Airpods tips
Announce any app notification in your ears
Earlier, you could have notifications from the Messages app announced to you while wearing AirPods. With iOS 15, only time-sensitive notifications like those from Calendar or Reminder are announced by default. But you can enable it for any app you like. Here’s how to have any iOS 15 iPhone app announce notifications in your AirPods.
- Open Settings and tap Notifications.
- Tap Announce Notifications.
- From the list of apps, tap the desired one. For example, Basecamp.
- Toggle on Announce Notifications.
Announce reminders with Siri on AirPods
This is just an extension of the above feature. Suppose you create a location-based shopping list reminder with multiple entries. When you are in the grocery store, Siri will read your shopping list in your ears. Convenient? Right!
Find My for AirPods
Now, your AirPods Pro and AirPods Max can use the Find My network. This lets you locate them even if you left or lost them at a distant place that exceeds your iPhone Bluetooth’s range. Find My network is a crowdsourced network of millions of Apple devices like iPhones, iPads, Macs, etc., that help you locate Apple devices even if they are offline and even turned off! You can learn more about it here. Tip: With the Separation Alert feature, your iPhone will notify you if you leave your AirPods behind. For instance, if you exit the restaurant leaving your AirPods on the coffee table.
Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking
Currently, you can enjoy thousands of Apple Music songs in Dolby Atmos. We have a dedicated guide that shows you how to do that on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. Later this year (around September), Apple will introduce spatial audio with dynamic head tracking for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. This will give you an even immersive experience as the sound dynamically adjusts according to your head movement.
Pair AirPods with Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Windows PC, and Android phone
Apple may like to keep its walls closed for various things like iMessage. But when it comes to AirPods, Apple Music, or Apple TV, they have a liberal approach. You can easily pair your AirPods with almost any laptop, computer, or phone as long as it supports Bluetooth. We have a separate guide that shows you how to connect your AirPods to any Apple or non-Apple devices. We even have a guide where you can learn how to connect AirPods to PS4 and Xbox One Controller!
Customize tap commands of each AirPod
Each AirPod (first and second generation) can perform a set of actions like call Siri, change tracks, or play/pause when you double-tap the top portion of the AirPod. If you use AirPods Pro, the same can be done by pressing its stick. To assign customized actions to each AirPod, connect them to your iPhone or iPad and follow the steps below.
- Open Settings and tap Bluetooth.
- Tap (i) next to the AirPods name.
- Tap Left or Right and choose the desired actions for both. I have set left double-tap to call Siri and right double-tap to play the next track.
Use Siri on AirPods
Siri is the omnipotent voice assistant on all Apple devices, and AirPods are no exception. You can use Siri (obviously of the paired device – iPhone, iPad, Mac) via your AirPods. For this, double-tap and press and hold the AirPods Pro stick or say, ‘Hey Siri.’ Once you hear the Siri tone, give it a command.
Change volume using AirPods
Unlike AirPods Max, there is no easy way to increase or decrease volume using normal AirPods. But you can summon Siri and ask it to ‘set volume to 50%‘ or something similar.
Choose between left or right microphone
By default, the microphone (when on calls or Siri) is automatically switched between the two pods. However, you can set to use the microphone of any one side.
- In iPhone Settings, tap Bluetooth.
- Tap (i) next to AirPods name.
- Tap Microphone and choose the desired option. Note: Suppose you set left AirPods as the microphone. Even if it is out of the ear or in the charging case, it will be the assigned microphone. Thus, you might not be able to use the mic if you are using the right AirPod and the left is in the case.
Use AirPods as a remote mic using Live Listen
If you have an AirPods 2nd gen or the Pro version, the Live Listen feature turns your iPhone into a microphone, and the AirPods in your ear act as the speaker. This lets you hear the conversation clearly in a crowded place. You may even use it as a sneaking device; just place the iPhone on a desk, and if you are within the Bluetooth range, you can hear the conversation going there via your AirPods. Head over to our article on how to use Live Listen for better understanding. At one time, only one AirPod microphone is in action. But if you like, you can hand over one AirPod to someone near you while the other stays in your ear. This allows both to hear the other person talking. Pretty simple but worth reminding.