Since their launch in 2016, Apple's AirPods have become one of the most popular devices among iPhone, iPad, and other Apple ecosystem users. In addition to offering great sound quality and comfort, one of their strong points is the ability to control them using gestures and built-in buttons that allow you to interact with music, calls, and assistants like Siri without having to touch your phone.
If you just got AirPods or want to get more out of them, understanding how the physical controls and gestures work is essential.Models like AirPods 1, 2, 3, 4, AirPods Pro (all generations), and AirPods Max have specific controls based on their design and technical features.
In this article you will find A complete and updated guide with everything you need to know to use them to their full potential: from customizing gestures to answering calls with a simple tap.
Basic controls for playing music and managing calls
AirPods feature physical touch controls or buttons, depending on the model. These controls allow you to perform various actions related to audio and communications. If you'd like to learn how to adjust your AirPods, you can learn how to change your AirPods settings step by step.
Models like AirPods 1 and 2 work with simple touch gestures. For example, when Double-tap any AirPod You can play, pause, or skip to the next song. This also allows you to activate Siri depending on the configuration chosen in the device settings.
Instead, AirPods 3, 4, and AirPods Pro (all generations) they use a force sensor on the elongated body from the headset. By pressing this sensor you can:
- Play or pause by pressing once
- Skip to the next track with two consecutive presses
- Return to the previous song pressing three times
In the case of AirPods Max, playback and volume control is done by the Digital Crown (similar to the Apple Watch). Available features include:
- Press once: Play or pause
- Two presses: Next track
- Three presses: Previous song
- Turn the crown: Increase or decrease the volume
FOR answer a call with AirPods, the method varies depending on the model:
- AirPods Pro, AirPods 3 or 4: Press the force sensor
- AirPods 1 or 2: Double tap one of them
- AirPods Max: Press the Digital Crown
FOR reject calls, there are also similar options:
- AirPods Pro, AirPods 3 and AirPods 4: Double-tap the force sensor
- AirPods Max: Press and hold the Digital Crown
- AirPods 1/2: Manage from iPhone directly, since they have no specific option
Noise cancellation and ambient sound control
The models that include active noise cancellation (ANC), like the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, allow you to switch between different sound modes to suit your environment. If you're interested in learning more about the AirPods Max specs, you can read about everything we know about this model.
In the AirPods Pro, you can keep pressed the force sensor on the headset to switch between modes:
- Active noise cancellation
- Ambient mode (which allows you to hear sounds from your surroundings)
The AirPods Max include a specific noise control button on the right earbud. Pressing it lets you toggle between the same two modes. You can also change these settings from Control Center on your iPhone or iPad.
Using Siri with AirPods
Thanks to integration with the Apple Assistant, you can perform multiple actions using voice commands without touching the device. AirPods can be activated in several ways:
- Say “Hey Siri” when connected and in use
- Press the force sensor (AirPods Pro)
- Double-tap one of your AirPods (models 1 or 2)
- Press and hold the Digital Crown (AirPods Max)
Once activated, you can ask Siri to send messages, play music, call a contact, or even adjust the volume or change the song. To further enhance the experience, it's essential to understand how to configure accessibility features on your iPhone.
Also, Siri can announce incoming calls or messages, especially on recent models like the AirPods Pro 2 or AirPods 4. In these cases, you can even respond using head gestures.
How to customize gesture controls on each AirPod
One of the advantages of AirPods is that you can customize the function of each hearing aid through the Settings app on your Apple devices. To do this:
- Open the charging case with AirPods inside
- Connect them to your iPhone or iPad
- Go to Settings> Bluetooth
- Press the “i” of information next to your connected AirPods
There you'll find the option to assign a specific gesture to each AirPod. For example, you can set the left one to play / pause and the right to skip song, or vice versa. If you'd like to explore more about the evolution of controls, you might be interested in reading about how future AirPods could include new controls, according to this patent.
On models with force sensor, you can also adjust the necessary pressure to recognize buttons or change their long-press behavior (for example, switching between sound modes or invoking Siri).
Ear sensor and automatic detection
By default, AirPods They detect when you put them on or take them off. This feature allows you to:
- The audio stops automatically by removing one of them
- Playback resumes when putting it back in the ear
If you don't have both headphones on, the sound is redirected to the device's speakers. For those who want full control, there's an option to disable automatic detection.
This option can be changed from the settings, allowing you to disable automatic detection if you prefer audio to always come through your AirPods regardless of whether you're wearing them or not.
Microphone setup
Each AirPod has a built-in microphone. By default, it automatically detects which one is in the active ear. If you prefer a more personalized fit, you can manually configure the microphone in settings to always use either the left or right microphone.
Furthermore, it is possible configure the microphone manually from the settings so that either the left or right one is always used, even if you remove it or place it in the case. This can be useful if one of the two is failing or if you prefer to maintain a specific configuration.
All of this is controlled from the Bluetooth section in Settings, following the same steps for customizing gestures. AirPods offer endless control combinations and customization possibilities that go far beyond simply listening to music.
