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AirPods

How to play audio on AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max

by Tyler Stephen

When you’re wearing your AirPods, you can use controls to play, pause, or skip audio playing on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV device, or Apple Watch. The controls depend on your model, and AirPods Max use the Digital Crown. On some models, you can also lightly swipe on the stem to adjust the volume.

Play and pause audio

Quick tip: On AirPods Max 2, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, or AirPods 5, audio can pause automatically when you fall asleep while listening. To choose that from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV device, see our article, Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro.

  1. Wear one or both AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your device.
  2. Go to an audio app and then play something—for example, a song in the Music app or an audiobook in the Books app.
  3. To pause or stop the audio, do one of the following:

    • AirPods 1 or 2: To pause audio while listening with both AirPods, remove one. When you return it to your ear, playback resumes automatically.

      Note: You can also set either of your AirPods to pause when you double-tap it, then resume playback when you double-tap it again. See Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro.

    • AirPods 3, 4, or 5, or AirPods Pro: To pause audio while listening with both AirPods, remove one. You can also press the stem to pause audio.

      When you return it to your ear or press the stem again, playback resumes.

    • AirPods Max: Press the Digital Crown. Press it again to resume playback.

      You can also remove AirPods Max from your head to pause or stop audio.

Your AirPods or AirPods Pro play and stop audio automatically, but you can turn off automatic ear detection if you don’t want that. For AirPods Max, you can turn off automatic head detection instead.

Skip tracks

In many audio apps, your AirPods can skip to another track, like the next song in Apple Music or the previous episode in the Podcasts app.

  • AirPods 1: You can set your AirPods to skip forward or backward when you double-tap. See Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro.
  • AirPods 2: Your AirPods are automatically set to skip to the next track when you double-tap.

    To customize the double-tap action, see Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro.

  • AirPods 3, 4, or 5, or AirPods Pro: Double-press the stem on either of your AirPods to skip to the next track.

    To skip backward, triple-press the stem.

  • AirPods Max: Double-click the Digital Crown to skip to the next track.

    To skip backward, triple-click the Digital Crown.

Adjust the volume on AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, AirPods Pro 2, and AirPods Pro 3

With the force sensor with volume swipe, you can lightly swipe up or down on the stem to adjust the volume.

Rather not control the volume by swiping on the stem? Then turn off that setting. Check out our article, Change force sensor, force sensor with volume swipe, or button settings for AirPods, for the steps.

Check and limit your headphone levels

Your iPhone or iPad can monitor and limit the volume of your AirPods.

This guide is for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, or later.

See also

Tags: Audio, Controls & Gestures
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How to get started with accessibility features on AirPods

by Moses Johnson

Your AirPods have built-in accessibility features that can improve your listening experience, whether you’re listening to your favorite music or trying to hear a conversation in a crowded room. Some settings apply to all headphones, and others are just for your AirPods.

The Hearing Devices screen in Control Center. From top to bottom, it includes the Headphone Level in decibels, Hearing Assistance, Background Sounds, and Live Listen.

To get started, here are a few ways your AirPods can help:

Play background sounds

Calming background sounds can help you relax or focus, and you can choose from a list of them, like Rain or Ocean, and adjust the volume. For the steps, check out our article, Play background sounds.

Customize Transparency mode

While you’re listening to music, podcasts, and more on AirPods Pro, it’s possible to hear sounds around you with Transparency mode. You can also adjust the ambient noise you hear in it and turn on Conversation Boost to help you pick out conversations from background noise. For more, read our guide, Use and customize Transparency mode.

Hear across the room

With Live Listen, your iPhone or iPad acts as a microphone, sending sound straight to your AirPods, even from across the room. It’s a way to hear a lecture from the back row of the classroom or a conversation in a crowded room. For the steps, see our article, Use Live Listen.

Adjust AirPods control settings

You can adjust the settings for the button, force sensor, or force sensor with volume swipe on your AirPods to make them easier for you to use, such as how long you need to hold the force sensor before an action occurs. See Change force sensor, force sensor with volume swipe, or button settings.

Change accessibility settings

Once AirPods are set up, you can adjust accessibility settings. Headphone accommodations, for example, apply to all headphones, while others, like Transparency, are just for your AirPods.

Choose any of these features:

Tag: accessibility
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How to customize EQ on AirPods

by Tyler Stephen

When you use supported models with iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can personalize the sound signature of your AirPods with a three-band equalizer. You get Low, Mid, and High sliders to work with.

Your custom EQ is stored on your AirPods, so it carries over to any other paired devices, and you can go back to Recommended at any time.

iPhone screen showing Equalizer set to Custom, with Low, Mid, and High sliders below.

  1. Wear your AirPods, and make sure they’re connected to your device.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • iPhone or iPad: Go to the Settings app and tap the name of your AirPods at the top of the screen. Tap Audio & Routing, tap Equalizer, and then tap Custom. Drag the Low, Mid, and High sliders up or down to adjust the EQ.
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app and click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). Click Audio & Routing, click Equalizer, and then click Custom. Drag the Low, Mid, and High sliders up or down to adjust the EQ.

Note: Your Custom EQ settings live on your AirPods, so they carry over to any other paired devices. When you’d like to turn off Custom EQ, choose Recommended instead of Custom.

See also

Tags: Audio, Settings
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How to track your heart rate during workouts with AirPods Pro 3

by Dave Johnson

AirPods Pro 3 were designed with fitness in mind. They feature in-ear heart rate monitoring sensors that help you track your heart rate and calories burned during workouts.

When you work out with AirPods Pro 3, you can track heart rate data with the Fitness app on your iPhone, with Apple Fitness+ on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV device, or with third-party fitness apps on your iPhone or iPad. That works even if you’re connected to a different Apple device for audio. For example, if your AirPods Pro 3 are connected to an Apple TV 4K so you can watch your favorite show while you work out, your iPhone still receives the heart rate data.

Here’s what you need to know about heart rate tracking with AirPods Pro 3.

For the best experience, make sure that you have the right fit with AirPods Pro 3.

On AirPods Pro 3, the heart rate sensor blinks, then a heart rate value scrolls onto the screen with a beating heart next to it. The heart rate increases.

Turn AirPods Pro 3 in-ear heart rate monitoring on or off

  1. Wear your AirPods Pro 3, and make sure they’re connected to your iPhone.
  2. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  3. Tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen.
  4. Turn Heart Rate on or off (if you don’t see that option, first tap Privacy).

View your heart rate during workouts in Fitness or third-party apps

You can see your heart rate during workouts in third-party apps on your iPhone or iPad, in the Fitness app on your iPhone, or in Apple Fitness+ on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV device.

  1. Wear your AirPods Pro 3, and make sure they’re connected to your device.

    Note: AirPods Pro 3 support heart rate monitoring when you’re wearing just one of your AirPods.

  2. Go to the Fitness app or third-party workout app.

    Note: If you choose to use a third-party workout app, you must give permission for the app to read heart rate data, and to read and record workouts. This step is only necessary the first time you use the app with Apple Health.

  3. Start your workout in the Fitness app or a third-party app.

    Your heart rate appears in the app as you work out.

    If the heart rate appears as dashes or is dimmed, your AirPods Pro 3 are getting a poor reading. Check the fit of your AirPods Pro 3 and make sure they’re connected, then try again.

  4. To stop heart rate monitoring in the app, end your workout.

    You can view heart rate data for your workout when you tap the session in the Summary tab of the Fitness app on your iPhone or in the third-party app on your iPhone or iPad.

How AirPods Pro 3 measure your heart rate

AirPods Pro 3 continuously measure your heart rate during workouts in the Fitness app or supported third-party apps. No heart rate showing? Check your AirPods settings and how your AirPods fit.

Wear an Apple Watch along with AirPods Pro 3 during your workout, and they’ll work together, giving you multiple streams of heart rate data for even better coverage. Whichever source has the highest confidence in the moment automatically provides the heart rate data.

Get the most accurate measurements using AirPods Pro 3

AirPods Pro 3 heart rate and motion sensor data is sent to your iPhone to calculate metrics like calories burned, steps, and distance for your workouts. To get the most accurate measurements, try any of the following:

  • Check the fit: If there isn’t good contact between the heart rate sensors on AirPods Pro 3 and the skin inside your ear, you may get a poor recording. See Find the right fit with AirPods Pro.

    Note: The correct ear tip size for acoustic seal and heart rate recording may be different. Make sure you choose the correct size so that the heart rate sensors on AirPods Pro 3 have good contact with the skin inside your ear. See Check the fit and choose the best ear tip size.

