How to change settings for AirPods or AirPods Pro

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

• Use controls and gestures with your AirPods