AirPods Controls - Apple Support (SG)

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Table of Contents

AirPods User Guide

• Welcome
• About your AirPods
  • Which AirPods do I have?
  • Use controls and gestures with your AirPods
  • Get information about your AirPods
  • Rename your AirPods
• Pair and charge
  • Pair AirPods with an Apple device
  • Pair AirPods with a non-Apple device
  • Switch AirPods between Apple devices
  • Charge AirPods
• Get the right fit
  • Find the right fit with AirPods Pro
  • Remove and attach ear tips on AirPods Pro
  • Find the right fit with AirPods 3 or 4
• Play and share audio
  • Play audio on your AirPods
  • Share audio on iPhone or iPad
  • Share audio on Apple TV 4K
• Make calls, listen to messages, and translate with AirPods
  • Make and receive phone and FaceTime calls
    • Make and answer calls with AirPods 1 or 2
    • Make and answer calls with AirPods 3, AirPods 4, or AirPods Pro
    • Make and answer calls with AirPods Max
  • Listen and respond to messages
  • Translate in-person conversations
• Spatial Audio, noise control, and AirPods settings
  • Control Spatial Audio and head tracking
  • Switch between listening modes
  • Adjust noise control settings
  • Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro
  • Change settings for AirPods Max
• Use accessibility features
  • Get started with accessibility features
  • Set headphone accommodations
  • Use and customize Transparency mode
  • Play the same sound in both of your AirPods
  • Play background sounds
  • Use Live Listen
  • Change force sensor, Touch control, or button settings
  • Adjust the volume of sound effects
  • Use hearing health features with AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods Pro 3
• Track your heart rate during workouts with AirPods Pro 3
• Use AirPods with camera apps
• Use Siri
• Find your AirPods
• Restart, unpair, or reset AirPods
• Safety, handling, and support
  • Important safety and handling information
  • FCC compliance statement
  • ISED Canada compliance statement
  • Ultra Wideband information
  • Class 1 Laser information
  • Apple and the environment
  • Disposal and recycling information
• Copyright and trademarks

In addition to controlling audio from the apps you use with your AirPods, you can use controls directly on your AirPods to do things like pause and resume playback, skip tracks, answer calls, and use Siri.

If you have AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3, and you have Announce Calls and Announce Notifications turned on, you can also use head gestures to accept or decline calls and open or dismiss notifications without using your voice or hands.

Adjust controls and gestures for AirPods

Wear your AirPods, then do any of the following:

• iPhone or iPad: Go to the Settings app , tap the name of your AirPods near the top of the screen, then adjust the controls.

• Mac: Go to the System Settings app , click your AirPods in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), then adjust the controls.

AirPods 1 and 2 controls

You can control your AirPods with a double tap at the top of the stem. For example, when you get an incoming call, double tap to answer. You can also set each of your AirPods to do one of the following with a double tap:

• Play and pause audio content.

• Play the next track.

• Go back to the previous track.

• Activate Siri.

See Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro.

AirPods 3 controls

With the force sensor on the stem of both AirPods 3, you can do any of the following:

• Play and pause audio: Press the stem. To resume playback, press it again.

• Play the next track: Double-press the stem.

• Play the previous track: Triple-press the stem.

• Answer a call: When you receive a call, press the stem.

• Activate Siri: Press and hold the stem, then ask questions, control apps, and more.

AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 (ANC) controls and gestures

With the force sensor on the stem of AirPods 4, you can do any of the following:

• Play and pause audio: Press the stem. To resume playback, press it again.

• Play the next track: Double-press the stem.

• Play the previous track: Triple-press the stem.

• Answer a call: When you receive a call, press the stem.

• Switch between Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Adaptive Audio: On AirPods 4 (ANC) only, you can set either of your AirPods to perform this action when you press and hold the stem. See Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro.

• Start Live Translation: On AirPods 4 (ANC) only, press and hold the stem on both AirPods at the same time to start Live Translation. See Translate in-person conversations with AirPods.

• Activate Siri: You can set either of your AirPods to perform this action when you press and hold the stem. See Use Siri with AirPods.

Use head gestures to respond to Siri

• Accept a call or reply to notifications and messages: Nod your head up and down.

• Decline a call or dismiss notifications and messages: Shake your head side to side.

Note: To use head gestures to respond to Siri, Announce Calls and Announce Notifications must be on. See Use Conversation Awareness or Personalized Volume.

Switch between Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Adaptive Audio: You can set either of your AirPods to perform this action when you press and hold the stem. See Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro.

Start Live Translation: Press and hold the stem on both AirPods at the same time to start Live Translation. See Translate in-person conversations with AirPods.

Activate Siri: You can set either of your AirPods to perform this action when you press and hold the stem. See Use Siri with AirPods.

Use head gestures to respond to Siri

• Accept a call or reply to notifications and messages: Nod your head up and down.

• Decline a call or dismiss notifications and messages: Shake your head side to side.

Note: To use head gestures to respond to Siri, Announce Calls and Announce Notifications must be on. See Use Conversation Awareness or Personalized Volume.

Switch between Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Adaptive Audio: You can set either of your AirPods to perform this action when you press and hold the stem. See Change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro.

Start Live Translation: Press and hold the stem on both AirPods at the same time to start Live Translation. See Translate in-person conversations with AirPods.

Activate Siri: You can set either of your AirPods to perform this action when you press and hold the stem. See Use Siri with AirPods.

Use head gestures to respond to Siri

• Accept a call or reply to notifications and messages: Nod your head up and down.

• Decline a call or dismiss notifications and messages: Shake your head side to side.

Note: To use head gestures to respond to Siri, you must turn on Announce Calls and Announce Notifications. See