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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 rename your AirPods

by Emily Long

You can change the name of your AirPods using your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. When you’re signed in to the same Apple Account on multiple devices, the new name is updated across devices, so you only have to rename them on one.

Your AirPods do need to be connected to your device while you change the name, and the feature works with iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, or later.

Here’s how to change the name of your AirPods.

  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 then tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen. Tap the current name and then enter a new name.
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app and click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). Enter a new name.

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

See also

Tag: Settings
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How to change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro

by Abigail Shilets

On iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can change the settings for your AirPods or AirPods Pro.

For example, you can change what happens when you double-tap your AirPods 1 or AirPods 2, set the microphone location for your AirPods, and turn automatic ear detection on or off. By default, a single press mutes and unmutes and a double press ends a call, but you can switch these actions. Newer models, like AirPods Pro 3, also let you turn charging case sounds on or off.

Change what the double tap, force sensor, or force sensor with volume swipe controls

You can change the action performed when you double-tap your AirPods 1 or AirPods 2, or when you press and hold the stem on AirPods 3, AirPods 4, AirPods 5, or AirPods Pro.

  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. Tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen.
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app and click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down).
  3. Below Press and Hold AirPods, choose Left or Right (if you don’t see those options, first choose Controls & Gestures). Choose the action you want performed every time you press and hold the stem.

Set the microphone location for your AirPods or AirPods Pro

  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. Tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen.
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app. Click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
  3. Choose Microphone (if you don’t see that option, first choose Audio & Routing) and choose one of the following:
    • Automatically Switch AirPods: Either of your AirPods can act as the microphone. If you use only one of them, it acts as the microphone.
    • Always Left AirPod or Always Right AirPod: The AirPod you choose becomes the microphone, even if you remove it from your ear or put it in the case.

Turn automatic ear detection on or off

Your AirPods automatically stop playing audio once you take them off and resume playback when they’re back on, but you can change this setting.

  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, tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen, and then turn Automatic Ear Detection on or off (if you don’t see that option, first tap Audio & Routing).
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app, click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), and then turn Automatic Ear Detection on or off (if you don’t see that option, first click Audio & Routing).

Change how you end a call or mute yourself with AirPods 3, AirPods 4, AirPods 5, or AirPods Pro

By default, you can double-press the stem on your AirPods once to end a call, and press once to mute and unmute. You can switch these actions.

  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 near the top of the screen. Tap Mute & Unmute or End Call (if you don’t see those options, first tap Controls & Gestures) and choose Press Once or Press Twice. The other option automatically switches.
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app and click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). Click the pop-up menu next to Mute & Unmute or the pop-up menu next to End Call (if you don’t see those options, first tap Controls & Gestures) and choose Press Once or Press Twice. The other option automatically switches.

Turn Camera Control on or off on AirPods 4, AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3

If you have AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4, or AirPods 5, you can change the action needed to take a photo or start or stop a video recording.

  1. Wear your AirPods, 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. Tap Camera Remote (if you don’t see that option, first tap Controls & Gestures) and then do one of the following:

    • Turn Camera Control on: Tap either Press Once or Press and Hold.

      Note: If you select Press Once, media control gestures are temporarily unavailable while you use a supported camera app. If you select Press and Hold, listening modes and Siri gestures are temporarily unavailable while you use a supported camera app.

    • Turn Camera Control off: Tap Off.

Pause audio when you fall asleep with AirPods 4, AirPods 5, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods Max 2

With AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Max 2, AirPods 4, or AirPods 5, audio can pause automatically when you fall asleep while you’re listening, and you choose whether that happens from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

  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, tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen, and turn on Pause Media When Falling Asleep (if you don’t see that option, first tap Audio & Routing).
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app, click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), and turn on Pause Media When Falling Asleep (if you don’t see that option, first click Audio & Routing).

Turn charging case sounds on or off for AirPods 4 (ANC), AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3

The charging case plays a sound when it pairs, charges, and more if you have AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 (ANC), or AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case. You can switch these sounds on or off.

  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, tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen, and then turn Enable Charging Case Sounds on or off (if you don’t see that option, first tap Audio & Routing).
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app, click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), and turn Enable Charging Case Sounds on or off (if you don’t see that option, first click Audio & Routing).

