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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteConnect your AirPods, then open Settings and tap their name near the top of the screen. From there, you can change controls, microphone and playback behavior, and—on supported models—listening modes. The available options depend on your AirPods model and iOS version.
Where to find AirPods settings on iPhone
Connect your AirPods to your iPhone; some options appear only while the earbuds are worn. Open Settings and tap the AirPods name near the top. Alternatively, go to Settings > Bluetooth, then tap the More Info button beside your connected AirPods. If you cannot find a control, check the Audio & Routing or Controls & Gestures sections. [Apple’s AirPods settings guide]
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Settings are not identical across generations. A control described below may be absent if your model does not support it, or if your iPhone’s software presents it under a different section.
Change the basic AirPods behavior
Rename your AirPods
- Open the AirPods case, then go to Settings > Bluetooth.
- Tap the More Info button beside your AirPods.
- Tap the current name, enter a new one, then tap Done.
Choose what a press-and-hold does
On AirPods Pro, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), and AirPods 5, you can choose which listening modes the stem press-and-hold cycles through, or set the gesture to activate Siri. Open the AirPods settings page, tap Press and Hold AirPods (open Controls & Gestures first if needed), then choose Left or Right and set the action. If both stems are assigned to switch listening modes, changing the selection for one applies to both.
#1 Best Overall
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- PERSONALIZED SPATIAL AUDIO — Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you, creating a theater-like listening experience for music, TV shows, movies, games, and more.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — AirPods 4 feature the Apple-designed H2 chip. Voice Isolation improves the quality of phone calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
- LONG BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 5 hours of listening time on a single charge. And get up to 30 hours of total listening time using the case.*
AirPods 1 and 2 use a different control: their settings let you assign a left- or right-earbud double tap to Siri, play or pause, or skip tracks. Do not look for that double-tap menu on newer generations. [Apple’s AirPods settings guide]
Set Automatic Ear Detection
With Automatic Ear Detection on, removing an earbud changes audio playback; if you remove both, playback stops and does not resume. With it off, audio is routed to AirPods whether or not you are wearing them. Find the toggle on the AirPods settings page, sometimes under Audio & Routing.
Choose the microphone
The default Automatic setting lets either earbud act as the microphone; when only one is in use, that one is used. You can instead select Always Left or Always Right. A fixed selection can continue using the chosen microphone even if that earbud is removed or placed in its case, so return to Automatic if the selected side is unavailable.
Rank #2
- WORLD’S BEST IN-EAR ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — Removes up to 2x more unwanted noise than AirPods Pro 2* so you can stay fully immersed in the moment.*
- BREAKTHROUGH AUDIO PERFORMANCE — Experience breathtaking, three-dimensional audio with AirPods Pro 3. A new acoustic architecture delivers transformed bass, detailed clarity so you can hear every instrument, and stunningly vivid vocals.
- HEART RATE SENSING — Built-in heart rate sensing lets you track your heart rate and calories burned for up to 50 different workout types.* With iPhone, you will have access to the Move ring, step count, and the new Workout Buddy,* powered by Apple Intelligence.*
- LIVE TRANSLATION — Communicate across language barriers using Live Translation,* enabled by Apple Intelligence.*
- EXTENDED BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 8 hours of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation on a single charge. Or up to 10 hours in Transparency using the Hearing Aid feature.*
Pause media when you fall asleep
Pause Media While Falling Asleep is available for AirPods 4 or later and AirPods Pro 2 or later. When connected, look for it in AirPods settings or under Audio & Routing. [Apple’s AirPods settings guide]
Adjust the equalizer
Apple documents a three-band Custom EQ for AirPods 4 or later, AirPods Pro 2 or later, and AirPods Max 2. The exact controls and access path depend on the model; see Apple’s Custom EQ instructions for the steps.
Choose a listening mode or Adaptive Audio
Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Adaptive Audio are listed for AirPods Pro, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods 5. On supported models, you can set the stem press-and-hold to cycle through the modes you choose. The specific choices depend on your model. [Apple’s AirPods settings guide]
Rank #3
- REBUILT FOR COMFORT — AirPods 4 have been redesigned for exceptional all-day comfort and greater stability. With a refined contour, shorter stem, and quick-press controls for music or calls.
