Pause, skip, and adjust volume with your AirPods and AirPods Pro

You can listen to music, make phone calls, use Siri, and more with your AirPods.

Control audio with your AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case

  • To play and pause audio or to mute yourself during a phone call, press the force sensor with volume swipe on the stem of an AirPod. To resume playback or to unmute yourself, press again.

  • To skip forward, double-press the force sensor with volume swipe.

  • To skip back, triple-press the force sensor with volume swipe.

  • To turn the volume up or down, use your index finger to press the bud into your ear. Then, place your thumb on the stem of either AirPod, and use your index finger or middle finger to swipe up or down on the force sensor with volume swipe.

You can also switch between listening modes when you press and hold the stem.

Touch control on AirPods Pro stem.

Control audio with your AirPods Pro 1, AirPods 3, AirPods 4 (both models), or AirPods 5

  • To play and pause audio, press the force sensor on the stem of an AirPod. To resume playback, press again.

  • To skip forward, double-press the force sensor.

  • To skip back, triple-press the force sensor.

  • To turn the volume up or down, say "Hey Siri," then say something like "Turn up the volume" or "Turn down the volume." Or drag the volume slider in the app that you're listening to, on the Lock Screen of your iPhone or iPad, or in Control Center. You can also open Now Playing on your Apple Watch and turn the Digital Crown to adjust the volume of your AirPods Pro or AirPods 3 or later.

Force sensors on AirPods 4.

With AirPods Pro 1, AirPods 4 (ANC), and AirPods 5, you can also switch between listening modes when you press and hold the stem.

Control audio with your AirPods 1 or 2

You can use Siri and control the playback of audio content with your AirPods.

Control audio with your AirPods 2

  • To activate Siri, say "Hey Siri."

  • To play audio or skip forward, double-tap an AirPod.

Control audio with your AirPods 1

To use Siri, double-tap an AirPod.

AirPods tap gesture.

Change the double-tap function for each AirPod (AirPods 1 or 2)

You can set each AirPod to do one of these when you double-tap it:

  • Use Siri

  • Play and pause your audio content

  • Skip forward

  • Go back to the previous track

Choose what you want each AirPod to do when you double-tap it.

Use Siri with your AirPods

You can use Siri with your AirPods to ask questions and make phone calls. Siri can also control your music and check notifications on your AirPods. To set one of your AirPods Pro to use Siri, press and hold the force sensor.

Answer phone calls with your AirPods or AirPods Pro

When a call comes in while you're wearing either AirPod, Siri can announce the call. Here's how to answer or decline calls:

  • To answer calls with your AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, press the force sensor with volume swipe.

  • To answer calls with your AirPods Pro 1, AirPods 3, AirPods 4 (both models), or AirPods 5, press the force sensor.

  • To answer calls with your AirPods 1 or 2, double-tap an AirPod.

  • To decline an incoming call and send it directly to voicemail with your AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case, double-press the force sensor with volume swipe.

  • To decline an incoming call with your AirPods Pro 1, AirPods 3, AirPods 4 (both models), or AirPods 5, double-press the force sensor.

  • To decline an incoming call with your AirPods 1 or 2, use the controls on your iPhone.

Siri can announce incoming messages through your AirPods Pro and AirPods 3 or later. With AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, or AirPods 4 or later, you can also use head gestures to respond to phone calls, messages, and more.

Pause media when you fall asleep

If you have AirPods Pro 2 or later or AirPods 4 or later, you can choose to pause media automatically when you fall asleep while listening to audio using your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV.

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