You can read our guide, Adjust the volume of sound effects for AirPods, to change the volume of the sound effects your AirPods play.

See also

Tag: Settings
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How to change settings for AirPods Max

by Dave Johnson

On iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can change the settings for AirPods Max. For example, you can customize the action performed when you turn the Digital Crown or press the listening mode button, and you can turn off automatic head detection.

You can also switch how you end a call and mute yourself. And if you have AirPods Max 2, you can turn Camera Control on or off and have audio pause automatically when you fall asleep while listening.

AirPods Max 2.

Change how the Digital Crown works

To increase the volume on AirPods Max, you can change which direction you turn the Digital Crown.

The location of the Digital Crown on the right headphone of AirPods Max 2.

  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. Tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen. Select Digital Crown (if you don’t see that option, first tap Controls & Gestures). Choose an option.
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app and then click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). On the right, select an option next to Increase Volume by Rotating Digital Crown (if you don’t see that option, first click Controls & Gestures).

Customize the listening mode button

You can press the listening mode button on the right headphone of AirPods Max 1 to switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode. With AirPods Max 2, you can switch between Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Adaptive Audio.

The location of the listening mode button on the right headphone of AirPods Max 2.

  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 then tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen. Select the modes you want to access with the listening mode button (if you don’t see that option, first tap Controls & Gestures). When you’re listening to audio with your device and you press the listening mode button on AirPods Max, it cycles through all the options you selected on your device.
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app and click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). On the right, select an option next to Press and Hold to Cycle Between (if you don’t see that option, first click Controls & Gestures). When you’re listening to audio with your Mac and you press the listening mode button on AirPods Max, it cycles through all the options you selected on your Mac.

Turn automatic head detection on or off

When you take off your AirPods Max, they automatically stop playing audio, then resume playback once you put them back on. That’s a setting you can change.

  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, tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen, and turn Automatic Head Detection on or off (if you don’t see that option, first tap Audio & Routing).
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app and click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). Turn Automatic Head Detection on or off (if you don’t see that option, first click Audio & Routing).

Change how you end a call and mute yourself with AirPods Max

By default, you can double-click the Digital Crown on your AirPods Max to end a call, and press once to mute and unmute. You can switch these actions.

  1. Wear your AirPods Max, and make sure they’re connected to your device.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • iPhone or iPad: Go to the Settings app. Tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen. Tap End Call or Mute & Unmute (if you don’t see those options, first tap Controls & Gestures). Choose Press Once or Press Twice. The other option automatically switches.
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app and then click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). On the right, select an option next to End Call or Mute & Unmute (if you don’t see those options, first click Controls & Gestures). The other option automatically switches.

Turn Camera Control on or off on AirPods Max 2

With AirPods Max 2, you can change the action that takes a photo or starts or stops a video recording.

  1. Wear your AirPods Max 2, and make sure they’re connected to your iPhone.
  2. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
  3. Tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen.
  4. Tap Camera Remote (if you don’t see that option, first tap Controls & Gestures) and then do one of the following:

    • Turn Camera Control on: Tap either Press Once or Press and Hold.

      Note: If you select Press Once, media control gestures are temporarily unavailable while you use a supported camera app. If you select Press and Hold, listening modes and Siri gestures are temporarily unavailable while you use a supported camera app.

    • Turn Camera Control off: Tap Off.

Pause audio when you fall asleep with AirPods Max 2

You can use your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to choose whether AirPods Max 2 automatically pause audio if you fall asleep while you’re listening.

  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, tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen, and turn on Pause Media When Falling Asleep (if you don’t see that option, first tap Audio & Routing).
    • Mac: Go to the System Settings app, click the name of your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), and turn on Pause Media When Falling Asleep (if you don’t see that option, first click Audio & Routing).

You can change the sound effects volume on your AirPods, too. For the steps, check out our article, Adjust the volume of sound effects for AirPods.

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

See also

Tag: Settings
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How to change advanced camera settings on your iPad

by Moses Johnson

You can manually adjust the focus and exposure, adjust the volume of the shutter sound, and change other settings on your iPad camera.

Before you take a photo, the camera automatically sets the focus and exposure, and face detection then balances the exposure across many faces. You can lock your own settings with AE/AF Lock, and a grid can help you straighten and compose your shot.