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation help reduce outside noise before it reaches your ears, so you can immerse yourself in what you’re listening to.*
- HEAR THE WORLD AROUND YOU — The powerful H2 chip comes to AirPods 4. Adaptive Audio seamlessly blends ANC and Transparency mode — which lets you comfortably hear and interact with the world around you exactly as it sounds — to provide the best listening experience in any environment.* And when you’re speaking with someone nearby, Conversation Awareness automatically lowers the volume of what’s playing.*
- IMPROVED SOUND AND CALL QUALITY — Voice Isolation improves the quality of calls in loud conditions. Using advanced computational audio, it reduces background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice for whomever you’re speaking to.*
- MAGICAL EXPERIENCE — Just say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to play a song, make a call, or check your schedule.* And with Siri Interactions, now you can respond to Siri by simply nodding your head yes or shaking your head no.* Pair AirPods 4 by simply placing them near your device and tapping Connect on your screen.* Easily share a song or show between two sets of AirPods.* An optical in-ear sensor knows to play audio only when you’re wearing AirPods and pauses when you take them off. And you can track down your AirPods and Charging Case with the Find My app.*
Turn on Adaptive Audio and adjust it
Adaptive Audio blends Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency in response to changing surroundings. On supported models, a slider lets you allow more or less ambient sound. Apple’s current list includes AirPods Max 2, AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods 4 with ANC, and AirPods 5.
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- Wear your connected AirPods and open Control Center.
- Touch and hold the volume control.
- Choose Listening Mode > Adaptive.
- Adjust the Adaptive Audio slider in Control Center or on the AirPods settings page, if it appears for your model.
Understand related automatic features
Personalized Volume adjusts media volume based on environmental conditions and learned volume preferences. Conversation Awareness lowers media volume and enhances nearby voices when you begin speaking; pressing and holding the stem can end the behavior manually. Availability differs by model: Personalized Volume is supported on AirPods 4 and additional models, while Conversation Awareness is limited to specified ANC models and newer Pro and Max generations. Check your connected AirPods settings for these options rather than assuming they are available on every pair. [Apple’s Adaptive Audio guide]
Set Spatial Audio and head tracking
To change Spatial Audio while listening, wear your connected AirPods, open Control Center, and touch and hold the volume control. Choose Off, Fixed (Spatial Audio without head tracking), or Head Tracked (with head tracking). Apple notes that Spatial Audio is not available for all apps or content. The selection is saved per supported app, so changing it in one app need not change the setting in another. [Apple’s Spatial Audio and head-tracking guide]
Rank #4
- Automatically on, automatically connected
- Easy setup for all your Apple devices
- Quick access to Siri by saying “Hey Siri”
- Double-tap to play or skip forward
- New Apple H1 headphone chip delivers faster wireless connection to your devices
Set up Personalized Spatial Audio
Personalized Spatial Audio creates a profile using your head and ears. Apple’s dedicated setup page requires an iPhone with iOS 16 or later and a TrueDepth camera; compatible AirPods models and supported apps are also required. Check Apple’s current compatibility details because support varies by device and app.
- Connect your compatible audio device to the iPhone.
- Open Settings and tap the device entry.
- Find Personalized Spatial Audio—it may be under Audio & Routing—and follow the face- and ear-capture prompts.
Apple says camera data used to develop the profile is processed entirely on the device and images are not stored. If iCloud is used, the profile syncs across Apple devices using end-to-end encryption. [Apple’s Personalized Spatial Audio setup guide]
Find accessibility and hearing accommodations
Adjust AirPods accessibility controls
Go to Settings > Accessibility > AirPods to find options such as press speed, press-and-hold duration, tone volume for AirPods sound effects, and head-tracking behavior. Apple’s iPhone guide covers AirPods 3 or later, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max, but individual options still depend on the model. [Apple’s AirPods accessibility settings guide]
Best Value
- Active Noise Cancellation blocks outside noise, so you can immerse yourself in music
- Transparency mode for hearing and interacting with the world around you
- Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking places sound all around you
- Adaptive EQ automatically tunes music to your ears
- Three sizes of soft, tapered silicone tips for a customizable fit
Customize Transparency with Headphone Accommodations
For AirPods Pro, go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Headphone Accommodations. These optional adjustments can customize Transparency amplification, balance, tone, ambient-noise reduction, own-voice amplification, and Conversation Boost. They are accessibility controls, not universal sound-quality improvements. [Apple’s Transparency customization guide]
Know what Loud Sound Reduction affects
On AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods Max 2, Loud Sound Reduction reduces exposure to loud environmental noise in Transparency and Adaptive modes. Apple warns that Hearing Protection for AirPods Pro 2 or Pro 3 is off when Loud Sound Reduction is turned off in those modes. [Apple’s Transparency customization guide]
If an AirPods setting is missing
- Confirm the AirPods are connected; wear them if the option is meant to change listening behavior.
- Open Settings > Bluetooth and tap the More Info button beside the connected AirPods to reach their settings page.
- Check Audio & Routing and Controls & Gestures for controls nested in those sections.
- Check whether the feature is supported by your AirPods model. The same menu does not appear on every generation.
Apple’s instructions and compatibility lists can change with iOS releases and new AirPods models. Use the support guide for the particular setting if the labels on your iPhone differ.
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