  • Keep your Health app data up to date: Your data from the Health app on your iPhone or iPad—such as your height, weight, gender, and age—together with heart rate and motion sensor data from AirPods Pro 3 is used to calculate how many calories you burn, and more.
  • Clean your AirPods: For the best heart rate monitoring results, clean AirPods Pro 3 regularly.
  • Consider environmental factors: Cold weather can reduce blood flow in your ears, making it harder for the heart rate sensor to get accurate readings. If you’re exercising in the cold, for example, the skin perfusion in your ear might be too low for the heart rate sensor to get a reading.
  • Check for ear conditions or modifications: Earwax buildup, moisture, skin conditions, or ear piercings around your ear can interfere with the sensor’s contact with your skin. Metal jewelry from piercings may also affect sensor performance. If you have ear piercings near where your AirPods Pro 3 sit, try temporarily removing jewelry to see whether readings improve.
  • Account for individual differences: Skin blood flow (how much blood flows through your skin) varies significantly from person to person and can be affected by your environment and activity level. Blood flow in your ears changes based on these factors, which can impact sensor performance.

See also

Tags: Fitness, Health
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How to find the right fit with AirPods Pro

by Kevin Hollington

Finding the right fit with AirPods Pro ensures all-day comfort and delivers the best sound and noise cancellation. If you have AirPods Pro 3, a good fit also enables accurate heart rate readings.

AirPods Pro come with multiple ear tip sizes. You might prefer a smaller or larger size than the one preinstalled, or a different size in each ear. And if you’re not sure which tips work best, a test on your iPhone or iPad measures the acoustic seal for you.

Here’s what you need to know about getting the right fit with AirPods Pro.

Note: For fit guidance on another AirPods model, check out our article, Find the right fit with AirPods 3, AirPods 4, or AirPods 5.

Learn about AirPods Pro fit

When AirPods Pro fit properly, they should:

  • Feel comfortable and secure during all-day wear.
  • Create a good acoustic seal for optimal sound quality and noise cancellation. To learn which tips suit you best, you can test the acoustic seal of your AirPods Pro.
  • For AirPods Pro 3 only, maintain good skin contact with the sensor for accurate heart rate readings.

Place AirPods in your ears

An animation of AirPods Pro 3 being inserted into the ear.

  1. Gently insert the ear tip into your ear canal opening.

    Each of your AirPods is marked with either L (left) or R (right).

  2. Rotate the stem toward your face.
  3. Press gently to secure the fit, adjusting the rotation and angle of each of your AirPods.

Check the fit and choose the best ear tip size

To get the best fit, AirPods Pro include several ear tip sizes, and AirPods that fit properly feel snug and secure without excessive pressure. Size M tips come preinstalled on all AirPods Pro, though a smaller or larger size might suit you better, or even a different size for each ear.

  1. To check the ear tip fit, wear your AirPods for 10 to 15 minutes during normal activity, such as walking.
  2. Observe how they feel in your ears.

    AirPods ear tips that are too small feel loose or fall out when you move your head. AirPods ear tips that are too big feel compressed or uncomfortable.

  3. If you experience any of the above, try a different size.

    See Remove and attach ear tips on AirPods Pro.

Test the acoustic seal of your AirPods Pro

A test on your iPhone or iPad can measure the acoustic seal of your AirPods Pro, which helps when you’re not sure which included ear tips give the best fit for sound.

An iPhone screen displaying a test to measure the acoustic seal of AirPods Pro 3.

  1. Wear your AirPods Pro, and make sure they’re connected to your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  3. Tap the name of your AirPods Pro near the top of the screen.
  4. Tap Test Acoustic Seal or Ear Tip Fit Test and then follow the onscreen instructions.

When the test suggests changes, start by adjusting the position of your AirPods Pro in your ears. Get the same result when you take the test again? Try a different size ear tip, since you might need different sizes for your left and right ears.

Optimize the fit of AirPods Pro 3 for accurate heart rate recording

For accurate readings, the built-in heart rate sensor in AirPods Pro 3 needs good skin contact. That’s why they come with five ear tip sizes.

Note: The ear tip size that’s best for acoustic seal may not be the best one for heart rate sensor accuracy.

The sensors on AirPods Pro 3 need to touch the skin inside your ear for good heart rate sensor contact, and your AirPods should feel snug but not tight.

An animation of AirPods Pro 3 being inserted into the ear so that there's good heart rate sensor contact.

When heart rate recordings seem inaccurate or are intermittent, try the following:

  • Try a different ear tip size. See Remove and attach ear tips on AirPods Pro.
  • Check that the heart rate sensors are clean and dry.
  • Use a mirror to check that AirPods Pro are fully inserted and the heart rate sensor makes contact with the skin inside your ear.

For more information, see Get the most accurate heart rate measurements using AirPods Pro 3.