Here’s how to change advanced camera settings on your iPad.

Adjust the focus and exposure

Before you take a photo, the iPad camera automatically sets the focus and exposure, and face detection balances the exposure across many faces. To manually adjust the focus and exposure, follow these steps:

  1. Open Camera on your iPad.
  2. Tap the screen to show the automatic focus area and exposure setting (in yellow).
  3. Tap where you want to move the focus area.
  4. Next to the focus area, drag the Adjust Exposure button up or down to adjust the exposure.

    To lock your manual focus and exposure settings for upcoming shots, touch and hold the focus area until you see AE/AF Lock; tap the screen to unlock settings.

Use a grid to straighten your shot

To display a grid on the camera screen that can help you straighten and compose your shot, go to Settings > Camera, then turn on Grid.

The editing tools in the Photos app let you further align shots and adjust horizontal and vertical perspective after you take a photo. See our article, Straighten or tilt a photo or video, for details.

Save camera settings

  1. Open Settings, tap Camera, and then tap Preserve Settings.
  2. Turn on any of the following:

Adjust the shutter volume

  1. Open Camera on your iPad.
  2. Open Control Center and drag the volume slider up or down to change the shutter volume.
  3. Tap the screen outside of Control Center to go back to Camera.

    Note: The shutter doesn’t make a sound if Live Photos is turned on.

    Note: In some countries and regions, you can’t mute the shutter sound.

Turn Scene Detection off and on

Scene Detection, on supported models, can recognize what you’re photographing and apply a tailored look that brings out the best qualities in the scene.

Scene Detection is on by default. To turn off Scene Detection, go to Settings > Camera, then turn off Scene Detection.

Turn Lens Correction off and on

For more natural-looking results, the Lens Correction setting on supported models adjusts photos you take with the front camera or Ultra Wide camera.

Lens Correction is on by default. To turn off Lens Correction, go to Settings > Camera, then turn off Lens Correction.

Stop saving photos taken in Messages

Photos you take in the Messages app are automatically saved to your library in the Photos app.

To turn this feature off, go to Settings > Camera, then turn off Save Captures to Photo Library.

Tags: camera, Settings
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How to make your iPad your own

by Stacey Butler

You can tailor your iPad to your own interests and preferences. You can change the look of app icons and widgets on your Home Screen, personalize your Lock Screen, keep your favorite controls handy, turn on built-in accessibility features, and check your privacy settings.

You can choose between light, dark, clear, or tinted for app icons and widgets, and many iPad features, like Silent mode and timer, are always handy in Control Center. And accessibility features support your vision, mobility, hearing, speech, and cognitive needs.

A customized iPad Home Screen with widgets.

Customize your Home Screen

Choose a light, dark, clear, or tinted look and feel for the app icons and widgets on your Home Screen.

Touch and hold the background on any Home Screen page until the apps jiggle. Tap the Customize button, tap Customize, then choose options for your app icons and widgets. Tap the Large Apps button to make icons bigger or smaller. Tap the Customize button, then tap Edit Wallpaper to select a different background image.

A screen showing customization options for the iPad Lock Screen, including an image chosen from the photo library.

Personalize your Lock Screen

Touch and hold the Lock Screen, then tap the Add New button at the bottom of the screen. Browse the gallery of wallpaper options, then tap one to customize it. On supported models, you see options where the time adapts to what’s on your screen, and also spatial scenes with 3D effects.

A screen showing controls you can add to Control Center, such as Text Size, Dark Mode, and Quick Note.

Set your favorite controls

Many iPad features—like Silent mode and timer—are just a swipe away in Control Center. To quickly open Control Center, swipe down from the top-right corner.

To add controls, open Control Center, then tap the Add New button. Tap Add a Control, then swipe up to browse the controls gallery. When you see a control you want to add, tap it.

A Settings screen showing Accessibility options such as VoiceOver, Live Recognition, and Audio Descriptions.

Use built-in accessibility features

To support your vision, mobility, hearing, speech, and cognitive needs, iPad provides many accessibility features. They let you change text size, make the touchscreen easier to use, control iPad with just your voice, and more.

