Control spatial audio and head tracking on AirPods. AirPods spatial audio has completely transformed the way we experience music, movies, and TV shows, creating a sonic immersion that until recently seemed like something from the future. However, to get the most out of this feature and dynamic head tracking, it's essential to understand its ins and outs, compatible devices, settings, and customization. If you're wondering how to enable and control spatial audio and head tracking on your AirPods, this article is just what you need.
Although spatial audio technology is often activated automatically, exploring its options allows you to optimize the experience and tailor it to your specific preferences or needs. Here you'll find everything you need to know, from what spatial audio is and how it works to compatible models, differences between options, activation steps on different Apple devices, and tips to get the most out of it.
What is spatial audio on AirPods and how does it work?
Spatial audio is a technology Apple is developing to create immersive, three-dimensional sound, enveloping you in such a way that it seems like the audio is coming from all around you. Thanks to advanced algorithms, directional filters, the use of gyroscopes and accelerometers built into each earpiece, as well as support for formats like Dolby Atmos, it delivers sound quality that simulates the physical presence of speakers spread across a room.
This feature goes far beyond traditional stereo audio: it not only assigns audio channels to each ear, but also adapts the sound depending on the position of your head in relation to the source device, creating a sense of realism and depth. If you leave your iPhone or iPad on the table and turn your head, you'll notice that the source of the sound remains anchored to the screen and not your ears, increasing the feeling of being "inside" the action.
AirPods and Beats models that support spatial audio
Apple has been expanding spatial audio support to most of its headphones. Although initially only AirPods Pro were supported, you can now find this feature on the following models:
- AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd generation)
- AirPods Max
- AirPods (3nd generation)
- BeatsFitPro
- Beats Studio Pro
- Beats Solo 4
For playback from your own devices, you will need:
- iPhone 7 or later
- iPad Pro (11-inch and 12,9-inch, 3rd generation or later), iPad Air (3rd generation or later), iPad (6th generation or later), or iPad mini (5th generation or later)
- Mac with Apple Silicon chip
- Apple TV 4K with tvOS 15 or higher
- Vision Pro with the latest version of visionOS
Remember that it is also necessary to have iOS 15.1, iPad OS 15.1 or higher, or the appropriate operating system version on each device.
Differences between spatial audio and head tracking
Spatial audio creates a three-dimensional surround sound environment, but the experience is amplified if you enable dynamic head tracking. This means your AirPods detect how you turn or tilt your head relative to the device and adapt the apparent source of the sound, as if it were “anchored” to the playback device instead of glued to the headphones.
Several options within the settings allow you to customize this experience:
- Disabled: no spatial audio or head tracking.
- Permanent: Only spatial audio is used, but the sound does not adapt to head movements.
- Head followed: activates both spatial audio and head tracking, generating an ultrasensory experience.
How to enable and control spatial audio with head tracking on AirPods
On iPhone and iPad
- Put on your compatible AirPods and make sure they're connected to your iPhone or iPad.
- Open Control Center by swiping up from the top right corner (iPhone X and later) or swiping up from the bottom (earlier models).
- Press and hold the volume control: You'll see the AirPods settings appear.
- Tap the “Spatial Audio” icon: here you can choose between Fixed, Head Tracking, or Off.
When head tracking is enabled, the sound will change depending on how you move relative to the device. Additionally, you can access Bluetooth settings from Settings, selecting your AirPods and finding more options for spatial audio there.
On Macs with Apple Silicon chip
- Connect your compatible AirPods to your Mac.
- Click the AirPods (or Beats) icon in the menu bar.
- While playing multi-channel content, you will be presented with the option for Spatial Audio or Spatialized Stereo.
- Select Active Head Tracking, Fixed, or Off based on your preferences.
This feature is available when playing compatible content, such as movies with multi-channel tracks or Dolby Atmos.
On Apple TV 4K
- Put on your compatible AirPods or Beats and pair them with Apple TV 4K.
- Press and hold the Home button on the Siri Remote or go to Settings > Remotes & Devices > Bluetooth.
- Choose your headphones from the list, select Spatial Audio, and adjust between Fixed, Head Tracking, or Off.
The selected settings will be saved and automatically applied the next time you open the same app with your headphones.
In Vision Pro
- Connect compatible AirPods to the Vision Pro.
- Go to Settings > Bluetooth and select your headphones.
- Turn on custom spatial audio and choose your preferred experience (Multi-channel Spatial Audio or Spatialize Stereo).
Customizing Controls and Actions on AirPods
In addition to managing spatial audio, you can customize your AirPods actions from Settings. For example, you can assign actions such as ending a call by double-tapping the earpiece or turning the sound on or off with a short press.
- Put on your AirPods and make sure they're connected.
- On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings.
- Select from the various available actions and decide whether you prefer single or double tapping for each function.
Additional features: Adaptive Audio and Dolby Atmos support
Spatial audio doesn't work in isolation: it can be complemented by other advanced features. The second-generation AirPods Pro include adaptive audio, which adjusts the sound experience, balancing the surround sound level based on ambient noise, intelligently combining with active noise cancellation. In addition, automatic compatibility with Dolby Atmos on Apple Music and other related platforms allows you to enjoy vibrant, immersive sound quality, as long as your devices and headphones are compatible.
Tips and tricks to get the most out of spatial audio
- Update your devices to the required operating system version to access the latest spatial audio features.
- Make sure your AirPods firmware is up to date to avoid compatibility issues.
- Experiment with songs and movies mixed in Dolby Atmos to see the biggest difference in your experience.
- To see if spatial audio is active during playback, look for the specific icon next to the volume or in the menu bar.
Please note that some advanced features, such as adaptive audio, are only available on select models (e.g., second-generation AirPods Pro). If you have another model, you'll still be able to enjoy the 3D environment and head tracking in most situations.