See also

Tag: Fit & Comfort
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How to remove and attach ear tips on AirPods Pro

by Tyler Stephen

Your AirPods Pro come with additional ear tips in the box, so you can change ear tip sizes to find the right fit. The ear tip sizes that come with your AirPods Pro depend on the model you have, and AirPods Pro 3 include the most, from XXS to L.

Just remember that ear tips are not interchangeable between models. When you change one, the old tip comes straight off, and the new one clicks into place on the oval-shaped connector.

Here’s how to remove and attach ear tips on your AirPods Pro.

  • AirPods Pro 3: Includes sizes XXS, XS, S, M, and L.
  • AirPods Pro 2: Includes sizes XS, S, M, and L.
  • AirPods Pro 1: Includes sizes S, M, and L.

Quick tip: If you’re not sure what size ear tips are on your AirPods, gently unroll the edge of an ear tip and look for the size.

Remove an ear tip

  1. Hold one of your AirPods Pro firmly in one hand.
  2. Using the fingers of your other hand, grip the ear tip where it connects to the AirPod.

    Tip: If you need more grip, use a clean lint-free cloth to grip the ear tip for better traction, or gently roll the soft rubber edge of the ear tip inside out.

  3. Pull the ear tip straight out using steady pressure.

Attach an ear tip

  1. Line up the ear tip with the oval-shaped connector.
  2. Push the ear tip on from the base until you feel and hear it click into place.
  3. Gently tug the ear tip to make sure it’s secure.

See also

Tag: Fit & Comfort
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How to get information about your AirPods

by Emily Long

If you need information about your AirPods, like the model name, serial number, or firmware version, your iPhone, iPad, or Mac can show it while you wear your AirPods. It’s in Settings on iPhone or iPad, and in System Settings on a Mac.

Some information is also printed directly on your AirPods. The serial and model numbers are on the underside of each AirPod, or underneath the left cushion if you have AirPods Max.

  • iPhone or iPad: Wear your AirPods, go to the Settings app, then tap the name of your AirPods at the top of the screen.
  • Mac: Wear your AirPods, go to the System Settings app, then click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
  • On your AirPods: Look for the serial and model numbers on the underside of each of your AirPods, or underneath the left cushion of your AirPods Max.

See also

Tag: Getting Started
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How to listen and respond to messages with AirPods

by Stacey Butler

You can use your AirPods 2, AirPods 3, AirPods 4, AirPods 5, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max to listen to messages from your iPhone or iPad. When your device is locked and your AirPods are connected to it, Siri can read the message when it arrives.

You can also reply. After using Siri to read a message, you can respond with your voice, and you’re asked for confirmation before it’s sent, unless you choose to send replies without waiting.

Here’s how to have Siri announce your messages on your AirPods, how to reply, and how to dismiss them.

Turn on Announce Notifications for Messages

Once you turn on Announce Notifications, Siri can announce and read your messages.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Tap Notifications, and make sure Announce Notifications is turned on.
  3. Below Announce Notifications From, tap Messages. Then turn on Announce Notifications.

Reply to a message

After using Siri to read a message, say something like “Reply that’s great news.”

Your message is repeated, and you’re asked for confirmation before it’s sent.

Reply without waiting for confirmation

Siri repeats what you said in apps where you can send a reply, like the Messages app, then asks for confirmation before sending it. If you’d rather skip that, you can choose to send replies without waiting for confirmation.

  • iPhone or iPad: Go to the Settings app, then tap Notifications. Tap Announce Notifications, then turn on Reply Without Confirmation.
  • Apple Watch: Go to the Settings app, then tap Siri. Tap Announce Notifications, then turn on Reply Without Confirmation.

Dismiss notifications from Siri

This guide is for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, or later.

See also

Tags: Messages, Siri
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How to share audio with AirPods and Beats headphones on Apple TV 4K

by Moses Johnson

You can keep the noise down on Apple TV 4K by sending audio to up to two pairs of compatible Apple wireless headphones, such as AirPods or compatible Beats headphones. It all starts in Control Center on Apple TV 4K, with Share Audio, which walks you through pairing the second pair of headphones.

  1. Press and hold the TV Control Center button on the Siri Remote to open Control Center and then go to the AirPods icon at the top of the screen (next to the time display).

    The top-right part of Control Center on Apple TV 4K. AirPods appear to the right of the time.

  2. Select Share Audio and then follow the onscreen instructions to pair the second pair of headphones.

This guide is for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, or later.

See also

Tag: Audio Sharing
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