To customize these settings, go to the Settings app, then tap Accessibility.

A Settings screen showing Privacy & Security options such as Location Services and Tracking.

Check your privacy settings

iPad is designed to protect your data and your privacy. You can grant or deny apps permission to track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites.

To deny requests from apps to track your activity, go to the Settings app, tap Privacy & Security, tap Tracking, then turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track.

To make iPad even more your own, start with these guides:

Apple notes that the availability of features may vary depending on your country, region, and iPad model.

Tags: Home Screen, Settings
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How to keep the iPad display on longer

by Moses Johnson

You can choose how long the iPad display stays on before iPad locks automatically, and you can also prevent iPad from locking when it’s in use for a task like reading or following a recipe.

Many apps, like Maps, video players, and reading apps, keep iPad from locking while they’re in use. Delaying Auto-Lock may increase power consumption, though. And when you can’t change Auto-Lock, it may be because Guided Access is turned on.

Here’s how to keep the iPad display on longer.

Change when iPad automatically locks

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Display & Brightness and tap Auto-Lock.
  3. Choose a time interval.

Note: Delaying or preventing Auto-Lock may increase power consumption.

If you can’t change Auto-Lock, Guided Access might be turned on, and it disables Auto-Lock while it’s active. For more, see our guide, Set up Guided Access.

Keep the display on while using an app

When they’re actively being used, many apps, such as reading apps, video players, and Maps, keep iPad from locking automatically. There’s no need to change Auto-Lock for these apps.

If an app locks the screen when you don’t want it to, check whether the app has a setting to prevent Auto-Lock.

When iPad is connected to an external display or Stage Manager is on, your screen may stay on past your Auto-Lock setting. And while content is displayed on the external screen, iPad stays active.

See also

Tag: Settings
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How to manage storage on iPad

by Tyler Stephen

On iPad, you can check how much storage space is available and increase the available space by removing items you no longer need. Photos and videos, messages, downloaded videos, and apps are common sources of storage use, and iPad can automatically remove unused apps while keeping your data.

Check storage on your iPad

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap General and tap iPad Storage.

The top of the screen shows the available storage.

Remove items to increase storage

Common sources of storage use on iPad are listed below. To increase available storage, do any of the following:

  • Photos and videos: Back up your photos and videos to iCloud, then remove them from your device. See Back up and sync your photos and videos with iCloud.
  • Messages: Delete conversations and attachments you no longer need. See Delete messages and attachments in Messages.
  • Downloaded videos: Review videos you’ve downloaded for offline viewing in the TV app and other streaming apps, and remove ones you’ve already watched.
  • iCloud Drive Documents: Find and delete files you no longer need in the Files app. See Delete a file or folder.
  • App files: Some apps—such as Pages, Numbers, and Keynote—download files for offline use. Open each app and remove files you no longer need.
  • Apps: Delete apps you no longer use. Note that some iPad apps are larger than their iPhone equivalents. See Remove or delete apps.

Offload unused apps automatically

When storage is low, iPad can automatically remove unused apps while keeping your data. The app icon stays on your Home Screen with a cloud symbol—tap it to reinstall the app.

  1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap Apps, tap App Store, and turn on Offload Unused Apps.

Keep selected files

You can keep downloaded files from being removed if you always want to access them on your iPad. See our guide, Keep selected files downloaded.

See also

Tag: Settings
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How to change the name of your iPad

by Tyler Stephen

You can change the name of your iPad, which is used by iCloud, Bluetooth®, your Personal Hotspot, your computer, and AirDrop, which you use to send items to nearby Apple devices. To rename your iPad, you just clear the current name and enter a new name.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap General, tap About, and then tap Name.
  3. Tap the Clear Text button and enter a new name.

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Tag: Settings
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How to install and manage fonts on iPad

by Tyler Stephen

You can download fonts from the App Store app and use them in documents you create on iPad. You get an app containing fonts, then open the app to install them. You can manage your installed fonts later, too, and get other apps in the App Store.

Install fonts

  1. Open the App Store app on your iPad.
  2. Get an app containing fonts.
  3. Open the app to install the fonts.

Manage fonts

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPad.
  2. Tap General, then tap Fonts.

See also

Tags: App Store, Settings
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