The INSIDER Summary:
- With a couple of simple tips, you can master your Apple AirPods in no time.
- There are also several game-changing shortcuts for your Apple EarPods that can streamline your daily tasks.
- Save battery by using one AirPod at a time, turn your EarPods’ volume button into a remote control for your iPhone, and more.
Whether you have a new pair of wireless AirPods, or you’re sticking with your old wired EarPods, you may not be getting the most out of your Apple headphones.
Beyond the basics, there’s a lot more you can do with both of these humble tech accessories.
With a couple of simple tips and game-changing shortcuts, you can master your AirPods or streamline daily tasks with your EarPods. Here’s everything you need to know.
These nine tips will help you master your Apple AirPods.
1. If you’re running low on battery, use one AirPod at a time.
A great workaround for extending your AirPods’ battery life is to use one earbud at a time while keeping the other one in the charging case.
Even better, the AirPods are designed so that when you’re using one earbud while the other one is in the case, you’ll hear both the right and left sides of any stereo audio.
2. Change the name of your AirPods.
Go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone, and tap the blue «i» with a circle around it next to «AirPods.» From there, you’ll be able to change your AirPods’ name. This will make your headphones easier to find when you’re pairing them via Bluetooth to your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or Apple TV.
3. Find out who’s calling you without looking at your iPhone.
Go to Settings > Phone on your iPhone, and enable the «Announce Calls» feature. If you change it to «Always,» your iPhone will tell you who’s calling even when you’re not wearing headphones.
If you change it to «Headphones & Car,» your iPhone will tell you who’s calling if you’re in the car or wearing headphones like your AirPods. If you change it to «Headphones Only,» your iPhone will tell you who’s calling only if you get a call when you’re wearing headphones.
4. Check your AirPods’ battery life on your iPhone.
Check the charge status of your AirPods and AirPods case with the Batteries widget on your iPhone. Just swipe right on your iPhone Home screen to see your Notification Center. Keep in mind the AirPods and AirPods case will only show up in the Batteries panel if you’re currently using them.
You can also just open your AirPods case near your iPhone, and a display will pop up that shows you the battery life of both your AirPods and your case.
5. Check your AirPods’ battery life on your Apple Watch.
If you have an Apple Watch, open the Control Center while you’re using your AirPods. Tap the battery icon to see the charge status of your AirPods in seconds.
6. Check your AirPods’ battery life on your Mac.
Open your charging case or take your AirPods out near your Mac. Then, click the volume button on the menu bar at the top of your Mac screen. You’ll see the remaining battery life for your AirPods and charging case under «Output Device.»
7. Customize your AirPods’ double-tap feature.
Go to Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone, and tap the blue «i» with a circle around it next to «AirPods.» From there, you’ll be able to change your AirPods’ double-tap feature. So far, you can only use this feature to activate Siri or play and pause your music.
8. Save time while listening to music.
If you enable Siri through the AirPods’ double-tap feature, you can control your music without using your hands when you have an internet connection. Simply double-tap the side of your AirPods, and say something like «Play music,» «Skip to the next song,» or «Raise volume 50%.»
9. Select the right or left AirPod as your default microphone.
The AirPods use motion accelerometers to detect when they’re in your ears, and whether you’re using the right or left earbud (or both).
By default, the AirPods’ built-in microphone switches automatically to the earbud that’s getting the best input. If you’re someone who likes to multitask while wearing one earbud, you can easily select one of your earbuds as your default microphone. Just go to your AirPods settings, as explained above, and tap «Microphone.»
These 14 shortcuts for your Apple EarPods will streamline your daily tasks.
In case you don’t know by now, when it comes to Apple’s classic earbuds, the power’s all in the volume button — yes, really. Here’s how to turn that tiny rectangle into a remote control for your iPhone.
Control the camera:
1. Open your iPhone camera and press the volume up or down button to snap a quick picture. This also works with most camera apps.
Control audio from streaming apps:
2. Press the center of the volume button once to play or pause a song from Spotify, Apple Music, Podcasts, or more.
3. Double-press and hold the center button to fast-forward a song.
4. Triple-press and hold the center button to rewind a song.
5. Double-press the center button to skip a song.
6. Triple-press the center button to go back to the previous song.
Control phone calls:
7. Press the center button once to answer a call.
8. Press the center button again to end the call.
9. Press and hold the center button to ignore a call.
10. If you’re on the phone with someone, and you need to put them on hold to answer an incoming call, press the center button once.
11. Or press and hold the center button to ignore the incoming call.
12. Press the center button once to switch between two calls.
13. Press and hold the center button to end one call and switch to another.
Control Siri:
14. Press and hold the center button to activate Siri.
