If you own a pair of AirPods or AirPods Pro, you may not be aware of all the features and functions they offer. These wireless earbuds from Apple are more than just headphones. They can also enhance your listening experience, connect with other devices, and even help you find your phone.
In this article, we’ll show you 13 tips and tricks to make the most of your AirPods and AirPods Pro. Whether you have the original model, the second-generation ones, or the new AirPods Pro 2 that came out in September 2023, there’s something for everyone here.
1. Pair your AirPods with your iPhone or iPad in seconds
One of the best things about AirPods is how easy they are to pair with your iPhone or iPad. All you have to do is unlock your device and open the charging case near it. A prompt will appear on your screen asking if you want to connect your AirPods. Tap Connect and you’re done.
Not only will your AirPods work with your iPhone or iPad, but they’ll also be paired with all Apple devices you’ve signed in to via your iCloud account. This means you can switch between your Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and more without having to pair them again.
2. Control your AirPods with gestures and buttons
Unlike some other wireless earbuds, AirPods don’t have touchscreens or physical buttons. Instead, they have sensors that detect when you tap or squeeze them.
For the original AirPods and the second-generation ones, you can tap either earbud once to play or pause music, answer or end a phone call, or activate Siri. You can also customize what happens when you double-tap each earbud in the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. For example, you can set it to skip to the next track, go back to the previous track, or turn off the microphone.
For the AirPods Pro and the AirPods Pro 2, you can squeeze the stem of either earbud once to do the same things as tapping on the older models. You can also squeeze twice to skip forward, squeeze three times to skip back, or squeeze and hold to switch between noise cancellation and transparency modes.
3. Adjust the volume of your AirPods with ease
There are several ways to change the volume of your AirPods without reaching for your phone or tablet. Here are some of them: