
13. Use Adaptive Transparency
The second-generation AirPods Pro have an expanded Transparency feature that is able to adjust to the sounds around you, toning down loud noises like construction work, sirens, and other disturbances while not blocking out all sound.
It is typically enabled by default, but if you want to turn it off or double check, follow the steps below.
- With the AirPods Pro 2 connected to your iPhone, navigate to the Settings app.
- Tap on AirPods Pro 2.
- Scroll down to Adaptive Transparency and toggle it on or off.
Adaptive Transparency will cut down on all loud sounds, so it is ideal for day to day use and also situations like concerts where the music might be loud enough to cause hearing damage.
14. How to Rename Your AirPods Pro
By default, your AirPods are named after you, as in Johnson’s AirPods Pro. If you want to name them something else, follow the steps below:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Go to Bluetooth.
- Tap the Info icon for your AirPods Pro, tap the Name field, and then type the new name.
- Tap Done to apply the change.
- Tap Back to return to the previous screen.
15. How to Change the Microphone Source on your airpods Pro
The AirPods Pro 2 come with a built-in microphone in both the left and right buds so you can make calls and talk to Siri. By default, the microphone can automatically switch between the two AirPods, but if you want to set the mic to a specific ear, follow the steps below:
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- Tap [Your AirPods info icon].
- Tap your Microphone.
- Change it from Automatic to Always Left AirPod or Always Right AirPod.
16. How to Reset AirPods Pro
If you are experiencing a problem connecting your AirPods or can’t get them to charge, before contacting Apple support, try the usual technology fix: turn them on and off again. To reset your AirPods Pro, follow the steps below:
- Place the airpods in their charging case, close the lid, and wait 30 seconds.
- Put them back in your ears.
- On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings.
- Tap on Bluetooth or Settings > [your AirPods].
- If your AirPods appear there as connected, tap the Info button and select Forget This Device and tap to confirm.
- Pair them again.
If they don’t appear as connected, put your AirPods in their case, but keep the lid open. Press and hold the setup button on the back of the case for about 15 seconds until the status light flashes amber and then white. Place your AirPods Pro close to your iPhone or iPad, and follow the steps on your device’s screen to reconnect.